F. W. FARRAR, D.D, F.R.S.,
CANON OF WESTMINSTER, RECTOR OF ST. MARGARET’S, WESTMINSTER, LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AND CHAPLAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE QUEEN.
κατακαγχᾶται ἔλεος κρίσεως.
“Mercy boasteth over Judgment.”
—James 2:13.
SECOND EDITION.
London
MACMILLAN AND CO. AND NEW YORK
TO
ALFRED TENNYSON, ESQ.,
POET LAUREATE,
&c., &c.,
WHO, AMONG HIS MANY HIGH SERVICES TO
ALL THAT IS PURE IN CONDUCT AND GREAT IN THOUGHT,
WILL ALSO BE REMEMBERED BY POSTERITY AS
THE POET OF “THE LARGER HOPE,”
THESE PAGES ARE, BY HIS OWN KIND PERMISSION,
MOST GRATEFULLY AND RESPECTFULLY
Dedicated.
“I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.”
(Olam vaed, “for ever and beyond.”) —Ps. 52:8.
“His mercy is everlasting.” PSALMS passim.
“Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” —Micah 7:18, 19.
“Mercy is dear to God, and intercedes for the sinner, and breaks his chains, and dissipates the darkness, and quenches the fire of hell, and destroys the worm, and rescues from the gnashing of teeth. To her the gates of heaven are opened. She is the queen of virtues, and makes man like to God, for it is written, ‘Be ye merciful, as your Father which is in heaven is merciful.’ She has silver wings, like the dove, and feathers of gold, and soars aloft, and is clothed with the divine glory, and stands by the throne of God; when we are in danger of being condemned she rises up and pleads for us, and covers us with her defence, and folds us in her wings. God loves mercy more than sacrifice.” ST. CHRYSOSTOM.
“Judicium cum misericordia copulatum est, at veritas judicii misericordia tempera Dei tempera tur.” S. AMBROSE, Beati Immaculati, xx. 4.
“Justitia Dei et misericordia non sunt duae res, sed una res. . . Misericordia est erga miseros, bonitas erga quoslibet.” PETR. LOMBARD, Sentent. iv.; Dist. xlv. C. D.
[Editor’s note (2026): All scriptural references have been modernized according to CMOS/SBL standards, and Roman numerals have been updated to Arabic numbering. In addition, we have updated all Erasmian transliterations to Neo-Hellenic Koine Greek. For further study on this, see our article titled Erasmus Never Used Erasmian Greek for further explanation. As reference, the two key Greek words αἰών and αἰώνιος are transliterated as — Erasmian: aion/aionios; Neo-Hellenic Koine: eón/eónios.]