Sweet Mercy! to the gates of Heaven
This minstrel lead, his sins forgiven;
The rueful conflict, the read more

Sweet Mercy! to the gates of Heaven
This minstrel lead, his sins forgiven;
The rueful conflict, the heart riven
With vain endeavour,
And memory of earth's bitter leaven
Effaced forever.

'Tis vain to flee; till gentle Mercy show
Her better eye, the farther off we go,
The read more

'Tis vain to flee; till gentle Mercy show
Her better eye, the farther off we go,
The swing of Justice deals the mightier blow.

Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

Think not the good,
The gentle deeds of mercy thou hast done,
Shall die forgotten all; the read more

Think not the good,
The gentle deeds of mercy thou hast done,
Shall die forgotten all; the poor, the prisoner,
The fatherless, the friendless, and the widow,
Who daily owe the bounty of thy hand,
Shall cry to Heaven, and pull a blessing on thee.

Spare me through your mercy, do not punish me through your justice.

Spare me through your mercy, do not punish me through your justice.

Mercy often inflicts death.
[Lat., Mortem misericors saepe pro vita dabit.]

Mercy often inflicts death.
[Lat., Mortem misericors saepe pro vita dabit.]

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It read more

The quality of mercy is not strain'd; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

Much that we call evil is really good in disguises; and we should not quarrel rashly with adversities not yet read more

Much that we call evil is really good in disguises; and we should not quarrel rashly with adversities not yet understood, nor overlook the mercies often bound up in them.