Jude 1:2

Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

I beg to detain the reader at this verse, to observe to him, that these Apostolic greetings, ought not to be considered, as it is to be feared they too frequently are, so many words of course. They are like so many prayers, as well as benedictions of the Apostles, and cannot be prized by the Church too highly. Mercy from the Father, Peace in and from Jesus Christ, and Love in and by the Holy Ghost, very sweetly follow what was said before as the fruits and effects of those glorious acts, of the Holy Three in One, in Covenant manifestations.

Reader! it will be both your mercy and mine, if we find those daily fruits, in our daily bread, of the everlasting love of Jehovah to his Church in Christ! God, in his Threefold character of Persons, is the fountain of all mercy, peace, and love. And sweet, yea, very sweet it is, when God the Holy Ghost makes known these things to our joy; by his revealing them to us with his gracious influences, in directing our hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5) I would pray for those gracious love-tokens of the Holy Ghost, that I may live in the enjoyment of the mercy, peace, and love of the whole Persons of the Godhead. But while I enjoy the fruits, I would pray yet more, to live upon the Cause. While I relish the gift, I would infinitely more love, and value the Giver.