128. that, if he be overcome, he shall suffer as you have said: but if he get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say.
129. For this is the way whereof Moses spoke to the people while he lived, saying, Choose you life, that you may live.
130. Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no, nor me which have spoken to them;
131. so that there shall not be such heaviness in their destruction, as there shall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.
132. I answered then and said, I know, Lord, that the Most High is now called merciful, in that he has mercy upon them which are not yet come into the world;
133. and compassionate, in that he has compassion upon those that turn to his law;
134. and longsuffering, for that he long suffers those that have sinned, as his creatures;
135. and bountiful, for that he is ready to give rather than to exact;
136. and of great mercy, for that he multiplies more and more mercies to them that are present, and that are past, and also to them which are to come;
137. (for if he multiplied not his mercies, the world would not continue with them that dwell therein;)
138. and one that forgives, for if he did not forgive of his goodness, that they which have committed iniquities might be eased of them, the ten thousandth part of men would not remain living;
139. and a judge, for if he did not pardon them that were created by his word, and blot out the multitude of offences,
140. there would perhaps be very few left in an innumerable multitude.