Augustine of Hippo, on Ps 100:1

“A psalm for David himself. Mercy and judgment I will sing to thee, O Lord: I will sing,”

“Obviously, it is just that those who have pardoned should receive pardon and that it should be given to those who give. It is natural that there should be in God both mercy for him that judges and judgment for him that shows mercy. That is why we say to him, "Mercy and judgment I will sing to you, O Lord." Whoever, presuming on his own justice, expects judgment with mercy as if he were secure provokes the most just anger, of which the psalmist said in fear, "Enter not into judgment with your servant." Therefore, God says to his perverse people, "Why will you contend with me in judgment?" For when "the just king shall sit on his throne, who will boast that he has a chaste heart, or who will boast that he is pure of sin?" What hope is there, then, unless "mercy exalts itself above judgment," but only toward those who have shown mercy by saying sincerely, "Forgive us as we forgive" and by giving without protest? "For God loves a cheerful giver." Finally, in order to comfort those in whom the former sentence had roused extreme fear, James in the sequence to that passage speaks of the works of mercy, when he points out how even daily sins, without which there is no living in this world, are expiated by daily remedies. Without these, the person who becomes guilty of all by offending in one point and by offending in many—"because in many things we all offend"—would drag with him to the judgment seat of the great judge a mighty load of guilt, gathered up bit by bit, and would not find the mercy that he had not shown. By forgiving and giving, he deserves to have his debts forgiven and the promised reward given to him.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.