Of course the world (at least when it is true to its own nature) is unmerciful, as indeed also the church in its worldliness has often been. The world prefers to insulate itself against the pains and calamities of humanity. It finds revenge delicious, and forgiveness, by comparison, tame. But those who show mercy find it. The same truth is echoed in the next chapter: ‘For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.’58 This is not because we can