10577. And I will show grace to whom I show grace, and I will show mercy to whom I show mercy. That this signifies that Divine truth and good shall be revealed to those who receive, is evident from the signification of “showing grace,” as being to endow with spiritual truth and good, here to reveal it, because the subject treated of is the internal and the external of the church, of worship, and of the Word; and from the signification of “showing mercy” as being to endow with celestial truth and good, here to reveal it. That it signifies with those who receive is because the internal things of the Word, of the church, and of worship are revealed to none but those who receive.

[2] That “to show grace” denotes to endow with spiritual truth and good, and “to show mercy” to endow with celestial truth and good is because “grace” is predicated of faith, and “mercy” of love; and the good of faith is spiritual good, and the good of love is celestial good. (What spiritual good is and what celestial good is, and what the difference, may be seen in the places cited in n. 9277; and that those who are in the Lord’s spiritual kingdom speak of “grace”; and those who are in the Lord’s celestial kingdom speak of “mercy,” n. 598, 981, 5929.) Unless there were such a difference between grace and mercy, it would not have been said, “show grace” and “show mercy.” From this it is that Jehovah is called “gracious and merciful” in Exodus 34:6; Joel 2:13; Psalms 103:8; 145:8; and in Isaiah:

Therefore will Jehovah wait to show grace unto you, and therefore will He exalt Himself to have mercy upon you (Isaiah 30:18).

[3] As there are two things to which all things of the church bear relation, namely, love and faith; and as mercy belongs to love; and grace, and also truth, belong to faith, therefore in the Word it is said “mercy and grace” when the Lord is implored, and it is said “mercy and truth” when the Lord is described, as in the following passages, in David:

Thy mercy is before mine eyes, and I walk in Thy truth (Psalms 26:3).

Thy mercy, O Jehovah is in the heavens; and Thy truth is unto the skies (Psalms 36:5).

God shall send from the heavens His mercy and His truth. Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the skies (Psalms 57:3, 10).

Mercy and truth shall meet together; righteousness and peace shall kiss (Psalms 85:10).

I will sing of the mercy of Jehovah forever; Thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation; because I have said, Mercy shall be built up forever; Thy truth shalt Thou confirm in the very heavens; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of thy throne; mercy and truth shall stand before Thy faces (Psalms 89:1-2, 14).

In these passages “mercy” denotes love; and “truth” denotes faith.