598. He found grace in the eyes of Jehovah, signifies that the Lord foresaw that the human race might thus be saved. The Lord’s mercy involves and looks to the salvation of the whole human race; and it is the same with His “grace” and therefore the salvation of the human race is signified. By “Noah” is signified not only a new church, but also the faith of that church, which was the faith of charity. Thus the Lord foresaw that through the faith of charity the human race might be saved (concerning which faith hereafter).
[2] But there is a distinction in the Word between “mercy” and “grace” and this in accordance with the difference that exists in those who receive them; “mercy” being applied to those who are celestial, and “grace” to those who are spiritual; for the celestial acknowledge nothing but mercy, and the spiritual scarcely anything but grace. The celestial do not know what grace, is; the spiritual scarcely know what mercy is, which they make one and the same with grace. This comes from the ground of the humiliation of the two being so different; they who are in humiliation of heart implore the Lord’s mercy; but they who are in humiliation of thought beseech His grace; and if these implore mercy, it is either in a state of temptation, or is done with the mouth only and not from the heart. Because the new church called “Noah” was not celestial but spiritual, it is not said to have found “mercy” but “grace” in the eyes of Jehovah.
[3] That there is a distinction in the Word between “mercy” and “grace” is evident from many passages where Jehovah is called “merciful and gracious” (as in Psalms 103:8; 11:4; 45:8; Joel 2:13). The distinction is likewise made in other places, as in Jeremiah:
Thus saith Jehovah, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness, when I went to give rest to him, to Israel. Jehovah appeared unto me from afar; and I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore in mercy have I drawn thee (Jeremiah 31:2-3),
where “grace” is predicated of the spiritual, and “mercy” of the celestial.
In Isaiah:
Therefore will Jehovah wait that He may give grace unto you, and therefore will He exalt Himself that He may have mercy upon you (Isaiah 30:18).
Here likewise “grace” regards the spiritual, and “mercy” the celestial. So in the chapter presently following, where Lot says to the angel:
Behold I pray thy servant hath found grace in thine eyes, and thou hast made great thy mercy which thou hast wrought with me, to make alive my soul (Genesis 19:19).
That “grace” relates to spiritual things, which are of faith, or of the understanding, is evident here also in that it is said, he “hath found grace in thine eyes;” and that “mercy” relates to celestial things which are of love, or of the will, is evident from the fact that the angel is said to have “wrought mercy” and to have “made alive the soul.”
