Measureless mercy, powerful pardon

What can cause an outburst of holy joy? God himself is the source, the theme, the object of such praise, especially in his gracious dealings with sinners. To get to the root of the matter, we must look first at the blessings bestowed, the great mercy poured out and the pardon of transgressions granted. Then we must look at the scope which is expressed—a mercy as great as the heavens are above the earth, a pardon that removes transgressions as far as the east is from the west. Then we must consider the people who are favoured with such mercy: those who fear the Lord, who have felt the weight of their sin and have found the sweetness of divine pardon.