Correction And Mercy

Corripiet me justus in misericordia, et increpabit me. Est enim misericordiae modus: et miserandi adhibenda justitia est. Dolor quidem potest esse erga eos, quorum crimina gravia sunt; sed misericordiae locus nullus est. Misericordia enim se ad veniam de Deo orandum his quae sunt gesta deflectit: caeterum veniam praestare illicitis, non est misericordiam praestare, sed justitiam misericordiae non tenere. Quam rationem diligentissime apostolus Joannes retinuit, dicens: Si quis scit fratrem suum delinquere, sed non ad mortem; petat, et dabit illi Deus vitam. Est enim peccatum ad mortem, sed non pro eo dico. Quod autem justus in misericordia corripere atque arguere eum qui lapsus sit debeat, beatus Paulus docet, dicens: Fratres, et si praeventus fuerit homo in aliquo delicto, vos qui estis spiritales, consummate eum in spiritu lenitatis. Sed ne ipse quidem rationis justae misericordiae immemor fuit: praeventum enim in delicto, non voluntate delinquentem, consummari per arguitionem jubet. Atque ideo propheta cum ait: Corripiet me justus in misericordia, et increpabit me; et fidei suae, et humanae infirmitatis memor, corripiendum se in his ait, quae justae misericordiae arguitione sunt digna. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum CXL Source: Migne PL 9.828b-829a

'May the righteous man correct me mercifully, and cry out against me.' 1 For it is the way of mercy that justice be administered mercifully. Wrath is certainly possible against those whose crimes are grave, but there mercy has no place. For mercy inclines itself to forgiveness from God, praying for those things which have been done. Besides to give forgiveness for crimes is not to show mercy, but it is of mercy not to hold to strict justice. Which reason carefully holding to the Apostle John says, 'If someone knows of a brother who has erred, but not to death, ask, and God shall give him life. For there is a sin to death, and of this I do not speak.' 2 Thus the righteous man should correct with mercy and dispute with the one who has fallen, as Paul teaches, saying: 'Brothers, if a man comes before you in some fault, you who are spiritual should improve him in a spirit of gentleness' 3 But he was not forgetful of the reason for righteous mercy, for a man has come in fault, and not wishing for error, he commands it to end with exhortation. And therefore the prophet when he says, 'May the righteous man correct me mercifully and cry out against me,' mindful of his own faith and of human infirmity, says that he should be chastised for things which are worthy of the reproof of righteous mercy. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 140 1 Ps 140.5 2 1 Jn 5.16 3 Galat 6.1