--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I fear God never showed mercy to one so…" description: "\"I fear God never showed mercy to one so vile as I.\" — David Brainerd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/david-brainerd-8963_compassion_i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so_1352313.jpg" --- # I fear God never showed mercy to one so vile as I. ![“I fear God never showed mercy to one so vile as I.” quote by David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/david-brainerd-8963_compassion_i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so_1352313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/david-brainerd-8963_compassion_i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so_1352313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/david-brainerd-8963_compassion_i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so_1352313.jpg) > “I fear God never showed mercy to one so vile as I.” [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He feels unworthy of God's mercy due to his own sinfulness. **In simple terms:** He thinks God won't show mercy to him. Key Takeaway Seek forgiveness and self‑compassion. Themes faith guilt redemption Mood contemplative somber Type spiritual personal When to use this quote - prayer - confession - spiritual counseling - self‑reflection Key Concepts theology personal doubt Questions to Reflect On - What prevents you from feeling worthy? - How can you reconcile guilt with grace? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism may hinder spiritual growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-god/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) ## Related quotes > [“Even the disciples, who at times could be dense as bricks, realized that the true neighbor was the one who showed mercy to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-russell-sanders/even-the-disciples-who-at-times-could-be-dense-as-bricks-realized/) [Scott Russell Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-russell-sanders/) > [“Dan showed it no mercy. He pushed the throttle as far as it would”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/dan-showed-it-no-mercy-he-pushed-the-throttle-as-far-as-it-would/) [Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/) > [“You showed no mercy; it will not be shown to you. You opened not your house; you will be expelled from the Kingdom. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-the-great/you-showed-no-mercy-it-will-not-be-shown-to-you-you-opened-not-your/) [Basil the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-the-great/) > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [People don't do right because of the fear of God or love of him. You do right because the world doesn't make sense if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-don-t-do-right-because-of-the-fear-of-god-or-love-of-him-you/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I have often met with happiness after some imprudent step which ought to have brought ruin upon me, and although passing a vote of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/i-have-often-met-with-happiness-after-some-imprudent-step-which-ought/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. 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Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Rincewind could scream for mercy in nineteen languages, and just scream in another forty-four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/rincewind-could-scream-for-mercy-in-nineteen-languages-and-just/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The mercy of the world is time. Time does not stop for love, but it does not stop for death and grief, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mercy-of-the-world-is-time-time-does-not-stop-for-love-but-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More by David Brainerd > [If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/if-you-hope-for-happiness-in-the-world-hope-for-it-from-god-and-not/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [Again, Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/again-be-careful-to-make-a-good-improvement-of-precious-time/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I bless God for this retirement: I never was more thankful for any thing than I have been of late for the necessity I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-bless-god-for-this-retirement-i-never-was-more-thankful-for-any/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I hardly ever so longed to live to God and to be altigether devoted to Him. i want to wear out my life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-hardly-ever-so-longed-to-live-to-god-and-to-be-altigether-devoted/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [“Friday, April 2. In the afternoon I felt, in secret prayer, much resigned, calm, and serene. What are all the storms of this lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/friday-april-2-in-the-afternoon-i-felt-in-secret-prayer-much-resigned/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I board with a poor Scotchman: his wife can talk scarce any English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-board-with-a-poor-scotchman-his-wife-can-talk-scarce-any-english/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [Oh, how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide away, while I do so little to any good purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/oh-how-precious-is-time-and-how-it-pains-me-to-see-it-slide-away/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [A few of the sublimest geniuses of Rome and Athens had some faint discoveries of the spiritual nature of the human soul, and formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/a-few-of-the-sublimest-geniuses-of-rome-and-athens-had-some-faint/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [In prayer I was exceedingly enlarged, and my soul was as much drawn out as I ever remember it to have been in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/in-prayer-i-was-exceedingly-enlarged-and-my-soul-was-as-much-drawn/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [As the most extravagant errors were received among the established articles of their faith, so the most infamous vices obtained in their practice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/as-the-most-extravagant-errors-were-received-among-the-established/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [God designs that those whom He sanctifies...shall tarry awhile in this present evil world, that their own experience of temptations may teach them how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/god-designs-that-those-whom-he-sanctifies-shall-tarry-awhile-in-this/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [Further, Take heed that you faithfully perform the business you have to do in the world, from a regard to the commands of God;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/further-take-heed-that-you-faithfully-perform-the-business-you-have/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I have withstood the power of convictions a long time; and therefore I fear I shall be finally left of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-have-withstood-the-power-of-convictions-a-long-time-and-therefore-i/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [“There is a God in heaven who overrules all things for the best; and this is the comfort of my soul. . .How blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/there-is-a-god-in-heaven-who-overrules-all-things-for-the-best-and/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [First, Resolve upon, and daily endeavour to practise, a life of seriousness and strict sobriety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/first-resolve-upon-and-daily-endeavour-to-practise-a-life-of/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) [Explore all 76 David Brainerd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I fear God never showed mercy to one so vile as I.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Brainerd" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so-vile-as-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so-vile-as-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/david-brainerd-8963_compassion_i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so_1352313.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/david-brainerd-8963_compassion_i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so_1352313.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/david-brainerd-8963_compassion_i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so_1352313.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I fear God never showed mercy to one so vile as I.” — David Brainerd", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Brainerd", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I fear God never showed mercy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so-vile-as-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/i-fear-god-never-showed-mercy-to-one-so-vile-as-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```