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This questions concerns whether mercy is something that is properly predicated to God, as love, justice, etc., or something that is metaphorically predicated to God, as anger, sorrow, etc., etc.
In order to resolve this question, we must determine the formal element, i.e., the *ratio,* of "mercy" and distinguish it from the material element. For, if there is some imperfection that is of the *ratio* of mercy, then, clearly it is something that is metaphorical, but, if it implies no imperfection, then it is something that is proper.