not requite man according to his work?’ (24:11, 12, RSV). No evasions are countenanced; religious exercises will buy no favours: ‘He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination’ (28:9), and so is his sacrifice (15:8; 21:27). Sin must be put away in practical repentance (‘by mercy and truth … and by the fear of the Lord’, 16:6) and in frank confession (‘whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy’, 28:13). In a word, there are no subpersonal transactions.
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