meaningless - Even Faith and prayers are of no avail and
a mere mocking echo unless accompanied by good deeds.
No minister or intermediary of any sort can redeem us from
the consequences of a sinful life except - our own moral
regeneration, our own voluntary return to a life of purity.
But In thunderous words this vigorous [?] [?] tells us
:- When you make your prayers I will not hear. Your hands are
full of blood . . . learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the
oppressed. Judge the fatherless & plead for the widow" (Is. 1:15)
"Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour, are the words of
another man of the [?] Zecharaiah, Execute the judgment of
truth & peace in your gates & let none of you imagine evil in
your heart against his nieghbour." (Zech 8:16)
That the fearful consequences in [?] maybe called penal
& they are surely a punishment, the natural outcome of
a certain cause - but they are not vindictive & indeed
by no theological fiction can a revengeful wrath be
proved against God. The result of sin due to a
violation of the laws of God & nature may be
fearful & sometimes tragic but they are divinely ordained
EN