Annotatio CLXXIV
”And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my iniquity.” — Psalm 50:3
Chrysostom, in homily 2 on the fiftieth Psalm, interpreting this clause, among other things inserts these words:1 “Where mercy is implored, interrogation ceases; where mercy is sought, judgment rages not; where mercy is asked, there is no place for punishment; where [there is] mercy, [there is] no inquiry; where [there is] mercy, the answer is [one] of pardon.” John Calvin, in the ninth chapter of his Institutes, abuses this sentence to overthrow the satisfactory penalties, which the theologians teach are most especially necessary to penitents.2 Reread Annotation 16 of this book.