n the mind of Deity. If then in the omniscient mind of God,
to whom there is no future, they were chosen _in Christ_ before the
foundation of the world, then in his mind, they must also have been
pardoned before the world began. God never does a new act. By _pardon_
we are not to understand the clearing of a guilty man from deserved
punishment, but an entire deliverance from a disposition to sin. The
period, when we are to be released from sin, is through death, where
the earthly nature, with all its wants and temptations to sin, falls,
and the heavenly nature rises in incorruption and glory through a
resurrection from the dead. Is not this the day of redemption when we
are set free? Yes, so saith the Scripture. Well do not _redemption,
remission, and forgiveness_ mean the same thing? They do. Then our
_pardon, remission_ or redemption will be _realized_ through death and
the resurrection. We will produce the Scriptures "in whom we have
_redemption_ through his blood, even the _forgiveness_ of sins
according to the riches of his grace." Here forgiveness and redemption
are used synonymous, and are declared to be _through the blood of
Christ_--that is, through his death, as a sacrifice for sin. Sin
cannot exist beyond the sacrifice designed to take it away. He is
represented as taking away the sin of the world under the figure of a
_Lamb_. Sin will come to a finish, under the first covenant, exactly
where Christ said "it is finished," at which moment the vail,
concealing the "holy of holies," will be rent in twain, and the second
covenant be opened. If we step beyond what Christ has said, we may as
well give up the Scriptures, and trust to our own vain imaginations.
There sin will end; and that is _dismission_, pardon or redemption
from it. "O death! Where is thy sting? O grave! Where is thy victory?
The _sting_ of death is _sin_, and the _strength_ of sin is the _law_
--but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord
Jesus Christ."

Now, here it is represented, that our victory, over _sin and death_,
is _when_ we rise to immortal glory. Our _victory_ over sin is at the
_same instant_ with our victory over _death_; and who will deny that
our _victory over death_ will be at the resurrection? The objector may
as well deny our victory over _death_ at the resurrection, as to deny
our _victory over sin_ at that period. The whole is said to be
"through Christ." He was our "forerunner" and "first fruits" to
re