of our sins entirely depended ; so that if Christ be not risen, we must be yet in our sins.
Once more : The removal of our sins depends on our Lord's execution of his office. Our Lord under- took the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King; and though he did in part fulfil these offices on earth, yet he fulfilled them only in part ; the principal accom- plishment of them remained to take place after he should be seated in heaven : he was then, as the great Prophet of the Church, to reveal the will of God more fully, and teach by his Spirit those, who, for want of a divine illumination, could not com- prehend the truths he had delivered. As the great High Priest, he was to enter within the vail : it was not sufficient that the high priest offered the sacri- fice on the day of atonement ; he was also to carry the blood into the holy of holies, to sprinkle it on the mercy-seat, to offer incense, and then to come out and bless the people. So, our Lord was under a necessity of rising again, that he might enter into heaven with his own blood, that he might there present it before the mercy-seat; and that, after offering the incense of his continual intercession, he might, in due time, come forth to bless the people. As a King, also, he had only as yet asserted his kingly office and authority ; it was necessary there- fore that he should go to the right hand of God, and there sit till all his enemies should be made his footstool. Now, if he did not rise, he cannot execute any of these offices ; and yet upon the execution of them depends the removal of our sins : so then, if he be not risen, we are yet in our sins.
We see therefore, that, as the removal of our sins depends on the truth of his mission, the acceptance of his sacrifice, and the execution of his offices ; and as all these depend on his resurrection, we must, if he be not risen, be yet in our sins.
A third consequence that would follow from the denial of Christ's resurrection is, that they also who have fallen asleep in Christ are perished. Death to the believer is only as a sleep ; it has lost its sting :