He  is  regarded  as  a  sinner  toward  whom  God's  attitude  is
no  longer  determined  by  his  sin.
Forgiveness  cannot  bring  innocence  back,  but  it  is  the
unspeakably  precious  gift  of  God  to  guilty  men.  He  can-
not undo  the  sin,  but  he  can  forgive  the  sinner,  and  thereby
open  to  him  the  free  action  of  his  own  grace.     Innocence


S/AT  257

is  impossible,  but  the  free  work  of  God's  grace  leads  to
results  more  precious  even  than  innocence.
How  far  does  forgiveness  annul  penalty,  and  put  a  stop  to
its  execution?  In  answering  this  question  we  must  recall
the  elements  already  mentioned  as  entering  into  penalty.
(i)    So  far  as  penalty  consists  in  guilt,  or  personal  blame
worthiness,  forgiveness  does  not  alter  the  facts,  for  nothing
can  do  that:   but  it  alters  the  relation  of  the  man  to  the
facts,  and  delivers  him  from  having  his  destiny  decided  by
his  blameworthiness.
(2)  So  far  as  penalty  consists  in  the  sense  of  guilt,  for-
giveness does  not  alter  the  man's  condemnation  of  his  evil
conduct;  but  the  sense  of  forgiveness  comes  in,  and  alters
his  sense  of  relation  to  the  guilt  of  his  evil  'conduct.  A
forgiven  sinner's  conscience  is  a  conscience  relieved  of  its
burden.
(3)  So  far  as  penalty  consists  in  the  disapproval  of  God,
forgiveness  annuls  it.  Forgiveness  is  the  withdrawal  of
God's  disapproval,  —  not  from  the  sin  but  from  the  man,  —
and  the  gracious  reception  of  the  man  to  the  sphere  of
God's  free  kindness.
(4)  So  far  as  penalty  consists  in  moral  deterioration,
forgiveness  itself  does  not  affect  it ;  but  forgiveness  opens
the  way  for  that  free  grace  of  God  which  works  new  life
and  renovation,  and  which  thus  checks  moral  deterioration
and  will  finally  overcome  it.
