Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, Question 17, 18 – Question 19
Of Original Sin.
Quest. 17. INto what Estate did the Fall bring Mankind?
A. The Fall brought Mankind into an Estate of Sin and Misery.
Q. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that Estat… whereinto Man fell?
A. The fulness of that Estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam…s first Sin, the want of original Righteousness, and corruption of his …ole Nature, which is commonly called original Sin; together with all actual Transgressions which proceed from sin.
Q. 1. How many sorts of Sin are all men under?
A. All men are guilty before God of two sorts of Sin; of Original, and Actual. Psal. 51.5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Eccles. 7.20. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doth good and sinneth not
Q. 2. How can we be guilty of Adam's first Sin?
A. We are guilty of it, because Adam sinned not only as a single, but also as a publick Person, and representative of all Mankind. Rom. 5.15, 16, 17. But not as the offence; so also … the free gift; for if through the offence of one, many be dead: much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one ma…, Iesus Christ, hath abounded unto many, and not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the judgment was by one to condemnation.
Q 3. How else came we under his guilt?
A. We are guilty of his Sin by Generation, for we were in his loyns; as treason stains the blood of the posterity, or the parents Leprosie the Children. Psal. 51.5. Behold I was shape… in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Q 4. Wherein doth it consist?
A. It consists in two things. First, In our aversation and enmity to that which is good. Rom. 7.18. In me, that is, in my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing. Secondly, In proneness to that which is evil. Rom. 7.14. But I am carnal, sold under sin.
Q 5. Is this corruption of Nature in all Men?
A. Yes, In all meer men and women, none exempted. Rom. 3.10. and 23. As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Q. 6. In what part of our Nature doth this Sin abide?
A. It abides in the whole man, in every part of man, both Soul and Body. Gen. 6.5. God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 1 Thes. 5.23. Now the God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ.
Q. 7. How is the Body infected by it?
A. In the readiness of the bodily members to further sin, and its temptations in the Soul. Rom. 3.13, 14, 15. Their throat is an open sepulcher, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poyson of Asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, their feet are swift to shedblood.
Q. 8. What learn we from Original Sin?
A. To bear patiently the miseries we see on our Children, and their death also without murmuring. Rom. 5.14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression.
Q. 9. What is the second Instruction?
A. It teaches us humility, and should be matter of confession and humiliation, when we sin actually. Psal. 51.5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Q. 10. What is the third Instruction?
A. It should provoke parents to use their utmost diligence for the conversion of their Children, who draw sin from them.
Q 11. What is the last Instruction?
A. It teaches us the necessity of Regeneration, and should provoke us greatly to desire it.
Of Man's Misery.
Quest. 19. WHat is the Misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell?
A. All Mankind by their Fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse; and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death it self, and to the pains of Hell for ever.
Q. 1. What communion had God with Man before the Fall?
A. Man then enjoyed the gracious presence and favour of God with him, which was better than life.
Q. 2. How doth it appear this was lest by the Fall?
A. It appears by Scripture-Testimony, That Adam lost it as to himself. Gen. 3.8 And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God, among the trees of the garden. And we in him. Eph. 2.12. At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
Q. 3. Was this the only misery that came by the Fall?
A. No; Man did not only lose communion with God, but fell under his wrath and curse. Eph. 2.3. And were by nature children of wrath, even as others.
Q. 4. Doth the wrath and curse of God then lie on all Men?
A. It lies on all the unregenerate in the world. Gal. 3.10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which is written in the book of the law, to do them. But believers are delivered from it by Christ. 1 Thes. 1.10. Even Iesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Q. 5. How are the miseries of Man by the Fall divided?
A. They are divided into the miseries of this world, and of the world to come.
Q 6. What are the miseries that come on them in thss world?
A. The miseries of life; as Sickness, Pain, Poverty on the Body, Fear, Trouble, Sorrow on the Mind, and at last Death it self Rom. 6. ult. The wages of sin is death.
Q. 7. What are the Miseries after this Life?
A. The Pains and Torments of Hell for ever. Psal. 9.17. The wicked shall be turned into hell.
Q. 8. What are the Torments of Hell?
A. Pain of Loss, and Pain of Sense. Mat. 25.41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire.
Q. 9. What learn you from hence?
A. The woful State of the unconverted. Miserable here, and miserable to Eternity.
Q. 10. What else learn we hence?
A. The great salvation Believers have by Christ from all this misery. Heb. 2.3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.