A Catechism, Chapter 10 – Chapter 11
CHAP. 10. Of Sinne; the definition of it, and the distribution into Original and actual.
Q. WHat is sinne?
A. Transgression of the moral Law of God, by a Creature that is bound to keepe it?
Q. Why is sin said to be a transgression of the Law?
A. Because the Apostle Iohn doth expresly so call it a1 Ioh. 3. 4., and elsewhere it is said where there is no law bRom. 4. 15., there is no transgression
Q. Why say you that sinne is a Transgression of the law of God onelyonly? for are not Transgressions of the Lawfull commandements of parents and other Superiors, sins also?
A. Yes so farre as they tend to the dishonour of Superiors, such Transgressions are also sins; but the reason of that is because obedience to the lawfull commands of Superiors is enjoyned in the fifth commandement of the law of God, in which respect God is said to be the onelyonly Lawgiver Iam. 4. 12.
Q. But why doe you make sinne a Transgression onelyonly of the morall law, sith unbeliefe and Impenitency though they be against the gospel, are also sinnes, and so were violations of the Ceremoniall law that was given to Israel by Moses?
A. Violation of the Ceremonies by the people of Israel was a sinne, because the observation of them was enjoyned to that people in the second commandement of the moral law, like a… the observation of baptisme and the Lords Supper are now enjoyned to Christians by the same Commandement.
Q And why are unbeliefe and Impenitenci… sinnes?
A. Though these be directly against the Gospel, yet they are also sinnes when they are found in them to whom the Gospels comes, as being against the first commandement of the law, which enioynes obedience to God in whatsoever he hath shewed or shall shew to be his wil.
Q. Why do you make sinne a Transgression of the law by a creature?
A. Because God the Creator may do things forbidden in the Law, and yet not sinne, as to kill and destroy; because the law is not a rule to him but to us, his owne will being his rule, Eph. 1. 11. Ps. 115. 3.
Q. Why is it added, by a Creature bound unto it?
A. Because though Angels may sinne, yet many things in the law, specially in the fifth and seventh commandement are not applyable to Angels; and as for other Creatures, the Law is no rule to them at all.
Q. Who among men are tainted with sinne?
A. All that are meere men, none excepted Eccles. 7. 20. Rom. 3. 23. and 5. 12.
Q. How many sorts of sinne are there?
A. Besides that first offence of eating the forbidden fruit, there is the corruption of nature which is usually called originall sinne, and the sinnes of life which are usually called actuall.
Q. What is the nature of originall sinne? wherein doth it consist?
A. It consists in the losse of Gods Image wherein man was created at the first cRom. 7. 17. Eph 21. and 4, 18., and in a contrary vitiousnesse instead thereof dGen. 6. 5. and 8. 21. Rom. 7. 23.,
Q. What is the measure or greatnesse of this sinne?
A. It contaynes not onelyonly some one or few particular evils, but a masse of all iniquities, even the most abominable that can be named or Imagined Rom. 3. 12. 13. &c.
Q. How farre doth this sinne extend?
A. It overspreads the whole race of mankind as a contagious leprosie and epidemical disease eRom. 3. 10, 11. and 5. 12. and 3. 23., and infects all the powers and parts both of soule and body f1 Thes. 5. 23. Ier. 10. 14. Tit. 1. 15. Rom. 8. 7. Gal. 5. 24. Rom. 6. 19..
Q. How is this sinne propagated?
A. It is conveyed from parents to children not by imitation but by generation; Gen 5. 3. Psal. 51. 5. Iob 14. 4. Ioh. 3. 6.
Q. What do you understand by actuall sinnes?
A. All omissions of good g2 Eph. 3. 1, 2. mat. 25. 42, 43 &c. Iam. 4. 17.. and failing in the maner of doing it hIam. 4. 3., and all committing evill whether in thoughts iGen. 6. 5., words kMath. 12. 34, 36, 37., or deeds lCol. 1▪ 21. Isa. 59. 6., against any of the commandements of God.
Q. Who are guilty of actuall sinnes?
A. All the children of men mRom 3. 10. 11 &c. Iam. 3. 2. 1 Ioh. 1. 8. Eccles. 7. 20.; and they that sinne the least, yet doubtlesse would do more if the Lord did not restraine them nIsa. 37. 29. Hos. 2. 6, 7..
Q. But though all men be thus defiled with sinne, yet may not a naturall man doe some things that are good?
A. Hee may do things that are good for the act or matter of them oRom. 2. 14, 15., but his person not being accepted pGen. 4. 4., and hsi heart qGen. 6. 5. Ier. 17. 9.. so exceedingly corrupted, therefore all that he doth as it proceeds from him, is corrupt also and so most odious unto God rmath. 12. 33, 34, 35. and 15. 19, 20. Pro. 15. 8. and 28. 9.,
CHAP. 11. Of the Punishment of Sinne.
Q. SIth all the children of men are thus wofully defiled with sinne, what punnishment is due by reason of the Sinne?
A. In one word all kind of death aGen. 2. 17. Rom. 5. 12. and 6. 23., and Cursednesse bCol. 3. 10.. which in the particulars containes all the plagues that are written in Gods book cDeut. 28. 15. and 29. 20., and many more which are not written dDeut. 28. 61..
Q. What are the generall heads of those plagues?
A. They are temporall, and spirituall, and eternall.
Q. What are the temporall plagues.
A. The Cursing of the earth eGen. 3. 17, 18., and the Creatures made subject to vanity fRom. 8. 20, 21., and the bodyes of men become subject to plagues and paines and death gDeut. 28 21, 22, 27, 35, 48. Gen 3. 19..
Q. What else?
A. In name ignominie and reproach, both alive and after death hDeut. 28. 20, 37. Pro. 10. 7., and calamities in mens wives, children and friendsiDeut. 28 30, 41.
Q. VVhat other outward miseries are there?
A. In the outward estate poverty and losses kDeut. 28. 16, 17, 18, 38, 39, 40., and their very blessings to be turned into Curses lmal. 2. 2. Psal. 69. 22.,
Q. VVhat are the spiritual miseries?
A. The losse of Gods Image and all comfortable communion with him mRom. 3. 23. Eph. 4. 18. Isa. 59 2., with bondage to the divell nEph. 2. 2. 2 Cor 4. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 26., and a necessity of sinning omath. 12. 33, 34, 35. Ioh. 9. 35. Rom. 6. 16, 18, 19, 20..
Q. VVhat else are the spirituall miseries?
A. VVhen men are given up unto more sinn pPsal. 81. 12. Rom. 1. 24, 29, 28,as unto hardnesse of heart qexod. 9. 12., blindnesse of mind rIsa. 6. 9, 10.and strong delusions s2 Thes. 2. 11.,
Q VVhat is the eternall miserie?
A. Damnation and destruction in another world, 2 Thes. 1. 9. Iob. 5. 29.
Q. VVherein doth that consist?
A. In being deprived of all good, and in the contrary sense and feeling of evill.
Q. VVhat good shall the wicked be then deprived of?
A. They shall then be deprived of the favourable presence of God tmath. 25. 41. 2 Thes. 1. 9., of the joyes of heaven uLuk. 13. 28. Rev. 21. 27. and 22. 15., of the society of the Saints wLuk. 13. 28. Psal. 1. 5., and all comfort of the Creature, xLuk. 16. 24, 25.,
Q. And what evill shall they then have the feeling of?
A. They shall feele unspeakeable torment both in soule and body, Mar. 9. 43, 44, 45. Luk. 16. 23, 24.
Q. VVhat will be the effect thereof?
A. It wil cause weeping & gnashing of teeth yMath. 13. 42. Luk. 13. 28., the former through griefe and dolour, and both of them through indignation and despaire
Q. If they must be deprived of heaven, and of the presence of God and of his Saints, what place and company shall they be in?
A. They shall be in hell as in a prison z1 Pet. 3. 19., or deepe pitt aIsa. 30. 33., or lake that burneth with fire and brimstone bRev. 11. 8., and their company shall be no other but the divell and his Angels cMath. 25. 41..
Q. This punishment of the damned is in it selfe most dreadfull and terrible, but how long shall it continue?
A. The thing were something lesse grievous, if this misery would ever have an end; but this is the aggravation of it that it must be everlasting, 2 Thes. 1. 9. Matth. 25. 41. 46. Matth. 9. 43, 44.