A Catechism, Chapter 9
CHAP. 9. Of the fall of our first Parents.
Q. YOu have already shewed the state of man in Innocency by creation, what things are to be dered concerning the state of corruption?
The beginning thereof which was the fall of our first parents, and the consequents of that fall in respect of sinne and punnishment.
Q. What Scriptures do prove that Adam and Eve did fall from that state of innoceney and purity where in they were created?
A. Many, but most especially the third chap. of Genes. Eccles. 7. 29. Isa. 43. 27. Rom. 5. 12, 18, 19. 1. Tim. 2, 14.
Q Who did fall?
A. First Eve a1 Tim 2. 14, then Adam bGen 3. 6., and in him all man kind cRom. 5. 12, 19. & 3. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 22.that proceed from Adam after the ordinary way.
Q. How did man fall?
A. By transgression d1 Tim 2. 14. Rom. 5. 15. 17, 18and disobedience eRom 5. 19:to the commandement of God, which was that they should not eate of the tree of knowledge of good and evill fGen. 3. 6. and 2. 17..
Q Wherein was this such a great offence? for it may seeme a small matter to eat an apple or other fruit forbidden.
A. This sinne was not small, but very great, as comprehending in it an heape and multitude of many other hainous evills.
Q What are some of those evils comprehended in this sinne?
A. There was great umbeliefe to doubt of the truth of Gods threatning, there was great Idolatry in preferring the counsell of Satan afore the commandment of God, and great blasphemy in yeelding to Satan, when he said God forbade them that tree because he did envy their happinesse.
Q. What evill else was there in that offence?
A. There was discontent with their estate, though it was exceeding good, abominable pride that would be like unto God, and horrible unthankfulnesse to sinne against God that had so highly advanced them.
Q. What further evil was in it?
A. There was curiosity in desiring to know more then God would have them to know; also also they sinned needlesly and wilfully, that commandement being so equall and easie to have beene kept.
Q. How may that appeare?
A. Because man then had no inward Concupiscence or corruption of nature, as we now have, that could move him to breake the commandement, nor was he any necessitated thereto through any want, having such variety and abundance of other fruits, whereof he might freely eat.
Q. What may be a last particular to shew the hainousnesse of this first offence?
A. Man shewed himselfe herein to be wretchedly carelesse of the good of his posterity, to whom in this act he was both unkind and Cruell.
Q. How may that appeare?
A. In that by this meanes he brought sinne and misery upon them all. Rom. 5. 12, 18, 19. 1 Cor. 15. 22.
Q. Why should this sinne of Adam bring the guilt of sinne and misery upon all his posterity?
A. Because he stood at this time as a publike person in the roome of all mankind, we being all considered in him as members in the head, as children in his loines, as debtors in our surety, and as branches in our roote.
Q. VVhat was the cause of this great and lamentable offence?
A. It was not any weaknesse or want of power in man to stand; for being made in Gods Image he might have stood if he would.
Q. You thinke then he was not compelled and forced to sinne and breake the commandment?
A. God was so farre from forcing him to sin that he gave him power to have obeyed, and threatned him with death in case of disobedience.
Q. But might not Satan compell him to it?
A. Satan could doe nothing against him by compulsion or constraint, and therefore doth onelyonly assault him by Crafty and subtill perswasions?
Q. VVhat then was the cause of this their sinne?
A. The principall cause was man himselfe in abusing his owne freewill, to receive the temptation, which he might have resisted if he would, Eccles. 7. 29.
Q How farre was Satan a cause of that first offence?
A. Though he could not constraine man to sinne without his own consent, yet he was justly to be blamed for that sinne of man, in that it was through his entisements that man was drawen unto it.
Q. How did he entise man to it?
A. By abusing the serpent to seduce the woman, and the helpe of the woman to seduce the man. Gen. 3. 1, 6.
Q. VVhat are the effects and fruits of his Fall?
A. By means of this Fall both the Serpent and Satan became accursed, and Adam and Eve and their posterity plunged into a depth of sin and misery. Gen. 3.