The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 1 · sin · Subsection 2
2 What ſinne is.
SIn is a tranſgreſsion of the law, or, whatſoever is repugnant to the law, that is a defect, 1 John 3.4.or an inclination, or action repugnant to the law of God, offending God, and making the creature that ſinneth guilty of the everlaſting wrath of God, except remiſsion be granted for the Son of God our Mediatour. The generall nature of ſinne is a defect▪ The Logicians call it Genus, which is the more common nature of a thing, or the matter of it.or an inclination, or action: but to ſpeak properly, a defect is this generall nature; and inclination. or actions, are rather the matter of ſinne. The difference and formall eſſence of ſin, is a repugnancie with the law; which John calleth a tranſgreſsion of the law. The property, which neceſſarily cleaveth faſt unto it, is the guilt of the creature offending: that is to ſay, a binding of the offendor to temporall and eternall puniſhments, which is done according to the order of Gods juſtice. And this is that which they commonly ſay, that there is a double formality, or two-fold nature of ſinne;A two-fold nature of ſin: 1 Repugnancie with the law. 2 Guilt. repugnancy with the law, and guilt: or, that there are two reſpects, of which the former is a compariſon or a diſsimilitude with the law; the other, an ordaining unto puniſhment. An accidentall condition of ſin is expreſſed in theſe words, Except remiſsion be granted, &c. becauſe it ariſeth not out of the nature of ſinne, but it is by occaſion and accident, in reſpect of ſinne, that they who beleeve in Chriſt are not puniſhed with everlaſting death; becauſe (forſooth) ſinne through Chriſt is not imputed unto them, but remitted by grace. Now theſe are called defects: In the underſtanding, ignorance and doubtfulneſſe of God and his will: In the heart, a privation or want of the love of God and our neighbour, of joy in God, and of an earneſt deſire and endeavour to obey God according to all his commandements; and an omitting of inward and outward actions, which are commanded by the law of God.What corrupt inclinations are. Corrupt inclinations are ſaid to be ſtubbornneſſe of the heart and will againſt the law of God, or againſt the judgement of the minde as touching honeſt and diſhoneſt actions: or a proneneſſe and willingneſſe of nature to do thoſe things which God forbiddeth, which evill they call Concupiſcence.
That theſe defects and corrupt inclinations are ſins, and condemned by God, is proved,Three proofes that corrupt inclinations are ſins. Gods Law.Out of the Law of God, which expreſly condemneth theſe defects and inclinations, when it ſaith, Curſed is every one that confirmeth not all the words of the Law to doe them: and, Thou ſhalt not covet: which Law alſo requireth in men the contrary graces and faculties, I mean, a perfect knowledge and love of God and our neighbour.Deut. 6.5. John 17.3. Exod. 20.3. Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, &c. This is life eternall, that they know thee to be the only very God, &c. Thou ſhalt have no other gods before mee. Teſtimony of Scripture. Gen. 8.21. Jer. 17.9. Rom. 7 7. John 3.5. 1 Cor. 2.14. & 15.50. Rom. 1.21. & 8.6.By many teſtimonies of Scripture condemning theſe evils for ſinnes; The frame or imagination of mans heart is evill, even from his youth. The heart is deceitfull and wicked above all things. I had not knowne luſt (that is to ſay, to be ſin) unleſſe the Law had ſaid, Thou ſhalt not luſt. Death of Infants.By the puniſhments and death of Infants, who although they doe neither good nor evill, and offend not after the ſimilitude of Adams tranſgreſſion; yet they have ſin in them, for which death reigneth over them. And this ſinne is the blindneſſe and frowardneſſe of our nature towards God, of which we have hitherto ſpoken. 1. Object. That which is not voluntary, neither can be avoided, is not ſinne, neither deſerveth puniſhment: Defects and inclinations cannot be avoided by us: Therefore they are no ſinne. Anſw. The Major holdeth true in a Civill Court, but not in the judgement of God, before whom, whatſoever is repugnant unto his Law (whether it be in our power to avoid it, or no) is ſin, and deſerveth puniſhment. For Scripture teacheth both that the wiſdome of the fleſh cannot be ſubject to the Law of God; and that all, who are not ſubject to the Law, are ſubject to the wrath of God. 2. Object. Nature is good: But our inclinations and deſires are naturall: Therefore they are good. Anſw. True it is, that Nature is good, if you conſider it before the corruption. Geneſ. 1.31.All things were very good which God made. Even now alſo Nature is good in reſpect of the ſubstance, and being of it, and as it was made of God; but not in reſpect of the quality of it, and as it is corrupted. 3. Object Puniſhments are not ſinnes: But theſe inclinations and defects are puniſhments of the firſt fall: Therefore they are not ſinnes. Anſw. It is true, that puniſhments are not ſins, if we reſpect the courſe of Civill juſtice; but not ſo, if we reſpect Gods juſtice. For God oftentimes puniſheth ſins with ſins; which the Apoſtle eſpecially ſheweth, Rom. 1.27. 2 Theſ 2.11. For God hath power of depriving his creatures of his Spirit; which power his creatures have not.