A. The Neceffity of our Union with Chrift, in Order to our Participation of his Righteoufnefs and Redemption, 1 Cor. xv. 22. For as in Adam all die, fo in Christ shall all be made alive. Q. 8. What is the fourth Inference? A. Hence we learn the malignant and mortal Nature of Sin, in as much as our Sin defiled and destroyed a whole World. Q9. What is the fifth Inference? A. That though all be not equally fenfible of their Need, yet one Sinner needs Chrift as much as another. Q. 10. What is the last Inference? A. That no Man hath any Caufe or Reason to boast of the Goodness of his Nature, fince the belt were by Nature under the fame Sin and Mifery as the worft, Eph. ii. 3. Among whom alfo we all had our Converfation in Times past, in the Luft of our Flesh, fulfilling the Defires of the Flesh, and of the Mind, and were by Nature the Children of Wrath even as others. Queft. 17. I Of Original Sin. NTO what Eftate did the Fall bring Mankind? A. The Fall brought Mankind into an Estate of Sin and Mifery, Q18. Wherein confifts the Sinfulness of that Estate whereinto Man fell? A. The finfulness of that Eftate whereinto Man fell, confifs in the Guilt of Adam's first Sin, the Want of original Righteoufnefs, and the Corruption of his whole Nature, which is commonly called original Sin; together with all actual Tranfgreffions which proceed from Sin. Q. I 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, Pfal. li. 5. Behold, I was shapen in Iniquity, and in Sin did my Mother conceive me, Ecclef. vii. 20. For there is not a juft Man upon Earth, that doeth good and finneth not. Q2. How can we be guilty of Adam's first Sin ? A. We A. We are guilty of it, because Adam finned not only as a fingle, but also as a publick Perfon, and Representative of all Mankind, Rom. v. 15, 16, 17. But not as the Offence; fo alfo is 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 Man, Jefus Chrift, hath abounded unto many, and not as it was by one that finned, fo is the Gift; for the Fudgment was by one to Condemnation. Q. 3. How elfe came we under his Guilt? A. We are guilty of his Sin by Generation, for we were in his Loins; as Treafon ftains the Blood of the Pofterity, or the Parents Leprofy the Children, Pfal. li. 5. Behold I was fhapen in Iniquity, and in Sin did my Mother conceive me. Q4. Wherein doth it confift? A. It confifts in two Things: Firft, in our Aversion and Enmity to that which is good, Rom vii. 18. In me, that is, in my Flesh, there dwelleth no good Thing: Secondly, In Proneness to Evil, Rom. vii. 14. But I am carnal, fold under Sin. Q. 5. Is this Corruption of Nature in all Men ? A. Yes, In all meer Men and Women, none exempted, Rom. iii. 10. and 23. As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one, for all have finned, 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. vi. 5. God saw that the Wickednefs of Man was great in the Earth, and that every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually, 1 Thef. v. 23. Now the God of Peace fanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole Spirit, and Soul, and Body, be preferved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift. 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. iii. 13, 14, 15. Their Throat is an open Sepulcher, with their Tongues they have ufed Deceit, the Poison of Afps is under their Lips, whofe Mouth is full of Curfing and Bitterness, their Feet are fwift to shed Blood. Q. 8. What learn we from Original Sin? A. To A. To bear patiently the Miferies we fee on our Children, and their Death alfo without Murmuring, Rom. v. 14. Nevertheless Death reigned from Adam to Violes, even over them that had not finned, after the Similitude of Adam's Tranfgreffion. Q. 9. What is the fecond Inftruction? A. It teaches us Humility, and shou'd be Matter of Confeffion and Humiliation, when we fin actually, Pfal. li. 5. Behold I was fhapen in Iniquity, and in S.n did my Mother con ceive me. Q. 10. What is the third Inftru&ion? A. It should provoke Parents to ufe their utmoft Diligence for the Converfion of their Children, who draw Sin from them. Q1. What is the last Instruction ? A. It teaches us the Neceffity of Regeneration, and should provoke us greatly to defire it." Queft. 19. 19. Of Man's Mifery. W WAT is the Mifery of that Estate Man fell? A. All Mankind by their Fail loft Communion with God,. are under his Wrath and Curfe; and fo made liable to all Miferies in this Life, to Death itself, and to the Pains of Hell for ever. Q. Fall? What Communion had God with Man before the A. Man then enjoyed the gracious Prefence and Favour of God with him, which was better than Life. Q. 2. How doth it appear this was lost by the Fall? A. It appears by Scripture-Teftimony, That Adam loft it as to himself, Gen. iii. 8. And Adam and his Wife hid themfelves from the Prefence of the Lord God, among the Trees of the Ga den. And we in him, Eph. ii. 12. At that Time je were without Chrift, being Aliens from the Commonwealth of Ifrael, and Strangers from the Covenants of Promife, having no Hope, and without God in the World. Q3. Was this the only Mifery that came by the Fall? A. No; Man did not only lofe Communion with God, but fell under his Wrath and Curfe, Eph. ii. 3. And were by Nature Children of Wrath, even as others. Q. 4. Doth the Wrath and Curfe of God then lie on all Men? A. It lies on all the Unregenerate in the World, Gal. iii. 10. Curfed is every one that continueth not in all Things which are written in the Book of the Law, to do them. But Believers' are delivered from it by Chrift, 1 Thef. i. 10. Even Jefus, which delivered us from the Wrath to come. Q. 5. How are the Miseries of Men by the Fall divided? A. They are divided into the Miseries of this World, and of the World to come. Q6. What are the Miseries that come on them in this World? A. The Miseries of Life; as Sickness, Pain, Poverty on the Body, Fear, Trouble, Sorrow on the Mind, and at last Death itself, Rom. vi. ult. The Wages of Sin is Death. Q7. What are the Miseries after this Life? A. The Pains and Torments of Hell for ever, Pfal. ix. 17. The wicked shall be turned into Hell. Q. 8. What are the Torments of Hell? A. Pain of Lofs, and Pain of Sense, Mat. xxv. 41. Depart from me ye curfed into everlasting Fire. Q. 9. What learn you from hence ? A. The woful State of the unconverted. Miserable here, and miferable to Eternity. Q. 10. What elfe learn we hence? A. The great Salvation Believers have by Christ from all this Mifery, Heb. ii. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect fo great Salvation, which at the first began to be Spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him. Of the Salvation of God's Elect, and of the Covenant of Grace. Quest. 20. D ID God leave all Mankind to perish in the State of Sin and Misery? A. God having out of his meer good Pleasure from all Eternity, elected fome to everlasting Life, did enter into a Covenant Covenant of Grace, to deliver them out of the Estate of Sin and Mifery; and to bring them into an Estate of Salvation by a Redeemer. Q. 1. Are fome Perfons chofen to Salvation, and others left? And A. Yes: God hath chofen fome to Salvation, and paffed by others; as the Scriptures fpeak. See Rom. viii. 30. Moreover whom he did predeftinate, them he also called. Jude v. 4. For there are certain Men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this Condemnation, ungodly Men, &c. Q. 2. Did God chufe fome because he forefaw they would be better than others? A. No: God's Choice was not on forefeen Works; but meerly of his Grace, and good Pleasure of his Will, Eph. i. 5, 6. Having predeftinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jefus Chrift unto himself, according to the good Pleasure of his Will, to the Praife of the Glory of his Grace. Q3. Is this Election of God made in Time, and that according as Men use their free Will, or from Eternity? A. Election is an eternal Act of God before the World was, and depends not on Man's ufing his Free-will; as appears from Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chofen us in him, before the Foundation of the World, that we should be holy, and without Blame before him in Love. Q4. Shall all that be elected, be called, and faved? A. Yes, the Scripture is full and plain for it, Acts xiii. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal Life, believed, Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them be alfo called, &c. Q5. By whom are the Elect faved? A. By Chrift the only Redeemer, Tit. iii. 4, 5, 6. But after that the Kindness, and Love of God our Saviour towards Man appeared not by Works of Righteousness which we have done, but according to his Mercy, he faved us, by washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft, which he feed on us abundantly, through Jefus Chrift our Saviour. Q. 6. Is there no other Way of Salvation but by Christ? 12. Nei |