Of Original Sin
A. That no man hath any cause or reason to boast of the goodness, of his nature, since the best were by nature under the same sin and misery as the worst; Eph. 2:3. Among whom also, we all had our conversation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath even as others.
Of Original Sin Quest. 17. INTO what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A. The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery.
Quest. 18. WHEREIN consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin, together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.
Q. 1. How many sorts of sins are all men under?
A. All men are guilty before God of two sorts of sin; of original, and of 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. 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 public person, and representative of all mankind: Rom.
5:15, 16, 17. But not as the offence, so also 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, Jesus 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 loins, as treason stains the blood of the posterity, or parents leprosy the children: Psalm. 51:5. Behold, I was shapen 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 aversion 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 mere 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 Thess. 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 Jesus 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 sepulchre, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of