Sect. 3. — The Sinfulness and Misery of Mankind by the Fall.
Sect. 3. — The Sinfulness and Misery of Mankind by the Fall.
Nom. And was Adam’s sin and punishment imputed to his whole offspring?
Evan. Yes, indeed; for the apostle says in Rom. 5.12, “Death passed upon all men, for all have sinned;” or, “in whom all have sinned,” that is, in Adam. The very truth is that by his fall, Adam threw down our whole nature headlong into the same destruction as his own, and drowned his whole offspring in the same gulf of misery. And the reason for this is because, by God’s appointment, he was not to stand or fall as a single person only, but as a common public person, representing all mankind that would come from him. Therefore, just as all that happiness, and all those gifts and endowments which were bestowed on him, were not bestowed on him alone, but also on the whole nature of man; and just as that covenant which was made with him, was made with the whole of mankind — even so, by breaking the covenant he lost all, for us as well as for himself. Just as he received all for himself and us, so he lost all for himself and us.
Nom. Then, sir, it seems that by Adam’s breach of the covenant, all mankind was brought into a miserable condition?
Evan. All mankind by the fall of Adam received a twofold damage: First, A deprivation of all original goodness. Secondly, A habitual natural proneness to all kinds of wickedness. For the image of God, after which they were created, was immediately blotted out; and in place of wisdom, righteousness, and true holiness, came blindness, uncleanness, falsehood, and injustice. The very truth is that our whole nature was thereby corrupted, defiled, deformed, depraved, infected, made infirm, frail, malignant, full of venom, contrary to God; yes, we were made enemies and rebels to him. So that, as Luther says, this is the title we have received from Adam: in this one thing we may glory, and in nothing else at all; namely, that every infant that is born into this world, is wholly in the power of sin, death, Satan, hell, and everlasting damnation. Indeed, says Musculus, “The whirlpool of man’s sin in paradise is bottomless and unsearchable.”
Nom. But, sir, I think it strange that so small an offence, as eating the forbidden fruit seems to be, should plunge the whole of mankind into such a gulf of misery.
Evan. Though at first glance it seems to be a small offence, yet, if we look more wistfully upon the matter, it will appear to be an exceedingly great offence. For intolerable injury was done to God by it; such as, First, His dominion and authority in his holy command was violated. Secondly, His justice, truth, and power, in his most righteous threatenings, were despised. Thirdly, His most pure and perfect image, in which man was created in righteousness and true holiness, was utterly defaced. Fourthly, His glory which the creature should have brought to him by active serving, was lost and despoiled. No indeed, how could there be a greater sin committed than when Adam, at that one clap, broke all ten commandments?
Nom. He broke all ten commandments, you say? Sir, I beseech you, show me how.
Evan. 1. He chose another God for himself when he followed the devil.
2. He idolized and deified his own belly as in the apostle’s phrase, “He made his belly his God.”
3. He took the name of God in vain, when he did not believe him.
4. He did not keep the rest and estate in which God set him.
5. He dishonoured his Father who was in heaven; and therefore his days were not prolonged in the land which the Lord his God had given him.
6. He massacred himself and all his posterity.
7. He was a virgin from Eve, but in his eyes and mind he committed spiritual fornication.
8. He stole, like Achan did, what God had set aside as not to be meddled with; and his stealth is what troubles all Israel — the whole world.
9. He bore witness against God when he believed the witness of the devil above God.
10. He coveted with an evil covetousness, like Amnon, which cost him his life and all his progeny.
Now, whoever considers what a nest of evils were committed here in one blow, must see with Musculus, that our case is such that we are compelled to commend the justice of God in every way, and to condemn the sin of our first parents. Concerning all mankind, we must say as the prophet Hosea said concerning Israel, “Israel, you have destroyed yourself,” Hos. 13.9.