Q. Do we come into the world as upright as
did our first parent?
A. No: he came into the world sinless, being made so of God Almighty, but we came into the world sinners, being made
so by his pollution.
Q. How does it appear that we came into the
world polluted?
A. We are the fruit of an unclean thing, are defiled in our very
conception, and are by nature the children of
wrath (Job 14:4; Psa 51:5; Eph 2:3).
Q. Can you make further proof of this?
A. Yes, it is said, That by one man came sin,
death, judgment, and condemnation upon all
men (Rom 5:12-19).
Q. Do we then come sinners into the world?
A. Yes, we are transgressors from the womb,
and go astray as soon as we are born, speaking
lies (Isa 48:8; Psa 58:3).
Q. But as Adam fell with us in him, so did he
not by faith rise with us in him? for he had no
seed until he had the promise.
A. He fell as a public person (ie: Federal Head), but believed the promise as a single person. Adam’s faith saved not the world, though Adam’s sin overthrew it.
Q. But do not some hold that we are sinners
only by imitation?
A. Yes, being themselves deceived. But God’s word saith, we are children of wrath by nature, that is, by birth and
generation.
Q. Can you bring further proof of this?
A. Yes: in that day that we were born, we were
polluted in our own blood, and cast out to the
loathing of our persons. Again, the children of
old that were dedicated unto the Lord, a
sacrifice was offered for them at a month old,
which was before they were sinners by
imitation (Eze 16:4-9; Num 18:14-16).
Q. Can you make this appear by experience?
A. Yes: the first things that bloom andput forth themselves in children, show their ignorance of God, their disobedience to parents, and their innate enmity to holiness of life; their
inclinations naturally run to vanity. Besides little children die, but that they could not, were they not of God counted sinners; for death is the wages of sin (Rom 6:23).
Q. What is sin?
A. It is a transgression of
the law (1 John 3:4).
Q. A transgression of what law?
A. Of the law of our nature, and of the law of the ten
commandments as written in the holy scriptures (Rom 2:12-15; Exo 20).
Q. When doth one sin against the law of
nature?
A. When you do anything that your conscience tells you is a transgression against God or man (Rom 2:14,15).
