Question 16

Was Adam only concerned in the Covenant of Life, God made with him in the state of Innocency?

No, for the Covenant was not made with Adam for himself only, but for his Posterity also.^a

Did all mankind sin in Adam, and fall with him in his first transgression?

All mankind descending from Adam by ordinary Generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.

How manifold is Generation?

Twofold, ordinary and extraordinary.

What do you mean by extraordinary Generation?

That of Jesus Christ whereby he was conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the Womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her without sin.

What by ordinary?

That whereby all mankind else came into the world, in a natural way from man and woman, under sin.^b

How could all the Posterity of Adam, being then unborn, sin in him, and fall with him in his first transgression?

1. They were in him representatively; Adam was the common head and representative of all mankind.^c 2. They were in him virtually, they were in his loyns. And as Levi is said to pay tithes in Abraham, when only in his loyns, Heb. 7. 9, 10. so Adams Posterity sinned in his loyns.

And is this the reason, why all mankind sinned in Adam, and fell with him, because the Covenant was made with him, not only for himself, but also for his Posterity?

Yes.^d