Question 18

How many sorts of sins be there, wherein the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, doth consist?

Two, Original and Actual.

Wherein consists Original sin?

In three things, as 1. The guilt of Adams first sin.^a 2. The want of Original Righteousness.^b 3. The corruption of the whole nature.^c

What is guilt?

A binding over to punishment.

What do you mean by Original Righteousness?

That which Man was at first Created in.

What do you mean by the corruption of the whole nature?

That whereby the whole Man (Soul and Body) is utterly indisposed,^d disabled and made^e opposite to all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that^f continually.

How do you prove the universal depravity and corruption of mans nature?

Besides Scripture-proof, which is as express in this truth as any upon Record; experience it self will confirm it by our daily sinful infirmities, by our backwardness to those duties wherein we may enjoy most of God, and by our being Eftsoons led into temptation, and drawn into those very sins which are more especially cross and contrary to our natural tempers and constitutions.

But why is the corruption of mans whole nature commonly called Original sin, since that is not a Scripture name?

For three Reasons, 1. Because ’tis derived from Adam the Original of mankind.^g 2. Because ’tis in every one from his Original.^h It may say to every one, As soon as thou wert, I am. 3. Because ’tis the original of all other sins.ⁱ

What do you mean by actual transgressions?

The transgressions of our Life, which proceed from original sin.^j