Question 16

Did no man ever escape the Sin of Adam?

Yes, The man Christ Jesus did, and he only.^a For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.

Why was not Christ tainted with it?

Because he came into the world in an extraordinary way.^b Now the birth of Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

How doth it appear all others are tainted with it?

It appears by Scripture-Testimony.^c Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. And experience of the best men.^d I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me.

How came all men to fall with Adam?

Because all were included in Adam’s Covenant, as a Man’s Covenant includes his Children before they be born; or the treason of the father affects his posterity.

What infer you from hence?

The stupendious wisdom of God in sending Christ in our nature, and yet without the sin and taint of it.^e Christ the wisdom of God.

What is the second Inference?

Hence we learn the admirable love of Christ in taking our nature, with all the sinless Infirmities thereof.^f For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh.

What is the third Inference?

The necessity of our Union with Christ, in order to our participation of his Righteousness and Redemption.^g For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.

What is the fourth Inference?

Hence we learn the malignant and mortal nature of sin, in as much as our sin defiled and destroyed a whole world.

What is the fifth Inference?

That though all be not equally sensible of their need, yet one sinner needs Christ as much as another.

What is the last Inference?

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.^h Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath even as others.