Question 15

Why did God forbid our first Parents to Eat of this Fruit?

Not because there was any Intrinsecal Evil in the Fruit of the forbidden Tree, it being as indifferent in it self to eat of this Tree as any other Tree in the Garden; but God did forbid them to eat of the Fruit of this Tree to try their Obedience.

Could this Sin of eating the forbidden Fruit be very heinous, when the thing in it self was indifferent?

1. Though the Eating the Fruit was indifferent in it self, yet when so expresly forbidden by God, it ceased to be indifferent, but was absolutely unlawful and a great Sin. 2. This Sin of Eating the Forbidden Fruit was such a Sin, as included many other Sins, as it was circumstantiated.

What Sins did the Eating the Forbidden Fruit include?

The Sins included in our first Parents eating the Forbidden Fruit, were 1. Rebellion against God their Soveraign, who had expresly forbidden them to eat of this Tree. 2. Treason, in conspiring with the Devil, Gods Enemy, against God. 3. Ambition, in aspiring to a higher state, namely, to be as God. 4. Luxury, in indulging so much to please the sense of Taste, which did inordinately desire this Fruit. 5. Ingratitude to God, who had given them leave to Eat of any Tree of the Garden besides. 6. Unbelief, in not giving credit to the threatning of Death, but believing the Devil, who said, They should not Die; rather than God, who told them, They should surely Die, did they eat of this Fruit. 7. Murder, in bringing Death, by this Sin, upon themselves, and all their Posterity: These, and many other sins, were included in this sin of our first Parents Eating of the Forbidden Fruit, which did render it exceeding heinous in the sight of God.