Q1. What is it perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

A. It is, from a nature perfectly holy, to yield constant and uninterrupted obedience to them, both in heart and life, Matt. 22:37, 39.

Q2. Was ever any man, in this world, able to keep the commandments of God in this manner?

A. Yes; Adam, before his fall, was able to give perfect obedience to them all, Eccl. 7:29 - "God made man upright."

Q3. Whether was Adam's ability to keep the commandments of God, concreated with him, or, was it a superadded gift?

A. It was concreated with him, as being made after the image of God, Gen. 1:27.

Q4. Has none, since the fall, been able to keep them perfectly?

A. No mere man has ever been able to do it, since that time, Rom. 3:9, 10.

Q5. What do you understand by a mere man?

A. One who is no more than a man; and all Adam's family, descending from him by ordinary generation, are only mere men, Acts 17:26.

Q6. Why is the limitation of no mere man inserted in the answer?

A. That Christ might be excepted, who is infinitely more than a man, being IMMANUEL, "God with us," Matt. 1:23.

Q7. Why should HE be excepted?

A. Because he not only yielded perfect obedience to the law in our nature, but an obedience meritorious of life, for all his spiritual seed, Matt. 3:15; Rom. 5:17, 19.

Q8. Do not the saints, in this life, keep the commandments of God perfectly?

A. No; "for there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not," Eccl. 7:20.

Q9. Will they ever be capable of doing it?

A. Yes; when they come to heaven, where they are made perfect, Heb. 12:23; and where "the former things are passed away," Rev. 21:4.

Q10. Why are they not able perfectly to keep them in this life?

A. Because of the remains of corruption cleaving to every one of them, while in this world, Rom. 7:23; and from which they long to be delivered, verse 24.

Q11. But may not grace received in this life enable them to keep the commandments of God perfectly?

A. There is no promise of any such grace, nor would it be consistent with the gradual nature of spiritual growth, as the saints do not arrive at their full stature till they come to glory, 1 Thess. 3:13.

Q12. How does it appear from scripture, that the saints cannot attain perfection in this life?

A. The scripture expressly affirms, that "in many things they offend all," James 3:2; and it records the failings and infirmities of the most eminent of them that ever lived, such as Abraham, Gen. 20:2; Moses, Psalm 106:33; David, 2 Sam. 11:4, 15; Peter, Matt. 26:72, 74; and many others.

Q13. Do not the saints themselves ingenuously acknowledge, that they cannot attain perfection while here?

A. Yes; Job 9:20 - "If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse." Paul, likewise, Phil. 3:12 - "Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect."

Q14. But is it not said that Noah, Gen. 6:9; Hezekiah, Isaiah 38:3; and Job, Job 1:8, were each of them perfect?

A. The perfection ascribed to them, is only comparative; that is, they were more holy and circumspect than many others; but it cannot be understood of absolute perfection, as their sins and blemishes stand also upon record: Noah, for drunkenness, Gen. 9:21; Hezekiah, for ingratitude, 2 Chron. 32:25; and Job, for some degree of impatience under the rod, chap. 3.

Q15. If the saints cannot attain perfection in this life, why is it said, that they do not commit sin? 1 John 3:9 - "Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin."

A. The meaning is, they do not take pleasure and delight in sin, nor make a trade of it, as unregenerate persons do, who are therefore called "the workers of iniquity," Psalm 125:5.

Q16. Is not the perfection of sincerity attainable by the saints?

A. They may attain to a very high and eminent degree of sincerity in this world, Psalm 18:23; 2 Cor. 1:12; but the absolute perfection of this, or any other grace, is not to be expected by them, till they come to heaven, 1 Cor. 13:12.

Q17. Will they not be accepted upon such sincerity as they can attain to, though short of the perfection required in the law?

A. Their acceptance before God is not founded on their sincerity, or any other branch of their sanctification; but solely in their justification, by which the "righteousness of the law" is fulfilled in them, in virtue of the surety righteousness imputed to them, Rom. 8:4; and thus they are "accepted in the Beloved," Eph. 1:6.

Q18. Since none of mankind are able, in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, how often does the answer say that they break them?

A. It says that they break them daily or continually, Gen. 6:5.

Q19. In what do they daily break them?

A. They do it in thought, word, and deed.

Q20. Is there any other possible way of breaking the commandments of God?

A. No; there is no other way of breaking any of them, (as to actual transgression,) than either in our thoughts, words, or deeds; and our doing so, in all these respects, shows the justice of that charge which the Lord has against every one of us, Jer. 3:5 - "Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst."

Q21. How do we break the commandments of God in our THOUGHTS?

A. When our thoughts are sinfully employed either with reference to God, ourselves, or our neighbours.

Q22. When are our thoughts sinfully employed about God?

A. When they are entertaining unworthy and unbecoming notions and conceptions of him, Psalm 50:21, and 94:7, such as reflect dishonour upon his perfections and providence, Zeph. 1:12; or such as are inconsistent with the discovery he has made of himself, as being "in Christ reconciling the world to himself," 2 Cor. 5:19.

Q23. When are our thoughts sinfully exercised about ourselves?

A. When they are gratifying our pride, Obadiah ver. 3, ambition, Isaiah 14:13, 14, and self-applause, Rom. 12:3.

Q24. When are they sinfully employed about our neighbours?

A. When they are meditating and indulging envy, Gen. 4:15; reproach, Jer. 20:10; or revenge against them, Gen. 27:41.

Q25. What is the aggravating evil and malignity of sinful thoughts?

A. The evil and malignity of them consists in this, that they are the immediate source and spring from whence all our sinful words and deeds flow; "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," Matt. 12:34.

Q26. What is the proper remedy and antidote against sinful thoughts?

A. The Spirit's taking the things of Christ, and showing them unto us, John 16:14, by which they will become the subject matter of our meditation and highest esteem: "for where the treasure is, there will be the heart also," Matt. 6:21.

Q27. How do men break the commandments of God by their WORDS?

A. When, besides idle and unprofitable words, Matt. 12:36, they utter such as are more directly dishonouring to God, Psalm 73:9, 11, and hurtful and prejudicial to themselves and others, Psalm 140:3.

Q28. How do they break them by their DEEDS?

A. When those sins are committed, which have been conceived in the thought, and uttered by the tongue; being inconceivably more than can be condescended upon, "for, innumerable evils have compassed us about," Psalm 40:12.

Q29. What may we learn from man's inability to keep the commandments perfectly in this life?

A. That we must be wholly indebted to the free grace of God, for salvation and eternal life, Titus 3:5, and not to any thing in ourselves, who are, at best, but unprofitable servants, Luke 17:10.

Q1. Wherein does the perfect keeping of God's law consist?

A. It consists in the perfect and constant conformity of the internal arid external actions of heart and life, to every command of God; Galatians 3:10. Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Matthew 22:37, 38, 39. Jesus said unto them, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Q2. But if a man commit no external act against the law, may he not be said perfectly to keep it, although in mind or thought he should trangress?

A. No; for an inward motion of sin in the hearty that never breaks forth into act, is a violation of the law, and brings the soul under the curse of it; Matthew 5:21, 22. You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill: And whoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you, that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment, etc. And verse 27, 28. You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery. But I say unto you, that whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Q3. May not a man keep the law if he keep some of its commands, though he cannot keep every one of them punctually?

A. No, he cannot; for the transgression of any one command in the least degree, is a breach of all, and brings the curse of the whole upon a man's soul; James 2:10. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Q4. Was the law never kept by any since it was made?

A. Yes, Adam in his innocent state kept it; for he was made upright; Ecclesiastes 7:29. God made man upright, etc. And Christ perfectly kept it; Matthew 5:17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Q5. What is the first reason why no mere man in this life can fulfill and keep the law of God perfectly?

A. It is because the law of God is perfect, and the best of men in this life are imperfect; Psalm 19:7. The law of the Lord is perfect, etc. Ecclesiastes 7:20. For there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not.

Q6. But may not men perfectly keep it when regenerate, and born of God?

A. No; because even in the regenerate there is a law of sin, which wars against the law of God; Galatians 5:17. For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, etc. Romans 7:22, 23. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, etc. And though they are said not to sin, 1 John 3:9. Whoever is born of God, does not commit sin, etc. That is not to be taken absolutely, but comparatively, as they once did, and others still do.

Q7. But did not Christ command the young man to keep the law?

A. It is true that Christ did put the young man upon this task; Matthew 19:17. If you will enter into life, keep the commandments. But it was not on a supposition that he was able to do it; but to convince him of the impossibility of justification that way.

Q8. But does not the apostle say, that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in believers?

A. It is true that the apostle does say, Romans 8:4 but the meaning is not, that we fulfill it in our own persons, by our complete obedience to it; but it is fulfilled in us, by our union with Christ, who perfectly kept it; and the righteousness of the law, which is in Christ, becomes ours, by God's imputation of it to us; Romans 4:23, 24. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

Q9. What is the first inference from hence?

A. That justification by our own works is utterly impossible to the holiest of men; Galatians 2:16. For by the works of the law no flesh can be justified; Psalm 103:3. If you, Lord, should mark iniquities; O Lord, who shall stand?

Q10. What is the second inference from hence?

A. Hence we learn what an infinite mercy it is, that God sent Jesus Christ made under the law; Galatians 4:4, 5. But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, etc. To do that for us we could never do for ourselves; Romans 8:3, 4. 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; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us; who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Q11. What is the third inference from hence?

A. That the dreadful curse must needs lie on all unbelievers that are out of Christ; John 3:36. He who believes not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him. And seek their justification by the deeds of the law; Galatians 3:10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse, etc.

Q12. What is the fourth inference from hence?

A. That a deluge of sin and misery brake in upon the whole world by the fall of Adam, and all his posterity being by him plunged under both; Romans 5:12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Q13. What is the fifth inference from hence?

A. That the Popish doctrines of merits, and works of supererogation, are false and groundless doctrines, springing out of the ignorance and pride of man's heart.

Q14. What is the last inference from hence?

A. That all God's people should sigh under their unhappy necessity of sinning; Romans 7:24. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death! And long to be with Christ in the perfect state; Hebrews 12:23. And to the spirits of just men made perfect. Of the inequality of Sin

Q1. Are any in this world perfectly free from sin?

A. No: For there is no man that sinneth not, 2 Chron. 6:36.

Q2. Was Christ, who was not a mere man, perfect?

A. Yes: He knew no sin, 2 Cor. 5:21.

Q3. Was Adam before the fall perfect?

A. Yes: For God made man upright, Eccl. 7:29.

Q4. Are the saints in the other life perfect?

A. Yes: The glorious church is without spot or wrinkle, Eph. 5:27.

Q5. But is any mere man since the fall in this life perfect?

A. No: For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not, Eccl. 7:20.

Q6. Are self-justifiers self-deceivers?

A. Yes: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 1 John 1:8.

Q7. And do they put a great affront upon God?

A. Yes: For if we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, 1 John 1:10.

Q8. Are not we able to keep God's commandments better than we do?

A. Yes: If I have done iniquity, I will do no more, Job 34:32.

Q9. But are we able perfectly to keep them?

A. No: For when I would do good, evil is present with me, Rom. 7:21.

Q10. Though Noah was said to be perfect, yet did not he sin?

A. Yes: For he drank of the wine, and was drunk, Gen. 9:21.

Q11. And Job?

A. Yes: For he cursed his day, Job 3:1.

Q12. And Hezekiah?

A. Yes: For his heart was lifted up, 2 Chron. 32:25.

Q13. Was St Paul himself perfect?

A. No: Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, Phil. 3:12.

Q14. Do we sin daily?

A. Yes: In many things we offend all, Jam. 3:2.

Q15. Do we daily sin in thought?

A. Yes: For, The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, Gen. 8:21.

Q16. Are we guilty of many tongue sins?

A. Yes: In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, Prov. 10:19.

Q17. Are the best guilty of many defects?

A. Yes: For when the spirit is willing the flesh is weak, Matt. 26:41.

Q18. And of many inadvertencies?

A. Yes: They are overtaken in a fault, Gal. 6:1.

Q19. Can we tell how often we offend?

A. No: Who can understand his errors? Ps. 19:13.

Q20. Should we not therefore have recourse to Christ daily by faith and repentance?

A. Yes: If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, 1 John 2:1.