Q84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.
Q1. What do you understand by the desert or demerit of sin?
A. It is that in the nature of sin, which of itself deserves all that wrath and curse, which God, in his infinite justice, has entailed upon it, Gal. 3:10.
Q2. What is it in the nature of sin, which, of itself, deserves this wrath and curse?
A. It is the opposition, and contrariety of it to the holiness of God expressed in his law, Hab. 1:13; which is the very thing that constitutes the enormity, or heinousness of it, Jer. 44:4.
Q3. Can wrath be ascribed to God as it is a passion?
A. No; for all passions, properly speaking, are inconsistent with God's absolute unchangeableness, Mal. 3:6, and independency, Acts 14:15.
Q4. What then is to be understood by God's wrath?
A. That most pure and undisturbed act of his will, which produces most dreadful effects against the sinner, Isaiah 33:14.
Q5. What are these dreadful effects, which the wrath of God produces against the sinner?
A. All the miseries of this life, death itself, and the pains of hell for ever.106
Q6. Is the desert of sin separable from the nature of it?
A. No; as sin is the very opposite of God's holy nature and righteous law, it cannot but deserve his wrath and curse, Rom. 6:23.
Q7. If every sin deserves God's wrath and curse, must not the sins of believers deserve the same likewise?
A. Whatever be the desert of their sin, their persons can never be exposed, or liable to God's vindictive wrath, either in this life, or that which is to come, Zeph. 3:17; Hos. 13:14.
Q8. Why cannot the persons of believers be liable to the wrath and curse of God?
A. Because of their union with Christ, Rom. 8:1, who has fulfilled all righteousness for them, ver. 33, 34; or answered all the demands of law and justice in their room and stead, chap. 4:25.
Q9. What do the Papists mean by venial sins?
A. Such sins as are in their own nature so small and trivial, that they do not deserve eternal punishment.
Q10. Are there any sins in this sense venial?
A. By no means; for the least sin, being committed against a God of infinite perfection, must, on that account, be objectively infinite, and consequently deserve an infinite punishment, 2 Thess. 1:9.
Q11. May not smaller offences be atoned for, by human satisfaction or penances?
A. "Even the least sin - cannot be expiated, but by the blood of Christ," Heb. 9:22; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.107
Q12. What may we learn from the desert of sin?
A. The amazing love of God, in transferring the guilt and punishment of sin, to the glorious Surety, making "him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," 2 Cor. 5:21.
Q1. Wherein does the evil of sin principally consist?
A. It consists principally in the offence it gives, and the wrong it does to God; Psalm 51:4. Against you, you only have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight.
Q2. What is the first offence and wrong sin does to God?
A. It consists in its enmity to God; Romans 8:7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, etc. Expressed in scripture by walking contrary to him; Leviticus 26:40. They have also walked contrary to me. Fighting against God; Acts 5:39. Lest haply you be even found to fight against God. And resisting his Spirit; Acts 7:51. You do always resist the Holy Spirit.
Q3. Wherein is its enmity to God further discovered in scripture?
A. It is discovered under the names and notions of hatred of God; Romans 1:30. Backbiters, haters of God, etc. Rebellion against God; 1 Samuel 15:23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, etc. And despising the commandment of God; 2 Samuel 12:9. Wherefore have you despised the commandment of the Lord?
Q4. What are the attributes of God that sin wrongs?
A. It wrongs all his attributes; for it slights his sovereignty; Exodus 5:2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice, to let Israel go? Resists his power; 1 Corinthians 10:22. Are we stronger than he? Despises his goodness; Romans 2:4. Or Despise you the riches of his goodness, etc. Taxeth his justice; Ezekiel 18:25. Yet you say, the way of the Lord is not equal, etc. And clouds his holiness; James 2:7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name, by which you are called?
Q5. What does sin deserve in the course of justice from God?
A. It deserves all temporal and eternal effects of God's wrath, on the souls and bodies of sinners, all which in scripture go under the name of death; Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, etc.
Q6. Can these sufferings satisfy God for all this wrong?
A. No, they cannot; and therefore they must, and shall be eternal on the damned; Matthew 5:26. Truly, I say unto you, you shall by no means come out thence, until you have paid the uttermost farthing. Mark 9:44. Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
Q7. Shall all sinners bear the desert of their sins?
A. No, all that are out of Christ shall; but Christ has freed believers from it; John 3:18. He who believes on him is not condemned, etc.
Q8. But is it not hard, that sinners should suffer eternally for the sins of a few years?
A. No, it is not; for the evil of sin is not to be measured by the time in which, but by the object against which it is committed; Psalm 51:4, 5. Against you, you only have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight, etc.
Q9. What learn we from hence?
A. Hence in the first place we learn the impossibility of satisfying God's justice for the least sin that ever we committed; Job 7:20. I have sinned, what shall I do unto you? etc. Psalm 130:3. If you, Lord, should mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand?
Q10. What is the second instruction hence?
A. Hence we see the necessity of a Mediator between God and us; Psalm 40:6, 7. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, etc. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me.
Q11. What is the third instruction hence?
A. That the greatest suffering is rather to be chosen than the least sin; Hebrews 11:25. Chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
Q12. What is the fourth instruction hence?
A. It teaches us what an invaluable mercy the full, free, and final remission of sin is; Psalm 32:1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered, etc.
Q13. What is the fifth instruction hence?
A. It vindicates God in his severest strokes on sinners; Hosea 6. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets: I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and your judgments are as the light that goes forth.
Q14. What is the last instruction?
A. Hence we learn the infinite nature of Christ's sufferings; Romans 8:32. He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Of what God requires of us
Q1. Does sin provoke God?
A. Yes: Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly, Hos. 12:14.
Q2. Does it deserve his wrath?
A. Yes: According to their deserts will I judge them, Ezek. 7:27.
Q3. Does that wrath rest upon impenitent sinners?
A. Yes: The wrath of God abideth on them, John 3:36.
Q4. And is it just it should?
A. Yes: For when God renders to every man according to his work, he renders indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, to every soul of man that doeth evil, Rom. 2:6,8.
Q5. Does sin deserve God's curse?
A. Yes: Cursed is every one that continues not in all things written in the book of the law to do them, Gal. 3:10.
Q6. Can any avoid that curse?
A. No: For all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, Deut. 28:15.
Q7. Can a man bear up under that curse?
A. No: For it shall come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones, Ps. 109:18.
Q8. Can a man fortify himself against that curse?
A. No: For it shall consume the house, with the timber thereof, and the stones thereof, Zech. 5:4.
Q9. Does sin deserve God's wrath and curse in this life?
A. Yes: For these things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience, Col. 3:6.
Q10. And in the life to come?
A. Yes: For wrath is treasured up against the day of wrath, Rom. 2:5.
Q11. Does every sin deserve God's wrath?
A. Yes: For the wages of sin is death, Rom. 6:23.
Q12. Is any sin venial in its own nature?
A. No: For the blood of Christ is that which must cleanse from all sin, 1 John 1:7.
Q13. Does your sin deserve this wrath and curse?
A. Yes: If I be wicked, woe to me, Job 10:15.
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The Ten Commandments
The moral law and what God requires of man
Q39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?
A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
Q40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.
Q41. Wherein is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
Q42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
Q43. What is the preface to the ten commandments?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Q44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us?
A. The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.
Q45. Which is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Q46. What is required in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
Q47. What is forbidden in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.
Q48. What are we specially taught by these words, 'before me', in the first commandment?
A. These words, before me, in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.
Q49. Which is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Q50. What is required in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word.
Q51. What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word.
Q52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.
Q53. Which is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Q54. What is required in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works.
Q55. What is forbidden in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh himself known.
Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.
Q57. Which is the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Q58. What is required in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy sabbath to himself.
Q59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath?
A. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath.
Q60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.
Q61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations.
Q62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God's allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.
Q63. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Q64. What is required in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.
Q65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to everyone in their several places and relations.
Q66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.
Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.
Q68. What is required in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
Q69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour, unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
Q70. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q71. What is required in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior.
Q72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.
Q73. Which is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.
Q74. What is required in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.
Q75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbour's, wealth or outward estate.
Q76. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Q77. What is required in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name, especially in witness bearing.
Q78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or our neighbour's, good name.
Q79. Which is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.
Q80. What is required in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his.
Q81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.
Q82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.
Q83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.
Q84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.