A. That justification by our own works is utterly impossible to the holiest of men; Gal. ii. 16. For by the works of the law no flesh can be justified ; Psalm ciii. 3. If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities ; O Lord, who shall stand ?i
Q. 10. 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 ; Gal. iv. 4, 5. But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a w oman, made under the law, &c. To do that for us we could never do for our- selves ; Rom. viii. 3, 4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the like- ness 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.
Q. 11. What is the third inference from hence ?
A. That the dreadful curse must needs lie on all unbelievers that are out of Christ ; John iii. 36. He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him. And seek their justification by the deeds of the law ; Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse, &c.
Q. 12. 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 ; Rom. v. 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.
Q. 13. Wha.t is the fifth inference from Keuce f .
S56 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
A. Tk^at the Popish doctrines of merits, and works of supereroga- tion, are lalse and groundless doctrines, springing out of the ig- norance and pride of man's heart.
Q. 14. What is the last inference from hence ? A. That all God's people should sigh under their unhappy necessity of sinning ; Rom. vii. 24. O wretched man that I am, who shall de- liver me from the body of this death ! And long to be with Christ in the perfect state ; Heb. xii. 23.< And to the spirits of just men made perfect.
Of the incqualky of Sin.
Quest. 83. -A-RE all transgressions of the law equally heinous ?
A. Some sins in themselves, and hy reason of several aggrava- tions, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.
Q. 1. Whence ariseth the first difference of sin ?
A. The first difference betwixt one sin and another, ariseth from the immediate object, against which the sin is committed ; on this account, sins immediately committed against God, are more heinous than sins immediately committed against man ; 1 Sam. ii. 25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him : But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him ? And all sins of the first table are greater than those of the second : yet there are crying sins against the second.
Q. 2. What is the first sin noted for an heinous sin ?
A. The sin of murder is in scripture set down for an heinous and crying sin in its own nature ; Gen. iv. 10. The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto tne from the earth.
Q. 3. What other sin is noted for a crying sin ?
A. The sin of oppression is noted in scripture for a crying siri; Hab. ii. 11. For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. Especially the oppression of the widow and fatherless; Exod. xxii. 22, 23. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry.
Q. 5. What is reckoned in scripture an heinous sin against the rst table.
A. The sin of atheism, or denying the being of a God, is a sin of the first magnitude ; Job xxxi. 28. This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for I should have denied the God that is above. This was the sin of Pharaoh ; Exod. v. 2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel ^o ? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
Q. 5. What other sin is heinous in God's account ?
A. The sin of idolatry is a most heinous sin, and goes nearer to the heart of God than other sins do ; Ezek. vi. 9. And they that escape of you, shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be car- ried captives ; because I am broken with their whorish heart, which
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 25T
liath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols; and tliey shall lothe themselves, for tlie evils which they have committed in all their abominations. Jer. xliv. 4. O do not this abominable thing that I hate.
Q. 6. What is the most heinous of all the sins in the world ?
A. The sin against the Holy Ghost is the most heinous of all other sins, and shall never be forgiven by him ; Matth. xii. 31. All man- ner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men ; but the blas- phemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Q. 7. From whence doth this scripture aggravate sin ?
A. The Spirit of God in scripture aggravates and estimates sin, from the degree of light and knowledge men sin against; Luke xii. 47. And that servant which knew his Lord''s will, and ^^repared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many- stripes. John XV. 22. If I had not come, and spoken unto them, they liad not had sin : But now they have no cloak for their sin.
Q. 8. What is the second thing that aggravates sin ?
A. The more mercies any man sins against, the greater is his sin ; Rom. ii. 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and for- bearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of Crod leadeth thee to repentance ? And especially when it is against spiri- tual mercies, and means of salvation ; Heb. ii. 3. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? &c.
Q. 9. Are heinous and crying sins capable of forgiveness ?
A. Yes ; great and heinous sins are capable of forgiveness, upon true repentance ; Isa. i. 18. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Q. 10. From what fountain doth the pardon of all sins, both great and small, flow ?
A. They all flow from the free grace of God; Luke vii. 41, 42. And when they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. And through the meritorious, satisfying blood of Christ ; Eph. i. 7. In whom we. have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Q. 11. What is the first inference hence ?
A. Though some sins are more heinous than others, yet no sinner should absolutely despair of mercy ; for the vilest have been par- doned ; 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such were some of you : But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are jutsified, &:c.
Q. 12. What is the second inference hence ?