HenryWSC 18

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 18

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Are we all born under guilt? Yes: for all the world is guilty before God,
Rom. 3:19
. Does the whole race of mankind stand attainted at God’s bar? Yes: for the Scripture hath concluded all under sin,
Gal. 3:22
. Is this according to God’s rule of judgment? Yes: for he visiteth the iniquity of the fathers upon the children,
Ex. 20:5
. Is not God unrighteous who thus takes vengeance? No: God forbid, for then how shall God judge the world,
Rom. 3:6
.
Are we all born in sin? Yes: Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me,
Ps. 51:5
. Are we of a sinful brood? Yes: for we are a seed of evil-doers,
Isa. 1:4
. May we be truly called sinners by nature? Yes: Thou wast called a transgressor from the womb,
Isa. 48:8
.
Is there in every one of us by nature the want of original righteousness? Yes: there is none righteous, no, not one,
Rom. 3:10
. Is there in us an aversion to that which is good? Yes: for the carnal mind is enmity against God,
Rom. 8:7
. Is there in us a moral impotency to that which is good? Yes: for the carnal mind is not in subjection to the law of God, neither indeed can be,
Rom. 8:7
. Can we of ourselves do any thing that is good? No: for we are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing of ourselves,
2 Cor. 3:5
.
Is there in us a proneness to that which is evil? Yes: my people are bent to backsliding from me,
Hos. 11:7
. Are there the snares of sin in our bodies? Yes: for there is a law in the members warring against the law of the mind,
Rom. 7:23
. And are there the seeds of sin in our souls? Yes: For when I would do good, evil is present with me,
Rom. 7:21
. And is the stain of sin upon both? Yes: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,
Rom. 3:23
.
Did we all bring sin into the world with us? Yes: for man is born like the wild ass’s colt,
Job 11:12
. Is it in little children? Yes: for foolishness is in the heart of a child,
Prov. 22:15
. As reason improves, does sin grow up with it? Yes: for when the blade is sprung up, then appear the tares also,
Matt. 13:26
. Is it not a wonder of mercy then that we are any of us alive? Yes: it is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed,
Lam. 3:22
.
Is the whole nature of man corrupted by the fall? Yes: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint,
Isa. 1:5
. Is the understanding corrupted? Yes: the understanding is darkened, being alienated from the life of God,
Eph. 4:18
. Is that unapt to admit the rays of divine light? Yes: for they are spiritually discerned,
1 Cor. 2:14
. Is the will corrupted? Yes: the neck is an iron sinew,
Isa. 48:4
. And is that unapt to submit to the rule of the divine law? Yes: For what is the Almighty (say they) that we should serve him?
Job 21:15
. Are the thoughts corrupted? Yes: for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth,
Gen. 8:21
. Is the fancy full of vanity? Yes: vain thoughts lodge within us,
Jer. 4:15
. Are the affections corrupted? Yes: It is a carnal mind,
Rom. 8:7
. Is conscience itself corrupted? Yes: even the mind and conscience is defiled,
Titus 1:15
. Is the whole soul corrupted? Yes : the heart is deceitful above all things,
Jer. 17:9
.
Is this corruption of the mind sin? Yes: for it is enmity against God,
Rom. 8:7
. Have we it from our original? Yes: for that which is born of the flesh is flesh,
John 3:6
. Do we derive it through our parents? Yes: for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
Job 14:4
. Does it render us odious to God’s holiness? Yes: for the foolish shall not stand in his sight,
Ps. 5:5
. Does it render us obnoxious to his justice? Yes: for death reigns over them that have not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression,
Rom. 5:14
.
Does this original corruption produce actual transgression? Yes: for a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit,
Matt. 7:18
. Does it produce it betimes? Yes: for the wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies,
Ps. 58:3
. Does it produce it naturally? Yes: as a fountain casteth out her waters,
Jer. 6:7
. Does all sin begin in the heart? Yes: for when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin,
James 1:15
. Is it not necessary therefore we should have a new nature? Yes: Marvel not that I said unto you, Ye must be born again,
John 3:7
. Can we get to heaven without it? No: for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,
1 Cor. 15:50
.
HenryWSC 18