Question 87

1. Was Adam before the fall perfect? Yes.

   “For in the image of God created he him” Genesis 1:27

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

   “He knew no sin” 2 Corinthians 5:21

3. And are the saints in heaven perfect? Yes.

   “In their mouth is found no guile” Revelation 14:5

4. But is any mere man since the fall in this life perfect? No.

   “For there is not a just man on earth” Ecclesiastes 7:20

5. And have the best of men acknowledged this? Yes.

   “We are all as an unclean thing—and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away” Isaiah 64:6

1. Did the Father of the faithful sin through unbelief? Yes.

   “For he denied his wife, lest the Egyptians should have slain him” Genesis 12:12, 19

2. Was Jacob, a plain man, guilty of deceit? Yes.

   “For Isaac said, art thou my very son Esau? and he said I am” Genesis 27:24

3. Did the meekest man offend by passion? Yes.

   “For they provoked his spirit so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips” Psalm 106:33

4. And the most patient man by impatience? Yes.

   “For he cursed his day” Job 3:1

5. And was the wisest man guilty of the greatest folly? Yes.

   “For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods” 1 Kings 11:4

6. Did the most resolute of Christ’s disciples sin through weakness and fear? Yes.

   “For he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man” Mark 14:71

7. And did the apostle Paul, who so earnestly breathed after perfection, yet fall short of it? Yes.

   “I am carnal, sold under sin” Romans 7:14

1. Do the best of saints sin in thought? Yes.

   “Why think ye evil in your hearts?” Matthew 9:4

2. And in word? Yes.

   “Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right” Job 42:7

3. And in deed? Yes.

   “By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” 2 Samuel 12:14

4. Are they guilty of many sins which they know? Yes.

   “My sin is ever before me” Psalm 51:3

5. And of many more which they do not know? Yes.

   “For who can understand his errors?” Psalm 19:12

1. Are the saints sanctified in every part? Yes.

   “In soul, body and spirit” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

2. And yet are they sanctified but in part? Yes.

   “For God will perfect that which is lacking” 1 Thessalonians 3:10

3. Are they sincerely obedient? Yes.

   “Remember I have walked before thee in truth” Isaiah 38:3

4. But are they perfectly obedient? No.

   “For we cannot do the things that we would” Galatians 5:17

5. Have they a relative perfection in Christ? Yes.

   “We are complete in him” Colossians 2:10

6. But have they a personal perfection in themselves? No.

   “Look not upon me because I am black” Song of Solomon 1:6

7. Is justification then by our own works impossible? Yes.

   “For if thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity, who shall stand?” Psalm 103:4

Benjamin Beddome (1717–1795), pastor at Bourton-on-the-Water. Verses from the King James Version.