Question 89

1. Is sin against the body of man? Yes.

   “There is no rest in my bones because of my sin” Psalm 38:3

2. And against the soul of man? Yes.

   “He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul” Proverbs 8:36

3. Is it against his temporal interest? Yes.

   “If ye will walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you, and will bring a sword upon you” Leviticus 26:24–25

4. And against his eternal welfare? Yes.

   “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity” Matthew 7:23

5. And are all sins, though not alike heinous, alike destructive? Yes.

   “For he that said, do not commit adultery, said also, do not kill” James 2:11

1. Doth sin subject to the wrath of God? Yes.

   “Behold thou art wroth, for we have sinned” Isaiah 64:6

2. Is the wrath of a common man dreadful? Yes.

   “Cursed be their wrath, for it was cruel” Genesis 49:7

3. But may this wrath be appeased? Yes.

   “A soft answer turneth away wrath” Proverbs 15:1

4. Is the wrath of a king more dreadful? Yes.

   “The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion” Proverbs 19:12

5. But may this wrath be pacified? Yes.

   “Then was the king’s wrath pacified” Esther 7:10

6. Is the wrath of devils more terrible than either? Yes.

   “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, for the devil is come down, having great wrath” Revelation 12:12

7. But may this wrath be restrained? Yes.

   “He bound Satan a thousand years” Revelation 20:2

8. Is God’s wrath then infinitely more dreadful than all? Yes.

   “Who knoweth the power of thine anger?” Psalm 90:11

1. Doth sin expose men to the curse? Yes.

   “Ye are cursed with a curse” Malachi 3:9

2. Will this curse certainly come upon impenitent sinners? Yes.

   “All these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee” Deuteronomy 28:15

3. Are they cursed whilst they live? Yes.

   “Their portion is cursed in the earth” Job 24:18

4. And cursed in death? Yes.

   “Ye shall leave your name for a curse to my chosen, for the Lord shall slay thee” Isaiah 65:15

5. And cursed for ever? Yes.

   “They are nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned” Hebrews 6:8

1. Is the wrath and curse of God the due desert of sin? Yes.

   “Whose damnation is just” Romans 3:8

2. And of every sin? Yes.

   “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them” Galatians 3:10

3. But is there not a possibility of deliverance herefrom? Yes.

   “For God hath devised means that his banished soul should not be expelled from him” 2 Samuel 14:14

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