Q. What is temporal death?—A. To have body and soul separated asunder, the body returning to the dust as it was, and the spirit to God that gave it (Gen 3:19; Eccl 12:7).
Q. What is everlasting death?—A. For body and soul to be separate for ever from God, and to be cast into hell fire (Luke 13:27; Mark 9:43).
Q. Do men go body and soul to hell so soon as they die?—A. The body abideth in the grave till the sound of the last trump; but the soul, if the man dies wicked, goes presently from the face of God into hell, as into a prison, there to be kept till the day of judgment (1 Cor 15:52; Isa 24:22; Luke 12:20).
Q. Do we come into the world as upright as did our first parent?—A. No: he came into the world sinless, being made so of God Almighty, but we came into the world sinners, being made so by his pollution.[4]
Q. How doth it appear that we came into the world polluted?—A.
We are the fruit of an unclean thing, are defiled in our very
conception, and are by nature the children of wrath (Job 14:4;
Psa 51:5; Eph 2:3).
Q. Can you make further proof of this?—A. Yes, it is said, That by one man came sin, death, judgment, and condemnation upon all men (Rom 5:12-19).
Q. Do we then come sinners into the world?—A. Yes, we are transgressors from the womb, and go astray as soon as we are born, speaking lies (Isa 48:8; Psa 58:3).
Q. But as Adam fell with us in him, so did he not by faith rise with us in him? for he had no seed until he had the promise.—A. He fell as a public person,[5] but believed the promise as a single person. Adam's faith saved not the world, though Adam's sin overthrew it.
Q. But do not some hold that we are sinners only by imitation?—A. Yes, being themselves deceived. But God's word saith, we are children of wrath by nature, that is, by birth and generation.
Q. Can you bring further proof of this?—A. Yes: in that day that we were born, we were polluted in our own blood, and cast out to the loathing of our persons. Again, the children of old that were dedicated unto the Lord, a sacrifice was offered for them at a month old, which was before they were sinners by imitation (Eze 16:4-9; Num 18:14-16).