The principles of Christian Religion necessary to be known of all the faithfulThe principles of Christian Religion necessary to be knowen of all the faythful

What shall we say?¹ is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I knew not what sin meant, but by the law: for I had not known what lust had meant, except the law had said: Thou shalt not lust. But sin took an occasion by the means of the commandment, & wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. I once lived without the law: but when the commandment came, sin […], & I was dead. And the very same commandment, which was ordained unto life, was found to be unto me an occasion of death. For sin took occasion by y• means of the commandment, & so deceived me, & by the same commandment s•ue me.

What shall we say?¹ is the lawe sinne? God forbid. Nay, I knewe not what sinne ment, but by the lawe: for I had not knowen what lust had ment, except the lawe had said: Thou shalt not lust. But sinne tooke an occasion by the meanes of the commaundement, & wrought in me all maner of concupiscence. For without the lawe sinne was dead. I once liued without ye lawe: but when the commaundement came, sinne 〈…〉, & I was dead. And ye very same cōmaundement, which was ordayned vnto lyfe, was found to be vnto me an occasion of death. For sinne tooke occasion by y• meanes of the cōmaundement, & so deceaued me, & by the same commaundement s•ue me.

1. 1Rom. vij.

The sting of death is sin:¹ and the strength of sin is the law.