9 And I lived sometime without law. His meaning is to insinuate, that there was a time wherein, to him, or with him sin was ⟨p. 85⟩dead. For it is not to be understood that he was at any time lawless: but this word I lived is very significant: because the absence of the law made that he lived, that is, being puffed up with the confidence of his own righteousness, he challenged life unto himself when nevertheless he was dead. That the sentence may be more clear, resolve it thus, when sometime I was without law, I lived. And I said, that this word was significant, because in feigning himself righteous, he claimed unto himself life also: This then is the meaning, when I sinned without knowledge of the law, sin was so drowned, that I did not observe it, and that it seemed almost to be dead. On the other side, I, because I did not see that I was a sinner, did please my self in my self, thinking that I had life at home with my self. For the death of sin, is the life of man: again the life of sin is the death of man. But the question is, what time it was,1 wherein by the ignorance of the law, or (as he saith) by the absence of the law, he did confidently claim life unto him self. For sure it is he was brought up of a child in the doctrine of the law: But that was a literal Divinity, which doth not humble his Disciples. For as he saith in another place, the veil was interposed, that the Jews could not see the light of life in the law: So he also, so long as he being void of the spirit of Christ, had his eyes covered, did please himself in the external show of righteousness. He therefore counteth the law absent, which though it were present before his eyes, yet did not smite him with a perfect sense of the judgement of the Lord. Thus are the eyes of hypocrites covered with a veil, that they see not how much this precept requireth, wherein we are forbidden of concupiscence. But when the commandment came. So now on the contrary he counteth the law then to come, when it began truly to be understood. The law therefore did (as a man would say) raise sin from the dead, because it discovered unto Paul, with how much corruption the inward parts of his heart abounded, and also did flea him.
9 And I liued sometime wthout lawe. His meaning is to insinuate, yt there was a time wherin, to him, or with him sinne was ⟨p. 85⟩dead. For it is not to be vnderstood that he was at any time lawlesse: but this word I liued is very significant: because the absēce of the lawe made that he liued, that is, being puffed vp with the cōfidence of his owne righteousnes, he chalenged life vnto himselfe when neuerthelesse he was dead. That the sentence may be more cleare, resolue it thus, when somtime I was without law, I liued. And I said, that this word was significant, because in faining himselfe righteous, hee claymed vnto himselfe life also: This then is the meaning, when I sinned without knowledge of the lawe, sinne was so drowned, that I did not obserue it, and that it seemed almost to be dead. On the other side, I, because I did not see that I was a sinner, did please my selfe in my selfe, thinking that I had life at home with my selfe. For the death of sinne, is the life of man: againe the life of sinne is the death of man. But the question is, what time yt was,1 wherein by the ignorance of the lawe, or (as hee sayth) by the absence of the lawe, hee did confidently claime life vnto him selfe. For sure it is hee was brought vp of a childe in the doctrine of the lawe: But that was a litterall Diuinitie, which doth not humble his Disciples. For as he saith in another place, the vaile was interposed, that the Iewes coulde not see the light of life in the lawe: So he also, so long as he beyng voyd of the spirite of Christe, had his eyes couered, did please himself in ye externall shew of righteousnesse. Hee therefore counteth the lawe absent, which though it were present before his eyes, yet did not smite him with a perfecte sence of the iudgement of the Lorde. Thus are the eyes of hypocrites couered with a vayle, that they see not howe much this precept requireth, wherein wee are forbidden of concupiscence. But when the commaundement came. So nowe on the contrary hee counteth the lawe then to come, when it began truely to be vnderstoode. The lawe therefore did (as a man woulde say) rayse sinne from the dead, because it discouered vnto Paule, with howe muche corruption the inwarde partes of his heart abounded, and also did flea him.
- 12. Cor. 3.14. how paul being brought up of a child in the doctrine of the law is said to have lived sometime without law.2. Cor. 3.14. how paul being brought vp of a childe in the doctrine of the law is saide to haue liued sometime without law.
