A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

In the third place, It's doubted how the Apostle could say, that he did not know lust to be sin, but by the Law of Moses, seeing that by the very Law of nature, even Heathens have condemned inward lusts, and unjust thoughts and plots, though but in the soul, and never put into practice. Aquinas makes the meaning of it, as if Paul's sense was, He did not know lust to be sin, as it was an offence to God, and a dishonour to him, because the Law of Moses represents the sinfulness of these lusts in a more divine and dreadful way, then the Law of nature doth. Grotius maketh the sense thus, Paul did not know lust, but by Gods Law, because the Laws of men punish nothing but sinful actions, never at all meddling with the thoughts and purposes of the heart. Beza expounds the expression comparatively, I had not known lust to be sin, viz. so evidently, so fully, so unquestionably, as I did when I understood the Law. But the general Interpretation is, That the Apostle speaketh here of his thoughts and knowledge, while he was a Pharisee, and it's plain by our Saviours correcting of pharisaical glosses about the Law, Matth. 5. That they thought the Law did only require external obedience, and whatsoever thoughts or sinful lusts men had, so that they did not break out into the practice of them, they were not guilty of sin, He did not then know lust to be sin, following the traditional exposition of his Masters, till he came to understand the Law aright.

In the third place, It's doubted how the Apostle could say, that he did not know lust to be sinne, but by the Law of Moses, seeing that by the very Law of nature, even Heathens have condemned inward lusts, and unjust thoughts and plots, though but in the soul, and never put into practice. Aquinas makes the meaning of it, as if Paul's sense was, He did not know lust to be sinne, as it was an offence to God, and a dishonour to him, because the Law of Moses represents the sinfulness of these lusts in a more divine and dreadfull way, then the Law of nature doth. Grotius maketh the sense thus, Paul did not know lust, but by Gods Law, because the Laws of men punish nothing but sinfull actions, never at all medling with the thoughts and purposes of the heart. Beza expounds the expression comparatively, I had not known lust to be sinne, viz. so evidently, so fully, so unquestionably, as I did when I understood the Law. But the general Interpretation is, That the Apostle speaketh here of his thoughts and knowledge, while he was a Pharisee, and it's plain by our Saviours correcting of pharisaical glosses about the Law,