But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Ver. 8. By the commandment] Not commandments. Papists abolishing, or at least destroying, the sense of the second commandment, by making it a member of the first, that they may retain the number of ten words (so loth are heretics to have their asses' ears seen) they divide this last; which yet Paul here calls the commandment; and sure he knew better than they the analysis of the law.
Wrought in me all manner of concupiscence] The more the law would dam up the torrent of sinful lusts, the higher did they swell. (Nitimur in vetitum.) Corruption doth increase and begin by the law. The more God forbids sin, the more we bid for it: as if we did sin on purpose to provoke God; as if God had need deal with us as he did in the story, who was wont to command the contrary when he would have anything done, because he knew they would cross him. Howbeit, although sin thus take occasion by the law, yet this is per accidens, as in the dropsy, it is not the drink that is to be blamed for increasing the disease, but the ill distemper of the body.