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DIAL. XI.
Verses 13, 14. For vnto the time of the law was sin in the worlde, but sinne is not imputed where there is no lawe. But death raigned from Adam to Moyses euen ouer them that sinned not after the like manner of the transgression of Adam.
WHat is the drift of this scripture?
He proceedeth in his purpose to proue all men (euen to the yong In fants newly borne) to bee through Adam sinnetull, by bringing in a secret obiection and answering it.
What is the obiection and how is it answered?
The obiection is this: there could be no sin nor sin∣ners before Moses, seeing there was no law, & where there is no lawe there is no sinne. This obiection the Apostle doeth answere two wayes; first by a distinction betweene* 1.1 being and reputing: sinne was in the world before Moses law, yet not so reputed and esteemed so vile and soule, see∣ing yet no law was giuen them. Secondly, hee prooues there was sin by the effects of sinne, which is death, where∣unto euen before Moses law, both olde and young were subiect; which is a sufficient proofe that then all men sin∣ned, death being the stipend of sinne.
Now expound the wordes and tell vs what is meant here by this, vntill the time of the law?
That is to say, all that time that passed betweene Adam and Moses, so expounded, verse 14. Death raigned from Adam to Moyses.
What is meant hereby, that sinne was in the world till then?
That is to say, men which liued in this world had sin in them as well before the law as afterwards.
But howe could that bee, seeing that yet there was no law, and sin is the transgression of some law, and indeede what law could be giuen to some of them, as to Infants which had no vse of reason?