Ibid.—Or can anyone taste that which, being tasted, brings death? (Job 6:6). 9. The law tasted carnally was formerly deadly.—For the law tasted carnally brought death, because it constrained the offences of transgressors with hard chastisement; it brought death, because both by the precept it made the fault known, and did not blot it out by grace, Paul testifying, who says: 'The law brought nothing to perfection' (Heb. 7:19). And again: 'The law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.' And a little after: 'Sin, that it might appear sin, wrought death in me by that which is good' (Rom. 7:12-13).
But the Gentile world, being converted to Christ, because it understands that He resounds through the words of the law, being straitened by its own desires, spiritually seeks Him whom it vehemently loves amid the carnal precepts. [Old Vulgate V, Recension VI] Whence too, from the voice of the Church, through the spirit of prophecy, it is presently subjoined: