+I. The moral state of wicked men resembles a state of natural death+
(ver. 1).--From the metaphor used in the text we are not to conclude
that all sinners are alike, for though all are in a sense dead some
are under a greater death than others. The metaphor is usually
applied to sinners of the most vicious character. When we speak of
human nature as totally depraved we mean only a total destitution of
real holiness, not the highest possible degree of vitiosity. In order
to denominate one a sinner it is not necessary that he should be as
bad as possible. Though natural death does not, yet spiritual death
does, admit of degrees. Evil men wax worse and worse, add sin to sin,
and treasure up wrath against the day of wrath.
1. _Sinners may be said to be dead in respect of their
stupidity._--We read of some who are past feeling, whose conscience
is seared, who have eyes which see not, ears which hear not, and a
heart which is waxed gross. Their hearts are like a mortified limb
which feels no pain under the scarifying knife.
2. _They are represented as wanting spiritual senses._--They savour
the things of the world, not the things which are of God. They indeed
love the effects of God's goodness to them, but they delight not in
His character as a holy, just, and faithful Being. They may feel a
natural pleasure in certain mechanical emotions of the passions
excited by objects presented to the sight, or by sounds which strike
the ear, as the artificial tears from the image of the Virgin Mary
will melt down an assembly of Catholics, or as a concert of musical
instruments will rapture the hearers; but they relish not the Word
and ordinances of God, considered as means of holiness and as
designed to convince them of their sins and bring them to repentance.
If the Word dispensed comes home to their conscience, they are
offended. They lose the music of the pleasant song and talk against
it by the walls and in the doors of their houses.
3. _They resemble the dead in the want of vital warmth._--If they
have any fervour in religion, it is about the forms and externals of
it, or about some favourite sentiments which they find adapted to
soothe their consciences, not about those things in which the power
of religion consists. As death deforms the body, so sin destroys the
beauty of the soul. It darkens the reason, perverts the judgment, and
disorders the affections. To be carnally-minded is death.
4. _They may be denominated dead as they are worthy of and exposed to
punishment._--This is called death because it is the separation of
the soul from God and heaven, from happiness and hope, from all good
and unto all evil. This is a death which awaits the impenitent.
+II. There is in ungodly men a general disposition to follow the way
of the world.+--"According to the course of this world" (ver. 2).
They, like dead carcases, swam down the stream of common custom, and
were carried away with the general current of vice and corruption.
1. _Most men have a general idea that religion is of some
importance._--Few can wholly suppress it, or reason themselves out of
it. But what religion is and wherein it consists they seldom inquire,
and never examine with any degree of attention. Such opinions as
flatter their ungodly lusts, or pacify their guilty consciences, they
warmly embrace. That scheme of doctrine which will make converts
without exacting reformation, and give assurance without putting them
to much trouble, they highly approve. The path which will lead men to
heaven with little self-denial they readily pursue.
2. _There are many who blindly follow the examples of the
world._--Whether such a practice is right or wrong they take little
pains to examine. It is enough that they see many who adopt it. They
would rather incur the censure of their own minds and the displeasure
of their God than stand distinguished by a singularity in virtue.
+III. They are under the influence of evil spirits.+--"According to
the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that worketh in the
children of disobedience" (ver. 2). The number of evil spirits is
very great, but there is one distinguished from the rest, and called
the devil, Satan, the prince of the power of the air. The manner in
which he works in the minds of men is by gaining access to their
passions and lusts, which he inflames by suggesting evil thoughts or
by painting images on the fancy. It was by the avarice of Judas and
Ananias that he entered into them and filled their hearts.
+IV. The wickedness of men consists not merely in their evil works,
but in the corrupt dispositions which prompt them to those
works.+--"The lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind" (ver. 3). The lusts of the flesh are the vices of
sensuality, as intemperance, uncleanness, debauchery, and excess of
riot. The desires of the fleshly mind are the lusts which arise from
the corruption of the mind in its connection with flesh, as pride,
malice, envy, wrath, hatred, ambition, and covetousness. Though no
man indulges every vice, yet every unregenerate man obeys the carnal
mind.
+V. The indulgence of carnal lusts and passions brings on men the
wrath of God.+--"The children of wrath" (ver. 3). A mind sunk in
carnality is incapable of rational felicity; it is miserable in
itself and from its own corruption and perverseness. If man subjects
his nature to the lusts and passions, the order of nature is
inverted, the law of creation violated, and the Creator dishonoured
and offended.
+Lessons.+--1. _If you have not abandoned yourselves to the grossest
forms of vice, it is because you have been placed under superior
light and enjoyed a happier education than the heathen._ 2. _Though
you may not have indulged all the lusts and vices which others have
done, yet if you are children of disobedience you can no more be
saved without renovation of heart and repentance of sin than they
can.--Lathrop._