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<p>The miserable condition of the Ephesians by nature is here in part described. Observed, 1. Unregenerate souls are dead in trespasses and sins. All those who are in their sins, are dead in sins; yea, in trespasses and sins, which may signify all sorts of sins, habitual and actual, sins of heart and of life. Sin is the death of the soul. Wherever that prevails there is a privation of all spiritual life. Sinners are dead in state, being destitute of the principles, and powers of spiritual life; and cut off from God, the fountain of life: and they are dead in law, as a condemned malefactor is said to be a dead man. 2. A state of sin is a state of conformity to this world, <a class="bibleref" title="Eph.2.2" href="/passage/?search=Eph.2.2">Eph. 2:2</a>. In the <a class="bibleref" title="Eph.2.1" href="/passage/?search=Eph.2.1">Eph. 2:1</a> he speaks of their internal state, in this of their outward conversation: <i>Wherein</i>, in which trespasses and sins, <i>in time past you walked</i>, you lived and behaved yourselves in such a manner as the men of the world are used to do. 3. We are by nature bond-slaves to sin and Satan. Those who walk in trespasses and sins, and according to the course of this world, walk <i>according to the prince of the power of the air</i>. The devil, or the prince of devils, is thus described. See <a class="bibleref" title="Matt.12.24,Matt.12.26" href="/passage/?search=Matt.12.24,Matt.12.26"><span class="bibleref" title="Matt.12.24">Matt. 12:24</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Matt.12.26">26</span></a>. The legions of apostate angels are as one power united under one chief; and therefore what is called <i>the powers of darkness</i> elsewhere is here spoken of in the singular number. The air is represented as the seat of his kingdom: and it was the opinion of both Jews and heathens that the air is full of spirits, and that there they exercise and exert themselves. The devil seems to have some power (by God’s permission) in the lower region of the air; there he is at hand to tempt men, and to do as much mischief to the world as he can: but it is the comfort and joy of God’s people that he who is <i>head over all things to the church</i> has conquered the devil and has him in his chain. But wicked men are slaves to Satan, for they walk according to him; they conform their lives and actions to the will and pleasure of this great usurper. The course and tenour of their lives are according to his suggestions, and in compliance with his temptations; they are subject to him, and are led captive by him at his will, whereupon he is called the god of this world, and <i>the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. The children of disobedience</i> are such as choose to disobey God, and to serve the devil; in these he works very powerfully and effectually. As the good Spirit works that which is good in obedient souls, so this evil spirit works that which is evil in wicked men; and he now works, not only heretofore, but even since the world has been blessed with the light of the glorious gospel. The apostle adds, <i>Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past</i>, which words refer to the Jews, whom he signifies here to have been in the like sad and miserable condition by nature, and to have been as vile and wicked as the unregenerate Gentiles themselves, and whose natural state he further describes in the next words. 4. We are by nature drudges to the flesh, and to our corrupt affections, <a class="bibleref" title="Eph.2.3" href="/passage/?search=Eph.2.3">Eph. 2:3</a>. By <i>fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind</i>, men contract that filthiness of flesh and spirit from which the apostle exhorts Christians to cleanse themselves, <a class="bibleref" title="2Cor.7.1" href="/passage/?search=2Cor.7.1">2 Cor. 7:1</a>. The fulfilling of the desires of the flesh and of the mind includes all the sin and wickedness that are acted in and by both the inferior and the higher or nobler powers of the soul. We lived in the actual commission of all those sins to which corr
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