+Lessons.+--1. _Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death._ 2. _Your adversary the devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour._ 3. _Because there is wrath, beware!_
Ver. 1. _A State of Sin a State of Death._
+I. There are some respects in which the death of the soul does not resemble the death of the body.+--1. It does not involve the extinction of faculties and affections. The dead body moves not, nor feels, nor acts. The dead soul still thinks and feels and wills. 2. It does not exempt from responsibility. The dead soul is commanded to repent and believe and obey. 3. It is not incapable of restoration on earth. The spiritually dead may become spiritually alive here.
+II. There are some respects in which the death of the soul does resemble the death of the body.+--1. In its cause. Sin. 2. In its extent. All men without exception. 3. In its consequences. The dead are utterly insensible, they fulfil none of the functions or duties of the living, they can be reanimated only by Divine power. Address: (1) Those who are spiritually dead. (2) Those who have reason to believe that they are spiritually alive.--_G. Brooks._
Vers. 1-3. _The State of Men without the Gospel._
+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.