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.