These words describe the state of the Ephesian Christians, who, before the glorious Gospel was preached among, and, through efficacious grace, embraced by them, were Gentiles. Like other pagan nations, they were professed Idolaters. They were worshippers, we are told, of the great Goddess Diana. _But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice, about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.--And when the town-clerk had appeased the people, he said, ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great Goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?_ But they were not further removed from the true knowledge of the only right object of all religious homage and praise, or more depraved in heart, than the heathen world, at large. _They were,_ says the Apostle, _dead in trespasses and sins._ This was their state before renewing grace had quickened them, and made them alive to God and virtue, to holiness and happiness. What is here affirmed of them, no one will dispute, is equally applicable to, and equally true of all mankind, in all ages and nations, before enlightened by a divine revelation and sanctified by the power of divine grace. For all the human race, throughout the world, are alike in this respect, as destitute by nature of the principles of holiness. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile--one and another. They are all, before interested in a Redeemer and sprinkled with his precious blood, without hope and without God in the world. They are _aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise._ As long as they are without Christ, they have no part nor lot in salvation. For without him, the great evangelical maxim is, there is no salvation. His name is the only one given under heaven among men, whereby we can attain to felicity, be pardoned as to our sins, or justified as to our persons. No man can come to the father without him. _Whosoever denieth the son, the same hath not the father: but he that acknowlegeth the son, hath the Father also._-- What is intended, in the subsequent discourse, is to prove that the world of mankind, merely by their own reason and wisdom, cannot attain to a saving knowledge of God: or that man has no principle within himself, antecedent to divine grace operating on the heart, which is adequate to all the purposes of his salvation, by whatever name it may be called.-- That we may do justice, as far as we are able, to this great and important subject, we will attempt to show-- I. How far, the light of reason, without a celestial guide, can go, in things of a religious and moral nature.----And-- II. Point out its insufficiency, in those respects, which are not only very important, but altogether necessary.----