Wesley Corpus

Paul, “there” was “none” good or “righteous, no, not one;” every individual, whether Jew or Heathen, was guilty before God. “I conclude, therefore, (i.) That none of those texts refer to any corruption common to all mankind.” (Page 106.) Perhaps they do not, as spoken by David; but they do as spoken by St. Paul. “I conclude, (ii.) Such a general cor rūption as admits of no exception was not necessary to the Apostle’s argument.” (Page 107.) Absolutely necessary; had it not included every individual person, no person’s “mouth” would have been “stopped.” These texts, therefore, do “directly and certainly prove” that, at the time when the Apostle wrote, every individual Jew and Gentile (excepting only those who were “saved by grace”) “were all under sin; ” “that there was none” of them “righteous, no, not one; none that understood or that sought after’” God. This was the fact: And who can find out a more rational way of accounting for this universal wickedness, than by a universal corruption of our nature, derived from our first parent? 6. The next proof is, Eph. ii. 1-3 : “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein, in time past, ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; among whom, also, we all had our conversation in times past, in the desires of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Page 108.) (1) “Nothing is here intimated of any ill effects of Adam's sin upon us.” No ! Not if we are “children of wrath by nature?” (2.) “The Ephesians were Gentiles converted to the faith.” Yea, and Jews also. In this very passage the Apostle speaks of both ; first, the Gentile, then the Jewish, converts. (3.) “In these verses he is describing their wretched state, while they were in Gentile darkness,”--and while they were in Jewish darkness; the Jews having been just as wicked be fore their conversion as the Heathens.