Wherein in time past ye walked
Sins and transgressions are a road or path, in which all
unconverted sinners walk; and this path is a dark, crooked, and
broad one, which leads to destruction and death, and yet is their
own way, which they choose, approve of, and delight to walk in;
and walking in it denotes a continued series of sinning, an
obstinate persisting in it, a progress in iniquity, and pleasure
therein: and the time of walking in this path, being said to be
in time past, shows that the elect of. God before conversion,
walk in the same road that others do; and that conversion is a
turning out of this way; and that when persons are converted, the
course of their walking is altered, which before was
according to the course of this world
meaning this world, in distinction from the world to come, or the
present age, in which the apostle lived, and designs the men of
it; and the course of it is their custom, manner, and way of
life; to which God's elect, during their state of unregeneracy,
conform, both with respect to conversation and religious worship:
great is the force that prevailing customs have over men; it is
one branch of redemption by Christ, to deliver men from this
present evil world, and to free them from a vain conversation in
it; and it is only the grace of God that effectually teaches to
deny the lusts of it; and it is only owing to the prevalent
intercession and power of Christ, that even converted persons are
kept from the evil of it:
according to the prince of the power of the
air:
which is not to be understood of any supposed power the devil has
over the air, by divine permission, to raise winds, but of a
posse, or body of devils, who have their residence in the air;
for it was not only the notion of the Jews F13, that
there are noxious and accusing spirits, who fly about
(rywab) , "in the air",
and that there is no space between the earth and the firmament
free, and that the whole is full of a multitude of them; but also
it was the opinion of the Chaldeans {n}, and of Pythagoras
F15, and Plato F16, that
the air is full of demons: now there is a prince who is at the
head of these, called Beelzebub, the prince of devils, or the
lord of a fly, for the devils under him are as so many flies in
the air, ( Matthew
12:24 ) and by the Jews called F17, (ayxwrd Nwhbr) , "the prince of
spirits"; and is here styled, the Spirit that now worketh in the
children of disobedience; by which spirit is meant, not the
lesser devils that are under the prince, nor the spirit of the
world which comes from him, and is not of God; but Satan himself,
who is a spirit, and an evil, and an unclean one; and who
operates powerfully in unbelievers, for they are meant by
children of disobedience, or unbelief; just as (atwnmyhm ynb) , "children of faith"
F18, in the Jewish dialect, designs
believers; and over these Satan has great influence, especially
the reprobate part of them; whose minds he blinds, and whose
hearts he fills, and puts it into them to do the worst of crimes;
and indeed, he has great power over the elect themselves, while
in unbelief, and leads them captive at his will; and these may be
said in their unregeneracy to walk after him, when they imitate
him, and do his lusts, and comply with what he suggests, dictates
to them, or tempts them to.
F13 Shaare Ora, fol. 4. 1.
F14 Laert. Procem. in Vit. Philos, p. 5.
F15 lb. in Vit. Pythagor. p. 587.
F16 Apuleius de Deo Socratis, p. 331.
F17 T. Hieros. Peah, fol. 21. 2.
F18 Zohar in Gen. fol. 21. 2. & 22. 4. & 27. 4. & 28. 2. & 35. 2. & 44. 1.
