Exodus 12:29-30 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt… 1. The first mark of spiritual death which I shall mention is that of living in any open and acknowledged sin; such as profane swearing, sabbath breaking, drunkenness, adultery, covetousness, and such like. 2. Another mark of spiritual death is a dependence in whole or in part upon ourselves for salvation. One of the first acts of the Spirit of God upon the heart is to convince men of sin. 3. A third mark of this state is, when under the preaching of the gospel, no change takes place in the life or conversation. 4. Another mark of this state is, a practical preference of the creature to the Creator, or of self to God. When the soul is quickened by the Holy Spirit, it makes God its chief happiness. 5. Another mark of those who ai e spiritually dead is, living without private and secret prayer. (J. H. Stewart, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. |