Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them… We read of an ancient king, who being desirous to know what was the natural language of men; in order to bring the matter to a certain issue, made the following experiment: — He ordered two infants, as soon as they were born, to be conveyed to a place prepared for them, where they were brought up without any instruction at all, and without ever hearing a human voice. And what was the event? Why, that when they were at length brought out of their confinement they spake no language at all, they uttered only inarticulate sounds like those of other animals. Were two infants in like manner to be brought up from the womb without being instructed in any religion, there is little room to doubt but (unless the grace of God interposed) the event would be just the same. They would have no religion at all: they would have no more knowledge of God than the beasts of the field, than the wild ass's colt. Such is natural religion l abstracted from traditional, and from the influences of God's spirit. (J. Wesley.) Parallel Verses KJV: Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: |
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