Human Nature In Its Fourfold State is a classic written by Thomas Boston, and this particular publication of it comes from the Banner of Truth.
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Human Nature In Its Fourfold State
It did not take long to understand why this book is still in print after 300 years. Boston’s writing style is able to serve both the pastor-scholar and the layman. It was truly a very easy-to-understand book that is also theologically deep.
Boston begins his book with these words:
There are four things very necessary to be known by all that would see heaven: I. What man was in the state of innocence, as God made him. 2. What he is in the state of corrupt nature, as he hath unmade himself. 3. What he must be in the state of grace, as created in Christ Jesus unto good works, if ever he be made a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. 4. What he will be in his eternal state, as made by the Judge of all, either perfectly happy, or completely miserable, and that for ever.
Thomas Boston, Human Nature In Its Fourfold State (37)
In this work, Boston works through those four states (innocence, nature, grace, eternal).
Not only is this book an absolute masterpiece when it comes to the theology of anthropology, sanctification, and glorification, but it is also a book that makes good sense of life as a fallen human (as well as life as a Redeemed human!). I mean it really makes sense of our lives from a spiritual and psychological vantage point. When one rightly understands the biblical teaching of sin’s effect on the will, desires, thoughts, etc., it provides a level of understanding that cannot come from anywhere but God’s special revelation.
But Boston’s discussion on both the grace state and eternal state are sure to leave the Christian with great hope and gratitude! For we are no longer under the dominion of sin! We have been transferred out of the state of nature and into the state of grace, and we also long for the time that we will experience the eternal nature. Boston is very pastoral and leaves the reader constantly more in love with Christ, for it is Him that we experience the reality of this new nature as it is worked in us by the Holy Spirit. Boston is top-notch when it comes to writings on human nature!
I also want to mention that there is a nice little biographical intro by a gentleman named George Morrison. It is only about 30 pages, but it’s a great introduction to Boston’s work.
Banner of Truth has produced a beautiful hardcover edition of this work. It’s a bright red, beautifully bound hardcover with a very nice white dust-jacket. The cover is one my favorite Banner of Truth covers (I’m not sure why…I like the simplicity and the color combination).
If I were to recommend a book to somebody on the topic of human nature, this is hands down the one I would look to. By all means, tolle lege, take up and read!
Disclaimer: My thanks to Banner of Truth for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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