Human Nature in Its Fourfold State
Human Nature in its Fourfold State is a 1720 book by Scottish Presbyterian theologian and philosopher Thomas Boston. It was extremely popular and influential in 18th century Scotland.[1]
Theory on human nature[edit]
Boston organizes human nature into four aspects: Primitive Integrity, Entire Depravity, Begun Recovery, and Consummate Happiness or Misery. They correspond to Augustine of Hippo's four own figured states: able to sin (posse peccare), not able not to sin (non posse non peccare), able not to sin (posse non peccare), unable to sin (non posse peccare).[2][3]
Impact[edit]
Sinclair Ferguson notes that "the book became virtually synonymous with the evangelical tradition in Scotland and could be found in many homes along with a family Bible, the Shorter Catechism, and a copy of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress."[4] Philip Ryken notes that it was "the most frequently published Scottish book of the eighteenth century, going through nearly 60 editions by 1800 and over one hundred editions in all."[5]
References[edit]
- ^ Yeager, Jonathan (2011). Enlightened Evangelicalism: The Life and Thought of John Erskine. Oxford University Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-19-977315-2. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ https://www.monergism.com/human-nature-its-fourfold-state-ebook M
- ^ https://hopecollege.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/11/Human-Nature-in-its-Fourfold-State.pdf HC
- ^ Ferguson, Sinclair (2016). The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters. Crossway. p. 29.
- ^ Ryken, Philip. "Thomas Boston (1676-1732) as Preacher of the Fourfold State" (PDF). p. iv. Retrieved 15 May 2022.