Human Nature in its Fourfold State

A RECOMMENDATION, By the Reverend Mr. MICHAEL BOSTON, The Author's Grandson:

HUMAN NATURE in its FOURFOLD STATE, was the first production of my venerable Ancestor, introduced to the Public. It made its first appearance in the year 1720. Since that period, it has undergone at an average, One complete Edition every two years. Twenty thousand Copies of it have been exported to America, from one single City in Scotland, besides those that have been sent to the Continent from England and Ireland. The rapid sale of the Book upon its first Publication, is a demonstrative proof of the esteem in which it was then held: and the uninterrupted demand for it still, shows that the Principles it inculcates, are yet held in repute. All that I need further to add, is, That the present Edition is printed from that one Revised and Corrected by the Author himself, and may therefore be esteemed correct.

MICHL. BOSTON.

IT is a maxim among wise men, That the knowledge of persons is of as great use in the conduct of human life, as the knowledge of things: and it is most certain, that he who knows the various tempers, humours, and dispositions of men, who can find out their turn of thought, and penetrate into the secret springs and principles of their actings, will not be at a loss to find out proper means for compassing his aims, will easily preserve himself from snares, and either evite or overcome difficulties. But the knowledge of human nature, morally considered, or, in other words of the temper and disposition of the soul in its moral powers, is of much greater value; as it is of use in the concerns of an unchangeable life and world: he who is possessed of so valuable a branch of knowledge, is thereby cap◊◊i◊ated to judge aright of himself, to understand true Christianity, and to conceive justly of perfect happiness, and consummate misery.

The depravity of human nature is so plainly taught, yea inculcated in sacred Scripture, and is so obvious to every thinking man's observation, who searches his own breast, and reflects duly on his temper and actings, that it is surprizingly strange and wonderful▪ how it comes to pass, that this important truth is so little understood▪ yea so much disbelieved, by men who bear the name of gospel Ministers Are there not persons to be found in a neighbouring nation, in the character of preachers, appearing daily in pulpits, who are so unacquanted with their Bibles and themselves, that they ridicule the doctrine of original sin as unintelligible jargon? If they are persons of a moral life and conversation, they seem to imagine, they cannot become better than they are; if they are immoral. they seem to indulge a conceit, that they can become virtuous, yea religious, when they please. These are the men who talk of the dignity of human nature, of greatness of mind, nobleness of soul, and generosity of spirit: as if they intended to persuade themselves and others, that pride is a good principle, and do not know, that pride and selfishness are the bane of mankind, productive of all the wickedness, and much of the misery to be found in this and in the other world; and is indeed that, wherein the depravity of human nature properly consists.

p. vUpright Adam's nature faintly adumbrated the divine, in a moderate s;elf-esteem, in an adequate self-love and delightful reflexion on his own borrowed excellency, regulated by a just esteem of, and supreme love to his adored Creator: whence a peaceful serenity of mind, a loving, compassionate and benevolent disposition of soul, a depth of thought and brightness of imagination, delightfully employed in the rapturous contemplation of his beloved Maker's infinite perfections thus bearing the divine image, and resembling GOD that made him▪ But no sooner did he disobey the divine probatory command, th◊ p. vithe s◊◊les were cast, his moderate self-esteem degenerated into pride, his adequate self-love shrunk into mere selfishness, and his delightful reflections on his own excellency, varied into the trickling pleasures of vanity and conceit: he lost view of the Author of his being◊ and thenceforth, instead of delighting in him, first dreaded, and then despised him.

The modest, and therefore hitherto anonymous author of the following discourses, Mr. Thomas Boston, having handled this subject, in preaching to his own obscure parochial congregation of Etterick, in the sheriffdom of Selkirk, had a particular view to their benefit▪ in printing and publishing them; and therefore the stile and method is plain and simple, and the first edition printed on coarse paper; but the subject is so comprehensive and important, so well managed, and the book has been so well received, that it now appears in the world more embellished as well as better corrected than formerly.

Let it suffice to recommend it to those who have a right taste of genuine Christianity, that all the Author's notions flow so directly from the sacred fountain, that it is to be doubted, if he has had much recourse to any other help that his Bible and his GOD for assistance: Mean time, I am aware of an exception from these who rank themselves among the polite part of mankind, as that there is the same harsh peculiarity of dialect in it, which is commonly to be found in books of practical divinity. But I beg leave to observe, That the dialect they except against, is borrowed from sacred scripture; and like-as it has pleased GOD, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe; so also to countenance what they are displeased with, by the opperations of his Spirit on the minds of true Christians as their common experience witnesseth. However, I heartily wish, the exception were altogether removed, by some persons digesting into a methodical treatise, the views of human nature in its primitive perfection, in its depraved condition, and in its retrieved state, who is master of modern stile, and throughly understands the subjects discoursed in this book, that by becoming all things to all men, Some, viz. Of all ranks and kinds of men, may be gained.