Human Nature in its Fourfold State

In his famous book, Human Nature in Its Fourfold State, the Scottish Puritan, Thomas Boston (1676-1732) tells us that the four states of human nature are (1) The State of Innocence, (2) The State of Nature, (3) The State of Grace, and (4) The Eternal State. Boston's discourse offers a fascinating view of human nature. In his word, "In the way of the gospel, the sinner must stand before the Lord in an imputed righteousness--but corrupt nature is for an inherent righteousness; and, therefore, so far as natural men follow after righteousness, they follow after `the law of righteousness, ' Romans 9:31, 32; and not after `the Lord our righteousness.'" "The infinity of God makes infinite wrath the just demerit of sin. God is infinitely displeased with sin; and when he acts, he must act like himself, and show his displeasure by proportionable means." These two quotes alone should encourage the reader to devour what follows in the book: those sections on the state of grace and the eternal state