The Fourfold State of Human Nature: Entire Depravity (State 2)
BY BCL | The fourfold state of human nature includes creation, man's fall, redemption in Christ and the consummation of God's kingdom. Here's a brief introduction to the second state, total depravity.
Editor’s note: This is part two of a four-part series introducing Scottish theologian Thomas Boston’s book, The Fourfold State of Human Nature.
Thomas Boston (1676-1732) was a minister and theologian in the Church of Scotland, whose preaching and writings continue to encourage Christians around the world to this day. His book, Human Nature in Its Fourfold State, was second in popularity only to the Bible in Scotland in the eighteenth century. Such an influential book should not be overlooked by Christians today, as Boston has much to teach us about God’s redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation.
The book is divided into four main parts, covering creation, the fall of man, redemption in Christ, and the consummation of the kingdom of God. Boston writes,
There are four things very necessary to be known by all that would see Heaven: First, What Man was in the state of innocence, as GOD made him. Secondly, What he is in the state of corrupt nature, as he hath unmade himself. Thirdly, 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 And, Lastly, What he shall be in his eternal state, as made by the Judge of all, either perfectly happy, or compleatly miserable, and that forever. These are weighty points, that touch the vitals of practical godliness, from which most men, and even many professors, in these dregs of time, are quite estranged. I design therefore, under the divine conduct, to open up these things, and apply them.[1]
Here is a brief introduction of the second state of man, entire depravity, in Boston’s own words. All quotations are from the uncopyrighted version in the University of Michigan Digital Collection (readers can also purchase the book online or access the book for free at Christianebooks.com):
The State of Nature; or, Entire Depravity:
After Adam ate the forbidden fruit, his nature was corrupted.
We have seen what man was, as God made him, a lovely and happy creature: let us view him now as he hath unmade himself: and we shall see him a sinful and miserable creature. This is the sad state we were brought into by the fall: a state black and doleful as the former was glorious; and this we commonly call The state of nature, or Man’s natural state, according to that of the apostle, Eph ii. 2. (p. 31)
Adam was no longer holy and righteous but instead sinful and miserable.
God made a holy and righteous creature: but fallen Adam begat a son, not in the likeness of God, but in his own likeness; that is, corrupt sinful Adam begat a corrupt sinful son. For as the image of God bore righteousness and immortality in it, as was cleared before, so this image of fallen Adam bore…