Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

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 operations 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.

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.