Call it no more free-will, but slavish lust; free to evil, but free from good, till regenerating grace loosens the bands of wickedness.
Thomas BostonRead
Sinners in their natural state lie dead, lifeless, and moveless; they can no more believe in Christ, nor repent, than a dead man can speak or walk: but, in virtue of the promise, the Spirit of life from Christ Jesus, at the time appointed, enters into the dead soul, and quickens it; so that it is no more morally dead, but alive, having new spiritual powers put into it, that were lost by Adam's fall.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote discusses the transformation from spiritual death to life through Christ's influence.
Thomas Boston's quote reflects on the condition of humanity in its natural state, highlighting that without divine intervention, individuals are morally and spiritually lifeless. It emphasizes the belief that the Holy Spirit revives the soul, granting it the ability to believe and repent, which had been lost due to the original sin of Adam, thus illustrating the power of grace in the process of spiritual renewal.
Themes
Spiritual LifeRedemptionGraceChristRepentanceFaith
In practice
Example use cases
In a church sermon discussing the power of rebirth in Christ.
More from Thomas Boston
All quotes →Free grace will fix those whom free will shook down into a gulf of misery.
Thomas BostonRead
Whoever be the instruments of any good to us, of whatever sort, we must look above them, and eye the hand and counsel of God in it, which is the first spring, and be duly thankful to God for it. And whatever evil of crosses or afflictions befalls us, we must look above the instruments of it to God.
Thomas BostonRead
No work nor deed of ours whatsoever, no not faith itself, can be the condition of the covenant of grace properly so called; but only Christ's fulfilling all righteousness.
Thomas BostonRead
The law discovers the disease, and the gospel the physician.
Thomas BostonRead
Has God decreed all things that come to pass? Then there is nothing that falls out by chance, nor are we to ascribe what we meet with either to good or ill luck and fortune. There are many events in the world which men look upon as mere accidents, yet all these come by the counsel and appointment of Heaven.
Thomas BostonRead
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