God’s decrees foreordain, and his creative act brings into actuality, beings other than God. Creation marks the beginning, therefore, of non-divine “otherness.” Now of course otherness does exist eternally within the divine nature. But creation is the beginning of something new: a non-divine otherness, a creaturely otherness. Creatures are the work of God, fully planned by God, dependent on him, and [...]
Doctrine of Man
The Origin, Essence, and Purpose of Man by Herman Bavinck
The account of the origin of heaven and earth converges in the first chapter of Genesis upon the creation of man. The creation of the other creatures, of heaven and earth, of sun and moon and stars, of plants and animals, is reported in brief words, and there is no mention made at all of [...]
Human Nature in Its Fourfold State – Death (Part I) by Thomas Boston
‘For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.‘ Job 30:23. I come now to discourse of man’s eternal state, into which he enters by death. Of this entrance, Job takes a solemn serious view, in the words of the text, which contain a general truth, [...]
Man and Sin by Thomas Manton
In this treatise on the nature of man and sin, Manton shows the complete inability of man to save himself, relating man’s condition to both the law and grace. He also presents the Puritan concept of “seeking” God by various means, showing that the Puritans dealt patiently with the unconverted rather than giving up on [...]
Human Nature in Its Fourfold State – Death (Part II) by Thomas Boston
Having thus discoursed of death, let us improve it in discerning the vanity of the world; in bearing up, with Christian contentment and patience under all troubles and difficulties in it; in mortifying our lusts; in cleaving unto the Lord with full purpose of heart, at all hazards, and in preparing for death’s approach. 1. [...]
