Man U Quote by Thomas Boston
““A creature, as a creature, must acknowledge the Creator's will as its supreme law; for as it cannot exist without him, so it must not be but for him, and according to his will; yet no law obliges, until it is revealed. And hence it follows, that there was a law, which man, as a rational creature, was subjected to in his creation; and that this law was revealed to him. "God made man upright," says the text. This supposes a law to which he was conformed in his creation; as when anything is made regular, or according to rule, of necessity the rule itself is presupposed. Whence we may gather, that this law was no other than the eternal, indispensable law of righteousness, observed in all points by the second Adam, opposed by the carnal mind, and some notions of which remain yet among the Pagans, who, "having not the law, are a law unto themselves," Romans 2:14.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: 18th‑century Puritan preaching, 1730
Human beings are bound by a divine moral law revealed by God, which governs righteousness and contrasts with natural law.
In simple terms: We must follow God’s eternal law of righteousness.
Key Takeaway
Live according to divine moral law.
Themes
morality
divine law
human nature
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
theological
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- legal systems
- education curricula
Key Concepts
theology
ethics
natural law
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “eternal law” mean today?
- How do we discern divine law?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations of law vary across cultures and eras.
