Thomas Boston

In his own words

Let the corrupt imagination once be let loose on its favourite object, it will be found hard work to call it back again, though both reason and will are for its retreat. For then it is in its own element; and to draw it off from its impurities, is like drawing a fish out of the water, or rending a limb from a man. It runs like fire set to a train of powder, that rests not till it can get no farther. Proof 6. Consider how the carnal imagination supplies the want of real objects to the corrupt heart, that it may make sinners happy, at least in the imaginary enjoyment of their lusts. Thus the corrupt heart feeds itself with imagination-sins; the unclean person is filled with speculative impurities, "having eyes full of adultery;" the covetous man fills his heart with the world, though he cannot get his hands full of it; the malicious person with delight acts his revenge within his own breast: the envious man, within his own narrow soul, beholds with satisfaction his neighbour laid low; and every lust finds the corrupt imagination a friend to it in time of need. This the heart does, not only when people are awake, but sometimes even when they are asleep; whereby it comes to pass, that those sins are acted in dreams, which their hearts pant after when they are awake. I am aware that some question the sinfulness of these things; but can it be thought they are consistent with that holy nature and frame of spirit which was in innocent Adam, and in Jesus Christ, and should be in every one? It is the corruption of nature, then, that makes filthy dreamers condemned, Jude, ver.

Quoted verbatim from the library, as an answer would quote it.

What we hold of him

• Human Nature in Its Fourfold State

  Classic

Others in the library

• Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• John Calvin
• John Gill
• Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch
• Albert Barnes
• Jonathan Edwards