Life and character, of the late Reverend and learned Mr Thomas Boston
THE
LIFE and CHARACTER,
Of the late Reverend and learned
Mr THOMAS BOSTON,
Minister of the Gospel at Etterick.
To which is added,
An ELEGY on his much lamented Death:
ALSO,
An ELEGY on his Son's Death.
EDINBURG:
Printed, and sold at the Printing house in the West-Bow 1778.
(Price Three-halfpence.)
The Life and Character of the Revd. Mr Thomas Boston.
MR. Thomas Boston, the youngest of seven children, born 1679, of creditable religious parents in the town Dunse, where they had some heritage; licensed to preach 1697, ordained minister at Simprin, the smallest charge of a country parish perhaps in Scotland, not being quite ninety examinable persons in his time, 1699. Married 1700, to Catharine Brown, of good extract in the parish of Culross, a gentlewoman of singular wisdom, and many rare endowments, (by whom he had a good many children, of whom two sons and two daughters survive them) transported to Etterick, (one of the remotest and wildest places in the south of Scotland.) 1707. died 1732, near five years before his spouse in the 56th year of his age.
He was of a stature above the middle size, of venerable, amiable aspect, with his own hair originally black, of a strong and fruitful genius, of a lively imagination, (such as affords what is called ready wit, which, instead of cultivating, he laid under a severe restraint) of tender affections, a clear and solid judgment: His temper candid, modest, cautious, benevolent, obliging and courteous; had a natural aversion to any thing rude or uncivil in words or behaviour, and a delicate feeling in case of meeting with ought of that sort; could be heavy and severe in his words when there was just occasion, or he judged the same necessary.
He was early called by divine grace, all along afterwards exercised unto godliness, walked indeed with God, in all his ways daily acknowledging him, frequent in solemn extraordinary applications to Heaven, (namely upon every new emergent of duty, difficulty or trial) followed with evident comfortable and confirming testimonies of divine acceptance and audience; a diligent judicius observer, recorder and improver of the dispensations of divine providence,in connection with the word, his own frame and walk, and consequently of great experience in religion: he was accurately and extensively regardful of the divine law, in all manner of life and conversation (even in things that escape the notice of the most part of Christians) of a tender conscience, carefully watching against and avoiding the appearance of evil; compassionate and sympathizing with the distressed, charitable to the needy, (to the degree of religiously setting apart the tenth of his wordly substance yearly for their supply) a dutiful husband; an indulgent father; a sincere, a faithful and an affectionate friend; to which he had a particular cast in his temper, which proved a rich blessing to them who were favoured with his friendship.
He was a considerable scholar in all the parts of theological learning, and excelled in some of them: what he was for a humanist, (even towards the latter end of his days) his translation of his own work, on the Hebrew accentuation, into good Roman Latin, will abundantly testify; was well seen in the Greek; and for the skill he attained in the Hebrew, he will, we are satisfied, in ages to come, be admired, and had in honour by the learned world; especially when it is understood under what disadvantages, in what obscurity and seclusion from learned assistances, the work was composed; and when it is considered, how far notwithstanding he has outstripped all that went before him in that study, namely, of the Hebrew accentuation; he understood the French, and, for the sake of comparing translations, could read the Dutch Bible. There were few pieces of learning that he had not some good taste of: But all his knowledge behoved to be otherways discovered than by his professing of it: he was a hard student, of indefatigable application; so that, whatever he was once heartily engaged in, he knew not to quit, till, by help from heaven, and incessant labour, he got through it. Had a great knowledge and understanding of human nature, of the most proper methods of addressing it, and the most likely handles for catching hold of it.
As a minister he had on his spirit a deep and high sense of divine things; was mighty in the scriptures, in his acquaintance with the letter, with the spirit and sense of them, in happily applying and accommodating them for explaining and illustrating the subject. His knowledge and insight into the mystery of Christ was great, tho' a humbling sense of his want was like to have quite sunk and laid him by after he began to preach. He had a particular talent of going deep into the mysteries of the gospel, and at the same time making them plain, making intelligible their connection with and influence upon gospel-holiness: Notable instances of which may be seen in his most valuable tratise of the Covenant, and in his sermons of Christ in the form of a servant. His intention was rich, but judiciously bounded; his thoughts were always just, and often new; his expressions proper and pure; his illustrations and similies often surprising; his method natural and clear; his delivery grave and graceful, with an air of earnestness, meekness, assurance and authority tempered together. No wonder his ministration in holy things were all of them dear and precious to the saints. He was fixed and established upon solid and rational grounds in the reformation principles, in opposition to popery, prelacy, superstition, and persecution. Was pleasant and lively in conversation, but always with a decorum to his character: Quite free of that sowrness of temper, or ascetical rigidy, that generally possesses men of a retired life. He fed and watched with diligence the flock over which the holy Ghost made him overseer; and, nothwithstanding his eager puirsuit of that study which was his delight, he abated nothing of his preparation for the sabbath, nor of his work abroad in the parish; nor did he so much as use the short hand, whereof he was master, but always wrote out his sermons fair, and generally as full as he preached them: Far from serving the Lord with that which cost him nothing. It was his delight to spend and be spent in the service of the gospel. Was a faithful, and at the same time a prudent reprover of sin. Was endued with a rich measure of christian wisdom and prudence, without craft or guile, whereby he was exeeding serviceable in judicatories, and excellently fitted for counsel in intricate cases. Zeal and knowledge were in him united to a pitch rarely to be met with. Had a joint concern for purity and peace in the church: No man more zealous for the former, and at the same time more studious of the latter, having observed and felt so much of the mischief of division and separation. Was exceeding cautious and scrupulous of any thing new or unprecedented, until he was throughly satisfied of its necessity and grounds. It was his settled mind, that solidly and strongly to establish the truth was in many cases the best, the shortest, and the most effectual way to confute error, without irritating and enflaming the passions of men to their own and to the truth's prejudice: Therefore, in his explication and vindication of the Protestant Doctrine, in a paroxism quarrelled and condemned in a certain book, he answered all and every body, but took notice expressly of no body. He obeyed the voice, (I Tim. vi. I I.) But thou, O man of God, flee these things, being in an uncommon degree dead to the world: Finding says he, in the account of his life, the business of it ensnaring to my mind, I had neither heart nor hand for it---On all which accounts he was much respected and regarded by, not only his brethren that differed from him, but generally by all sorts of men. To conclude, he was a scribe singularly instructed unto the kingdom---happy in finding out acceptable words---A workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. A burning and a shining light----The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
Thus far, we have attempted to draw a character of this great man; and shall only conclude in his own words, from the general account of his life, by himself, addressed to his children, in the closs of it, as follows:
"Thus also I was much addicted to peace, and averse from controversy; tho' once engaged therein, I was set to go through with it. I had no great difficulty to retain a due honour and charity for my brethren differing from me in opinion and practice: But then I was in no great hazard neither of being swayed by them, to depart from what I judged truth or duty. Withal, it was easy to me to yield to them in things wherein I found not myself in conscience bound up. Whatever precipitant steps I have made in the course of my life, which I desire to be humbled for, rashness in conduct was not my weak side. But, since the Lord, by his grace, brought me to consider things, it was much my exercise to discern sin and duty in particular cases; being afraid to venture on things, until I should see myself called thereto; But, when the matter was cleared to me, I generally stuck fast by it, being as much afraid to desert the way which I took to be pointed out to me. I never had the art of making rich, nor could I ever heartily apply myself to the managing of secular affairs. Even the secular way of managing the discipline of the church was so unacceptable to me, that I had no heart to dip in the publick church management. What appearances I made at any time in these matters were not readily in that way." He concludes.
"And thus have I given some account of the days of my vanity. Upon the whole, I bless my God in Jesus Christ, that ever he made me a Christian, and took an early dealling with my soul; that ever he made me a minister of the gospel, and gave me some insight into the doctrine of his grace; and that ever he gave me the blest Bible, and brought me acquainted with the originals, and especially with the Hebrew text. The world hath all along been a stepdame to me, and wheresoever I would have attemtped to nestle in it, there was a thorn of uneasiness laid for me. Man is born crying, lives complaining, and dies disappointed from that quarter. All is vanity and vexation of spirit. I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord."
LONG have I listne'd I might hear
Some more judicious pen,
For Boston raise their lofty notes
In melancholy strain,
Sure had the reverend doctor Watts
But ever heard him preach,
Or known his conversation good,
His pen he would have stretch:
And drawn his lovely character
As on the clearest brass;
In letters of the purest gold
Would shew'd what man he was.
Who from the sacred scripture field
Brought many pleasant things:
Ovid or Virgil could not strike
Their bow upon such strings:
For they the sacred fields did want
Where lies the noble treasure;
And great's the pity we in them
should take so little pleasure.
True, Erskin did a verse compose,
as well did him become:
Since he no further did proceed,
gives me the greater room.
And since no more judicious pen
did ever yet appear,
I'll tune my harp as well's I can,
who ever's pleas'd to hear.
In Dunse he drew his native breath,
and there was at the school,
And as 'tis said, like many boys,
he did not play the fool.
When others rambled in the street,
then Thomas went to pray
Like one who's early taught by Christ
the new and living way.
So said a woman born in Dunse,
full thirty years ago;
Nor do I doubt the truth of it,
But it was really so.
When he at first began to preach,
he seem'd his Father's will to teach
For grace, learning and eloquence,
and always free without offence.
Of grace the doctrine he did teach
against each legal preacher;
And of the rule of righteousness
he was a constant teacher.
He always loved gospel truths,
delighting them to preach,
As the best means that he could use
the sinner's heart to reach.
When he at first to Simpron came,
he was made synod clerk,
And the best scribe that e'er he saw
old Jerviswood's remark.
He was a very ready scribe,
both eloquent and able;
Sometimes the subject of discourse
at Lewis royal table.
It is the glory of the Merse
that he in it was born;
He like a lovely rose did grow
upon a prickling thorn.
His Lord did early him transplant
to grace's sappy soil;
The influence of grace pour'd down
like Aaron's sweetest oil;
Which sweetly moved all the wheels
of his affection:
Hence he no more serves like a slave,
but like an only son.
The church's bank undoubtedly
no little loss would have,
When death, that mighty conqueror
did lay him in the grave.
And now he's to the other world,
with us no more to be;
And that's the news will soon be hear
of us as well as he.
No more his house to order well,
and worship him therein,
Whom neither heaven, earth, nor he
can hold, or circumveen:
No more his congregation
to visit or exhort;
No more within the house of God
to spread the good report:
No more the kindly offices
with pleasure to perform,
Which unto all as masters in
their families belong.
The glory of our synod he
for many years appear'd;
His conversation was upright,
for ought we ever heard.
In our Immanual's highest court
two hours compleat to speak
While all his brethren held their ⟨peace⟩
none did him interrupt.
When Simson that vile Arian,
his error spread abroad,
Making him nought but a mere man
who's our incarnate God;
Which certainly would rob the church
of all most precious truths,
And take the pearl quite away
out of the ring of faith.
Rob Christ of his divinity,
the pearl take away
Out of the ring of faith, I think
my hope would have no stay.
No more he'll preach upon that text,
To me I'll the betroth;
There he did shew Christ's willingness
but still the bride is loth,
Till God in holy providence
sets fire unto her nest,
And hunts her out of every place
wherein she would take rest;
He puts his fear within her heart,
and there he writes his laws;
With loving kindness he pursues,
and tender mercies draws.
When he did preach upon that text,
Like sheep we went astray;
⟨Where⟩ he did largely shew how we
in Adam went away,
⟨And⟩ how by grace some are return'd,
and brought again to God;
⟨But⟩ till that time none of us can
walk in the divine road,
⟨He⟩ said, we sinners wander'd far,
and oft did turn aside
From one ill turn't another went,
from mischief could not bide:
But now by grace some are return'd
and brought to God again,
And from that time the straying humour
is always from them ta'en.
With pleasure great we sat to hear
his black but lovely face
Shew how believers should hang on
still at a throne of Grace.
Upon that text, That men should pray,
and that they should not faint;
He said, this was the character
of none but of a saint:
For carnal men may pray a while,
but they at length do weary,
But true believers do not faint
till they are brought to glory.
Because the Holy Ghost in them
doth constantly reside,
Their process they do never lift
till they at length come speed.
Of grace the mistery he preacht
upon his thirtieth year;
There he made gospel truth to shine,
and sweetly them did clear;
By a worms threshing mountains high
them quite to overturn
Thro' him whom the sweet Psalmist stiles
a poor despised worm.
When delicate professors come
to a communion.
Then all their care's to bind themselves
with strong vows them upon.
But the true saint invincible
in Jesus Christ is found;
For without him they're weak like worms
that crawl upon the ground.
When saints are into heaven brought,
with Christ in glory share,
Worm Jacob may lay by his flail,
he'll need to thrash, no more,
We who had access him to hear
upon the thirty one,
Preach on that text, His name shall be
continued like the sun;
He said, though men his name ran down
while he was here beneath,
Yet Christ, the glorious sun, will rise,
and run them out of breath.
The doctrine was that Jesus' name
continued shall be,
To generate sons to himself
while ages lasting be.
Upon the Monday he stood up,
and did exhort us all;
He said, my brethren, this day
we've got a double call
The Lord doth loose the prisoners,
his captives bring again:
An embelm of our natural state,
how he doth us regain.
We by the good hand of our God
have been three days together,
And now the time is come that we
must seperate from each other.
The reason is we are not yet
made pillars in God's temble,
Where we shall never more go out
nor foes upon us trample,
I charge you all and every one
to set some time apart,
To see what good ye gotten have
and commune with your heart.
Ye that are servants, of their time,
your masters do not rob ;
For all such sacrifices are
abhorred by our God.
When he and heavenly Mr Grey
meet in this holy place,
We think they'll have a heavenly treat
about foreknowing grace.
They unto God will sweetly sing,
of his redeeming grace
Who chused them in Christ his son
the brightness of his face;
Their allelujahs unto God
are surly now begun,
Who them predestinate to be
conformed to his Son.
And now we're in this holy place,
and so will ever be;
And best of all the worthy Lamb
our eyes shall ever see;
For'tis a choice ingredint
of this most holy place:
That it for ever will remain,
'tis an eternal house.
He had a large measure of Grace
and sweetly ow'd the fame
To Christ the bright and morning star
and Jesse's noble stem.
Ye peots all, I wonder that
your talents long ye hide,
On worthy Boston hundreds more
than these I could provide.
HE who made man upon the earth,
soon calls for him again;
Therefore we need not think it strange
that Boston's called home:
Who surely was a burning light
and he did clearly shine
Under the Father of all lights,
whose natuer's all divine.
And who gave him these noble gifts
who him endowed with grace;
But he who purchases a room
within his Father's house,
Let us rejoyce in Christ our head
that pour'd so much in him;
That fountain surely must be strong
that yieldeth such a stream.
How sweet was it to hear him preach
his yearly action sermon,
When speakers and the hearers were
wet with the dew of Hermon
Upon that text the forerunner
is gone within the veil
And left to us the gospel ship
that thither we might sail:
Then many cheeks were wet with joy
and tears came droping down,
To hear the stripling sweetly fill
the good old prophet's room;
Then Gabriel Wilson sweetly prayd,
and surly we did wish a'
That old Elijah's spirit might rest
upon our young Elisha.
How sweet was it to hear him preach
sometimes at Oxnam green,
Where every cheek was wet with tears
had you been there and seen;
Upon that text, Thy prisoners
I brought out of the pit;
There he did shew to us at large
the blackness of our state:
He said that Satan sinners had
all linked in a chain,
And he was leading them to hell
till grace stept in between;
But then as soon as he had turned
the bright side of the cloud,
He said, belivers were brought out
by their Redeemer's blood
When he did preach upon that text,
My son give me thy heart ;
He many noble truths that day
at Coldstream did impart;
He said, that Christ did make the heart,
and he did it redeem,
And claimed it his prerogative
to make it new again.
When he to Simpron came to preach
the Merse was all on foot
To fee the good old prophet's son
supply his father's feat.
He said, God's goodness was laid up
in Christ our cov'nant head,
Where it is safely kept brought out
to help in time of need.
That kirk is now laid desolate
with nettless overgrown,
But yet they say some seed remains
the man of God had sown.
When he to Alnwick came to preach
how joyful were we then,
Upon that text, I you beseech
receive not grace in vain.
He many awful words did speak,
which fill'd our hearts with fear:
Had he like Paul till midnight preach'd
we could have lent our ear.
O it was sweet to hear him preach,
while he was us among;
It surely will be sweet to hear
him singing the new song.
Why is it that some worthy men
so soon are call'd away?
But that our Lord doth long for them,
that they with him may stay.
When he says, Father its my will,
that they with me should be,
There nought but that between there life,
and death we clearly see.
His relick who doth him survive,
pray for him, be not sorry,
For now we hope he's crownd above
with everlasting glory.
Young Thomas, your Creator mind,
and heast you to the field
If your ancesters you excell
it joy to us will yeild.
Ye who his congregation were
for him you may lament,
For many arrows sharp and strong
amongst you he hath spent
No heavy burdens laid on you
that ye could never bear,
But led you to your well beloved
our father bids us hear.
To gather straying sheep to Christ
he took great pleasure hear,
To fee them drawn by cords of love
his joy he did declare.
The prison walls were never strong
and they had many a flow;
But now he's stretched his pinnons throw
obeyed his Master's call;
He to the living Corner Stone
we hope was once cemented,
Now to the Leabnon above
by death he is transplanted.
If in the happy soil of grace
he grew with pleurae great,
How do you think he'll grow so near
that high and lofty feat,
Where shines the Sun of Righteousness
the heavenly dew comes down:
And he at our Immanuels feet
will quickly cast his crown,
And sing that worthy is the Lamb
who once for me was slain,
Who by his blood did me redeem
his spirit renewed my frame.
We hope he's now unite to Christ
and lives on heavenly food,
And drinks immortal vison in
a noble livelihood.
The good old prophet there before,(his father)
by him will scarce be minded
His pleasure is so great in view
these hands and feet were under
It’s very true our fathers room
but few of us do fill
But yet we hope to stand compleat,
on Zion's heavenly hill,
If he is on the balance laid
with our Immanuel,
He will bear weight compleat tho' he
were light enough himsel.
One view of him who once was slain
within the higher story,
Will purge him more than he had ly'n
for ay in purgatory.
If true believers changed are
by looking through a glass,
How do you think they will appear
that see him face to face?
He'll duely to the altar go
his Sonship to perform,
Nothing will interrupt him there
at even nor at morn.
Of all that ever I did hear
address a throne of grace.
He with profoundest reverence
to heaven set his face,
When he into the pulpet went
his Master to commend,
Then all the hairs upon our head
were fit to stand on end.
He solidly laid down the truth
made obvious and plain,
So that a boy of ten years old
might it repeat again.
He who was like to a glow worm,
dim light, and void of heat,
But like a ray of that bright sun,
in whom we are compleat,
Immoderate grief do not me press
tho' Boston's called away
The great High Priest for ever lives
that brought eternal day.
Tho' ministers are wholly dead,
and all laid in their grave,
He's Jesse's root still fresh and green
some other to revive.
Now reader I bid you adeiw
and hear no more will say
But let us look through every change
to the eternal day
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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