AP

“Here began more remarkably my bearing of the yoke of trial and affliction.”

A remarkable change

Boston graduated from the grammar school at the age of thirteen years old. Soon after, the Presbyterian form of church government was re-established in the Church of Scotland.

Sadly, in Dunse people had been living on a starvation diet spiritually, with preaching that was feeble and Christless. However, a fresh day for the gospel now dawned, as Henry Erskine was now able to preach in the church.

Boston said that “the purity of the gospel being new to many” had an impact. Amongst those changed was his mother, Alison, who “lamented her misspent time.” He witnessed in her “a remarkable change.” After years of dimness where Christ was little known, this was a time of spiritual awakening and renewal.

At a loose end

Despite this new spiritual vigour, Boston’s first two years after leaving the grammar school were difficult. Although he had few finances, an opportunity opened for him to go to Edinburgh for further study. To his disappointment, this fell through when someone who had promised to recommend Boston to the college, forgot to keep his word, and so he was not accepted.

In many ways, he was now at a loose end, and this led him “to cry to the Lord in prayer.” His heart was further weighed down when a local minister fell into adultery, causing many people to scoff “the way of religion.” During these low times, Boston would retreat to a favourite place in order to pray in secret. Then, in 1691, when Boston was not yet fifteen years old, his mother died following a short illness. To the best of his knowledge, she was “not above fifty-six years of age.”

At the same time, his father lay in the room next to her also close to death. Having to bury his mother and the possibility of also losing his father were heavy knocks for Boston. Yet, his eldest brother, Andrew, spoke wisely to him and “raised me up.” In the end, John Boston recovered, and Thomas was comforted.

Stealing and Conscience

Soon after his father’s recovery, Boston found work with a local notary, Mr Alexander Cockburn. Without explaining the situation, Boston says that Cockburn ended up owing him money, and whether he could not pay it, or would not pay, Boston was aggrieved. He felt that the situation was not fair. And so, without telling Cockburn, he took a book that he saw lying in Cockburn’s room. The book was a commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, and presumably Boston thought that this would be fair compensation for the money that he thought he was owed.

However, a pricked conscience is not likely to go away until it is dealt with, such is the persistence of the Holy Spirit. Boston says: “I saw my sin in that matter, and could no more peaceably enjoy it, though he never paid me; so I restored it secretly, none knowing how it was taken away, nor how returned.”

There are some lessons for us to learn here;

Firstly, we must never comfort a person who is unconcerned by their sin and refuses to repent. This includes ourselves. When we stray into sin, ask the Lord to mercifully taste so foul that we will see, with horror, our disobedience and be drawn back to Him in repentance.

Secondly, name the specific sin that you are caught in. It is our duty to repent of “particular sins, particularly.” (WCF 15.5)

Thirdly, understand that the Holy Spirit, like the in-coming tide channelling water into a river mouth, only works in one direction:8 towards holiness and obedience to God’s Word. Where we can, restore, confess and fix the wrong that we have done.

Remember that the promise of Christ Jesus is: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Hand to the plough and not turning back

In late 1691, at the age of fifteen years old, Boston was able, through his father’s provision, to attend college in Edinburgh. He lived meagrely, and suffered from fainting fits. Nonetheless, he studied “logics, metaphysics, ethics, and general physics.”

One time, he travelled from Edinburgh to his home in Dunse with a boy of the same age. As it happened, they looked so much alike that Boston himself remarked that they looked like twins. However, their friendship soured as a result of a childish dispute. The other boy looked down upon Boston, and ignored him as he was from a poorer family than he was.

Despite this falling out, Boston never forgot the other boy, because at one point he had considered “the study of divinity.” However, “in a little time he gave up with it, went to London, worked in book-keeping and went abroad, I suppose, and died.”

In Luke 9:61, a man vowed to Jesus: “I will follow you, Lord.” But the obstacle in his heart became clear when he added, “but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” He wanted Christ, but on his own terms. Jesus replied: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62)

The impression Boston leaves us is that whilst this boy had it easier in life, this proved spiritually dangerous to him. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul says: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” Boston concluded that it was good and necessary for him to struggle as a youth. He now understood that this was God’s school of learning for him. When God delays our plans – or brings them to ruin – it is because He is wise and He knows what is best for us.

Boston needed these years of difficulty and uncertainty in order to understand what was truly needful. Romans 5:1-2 says that all who belong to Christ Jesus can rest in the assurance of peace with God. Yet further to this, God’s desire for us now is endurance, godly character and hope. The tool that He uses to achieve this is suffering (Rom. 5:3-5). Although this is mysterious, ask the Lord to use your hardships to shape godly character within you.  

– Graham Barnes