Female Elders, the ‘Tucker Paper’, and the Question of History
As the NSW Presbyterian Church nears the time of making a decision about female elders, some have been brought to the attention of a paper by Craig Tucker (known as […]
Thomas Boston – Human Nature in its Fourfold State
Human Nature in its Fourfold State Some preachers are natural poets. Boston once composed “a kind of a poem on friendship.” However he judged that it, like his other attempts […]
World News
‘LOOT AND THEFT OF CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS’: INDIAN LAW TARGETS NONPROFITSIndia’s government is facing growing backlash for proposing to change a key law that regulates foreign funding for nonprofit organizations. It’s […]
Thomas Boston – Period 11 (1717-1724)
“My son Thomas… told me, he was troubled with ill thoughts… that God did not hear his prayers; and that for that sometimes he forgot his prayers at night: that […]
How the World has Changed since Same-Sex Marriage
Nothing was Going to Change…or Was It? The challenge for Christians today is the same as it was for God’s people when they were in exile in Babylon. Whenever an […]
Thomas Boston – Period 10 (1712-1717)
“In partaking I was helped to the exercise of faith, took God for my God in Christ, claimed Him as my God…” The body and blood of Christ It was […]
The Dangers of National Repentance
The Dangers of National Repentance I recently read an essay by C.S. Lewis, “Dangers of National Repentance”, which seems as timely today as ever. He notes that “the first and […]
Thomas Boston – Period 9 (1707-1712)
Move to Ettrick Boston first visited Ettrick (alt. “Etterick”), a small village forty-five miles west of Simprin, in November 1706. However, his visit left a poor impression on him. He […]
Seven Marks of a Spirit-Filled Life (Galatians 6)
Certain encounters in my early twenties permanently changed the course of my life. Meeting Amanda-Sue. Discovering theology and Greek and language full stop. And the Bible teaching of B.B. Warfield, […]
Thomas Boston – Farewell Sermon from Simprin, 1707
After Boston had first preached in Simprin, in July 1699, his impressions of the people were disheartening. Some fell asleep, others went outside – and that was before taking into […]
All Christians are called to be Artists
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart …” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) When I was younger and knew a lot more than I […]
A Real Consultation, part 3 – Where Do We Go From Here?
The first parts of this correspondence can be found here – This is the third and final exchange of letters: Dear David, I like your metaphor of a sermon in […]
Thomas Boston – period 8 (1700-1707)
“My dear father… died that night, in the 70th year of his age… It was a heavy death to me…” John Boston’s death John Boston, Thomas’ father, was “a man […]
World News
EASTER KILLINGS IN NIGERIA – THE GENOCIDE CONTINUES Yet again our prayers are directed to our suffering brothers and sisters in Nigeria. Easter is often seen by Muslim and other […]
Thomas Boston – period 7 (1699-1700)
“Sinners… within or without the visible Church, have a real right to Christ…” A disagreement over baptism Not long after Boston had settled in Simprin, he visited a friend,Rev. George […]
Drifting from the Lord
An unbelieving family member once asked me “Why do you go to church every Sunday? Why don’t you take one Sunday off and go down to the beach instead?”. He […]