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 […]
Book Review: ‘Epistles from Perpetua’
Review of Catherine Halsall, Epistles from Perpetua: Praying Through a Pandemic, Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2025. As one of the martyrs in the period of the early Church, Perpetua […]
Thomas Boston – period 6 (1699)
“The bent of my heart to preach Christ continued all along… as I had opportunity: but for a considerable time I met with many rubs in my way.” Feeling useless […]
The Remarkable Story of Ayaan Hirsi Ali
If you’ve never heard the story of how Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a former Muslim from Somalia and subsequently outspoken atheist who then became a Christian, then you’re in for a […]
Thomas Boston – period 5 (1698-1699)
“On the 18th I went to God, and begged… [that] I might be helped to live by faith, above the world… My soul went out in love to Christ, followed […]
A Real Consultation, part 2 – Can Women be Called to be Elders?
This is part two of my dialogue with a former women elder. Part one is here – https://ap.org.au/2026/05/08/a-real-consultation-a-dialogue-with-a-female-elder/ My friend’s comments are in italics. For those who asked – yes […]
Thomas Boston – period 4 (1797-1798)
Period 4 1697-1698“They were satisfied, and should have had their Christian right to choose their minister.” On preaching Christ Boston was twenty-one years old when he was licensed by his […]
Thomas Boston – period 3 (1694-1697)
“I bless the Lord, who gave me counsel then and afterwards, to seek and value conversation with serious Christians, in the places where my lot was cast.” Taste and see […]