Sketch of the Boston's Character

Thomas Boston, 1676–1732

MR. Boston's character is drawn by three of his most intimate friends, in the following words—

"He was of a stature above the middle size; of a venerable, amiable aspect; of a strong and fruitful genius; of a lively imagination, such as affords what is called a ready wit, which instead of cultivating, he laid under a severe restraint; of tender affections; a clear and solid judgment; his temper candid, modest, cautions, benevolent, obliging and courteous; had a natural aversion to anything rude or uncivil in words or behavior, 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 judicious 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; 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 those who were favored 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 honor 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 behooved to be otherwise discovered, than by 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, until by help from Heaven, and incessant labor, 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. He had an admirable talent at drawing a paper, which made a statesman, a very able judge say, (when Mr. Boston was clerk of the synod of Merse and Teviotdale), that he was the best clerk he had ever known, in any court civil or ecclesiatical. An admirer of other men's gifts and parts, liberally giving them their due praise, even though in some things they differed from him; far from censorious, assuming or detracting.

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 in the mystery of Christ was great; though a humbling sense of his want of it, was like to have quite sunk and laid him by, after he began to preach. He had a peculiar talent for going deep into the mysteries of the gospel, and at the same time for making them plain; making intelligible their connection with, and influence upon gospel holiness; notable instances of which may be seen in his most valuable "Treatise of the Covenant," and in his "Sermons of Christ in the form of a Servant." His invention 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 ministrations 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 sourness of temper or ascetical rigidity, that generally possesses men of a retired life. He fed and watched with diligence, the flock over which the Holy Spirit made him overseer; and not withstanding his eager pursuit of that study which was his delight, he abated nothing of his preparation for the Sabbath, nor 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 deceit, whereby he was exceedingly serviceable in judicatories, and excellent 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 exceedingly cautious and scrupulous of anything new or unprecedented, until he was thoroughly satisfied of its necessity and ground. It was his settled mind, that solidily and strongly to establish the truth, was in many cases, the best, the shortest, and most effectual way to confute error, without irritating and inflaming the passions of men, to their own, and to the truth's prejudice; 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 into the kingdom.—Happy in finding out acceptable words, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, a burning and a shining light. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." His friends add; "Though a skillful hand might, in fewer words, have drawn his character, to much better purpose, there is no partiality, by overdoing in what is said, if intimate friendship for many years, and the account of his own life done by himself, are allowed for competent evidence."

The late worthy Rev. Thomas Davidson, late minister of Burntee, adds:
"The acquaintance I had with him, and the frequent opportunities I had of hearing him preach, I look upon as one of the greatest privileges with which I was favored in my early days, and which I still reflect on with great pleasure. He was indeed one of the most powerful preachers I ever heard open a mouth. It is true, he was no Boanerges, as to his voice, his delivery being grave and deliberate, yet there was a majestic energy in it which, together with his venerable and lovely aspect, made no small impression to his advantage, on the minds of those who had the pleasure of hearing him. There were but few men, (if any), in his day, who courted popularity less than he did; nay, he rather shunned it; but, like his shadow, it followed him wherever he went; for his ministrations were savory and acceptable to all who had a relish for the truth as it is in Jesus, and a love to that holiness of heart and life, which the belief of it never fails to influence in the minds of all the children of God. He had a talent peculiar to himself in pointing out the propriety of the proofs of the doctrines he was handling. His more than ordinary critical knowledge of the original languages in which the scriptures were written, enabled him in a brief but comprehensive way, to glance at the meaning of the Spirit of God in them, that was both surprising and edifying to the hearers; these enlargements were not written, but left to the time of delivery."

 

EPITAPH

On the Death of the Rev. Thomas Boston.

The Great, the Grave, Judicious, Boston's Gone,
Who Once, like Athanasius Bold, Stood Firm Alone;
Whose Golden Pen, to Future Times, Will Bear
His Fame, until in the Clouds His Lord Appear.  Ralph Erskine.

 

Copy of the Inscription on Mr. Boston's Monument

As a Testimony of Esteem,
For the Rev. Thomas Boston,
Whose Public Character Was Highly Respectable,
Whose Public Labors Were Blessed to Many,
And Whose Valuable Writings
Have Contributed Much to the Advancement of Vital Christianity

The Monument Was Erected by a Religious and Grateful Public, 1806
 

He Was Born at Dunse, March 17, 1676,
Ordained to the Pastoral Charge of Simprin, May 19th 1699,
Removed from Thence to Ettrick, Sept. 1, 1707.
And Died, September 20th, 1732, Aged Fifty-six Years,
Leaving a Widow and Four Children.