Thomas Boston was born at Duns in Berwickshire in 1676. After studying in Edinburgh, he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Duns and Chirnside in 1697. Shortly afterwards, he published his first book, A Soliloquy on The Art of Man–fishing, based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 4:19, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ In 1699, he became the minister of the small congregation in a village called Simprin, located quite close to his birthplace. He was there until 1707 when he became minister in Ettrick, and he would serve there until his death in 1732.

The collected writings of Boston are found in twelve volumes, and from them the selections in The Beauties of Boston were selected by the editor. Boston’s best–known book is Human Nature in Its Fourfold State. It was published in his lifetime, as were two others books by him: a Collection of Sermons and an edition of the Marrow of Modern Divinity which he annotated. After his death, several volumes of his writings were published, including his View of the Covenant of Works and of Grace, The Christian Life, A Body of Divinity, and The Crook in The Lot.

Endorsements

… wonderful treasure trove of theology … points us to the glorious and majestic beauty of our triune God that we might glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

Burk Parsons, Senior Pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel, Sanford, Florida and Editor of Tabletalk magazine

Thomas Boston’s sermons and treatises are full of the light of Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit. Once you read this quotable and spiritually uplifting and convicting volume, I predict that you will want to press on to purchase and read the twelve capacious volumes of his complete works!

Joel R. Beeke, Chancellor, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan