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SCATTERED AND KEPT: 28 Lost Sermons of Rev. Thomas Boston
THOMAS BOSTON (1676-1732)
THIS VOLUME CONTAINS MORE THAN TWO DOZEN LONG-BURIED SERMONS FROM THE PASTORAL OF THE REV. THOMAS BOSTON.
FROM THE PREFACE TO THIS NEW ADDITION
"You hold in your hands a precious book. On three accounts the sermons published in this book are highly valuable.
Firstly, they are sermons by a man who has been described as ‘one of the most remarkable and godly ministers to adorn the church of Christ since the days of the apostles.’ Thomas Boston (1676-1732) was the godly pastor of two remote parishes in the Scottish Borders. He served first at Simprin, from 1699 to 1707, and then at Ettrick, from 1707 till his death in 1732. Boston was indefatigable in his pastoral labours – he ploughed and sowed the gospel seed in soil that lesser men would have given up on. But his labours bore fruit, both within the bounds of his parishes, and eventually throughout the world, as the sermons he preached to his humble congregations were committed to the press to become some of the best-known books in the annals of Christian publishing – titles such as Human Nature in its Fourfold State and The Crook in the Lot...
Within the church Boston stood for truth – at times the lone voice in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He sighed and cried for the abominations done in the land, but more especially within the church, and in the hearts of the Lord’s backsliding sheep. The labours of a pastor’s heart are evident in these sermons. Indeed, they would be valuable simply on the account of the love for souls with which they are saturated, without any of the other reasons for which their author should have our attention.
Secondly, the sermons deal with the sins of the church and nation, issuing a call to repentance, and a promise of mercy to returning backsliders. They seem particularly pertinent to the situation we find ourselves in today, and their rediscovery is timely. The church is, and has been, under the judgement of God. We have become materialistic and lukewarm, doctrinal fidelity is at a low ebb, low views of God have led to innovation and worldliness in worship, we hold the Word of God with a loose hand. God is dealing with us as he dealt with his people in the kingdom of Judah when he scattered his people under his judgements. But that was not the end of them. He still had a purpose of grace towards them – thoughts of peace – and to that end, when his chastising hand had produced good fruit, he gathered his people back to himself once more. All his dealings with them ensure and reflect the fact that they are kept (1 Peter 1:5). Readers today must confront the same question as Thomas Boston put to his hearers: is the response of our souls to God’s judgements one of repentance and seeking his mercy?
Although Boston’s sermons in this book were preached at different times and on different occasions, when collected together they seem to provide an extended commentary on the church’s timeless confession about our Saviour: ‘He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock’ (Jeremiah 31:10). These sermons clearly expose the reasons for God scattering his people,
and the solemnity of experiencing God’s displeasure. They also preach the means of God gathering his scattered people – the glorious message of the gospel. And they proclaim the faithfulness of God who keeps his once straying and now recovered sheep. Such preaching is very much needed in the church today.
Thirdly, despite Boston’s ‘complete’ or ‘whole’ works being published in the past (the former in twelve volumes, at least three times in the last 170 years), the sermons reprinted here have not been republished in the last 250 years. This fact is quite astounding, given the high value placed on all of Thomas Boston’s writings by the Lord’s people. We can discern no significant difference in the quality of
these sermons, compared to those published in Boston’s Complete Works. "
Preface
Thomas Boston’s Portrait
SERMONS
Preface
1. The Duty of Redeeming the Time in Evil Days, Illustrated and Enforced (Ephesians 5:16)
2. Passing Under the Rod, a Means of a People's Being Brought into the Bond of the Covenant (Ezekiel 20:37)
3. An Untoward Generation Characterized, with the Means to be Saved from it (Acts 2:40)
4. Israel’s Sin and Judgement, with Regard to Abused Mercies, Described (Hosea 2:8-9)
5. God’s Dispensations Towards a Froward Generation Described (Deuteronomy 32:20)
6. The Certain, Though Slow, Accomplishment of Threatened Judgements (Ezekiel 12:23)
7. A Caveat Against Seeking Great Things in an Evil Day (Jeremiah 45:5)
8. Mercy Often Interposes to Prevent the Execution of Judgements (Hosea 11:8)
9. The Duty of Owning God in our Civil Affairs Recommended and Urged (Joshua 9:14)
10. Resolute Cleaving to the Lord Jesus Illustrated and Enforced (Acts 11:23)
Appendix: The Great Sin and Chief Guiltiness of Scotland
11. The Straying State and Condition of Mankind Sinners (1 Peter 2:25)
12. The Fulness of the Godhead Dwelling in Christ by an Act of the Father's Good Pleasure (Colossians 1:19)
13. The Care of the Chief Shepherd in Returning Straying Sinners (1 Peter 2:25)
14. Help for Ruined Sinners Laid on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mighty One (Psalm 89:19)
15. God’s Glory Repaired in the Way of Salvation by Jesus Christ (Luke 2:14)
16. God’s Glory Shines Forth in the Contrivance of Salvation by Jesus Christ (Luke 2:14)
17. Peace for Rebel Sinners by Jesus Christ (Luke 2:49)
18. Believers Not Under the Law, but Under Grace (Romans 6:14)
19. Spiritual Mourning Issuing in Joy; or, The Spiritual Sower in Tears Reaping a Harvest of Joy (Psalm 126:5)
20-23. Temple Ordinances Precious to the Saints on Earth (Revelation 21:22)
SERMON I
SERMON II
SERMON III
SERMON IV
24, 25. The People of God in the World, a People Dwelling Alone (Numbers 23:9)
SERMON I
SERMON II
A conversation becoming the gospel recommended (Philippians 1:27)
**Three Previously Unpublished Sermons
Introduction
26. The Hearing of the Gospel (Ephesians 1:13)
27. The Best Security in Evil Times (Job 22:21)
28. The Believer’s Rock (Psalm 18:46)
Complete Textual Index to Boston’s Sermons
ENDORSEMENTS
"Years ago one of my university professors handed me an old notebook. ‘This,’ he said, ‘is one of Thomas Boston’s sermon manuscript notebooks.’ The sense I had then of handling undiscovered treasure returns now with the publication of these long out-of-print (and some unpublished) sermons of a great pastor-theologian." — Sinclair B. Ferguson, Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries
"There is a certain searcher’s delight in uncovering long hidden treasure in which those with whom he shares his discovery get to participate. I have no doubt this will be the case for readers of this substantial volume of forgotten and newfound material from the pen of Thomas Boston. One would think with twelve volumes making up the published works that not much would remain to uncover from such a well-known author. Such is clearly not the case. Most of this volume contains little-known printed material that for some reason never made the collected works. This would make a notable contribution on its own account, but also in this volume are three sermons taken from a manuscript collection in Boston’s own hand. Hopefully this book is the first of more to come from what appears to be a surprisingly large store of material that remains in manuscript by this great gospel light of the Scottish Presbyterian Kirk. I commend the publishers for their work in uncovering and presenting this treasure to the world." — Chris Coldwell, Naphtali Press
"These rediscovered sermons are an invaluable providential gift to the church. We sorely need their refreshing Christ-centred gospel truth. Many of them also cast light from unusual texts on times very like our own." —Matthew A. Vogan, General Manager, Reformation Scotland
"This excellent book is a treasury of truths which Christians today would do well to read." —Maurice Roberts, Former editor, The Banner of Truth
etpuk TBCW
BRAND NEW HARDCOVER VOLUME PUBLISHED IN THE UK
 SGCB Price: $27.95 (list price $35.00)
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