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MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE, TIME, AND WRITINGS, OF THE REVEREND AND LEARNED THOMAS BOSTON, A. M. Sometime Miniffer at SIMPRIN, afterwards at ETTERICK, DIVIDED INTO TWELVE PERIODS. Written by HIMSELF, and addreffed to his CIILDRErr. Now firfì, publifhed from his own Manufcripts. To which are added, SOME ORIGINAL PAPERS, AND LETTERS TO FROM THE AUTHOR. Thou which haft (hewed me great and fore troubles,(halt quicken me again, and(halt bring me up againfrom the depths of the earth. Thou (halt in- creafe my greatnef, andcomfort me on every fide. PSAL. lxxi. 20, 21. Come and hear, all ye thatfear God, and I will declare what he bath don for my foul. PSAL. lxvi. 16. The righteous(hall be in everlafting remembrance, PSAL. cxii. 6, By it he being dead, yetfpeaketh. HER. xi. 4. Z2rtuÍdi PRINTED .BY,*''GRAC!s.$ . FOR J. RENNISON, 130-
CONTENTS. The author's addrefs to his children, Pag. 1 MEMOIRS. Period 1. From his birth [1676], till he left the grammar- fchool [1689], - 5 2. From his leaving the grammar-fchool to his laureation [1694], - - - .10 3. From his laureation to his being licenfed to preach the gofpel [1697], - - - 15 4. From his being licenfed till he removed into the bounds of the presbytery of Stirling [1698], - - 26 5. From his removal into the bounds of the prefbytery of Stirling to his return unto the Merfe [1699], 32 6. From his return unto the Merfe to his ordination to the holy miniftry at Simprin, Sept. 21. 1699, 50 7. From his ordination to his marriage, July 1700, 79 8. From his marriage tohis removal to Etterick [1707], 130 9. From his removal to Etterick to the oath of abjuration refufed byhim [1712], - - 179 10. From the oath of abjuration refufed till his tranfportation to Clofeburn, refufedby the Commifion of the General Affembly [1717], , - 229 11. From the tranfportation to Clofeburn refufed, to the notable breach in his health, and alteration in his con- flitution [1724], - - - 276 12. From the notable breach in his health, to the time of clofing this account [Nov. 1731, fix months before his death], 316 Poftfcript, - - - - 412 APPENDIX. No Pag. 1. Note on p. 255. concerning the fituation of the parilh of Etterick, - - 417 2. Ditto on p. 308. Advice to the parifh, with refpeó to their duty as loyal fubjeóts in the rebellion41715, 420'
iv CONTENTS. No Pao.. 3. Ditto on p. 351. Overtures of admilfaon to the Lord's table, and debarring from it, 421. 4. Mr Gabriel Wilfon's fpeech before the fynod of Merfe and Teviotdale, in defence of his fermon before that fynod, Oát. 1721, - - - 424 5. Note on p. 399. The Author's memorial concerning his Effay on the Hebrew text of Genefis, - 429 6. Ditto on p. 409. Paragraph of a letter from the Author to the minifter of E r, - - 430 7. Ditto on p. 470. The Author's memorial concerning his Effay on the Hebrew accentuation, - ib. 8. Letter from the Rev. Daniel Waterland, D. D. matter of Magdalene college in Cambridge, and chaplain in ordi- nary to his Majefty, to Mr G. relative to the Author's work on the Hebrew text of Genefis, - 432 9. Letters from the Rev. Mr Henry Davidfon, late minifter of the gofpel at Galafhiels, to the Author, - 434 10. Letter to the Author, in the Latin tongue, from the very Rev. William Hamilton, profeffor of divinity in the uni- verfity of Edinburgh, upon the fubjedt of the Hebrew accentuation, - - - 437 11. Extra& of a letter from Mr Grant to the Author, con- cerning Sir Richard Ellys, - - 438 12. Letter from the Author to Sir Richard Ellys, Bt, member of parliament, - - ib. 13. Sir Richard Elly's reply, - - 440 14. A fecond letter from the Author toSir Richard Ellys, 441 15. A third letter from the Author to Sir Richard Ellys, 443 16. Letters from the "Author to his correfpondent in Edin- burgh, - - - 444 Letter from the Author to the Rev. Mr James Hogg, minifter of the gofpet at Carnock, - - 465 18. Letter from an eminent diffenting minifter in Effex to the Author's grandfon, concerning the Author's appearance before the General Affembly of the church of Scotland 1729, in Profeffor Simfon's procefs, - 467
The' Author's Addrfi to his Children. °ro JOHN, JANE, ALISON, and THOMAS BosTows. MY DEAR CHILDREN, IAPPREHEND, that by the time it is defigned, under the condua of all-difpofing Providence, this Ihould come into your hands, ye may be defirous to know your father's manner of life, beyond what ye faw with your eyes : and it is very pleafing to me, that, as to that point, I am capable, in fomemeafure, to fatisfy you, by means of twomanufcripts, which I leave unto you, committing them to the Lord my God for prefervation, and a bleffing on them. The one is a bound book in quarto, intitled, Pafages of my Life, at writing hereof, confifting of three hundred and fixty-two written pages, beginning from my birth, ending October 19. 1730, and figned *. I was not arrived at twentyyears of age, when, without a prompter, fo far as I know, I began colleting of thefe paífages, for my own foul's benefit : and they, being carried on, have often fince that time been of ufe to me. For which caufe Irecommend the like praaice to you; remembering the promife, Pfal. cvii. 43. " Whofo is wife, and will obferve thofe things, even they íhall underfand the loving-kindnefs of the Lord." The other is . the following general account of my life, at writing hereof, confifling of two hundred and feventy-nine written pages f, beginning frommy birth, ending Odeber * The author, before his death, added force pages more. f In the years 1730 and 1 731 the author added a good many pages more. The first MS, conflits in whole of 371 nages, ar}d the latter of 332.
F3 THE AUTHOR'S ADDRESS 24. 1730, and figned. How I was led thereto, much con- trary to my inclination, you will find in the manufcripts theinfelves. But, now that it is done, I am obliged to fay, " The foolithnefs of God is wifer than men :" and I biefs the Lord, who gave me counfel. It was in obedience to hiscall that I did it : " Let the Lord do with it what feemeth him good." Ye will not readily have, meaner thoughts of that matter than I myfelf had. I prefutne, you will judge that it had been more natural to have made one continued hiftory of both : and I, being of the famemind, would indeed have fo done, had I thought it worth my pains, in this decline of my age and firength. But not feeing myfelf called thereto, I am fatisfied as to the defign of Providence, which hath modelled that matter as laid is *. You will not therein find yourfelves defcended, by me at leaft, from any ancient or honourable family in the fight of the world ; which is a matter of fome fignificancy, I own, before men, for a few palling years . but you will find your- felves children of the covenant, devoted unto the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, my God, by me having power over you for that effe& : whom therefore I charge to ratify the fame with your own confent, and perfonal ac- ceptanceof the covenant ; and to cleave to this God as your God, all the days of your lives, as being his only, wholly, and fnr ever : fo thall'that be to you a matter of eternal vai fignificancy, before the Lord ; of value to you iri"t s a: the other world. fen -í things in thefe manufcripts appear trifling, bear ttlh them. Had I thought it worth time and pains, to have written them over a fecond time, it is likely, feveral hings now found in them had been dropped. Mean while t may reafonably be allowed, that force things now appear- ing trifling to you, might have been of force weight to me; and may be fo to you afterwards ; and if never to you, yet force one time or other to yours after you. 4' In preparing this work for the prefs, it was judged abfolutely, . neceffary, in order to prevent repetitions, and references from the one volume to the other, to reduceboth into one continued narrative or hiltory, taking care all along to infert the paffages of his life in the general ac- count, in their proper places, according to their refpeecive dates and years, and as the nature of the fubje is treated of required.
TO HIS CHILDREN. f I hope you will find fome things in them worthy of your imitation : the which I was the more willing to record, that I did not think I ever had the art of education of children; but might thereby do fomewhat toward the repairing of the lofs you by that means fuftained. It is my defire anél... will, that, while the Lord is pleafed to preferve them, andr'; that in the power of my offspring; any of them whofoever be allowed free accefs unto them : yet fo that the property thereof be veiled from time to time, in fuch an one of them, if any fuch there fhall be, as (hall addi& himfelf to the holy miniftry. And in cafe I be allowed, by him in whole hand is my life and breath, and all my ways, to make any con- tinuation of the purpofe of thefe manufcripts, the fame is to be reckoned as here included. I hope you will ufe no indecent freedoms with them confidering that, for ought you or I know, there is a juc tertii, a right of a third party, in the matter, whom alfo I have a view to, with an awful regard to the fovereign difpofal of holy Providence, to which I defire to fubmit all. Some few things which I faw meet to delete, I have fignified and figned on the margin. And now, my dear children, your lot is fallen in a finning time, beyond the days of my fathers : and I am miftaken, if it iffue not in a time proportionally trying, by " the Lord's coming out of his place to punifh the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity." I obteft and befeech yo i, as you regard your eternal welfare, " fave yourfelv .úa this untoward generation." See the abfolute ner Tay regeneration, the changeof your nature, by union I Jere~ Chriff the fecond Adam ; as it was corrupted by means of your relation to the firft Adam fallen. Labour for the experience of the power of religion in your own fouls, that you may have an argument for the reality of it, from your fpiritual fence and feeling : and cleave to the Lord, his way of holinefs, " (without which ye (hall not fee the Lord)," his work alfo, his interefts, and people, on all hazards ; being affured, that fuchonly will be found wife in the end. If your mother, undoubtedly a daughter of Abraham, (ball furvive me, let your lofs of a father move you to carry the more kindly and affe&ionately to her, fupporting her in her defolate condition. Let the fame likewife engage you the more to be peaceful, loving, and helpful, among vourfelves. 1.0
THE AUTHOR'S ADDRESS, &C. The Lord biefs each one ofyou, and fave you, caufe his gracious face thine, on you, and give you peace ; fo as we may have a comfortable meeting in the other world ! Fare- well. T. BOSTON, From My. $tidç: in Ef.tebic)g Manie, Ö. 4: r;130. //A/`/ /%DW t
011!`edV.I! ®_1111'S,ay OF TMII LIFE, TIME, AND WRITINGS, OF Mr THOMAS BOSTON. rPHAT my life may be more fullyknown unto my pofterity, 1 for their humiliation on the one hand, and thankfulnefs on the other, upon myaccount ; for theircaution alto in fore things, and their imitation in others ; and that they may fet their hope in God, and not in the empty creation, I have thought it meet to give the following, general account of the days of my vanity, in the feveral periods thereof. PERIOD From my birth, till I left the grammarfchool. T. WAS born of honeft parents, of 'good reputation among their neighbours, in the town of Dunfe, on the 17th, and baptized on the 21ít, of March, in the year 1676 ; being the youngeft of fever children, four brothers and three fitters, procreated betwixt John Bofton, and Alifòn Trotter, awoman prudent andvirtuous. I was born at a time when my mother was thought tohave left bearing ; for which caufe a certain woman ufed ordinarily to call me God'sfend. The youngeft of my filters I faw not: but the reft lived, and had all of them feveral children ; many of whom have now children of their own. Meanwhile my brothers and lifters are all of them gone, feveral years ago, into the other world, which I have now in view. Andrew Bofton, my grandfather, came from Ayr to Dunfe, and poifeífed the tenement given afterward by my father to my eldeft brother, and belonging to his heirs to this day. But before him had come William, his brother, as I fuppofe ; whofe name . the tenement next on the weft fide, to that which my father gave me, bears. When I was a boy, I faw a grand-daughter of his from England, by his fon Mr William, a churchman there; a No. 1. A
6 MEMOIRS OF PERIOD 7.0 very devout woman in-her way, and married to one Mr Peter Carwain, another churchman but I fuppofe childlefs. My father was a knowing man, having in his youth, I think, got good of the gofpel. Being a nonconformift during the time of Prelacy, he tattered upon that head, to imprifonment, and fpoiling of his goods. When I was a little boy, I lay in the prifon of Dunfe with him, to keep him company: the which I have often looked'on as an earneft of what might be abiding me; but hitherto I have not had that trial. My mother once paying, to one Alexander Martin fherifl=depute, the fum ofL. 50 as the fine of her imprifoned hufband, for his nonconformity, defired of him an abatement ; whereupon'he, taking up a pint-ftoup ftand- ing on the table, therewith broke in pieces a part of a tobacco- pipe lying thereon ; bidding the devil beat him as fmall as that pipe-(topple, if there thould be ought abated of the fum. And once walking through the ftreet, while my father was with the mafons that were building his houfe, he looked up, and faid to him, that he would make him fell that houfe yet. Neverthelefs he and his pofterity were not long after rootedout of the place; and that houfe was not fold, until I, not for need of money, but for my own conveniency otherwife, fold it thine years ago. May all my offspring be faved from ever embarking with that party ; t pf whom I fay from the:.heart, " O my foul, come not thou into their fecret mine honour, be not thou united with them." Thefchoolmiftrefs having her chamber in my father's houfe; I was,early put to fchool ; and having a capacity for learning, and being of a towardly difpofition, was kindly treated by her ; often expreffing her hope of feeing me in the pulpit. Neverthelefs, for a contiderable time, I wept inceffantly from the time they be- gan to put on my clothes till I was upftairs in the fchool. Thus my natural temper of fpirit appeared, being timorous and hard to enter on, but eager in the 'parfait when once entered. By the time I was fevenáyears old, I read the Bible, and had delight in reading it ; would have read with my fchoolmiftrefs in the winter-nights, when the reft of the children were not prefent ; yea, and got the Bible fometimes to the bed with me, and read there. Meanwhile I know nothing induced me to it, but the natural vanity of my mind ; andcurifity, as about force fcripture- hiftories. However, I am thankful, that it was at all made my choice early ; and that it hath been the ftudy of my ripeft years, with which I would fain dote my life, if it were his will. Sometime in the year 1684, or at fartheft 1685, I was put to the gram*nar-fchool, under Mr James Bullerwall fchoolmafter in the town, and continued at it till the harveft 1689, rave that one fummer I was kept at home, while the reft of my clafs were go- ing on in the grammar. When I was very young, going to a neighbour's houfe, with a halfpenny, or force fuch reward of divination, in my hand, to a fortune- teller ; after entering the outer door, I was fuddenly
1684. MR THOMAS BOSTON. Bruck in mymind, flood muting a little between the doors, durfi not go forward, but came ftealing away again. Thus the unfeen Counfellor preferved me from thatfnare. I remember Tome things which I was, by hearing or feeing, in perfons come to years, witnefs to, in thefe days, leaving an im- preflron on me to ;their difadvantage. Wherefore care fhould be taken, that nothing lhould be done or faid, finful or indecent, before children ; for their memory may retain the fame, till they are capable to form a right judgment of it, to the ftaining of the £haraóter of the party with them afterward. By means --.of my education, and natural difpoftion, I was of a lober and harmlefs deportment, and preferved from the common vices of children in towns.. I was at no time.what they call a vitious or a reguifh boy ; neither was I fo, addi&ed to playas to forget my bufinefs ; though I wasadexterous playerat fuck games as required art and nimblenefs : and towards the latterend of this period, having had frequent occafron to fee foldiers exercifed, I liad apeculiar facultyat muttering and exercifingmyfchool- fellows accordingly, by the feveral words and motions of the exercife of the inufket ; they being formed into a body, under a captain. Thewhich exercife I have managed, to as much wearinefs and pain of my breaft, as fometi.mes I have preached. During the firft years of my being at the gra amar-fehoot, I kept the kirk punótually, where I heard : thofe of the Epifcépal way ; that being then the national eftablithment : but I knew nothing of the matter, fave to give fuitand prefence within the walls of thehoule living without Godin theworld, unconcerned about the !late of myfoul, till the year 1687. Toward the latter end of fummer that year, the liberty of confcience being then newly giving by King James, my father took me away with him to a Prefbyterian meeting, in. the Newton of Whitforne. There I heard the worthy Mr Henry Erfkine *, rninifter of Cornhill be- fore the reftoration, mentioned inCalamy's Account oftheejec ied rninifters, vol. 2. p. 518. and in the Continuationof that Account, vol. 2. p. 678. etfegq ; by whofe means it pleafed the Lord to awaken me, and bring me under exercife about my foul's Rate ; being then going in the twelfth year of my age. After that, I went back to the kirk no more, till the Epithopalians were turned out : and it was the common obfervation in thefe days, That whenever one turned ferions about his foul's fiate and cafe, he left them. The which ,experience in my own cafe; founded my averfion to that way, whichbath continued with me all along to this day. But'how hlamelefs and harmlefs foever my life was before the world during my childhood, and while I was a boy, whether be- fore or after I was enlightened, the corruption of my nature be- gan very early to thew and fpread forth itfelf in me, as the genuine * This Mr Henry Erikine was father to the late IVleü; Ebenezerand Ralph Erfltines whofe praife is in all the churches. A2
8 MEMOrRS or PERIOD I. offspring of fallen Adam. And this, not only in the vanity and ungodlinefs of the general courfe of my life before I was enlighten- ed, living without God ; but inparticular branches thereof, which I remember to this day with lhame and confufion before the Lord. And indeed in this period were force fuch things as I have ever fine looked upon as fpecial blots in my efcutcheon ; the which, with others of a later date, I have been wont, in my fecret fafts all along, (till to fet before mine own eyes, for my humiliation, and lay before the Lord, that he may not remember themagainst me ; though I hope theyare pardoned, being waffled away by the blood of Chrift my Saviour. I remember my grofs and unbecoming thoughtsof theglorious, ineomprehenfible God ; keen hatred of my neighbour, upon difobligations received ; and divers loathfome fproutiugs of the finwhich all along hath " molt eaulybefet me," as the particular bias of my corrupt nature. Two fnares I fell into in that period, which have been in a fpecial manner heavy to me, and have occafioned me many bitter reflec- tions ; and, I think, they have been after the Lord had begun to deal with my foul, and enlightened me. The one I was caught in, being enticed by another boy to go to Dunfe -law with him on a Lord's day, and, when on the head of the hill, to play pins with him. The other I narrowly efcaped, being put into the fnare by the indifcretionofone who then had the management of me : all ircumftances favouring the temptation, God alone, by his Spirit, working on my confcience, delivered meas abird out of the fnare of the fowler. The particular place I well remember, whither after the efcape I went, and wept bitterly, under the defilement I had contraóted, in tampering with that temptation. Such is thedanger of ill company for young-ones, and of indifcreet man- agement of them. However, that they were the genuine fruits of my corrupt nature I do evidently fee ; in that, however bitter both of thefe had been to me, I did force years after run, of my own accord; into two fnares much of the fame kinds, narrowly alto efcaping one of them, but fo as it occafioned to me great bitternefs. Twoof Mr Erfkine's firít texts were, John i. e9. " Behold " the Lamb of God," &c. ; and Matth. iii. 7. " O generation c° of vipers, who hath warned you to flee," &c. I diftinótly remember, that from this lait he oft- times forwarned of judge- ments to come on thefe nations, which I (till apprehend will come. By thefe, I judge, God fpake to me ; however, I know I was touched quickly after the firft hearing, wherein I was like one amazed with force new and ftrange thing. My loft ttate by nature, and my abfólute need of Chrift, being thus difcovered to me, I waslet to prayin earneft ; but remember nothing Of that kind I did before, Cave what was done at meals, and in my bed. I alfocarefullyattended for ordinary the preach- ing of the word, at Revelaw, where Mr Erfkinehad his meeting- Iioufe, near about four miles from Dunfe, In the fainter-time,
168G. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 9 company could hardly be miffed ; and with them fomething to be heard, efpecially in the returning, that was for edification, to which I liftened ; but in the winter, fometimesit was my lot to go alone, without fó much as the benefit of a horfe to carry me through Blackadder water, the wading whereof in (harp frofty weather I very well remember. But fuch things were then eafy, for the benefit of the word, which came with power. The fchooldoor's fon having, in his childifh folly, put a pipe- (topple in each of' his noftrils,. I defigning to pull them out, hap. pened fo to put themup that he bled. Whereupon his father, sin great wrath, upbraided me ; and particularly fáid, Is that what you learned at Revelaw ? which cut me to the heart, find- ing religion to-fuf}er by me. In there days I had a great glowing of affeétions in religion, even to a zeal for fuffering in the caufe of it, which 1 amvery fore was not according to knowledge ; but I was ready to think, as Zebedee's children faid, Matth. xx. 12. " We are able." I was raw and unexperienced, had much weaknefs and ignorance, and much of a legal difpofition and way, then, and for a good time after, undi('cerued. Howbeit I would fain hope, there was, under a heap of rubbifh of that kind, " fóne good thing toward " the God of Ifrael" wrought in me. Sure I am, I was in good earneft concerned for a faving intereft in Jefus Chrift ; my foul went out after him, and the place ofhis feet was glorious in mine eyes. Having read of the fealing of the tribes, Rev. vii. Satan wove a fnare for me out of it, viz. That the whole number of the &ót, or thofe who were to he faved, was already made úp ; and therefore therewas no room for me. How that fnare was broken, I do not remember ; but thereby one may fee, what eafy work Satan, brooding on ignorance, bath to'hatch things which may perplex and keep the party from Chrift. At that time there was another boy at the fchool, Thomas Trotter of Catchilraw, whofe heart the Lord had alfb touched : and there came to the fchool a third, one Patrick Gillies, a ferions lad, and elder than either of us ; but the fon of a father and mo- ther, ignorant and carnal to a pitch ; which made the grace of God in him the more remarkable: Upon his motion, we three met frequently in a chamber in my father's houfe, for prayer, read- ing the fcriptures, and fpiritual conference ; whereby we liad fome advantage, both in point of knowledge and tendernefs. It was remarkable concerning the fáid Thomas,, that being taken to the firft Prefbyterian meeting that was in the country after the liberty ; ,where I fuppofe, the worthy and famous Mr James Webfter, afterwards a minifter in Edinburgh, preached ; he, upon his return from it, giving an account in the fchoolconcerning his being there, ridiculed the Whigs ; the which I, who neverthe- lefs was not there, was very forry for, on no other account, I reckon, but that my father was one of that fort of people. But
iá II ;. 10 MEMOIRS OF PERIOD J!, going afterward to the like meetings, he turned a very devout boy. To bind myfelf to diligence in feeking the Lord, and to fir The up thereto, I made a vow, topray fo many times a-day : howmany times, I cannot be pofitive ; but it was at leaft thrice. It was the goodnefs of God to me, that it was made only for a certain definite fpace of time ; but I found it fo far from being a help, that it was really a hinderance to my devotion, making me more heartlefs in, and averfe to duty, through the corruption of niy nature. I got the time of It driven out accordingly : but I never durst make another of that nature fince, nor fo bind up myfelf, where God had left. me at liberty. And it háth been of fume good ufe to me, in the courfe of my after life. The fchool -houfe being within the church-yard, I was pro- videntiallymade to fee there, within an open coffin, in an unripe grave opened, the confuming body juft brought to the confiftence of thin mortar, and biackifh : the which made an'impreslìon on me, remaining to this day ; whereby I perceive, what a loathfome thing mybody mutt at length become before it be reduced toduft; not to be beheld with the eye but with horror. In the courfe of years fpent at the grammar- fchool, I learned the Latin rudiments, Defpauter's grammar, and all the authors, in verle or prole, then ufually read in fchoois ; and profited above the rest of my own .clafs, by means of whom my progrefs was the more flow. And before I left the fchool, I, generally, faw no Roman author, but what I found myfelf in fbme capacity to turn into English : but we were not put to becareful about proper English. Towards the end of that time, I was alío taught Voffius's Elements of rhetoric ; and May 15. 1689, begun the Greek, learned fome parts of the New Testament, to wit, fume part ofJohn, of Luke, and of the Aóts of the Apoftles. And helping the above- mentioned Patrick Dillies, in the Roman authors, in our spare' hours, I learned from 'trim, on the other hand, fore of'the common rules of arithmetic, being but a lorry writer. And this was the education I had at fchool, which I left in harveft 1639, being then aged thirteen years, and above five months. PERIOD H. From my leaving the grammarfchool, to my laureation. BETWEENmy leavingof the grammar-fchool, and my en- tering to the college, two years intervened. And here be- gan more remarkablymybearing of theyoke of trial and afllicîion, the which laid on in myyouth, has in the wife difpolàl of holy Providence, been from that time unto this day continued, as my ordinary lot ; one fcene of trial opening after another. Prelacy being abolished by aóì of parliament, July ee. 16899
1690. MR THOMAS BOSTON. lI and the Prefbyterian government fettled, June 7. 1690, and the curate of Dunfe having died about that time, the Prefbyterians took poffeffron of the`skirk, by the worthy Hr Henry Lrfkine's preaching in it on a Wednefday, being the weekly market-day ; the foldiers being alive in carrying on the projeet, and proteóling againft the Jacobite party. The purity of the gof'pel being new to many, it had much fuccefs in there days, comparatively speak- ing; and in the harveft that year, my mother fell under exercife about her foul's cafe, and much lamented her mil=fpeüt time; and there was a remarkable change then made upon her. My father, as well as myfelf, inclined that I fhould proceed in learning;, but apprehending the expence.iltequal to his worldly circumftances, was unwilling to bear the charges of my education at the college : whereupon he tried feveal means for etfeCtuating_, thedelign otherwife, particularly in the year 1690 ; but prevailed not. Hereby I was difcouraged, and had force thoughts of be- taking myfelf to a trade ; the which being intimated to him, he flighted, as being refolvedwrit lb to givè it over : and I entertained them not, butas the circumftances feemed to force them on me. In the end of that year he took me to Edinburgh, and effàyed to put me into the fervice of Dr Rule; principal of the college, not without hopeof accomplifhing it ; but One who had promifed to recommend me to the Door, having forgot his promife, that effay was made in vain ; and I returned home, having got that notable difappointment on the back of leveral others. Mean while the difficulties I had to grapple with, in the way of my purpofe, put me tocry to the Lord in prayer on that head, that he himfeif would find means to bring it about. And I well remember the place where I was wont to addrefs the throne of grace for it, having feveral times thereafter had occafion to mind it, in giving thanks for that he had heard. the prayers there put up for that effeót. About, or before this time, was the melancholy event of Mr J. B 's falling into adultery, He was born in Dunfe, and fo an acquaintance of my father's;- andhe was minitter of the meet- ing-houfe at Merfington, and not young. This dreadful ftumb- ling- block, laid efpeciallyat fucka criticalj in lure as the Revolu- tion, filled the mouths of the ungodly with reproach againft the way of religion, and faddened the hearts of the godly to a pitch. I well know, that many a heavy heart it made to me, and ,remember the place where I was wont heavily to lament it before the Lord in ferret prayer. On the 111 day of February 1691, it pleafed the Lord td remove my mother by death, not having lain long lick. To the bell of my knowledge, fhe was not above fifty-fix years of age, my fa- ther and (he having lived together, in the Rate of marriage, from their youth, about thirty years. While the died in one room, my father was lying in another fick, as wäs fuppofed, unto death ; and heavily received the tidings of her departure. `returning
12 MEMOIRS OP PERIOD II, from bidding force friends in the country to her burial, I met on the fireet one whom I afked concerning my father, that told me, in all probabililty he would never recover. This fo pierced me, that getting home, I went to the foot of the garden, and cart my- felf down on the ground, where, according to the vehemency of my paffion, I lay, grovelling and bemoaning my heavy firoke in the lofs of my parents, looking on myfelf as an abfolute orphan, and all hopes of obtaining my purpofe now gone. Thus I. lay, I think, till my eldeft brother, ajudicious man, came and fpoke to me, and raifed me up. But it pleafed the Lord that I was com- forted in the recovery of my father force time after. About this time, I fuppofe; I myfelf was fick about eight days. Some time after, nay father, in purfuance of what had paffed betwixt him and the town-clerk, fent me, at his delire, to write with him. But whatever way they had concerted their bufinefs, he drewback, took no trial ofme, in the matter, and I returned. And that projeót was blown up. But being, it would Teem, put in hopes by my father of pro- ceeding in learning, towards the middle of June I betook myfelf to my books again,: which I had almoft given over ; and I applied myfelf to the reading of Juftin at that time, the malt-loft being my clofet : but beginning thus to get up my head, my corruption began to fet up its head too ; fo neceffary was it for me to bear the yoke. Mean while I was, that year, frequently employed to write with Mr Alexander Cockburn; a notary. The favourable defìgn ofProvidence therein, then unknown to me; I now fee, fnce it could not be but of fumeufe to help meto the ftyle of papers; the which, fnce that time, I have had confiderabie ufe for. And thus kind Providence early laid in for it. But here I was led into a fnare by Satan and my own corrup- tion. Mr Cockburn being in debt to me on the forefaid account, I faw Dickfon on Matthew lying negleóted in his chamber; and finding I could not get the money due to meout of his hand, I pre- fumed to take away the book without his knowledge, thinking I might verywell do it on the'forefaid account. I kept it for a time ; but confcience being better informed, I fawmy'fin in that matter, and could no more peaceably enjoy it, thoughhe never paid me ; fo I reftored it fecretly, none knowing how it was taken away, nor how returned ; and hereby the fcandal was prevented. This, I think, contributed to imprefs me with a fpecial care of exaétju- itice, and the neceffity of reftitution in the cafe of things unjuftly taken away, being like a burnt child dreading fire. My father being fully refolved to put me to the college on his own charges, I began, on the 15th of Oétober, to expound the Greek New Teftament; which, I think, I completed betwixt that and Dec. 1. ; at which time he took me to Edinburgh, where being tried in theGreek New Teftament by Mr Herbert Kennedy regent, I was entered into his femi clafs, my father having given
1691. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 13 him four dollars, as was done yearly thereafter, paying alfo all other dues. Thus the Lord, in my fetting out in the world, dealt with me, obliging me to have recourfe to himfelf for this thing, to do it for me. He brought it through many difficulties, tried me with various difappointments, at length carried it to the utmoft point of hopeleffnefs, feemed to be laying the grave-ftone upon it at the tithe of my mother's death ; and yet after all he brought it to pars; and that has been the ufual method of Providence with me all along in matters of the greateftweight. The wifdom appear- ing, in leading the blind by a way they knew not, fhined in the puttingoff that matter to this time, notwithftaudingall endeavours to compafs it fooner ; for I am perfe&ly convinced I was abund- antly {bon put to the college, being then but in the fifteenthyear of my age; and the manner of it was kindly ordered, in that I was thereby beholden to none for that my education ; and it made way for force things which Providence faw needful for me. During the whole timer was at the college, I dieted myfelf, being lodged in a private houfe, to which I was led by kind Pro- vidence, as fit for my circumftances. 1G92. The firft year, being fomewhat child,ith, but knowing with what difficulty I had reached what I had obtained, I lived fparingly, and perhaps more fó than was needful of reafbnable. Being deje&ted and melancholy, I went but little out of my chamber, fave to the clafs ; and thus my improvement was con- fined ina manner to my leffons. 1G93. The fecond year I attended the college, I had an entire comradefhip with Andrew (afterwards Mr Andrew) Elliot, a minifter'sfon, andnowminifterofAuchtertool1inFife, which feveral ways contributed to my advantage, and laftedduring the reti of the time we were at the college. Mean while I Rill lived fparingly. In the fpring that year began a breach of my health, whereby I became liable to fwoonings, which continued for feveral years after. It was, I think, in the month of April, when being on My knees at fecret prayer, myheart began to fail, and I rofe up, and fell on my back on the floor, and laya while in a fwoon. Recovering, I called the landlady : then I went to bed, but fainted a fecond time, in which the took care of me. Afterwards fhe unwarily fuggefted to me, that it might be the falling-ficknefs, which occafioned me feveral thoughts of heart. Wherefore, as I came home in the middle of May, I confulted it ; and was deli- vered of there fears, which were groundlefs ; but being at home, Iwas, on the 2d of June, overtaken with another fainting-fit, in which beckoning with my hand I fainted away ; and while they were lifting me into the bed, I heard my fitter fay, that I was gone. In a little I recovered, and my father went to prayer at my bed-fide. The firft or fecond winter I was at the college, being in corn. No. 1. B
14 MEMOIRS 0F` PERIOD II. pany witha dumb man, I was urged by fome to afk him a queftion about my brother William. He anfwered me in writing, as it is Deut. xxix. ult. " Secret things belong unto the Lord our God," &c. ; and, moreover, that there is no fuch thing corn municated to the dumb, but that through importunity he himfelf" had fornetimes fpoke what he knew not. Thus was I reproved. And I defire that all who may read. this or filch like my failings, may beware offplitting on the fame rocks, fo' heavy to me. About December CO. I gladly went to Edinburgh again for the lait year, thinking that courfe of difficulties near an end. I was therefore more chearful, and in point of diet managed more liberally. 1694. About the latter end of February, I came home with John Cockburn, a comrade, fon to John Cockburn in Preflon. I could not get him out of the town till a good part of the day was fpent ; and when we were come out, he expended a little money he had left, without afking queftions till it was done. Then finding there was no money with us but what I had, which could fèarcely procure us both a night's lodging, we refolved to hold on our way, though ourjourneywas in all twenty-eight miles long. Night drawing on, we were twelve miles from home, and got nothing in the inn but bread and water ; there being no ale in it, it feems. Then under night we went on our way, in the moon-light: but on the hills we began to fail, travelling afoot, and having had but forry refrefhment at the inn. Mean while, as we lay on the highway to reft our weary limbs a little, a far- , mer came up to us, who offered to lodge us with him near by ; which was gladly embraced. That youth and I had been fchool-fellows at Dunfe, and fo much refembled oneanother in faceand Rature, as if we had been twins; the which being noticed by our fellows, made a molt en- tire friendship between us at fchool. It lafted for a while ; but was at length, upon force childifh controverfy, quite blown up, and was never recovered. For at the college, being more libe- rally furnifhed, he overlooked me, andgave himfelf to diverfions ; fo that there was no communication, but what was general, be- twixt him and me, as I remember, till the lait of the threeyears. At what time, being once in company with him, I was like to havea plea to rid betwixt him and another; and, to the beft of 'my knowledge, left them at length. And Then again I came home with him as aforefaid. He and I both were defigned for the ftudy of divinity ; but in a little time he gave up with it, went to London, applied himfelf to book-keeping, and went a- broad, I fuppofe, and died. Wherefore, when I was honoured ofGod to preach the gofpel of Chrift, I was oftena moving fight to his forrowful father. Whence I muft needs conclude, that " it is good for a man to bear theyoke in his youth :" and furely it was good and neceffary för me. Being allowed only L. Id Scots by my father for the laurea
1694. 1flt THOMAS BOSTON. 15 tion, I borrowed 20 merks from one of my brothers, and fo went toEdinbugh for that end in the funnier. But the day fignified to me not being kept, I returned without my errand. This dif- appointment, with other difcouragements I had met with in pro- fecuting my ftudies, furnithed my evil heart, when going in a fecond time that feafon to the laureation, the `occafaon of that un- believing thought, that I would never believe I could obtain it till I faw it. For this thought I prefently fmarted, meeting fudden- ly on the back of it with a difpenfation which threatened to lay the grave-ftone upon all that 1 had hitherto attained ; for force officers took me up by the way to be a foldier : but the Lord de- livered me quickly. Thus holy wife Providence ordered my education at the col- lege ; the. charges whereof amounted in all but to L. 128: 15 8 Scots ; of the which I had 20 merks as aforefaid to pay after- wards. Out of that fum were paid the regents fees yearly, and the college-dues, and alto my maintenance was furnifhed out of it. By Means thereof, I had a competent underftanding of the logics, metaphyfics, ethics, and general phyfics ; always taking pains of what was before me, and pleating the regent : but I learned nothing elfe, Pave fhort-hand writing, which an acquaint- ance of mine taught me, namely, a well- inclined baker-lad. My defign in acquiring it was to write fermons ; but I made little ufe of it that way, finding it to mar the frame of my f pirit in hear- ing, which obliged me toquit that ufe of it. But kind was the defign of Providencein it notwithftanding ; forbefides its ferving me in recording things I defigned to keep fecret and otherwife, it has been exceeding ufeful to me of late years, in making the firft draughts of my writings therein. " Known unto God are all his works from the beginning." PERIOD III. From my laureation, to my being licenfed topreach the gofpel. THAT fummer the burfary of the prefbytery of Dunfe was conferred on me, as a ftudent of theology as was that of the prefbytery of Churnfide on my comrade John Cockburn, And after the laureation, fome timebefore the harveft, I entered on the fludy of theology ; Mr James Ramfay, minifter then at Eymouth, now at Kelfo, having put the book in my hand, viz. Pareus on Urfin's catechif'm ; the which I read over throe or four timesere I went to the fchool ofdivinity. Among the fi rft book* . of that kind which I had a particular fondnefs for, was Weems's Chriftian fynagogue. I went, on invitation, to F ----s, and fpent force weeks there, after the harveft, with his two funs, and James (after Mr James) Ridpath, ftudents in p ilofophy, to whom I was there belpful in their Itudies. And that I may reckon the only time of my life in which I had a tafte of the youthful divetfions ; B2
16 MEMOIRS or PERIOD III. whereofI loon faw the vanity, and wherein I drove but heavily, the family being altogether carnal. But while I was there, I kept up the worfhip of God in the family : neverthelefs I found that manner of life enfnaring. 1695. About January O. 1695, I went to Edinburgh to the fchool of divinity, then taught by the great Mr George Camp- bell. There was then a great form of fnow on the ground. By the way, being extremely cold, 1. alighted off my horfe, (I think it was betwixt Ridpath-edge and Red(ìone- ridge), and walked. Having walked a while, a fwoon began to feize rne, and I could walk no more. I took horfe, but was fcarcely able to fit on it. My brother, who by good Providence was with me, put a bit of bread in my mouth ; and I had fcarcely as much ítrength left as to lift my jaws and chew it. It wouldhave been defirable tome to have been near the meaneft cottage. And I recovered. At tlìai`time I took a chamber, and dieted myfelf again, about the fpace of a month : but weary of that way, Mr Ridpath aforefaid and I tabled ourfelves, as moft convenient. He beir g a fmart youth, and difpofed to profit in philofophy, Hid good to myfelf, by being fèrviceahle to him in the matter of philofophy, which was his only ftudy at that time. Having fame tafte of mufic be- fore, we went to a fchool one month, and made good proficiency ; preffing forward our teacher, and purfuing it in our chamber : fo that by that means we had the tenors, trebles, and bafes, of the common tunes, with fome other tunes, and feveral prick-fongs. My voice was good, and I had a delight in mufic. A few of us, newly entered to the fchool of divinity, were taught for a time Riiffenius's compend, in the profeffor's cham- ber. Publicly in the hall he taught Effenius's compend. For exercifes that feffion, I had a paraphrafe on If. xxxviii. 1. -9. a leóture on Prov. i. and an exegefis de certitudinej'ubjettiva elee- tionis ; and in a private fociety, another de jure divinoprefbyte- rates. I was alfa for a while, at that time, I fuppofe, with Mr Alexander Rule profeflbr of Hebrew ; but rememberno remark- able advantage I had thereby. About the latter end of April, I returned home, clothed with teftimonials from Profeffor Campbell, bearing, that I had dili- gently attended the profeflion, dexteroufly acquitted myfelf in fe- veral efl'ays prefcribed to me, behaved inoffenfrvely, gravely, and pioufly. He was a man of great learning, but exceffivelymodelt, Undervaluing himfelf, and much valuing the tolerable perform- ancesof his students. Mr James Murray, rninifter of Penpont, whofe fchool-fellow I had been at Dunfe a little while, having engaged me to embrace the grammar-fchool of Penpont, came to the Merle about the barveft, and invited me to go with him, (hewing confiderable. en- couragement. I could not then go along ; but afterwards I made ready for it, and exhaufted what remained of my burle, which was in all L. 8U Scots, in fitting out myfelf. Upon this view,
1695. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 17 ;chewing a minifter of the prefbytery, a wife man, that I mind- ed not to defire the burfe again, he bid me fatten one foot before I loofed the other : An advice which I had frequent occaton of minding thereafter. In September, Mr Murray having fent his horfe for me, but withal in a letter fignified his fears of the mifcarrying of that pro- ject, but that in that cafe I might have another fchool ; I, not a little troubled at the fudden change, did notwithftanding go to Penpont, in company with the worthy Mr Henry Eríkine afore- mentioned. There I continued with Mr Murray about a quarter of a year, in fufpence with reference to that proje& : in which time, Mr G. B. minifter of Glencairn, defired me to take the fchool ofthat parifh ; which I was unwilling to accept. All hope of the fchool of Penpont being at length cut off, and I afhamed to return home, Mr B was wrote to, for what was before refuted ; and he made return, that he could not be pofitive as to the matter. Under this trial, whichI was brought into by precipitant con- dud, I was helped in force meafure to truft God. After this, Mr Murraybeing in Edinburgh, Mr B -fent for me, and agreed with me to teach the fchool there for 100 merks of falary. Thereafter came to my hand a letter fromMr Murray, defiring me to come in to Edinburgh for a pedagogy provided fbr me. Whereupon I earneftly dealt with Mr B .. quit met while I was not yet entered ; which neverthelefs he would by no means agree to. 1696. On the firft day of the new year 1696, being in his houfe, his manner was moft grievous and loathfome to me ; fo that I feared I might there come to behardened fromGod's fear. On the9th, much againft thegrain, I tookup thefchool, having ne- ver inclined much to that employment, but being quite averfe to it there. I was kindly and liberally entertained in Mr B--'s houfe, and that freely ; but the vanity and untendernefs of his carriage, and of his wife's, I was not able to digeft. He was wont, among other pieces of conduét very unacceptable to me, to go to an alehoufe, taking me along with him, much againft my inclination, under pretence of difcourfing with an old gentle- man. There we were entertained with warm ale and brandy mixed, and with idle ftories ; i obtaining by his charaéter not to be preffed to drink. There things made me earneftly to cry un- to the Lord, that he would rid anddeliver me, and difpofe ofme fo as I might be freed from them and their fociety. He was a young man, his wife anold woman : they had no children ; and there, I think, was there share. Being funk indebt, they left the country at length. After I had kept the fchool a little while, the Lady -Merfing- ton wrote a preffing letter to Mr Murray, that I fhould take the charge of her grandchild Aberlady, as his governor. Where- upon Mr Bwas again addreffed to quit me ; but could not be
I3 MEMOIRS OP PERIOD III. prevailed with. Ì committed the caufe to God, to be by him de- termined what to do. And confidering that no time of my con- tinuance there had been condefcended on, that the fcholars were but few, and that the prefbytepy was clear for my going away ; and above all confidering that God, according to My earneft pray- er, had opened an outgate from the heavy flotation I found my- felf in, as above faid, I began to queflion, if I could, without fin, let filch an occafion of riddance from it flip : fo being at length fully determined, I gave up the fchool on the 8th of February, much againft Mr B 's will, having kept it a month. At Can- dlemas the boys had gifted me about 10s. Sterling, which I took from them with the uf'ual civilities, but immediately returned each one his own r fo that I had nothing by them.. While I was in that country, I had advantage of converfe with Mr Murray, a learned and holyman ; the meeting of which two in a charaóter was not very .frequent there ; as alfo of Janet Maclaunie, an old, exercifed, godly woman. She obliged me to take from her about halfa dollar ; which, as a token of that wo- man's Chriftian love, 1 do to this day value more than gold. I remember not but another inftance of that nature, which I {hall alfo mention in the due place. I biers the Lord,. who gave me counfel then and afterwards, to reek and value converfation with ferions Chriftians, in the places where my lot was caft; being confident, I.had much advantage thereby towards my preaching of the gofpel. But the fmall number of hearers I often faw in the kirk of Penpont, and the thronging away to feparate meet- ings, kept, I think, by Mr Hepburn, with other things reíiae&ing minifters and people, made a fatting bad imprefl'ion of that coun- try on me. Mean time it was my endeavour to live near God, and I was helped, while there, in force meafure to live by faith. And there it was, that I'firft of all began to record paffages of my life; the which I did on loofe papers. Having gone to Edinburgh, in purfuance of the propofal above mentioned, I did onFebruary 13. take the charge of my pupil, Andrew Fletcher of Aberlady, a boy of about nine years ofage ; whole father having died young, his mother was married again to Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce of Kennet, in the parifh of Clack- mannan. The boy beingat the high fchool, with a fervant wait- ingon him, I waited on the fchool of divinity ; which advanta- geous occafion propofed, had been a great inducement to me to engage in that bufinefs. And there I had a homily on Mark x. 27. delivered March 6. which is in retentis but to my.great dif- appointment we were removed from Edinburgh to Kennet, whi- ther we came on the morrow after, viz. March 7. and where we continued all along till I parted with him. At Kennet, my pupil going to the grammar-fchool at Clack- mannan, with the fervant attending him, and being ofa towardly and traétàble difpofition, my bufinefs with him was no burden ; taking noticeofhim at home, and fometimes vifiting him in the
1696. í. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 19 fchool. But my bufinefs was increafed toward. the latter end of the year, teaching two boys of Kennet's to read. My pupil died afterward in his youth, while I was at Simprin: I gave myfelf to my Rudy, kept a correfpondence with the neighbouiing minifters, there being an Epifcopal incumbent in the parilh when I went thither, and converted much with fòme ferious Chriftians about the place. . Though I was not properly the chaplainof the family, norhad, that I remember, any particular order from the- mailer of the fa-, mily, and neither laird nor lady were at home for a confideiable time after I went thither ; yet finding myfelf providentially fet- tled there, in the character I bore, I judged myfelf obliged in contcience to feek the fpiritual good of the family, and to watch over them, and fee to their manners. Accordingly 1 kept up family- worfhip, catechifed the fervants, preffed the carelefs to fe- cret prayer, reproved and warned againft finful praótices, and earneftly endeavoured the reformation of the vicious. This courfe not having the dared effeót on.fbme,.created me 'a great deal of uneafinefs- tòr the molt part of the time I wao there : the which arofe efpecially from an ill-difpofed and incor- rigible woman, who was fteward, atnd íb did of courfe fometimes extend itfeif to my entertainment ; which I bore with, that I. might not mix quarrels on my private interefî with thofe I was engaged in for the honour of God. And this principle 1 have-all along, in the courfe ofmy minifi;ry, aimed to Wtlk by. Mean while the united preíbyteries of Stirling and Dumblane meetingat Tulliallan, a neighbouring parifh, June 22. a motion was made to give me a piece of trial ; which I refuted : but after- ward Mr George Turnbull, a grave learned man, then minitier at Alloa, now at Tinninghame, gave me a text, John viii. which I received, declaring it to be without view unto my enter- ing on trials before the prefbytery, being convinced I wad not ripe for it. On that text I wrote a difcourfe, and gave it him. Afterward he Chewed me, by aletter, what he judged amifs in it ; but was pleated to add, that he obferved a very promifng gift in it. Thereafter Mr Thomas Buchanan, then minitter at Tulliallan, afterward at Dunfermline, gave meanother text, viz. Acts xx..28. on which alto I wrote a ditcourfe, not unfatisfying to him. Both there difcourfes are in retentis. My circumftances continuing uneafÿ through the meansafore- faid, Mr Turnbull did, on the 7th of September, by appoint- ment ofthe prefbytery, defire me to wait on them., bringing my teftimonials along with me, on defign to enter me on trials. He alfo fpoke to Kennet about my removing out of his family ; an opportunity ofmy going into the family of-Colonel Erfkine, then governor of Stirling cattle, offering at that time :.but Kennet íhewed an unwillingnets to part with me; in which I believe he was very ingenuous, being a man that hád, force, good thing roofed in him. Wherefore, though I inclined to I could notin-
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