Little Time To Read?

April 13, 2008 at 6:10 pm (Updates) (, )

Check out the latest addition to my side-bar. There you will find a link to various compilations of Boston’s works read and recorded in mp3 format for online listening or download. If you’re accustomed to listening to an mp3 player while you work, exercise, drive, or whatever, this is a great way to take advantage of Thomas Boston’s teaching and preaching.

5 Comments

  1. Trevor Johnston said,

    April 13, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    Thanks for posting those links. I intend to listen while I run. What a great way to kill two birds with one stone.

    I have a question. I heard that Boston denied limited atonement. Is this true?

    Reply

  2. Jim Polk said,

    April 14, 2008 at 5:52 am

    Hi Trevor,

    No, Boston actually affirmed Limited Atonement. He believed in the indiscriminate offer of the Gospel to all people — as God commands in Scripture, IMHO. This stand bought him much criticism from “high” Calvinists, which again, IMHO, he never deserved. Here’s a quote of Boston affirming Limited Atonement:

    This deed of gift and grant, or authentic gospel-offer [of which see the preceding note] is expressed in so many words, (John 3:16), “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Where the gospel comes, this grant is published, and the ministerial offer made and there is no exception of any of all mankind in the grant. If there was, no ministerial offer of Christ could be warrantably made to the party excepted, more than to the fallen angels; and without question, the publishing and proclaiming of heaven’s grant unto any, by way of ministerial offer, pre-supposeth the grant, in the first place, to be made to them: otherwise, it would be of no more value than a crier’s offering of the king’s pardon to one who is not comprehended in it. This is the good old way of discovering to sinners their warrant to believe in Christ; and it doth indeed bear the sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ for all, and that Christ crucified is the ordinance of God for salvation unto all mankind, in the use-making of which only they can be saved; but not an universal atonement or redemption.

    Boston’s Notes on The Marrow of Modern Divinity, The Whole Works of the Late Thomas Boston of Ettrick, Volume 7, p. 263

    Reply

  3. Ben Dahlvang said,

    April 18, 2008 at 11:20 pm

    Thanks for the much needed attention to Boston. I’ll certainly be checking back with interest. Would you be able to comment on Boston’s denial of the covenant of redemption? I’m especially interested in where he did it, since I’ve not been able to find it (I’ve not read much Boston), though I’d love a comment on the why question as well. Thanks.

    Reply

  4. Jim Polk said,

    April 20, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    Hi Ben,

    Sorry for the delay in answering. I just got back from a trip a few minutes ago.

    I just heard something about this in a lecture that I was listening to last week. I’m going to listen to that lecture again and see if I can come up with a reference. I won’t be long. Thanks for your interest.

    Reply

  5. Jim Polk said,

    April 20, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    Ben, you have inspired me to do some research and post on Boston’s view of the CoR. I can only say that it has been a little like having a tooth pulled. You’re absolutely right . . . there is little attention paid to Boston. There’s a blurb here and a blurb there on the net — and usually without citation or reference. I have managed to find a few things which you will find in my latest post.

    Reply

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