Thomas
Boston
(1676-1732) was a pastor of
God's flock in
Ettrick
,
Scotland
, whose preaching God abundantly blessed in the saving of many souls. The son
of a Presbyterian who knew the Lord and was imprisoned for non-conformity,
Boston
was raised in times of murderous persecution. Nevertheless, he lived to see
God’s people flourish and multiply, as “the Lord added to the church daily
such as should be saved” (Acts
2:47
). He is perhaps best known for his part in the reprinting of “The Marrow of
Modern Divinity”, a book which distinguishes the Covenant of Works from the
Covenant of Grace.
Secondly,
I come to shew the duties more peculiar to each party. 1. The duties of the
husband of this sort may be reduced to this one, viz. that he carry himself
towards her as a head for her good, ruling her in the fear of the Lord. It is
not a name of power only, but of duty; for he must be such a head to her as
Christ is to the church, Ephesians 5:23. And whoso reckon upon the authority
of that name without eyeing the duty of it, put asunder what God has joined in
his grant, and will join when he calls men to an account. 2. The duties of the
wife may be reduced to this one, viz. submitting herself to her husband as her
head, Ephesians 5:22,23. She is not to lord it over him, but to be subject to
him. And in this respect there is a reverence and fear of the husband enjoined
in the wife, Ephesians 5:33. 1 Peter 3:2. which is a due regard in the heart
to his character as a husband, seeing in that God has put off his own name
upon him, God himself being called our husband; a fear to offend him, flowing
from love, venting itself in speaking and carrying respectfully to him, 1
Peter 3:6.
Now the husband as the head of the wife owes her, 1. Protection, so as she may
be as safe and easy under the covert of his relation to her as he can make
her. For this cause God has given the husband as head to the weaker vessel:
and therefore it was an ancient ceremony in marriage for the husband to spread
his skirt over his wife, Ruth 3:9. He is to protect her to the utmost of his
power from the injuries of others, 1 Samuel 30:18. and particularly from the
insults, whether of children or servants in the family, as well as neighbours,
Genesis 16:6. And if so, surely he himself is not to bear hard upon her, but
to shew her a peculiar tenderness as the weaker vessel, a tenderness to her
body and spirit too; and not to suffer her, far less to oblige her, to
distress herself above measure. On the other hand, she owes him obedience, a
submission to, and compliance with, his admonitions. It is observed of Job's
wife, for as ill as she was, when he calls her a fool, she does not give him
the same epithet again. Reason itself teaches, that whoso puts himself under
the protection of another, must be ruled by that other, and not by himself. 2.
Provision, 1 Timothy 5:8. The husband ought to provide for his wife, and
cheerfully furnish her with what is needful and convenient according to his
station and ability; and lay out himself by all lawful means for her
comfortable through-bearing. And this he should have an eye to, not only for
the time of his life, but even after his decease. And on the other hand, the
wife ought to be helpful to her husband by her frugal management, Proverbs
31:27. And God's word and frequent experiments plainly shew, that a man's
thriving or not thriving has a great dependence on his wife's management,
Proverbs 14:1. While he, then, is busy without doors, she should be careful
within; and therefore it is recommended to women to be much at home, Titus
2:5. Yet she may well go abroad when her business calls her, as Abigail did, 1
Samuel 25: 3. Lastly, Direction, with calmness instructing her, how she
should carry in every thing, both with respect to things of this life and of
the other, Proverbs
2:17
. He ought to be as eyes to her, which have their place in the head, and so
should be capable to guide, 1 Peter 3:7. On the other hand, the wife should be
pliable and teachable, 1 Timothy
2:11
. yea, and be ready to seek instruction from her husband, 1 Corinthians
14:35
. She should be obedient to his commands and directions, ver. 34. for in every
thing wherein the law of God has not bound her up, the husband's will ought to
be complied with, Ephesians 5:24. Genesis 3:16.
The reasons of the husband's duties are these, 1. Because husbands are
appointed to be such heads as Christ is to the church, Ephesians 5:25. And if
men would reflect on this, it would make them very dutiful, and bear with many
things as Christ doth, else we would be ruined. 2. Because thy wife is thy own
flesh, thy second self, ver. 28,29; and so undutifulness is monstrous. 3.
Because she is the weaker vessel, 1 Peter 3:7; for it hath pleased the Lord to
exercise the woman with a special measure of infirmity, both natural and
moral. The reasons of the woman's duty are these. Because the woman was
created for the man, 1 Timothy 2:13. compare 1 Corinthians 11:9. 1. Because
the woman was the first that sinned, 1 Timothy 2:14. compare Genesis 3:16. 2.
Because she is the weaker vessel.
Use 1. Let all such as have been, or are in that relation, be humbled
under a sense of their sin in that point, and fly to the blood of Christ for
pardon. And let every one look on that relation as a serious matter, in which
people must walk with God, and under which they are bound to so many duties,
of which they must give an account to the Lord.
Reference
Extract
from Boston’s “Of the Fifth Commandment,” a part of his Commentary on
the Shorter Catechism
