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.
Now,
as this threefold chastity is required here, so the proper means for
preserving it are also required…
4. Being busied in some honest employment. Those that would be virtuous
indeed, must not eat the bread of idleness. Honest labour and business cuts
off many temptations that idle persons are liable to. Had David been in the
field with his army, when he was rising from off his bed in the evening-tide,
2 Sam. 11.2, he had preserved his chastity when he lost it, and so had Dinah,
if she had been at her business in her father's house, when she went out to
see the daughters of the land, Gen. 34.1.
Reference
Extract
from Boston's article, "Of the Seventh
Commandment" (a part
of his Commentary on the Shorter Catechism)
