Thomas Boston
The Rev. Thomas Boston (1676-1732), famed author of Human Nature in its Fourfold State, was minister in Simprin near Duns in Berwickshire for eight years, and then in Ettrick where he remained until his death in his fifty-seventh year. The following extract is from the selection of his writings entitled The Beauties of Boston, edited by Rev. Samuel McMillan.
First, keep an ordinary in reading of them
(that is, read them regularly in course each day) that ye may be acquainted with the whole; and make this reading a part of your secret duties. Not that ye should bind up yourselves to an ordinary, so as never to read by choice, but that ordinarily this tends most to edification. Some places are more difficult, some may seem very bare for an ordinary reader; but if you would look on it all as God’s word, not to be slighted, and read it with faith and reverence, no doubt ye would find advantage.
Second, set a special mark, one way or other
on those passages you read, which you find most suitable to your case, condition, or temptations; or such as ye have found to move your hearts more than other passages. And it will be profitable often to review these.
Third, compare one scripture with another
the more obscure with that which is more plain, (2 Peter 1, verse 20). This is an excellent means to find out the sense of the Scriptures; and to this good use serve the marginal notes on bibles. And keep Christ in your eye, for to Him the scriptures of the Old Testament (in its genealogies, types, and sacrifices) look, as well as those of the New.
Fourth, read with a holy attention
arising from the consideration of the majesty of God, and the reverence due to him. This must be done with attention, first, to the words; second, to the sense; and third, to the divine authority of the scripture, and the bond it lays on the conscience for obedience, 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 13, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
Fifth, let your main end in reading the Scriptures be practice
and not bare knowledge, James 1, verse 22, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving you own selves.” Read that you may learn and do, and that without any limitation or distinction, but that whatever you see God requires, you may study to practice.
Sixth, beg of God and look to him for His Spirit
for it is by the teaching of the Spirit who dictated it that it must be savingly understood, 1 Corinthians 2, verse 11, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” And therefore before you read, it is highly reasonable you beg a blessing on what you are to read.
Seventh, beware of a worldly fleshly mind
for fleshly sins blind the mind from the things of God; and the worldly heart cannot savour them. In an eclipse of the moon, the earth comes between the sun and the moon, and so keeps the light of the sun from it. So the world, in the heart, coming betwixt you and the light of the word, keeps its divine light from you.
Eighth, labour to be exercised unto godliness
and to observe your case; for an exercised frame helps mightily to understand the Scriptures. Such a Christian will find his case in the Word, and the Word will give light to his case, and his case light into the Word.
Ninth, whatever you learn from the Word, labour to put it in practice.
For to him that hath shall be given. No wonder they get little insight into the Bible, who make no conscience of practising what they know. But while the stream runs into a holy life, the fountain will be the freer.