Few British pastors can claim to have written a book that is amongst the 'life-books of their generation', yet Boston is one. His Fourfold State of Man has been the instrument of countless conversions and could be said to have changed the zeitgeist of his era as effectively as Luther's Commentary on Galatians, Alleine's Alarm to the Unconverted, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Edwards' Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Wilberforce's True Christianity or Lewis' Mere Christianity.
Thomson shows that Boston was not only a dedicated and adept Pastor-Scholar but also someone whose influence has lasted through the Victorian era until the present day revival in his theological writings. A Hebrew Scholar of the first rank, Boston was also fluent in Greek and Latin and competent in French and Dutch. He was a humble man, a compassionate pastor and a stern man when principles were at stake.
Boston disliked controversy yet took a central role in the major controversies of his time. Above all, however, his life was characterized by his heart of service to his church. When he could no longer stand his sermons were delivered from an armchair in the pulpit, when he could no longer get to the church, he preached from the open window of the manse. This is the remarkable story of one of the key figures of the 18th century church who influenced nations from a small rural Parish, and continues to do so today.
