O what hardness of heart mayst thou see in every corner whither thou goest, and where thou preachest, most part being as unconcerned as the very stones of the wall; and say what thou wilt, either by setting before them alluring promises or dreadful threatenings, yet people are hardened against both, none relenting for what they have done, or concerned about it.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the indifference and hardness of people's hearts towards moral and spiritual messages.
Thomas Boston reflects on the spiritual apathy he observes in people, who remain unresponsive to both the promises of hope and the warnings of consequences. He expresses a deep concern for the lack of compassion and reflection in individuals, suggesting that despite various appeals made in sermons or teachings, many remain unaffected, indicating a profound disconnect from their own actions and moral responsibilities.
In practice
In a sermon addressing community engagement, one might quote this to emphasize the need for compassion and responsiveness.
Sinners in their natural state lie dead, lifeless, and moveless; they can no more believe in Christ, nor repent, than a dead man can speak or walk: but, in virtue of the promise, the Spirit of life from Christ Jesus, at the time appointed, enters into the dead soul, and quickens it; so that it is no more morally dead, but alive, having new spiritual powers put into it, that were lost by Adam's fall.
Call it no more free-will, but slavish lust; free to evil, but free from good, till regenerating grace loosens the bands of wickedness.
Free grace will fix those whom free will shook down into a gulf of misery.
Whoever be the instruments of any good to us, of whatever sort, we must look above them, and eye the hand and counsel of God in it, which is the first spring, and be duly thankful to God for it. And whatever evil of crosses or afflictions befalls us, we must look above the instruments of it to God.
No work nor deed of ours whatsoever, no not faith itself, can be the condition of the covenant of grace properly so called; but only Christ's fulfilling all righteousness.
The law discovers the disease, and the gospel the physician.
Can there be in our age any peace that is not honorable, any war that is not dishonorable?
Exile is more than a geographical concept. You can be an exile in your homeland, in your own house, in a room.
The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.
Alas, nothing reveals man the way war does. Nothing so accentuates in him the beauty and ugliness, the intelligence and foolishness, the brutishness and humanity, the courage and cowardice, the enigma.
National boundaries are not evident when we view the Earth from space. Fanatical ethnic or religious or national chauvinisms are a little difficult to maintain when we see our planet as a fragile blue crescent fading to become an inconspicuous point of light against the bastion and citadel of the stars.
There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness.
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