Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-10-04
&eadiug fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
fOrlginal.]
MRS. BOSTON,S DREAM. :


| forginal
...s MRS. BOSTON'S DREAM. :..
Among the many prominent ministers of
the gospel which Scotland has at different pe-
riods produced, Thomas Boston stands among
the first. The Christian would not charge US
with extravaganza, when we say that he was
a great and good mana man of no ordi.
nary intellectual powers and rare scholar
ship; voluminous writer and an accurate
theologian. Notwithstanding his rare abili.
ties and wonderful attainment, his opinion of
himself was exceedingly humble If what
is said of him be true-and we suppose it is
he came as near praying without eeasng, as
any mortal possibly could. In fact, the read
er of his life is led to wonder how he found
time to do anything, he prayed SO much. This
was, no doubt, the secret of his greatness.
Thomas Boston was born, March II, 1876.
His parents were neither rich nor poor but
in moderate circumstances, They belonged
to that class in society from which all the
great and good men in all ages of the world
have sprung. After sore struggle with pow
erty, he graduated at Edinburg in 1894. On
the 18th of June, 1897, at Churnside, he was
licensed to preach the gospel. On the 21st
of September, 1899, after series of discour-
agements which would have made many q
modern licentiate abandon his calling, he was
ordained pastor of Simprin.
On the 18th of July, 100, he married
Katherine Brown, a woman of decided piety
and much good sense. On the 24th Of May,
17O1, they were blessed with daughter. u 1t
pleased the wise disposer of all things that
this child, which they named Katherine,
should be deformed 1t had "double hare
lip" and was never able to nurse. Both the
father and mother were made humble by this
dispens.tion of divine providence. Only pa.
rents can realize the peculiar feelings which
these parents felt. ... ....
During the harvest season, it became neces-
sary that Mr.. Boston should 60 to Barhill.
The business, in part, pertaining to some
property coming to his wife, it was determined
that she should accompany him. Their child
was left at home. At Danskin, Mrs. Boston
became sick and swooned away. She soon
recovered, and they continued their journey.
At Inzevair, in the parish of Terryburn,
Fifeshire, they stopped at the house of a Sis
ter of Mrs. Boston. ...
In the morning, Mr.. Boston rose, leaving
his wife in bed. She went to sleep again and
dreamed that she saw her child perfect. The
natural defect had been removed. 1t was no
longer hare-lipped child, but free from de-
feet and most exquisitely beautiful.
Having transacted their business as soon as
they conveniently could, the humble couple
set out for their home. Having arrived with.
in nine miles of home, they were met by some
one who announced to them that their child
was dead and buried. On inquiry, they
learned that on the very day, and at the very
hour, as near as they could judge, at which
Mrs. Boston had dreamed that she saw her
child made perfect and beautiful, it had died.
To say the least of this, it was strange
coincidence. With regard to the fact we dare
not call it in question; but how to interpret
it VIZ know not. We are liable on the one
hand to give way to superstitious feelings and
read our destiny in distracted dreams. On
the other hand, We are liable to doubt that
"the angel of the Lord encampeth round
about those that fear him" Psalms xxxiv: 7.
Who will dare say that God did not reveal to
Mrs. Boston that her hsre-lipped child was ta-
ken to that place where there are no defects
While we are disposed to think that God
does on particular occasions, make known by
dreams or visions, in the night, his will and
ways to his people, still the Bible is the only
sure lamp to our feet and light to our path.
1t will not do to depend upon learning Gods
will and our duty from dreams. Still. God,
in his wisdom, may, even in this gospel day,
make known, by dreams, some things to his
people which will be, in some sense, con6rma-
tory of the teachings Of his Word. ...,..
THE Work OF CHRIsT.-The effects of the
work of Christ are, even to the unbeliever,
;rd;s,utohlo nd historical II exDelled crrl-