Thomas Boston: The Art of Man Fishing

[Ed Walsh]

Greetings, fellow pilgrims and sufferers -- mostly at our own hands,

Firstly, this is not a true book review. I doubt I would ever attempt anything like that, but will be content too leave that work to qualified people such as our own @RamistThomist AKA Jacob. Still, I put it under the Book Review Forum hoping it will generate some interest. "Wow, look at who's posting in the book review forum. I never thought Ed Walsh would post anything here. Let's take a look." My post is more of a review of a review, if you will. Or, limited to a single theme of a book. So, moderators, feel free to move this to, say, the Pilgrim's Progress or similar forum if you like.​

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Do you know Thomas Boston? If not, he is well worth getting familiar with.

One of his greatest works, Human Nature in its Fourfold State, may be the best I have ever read of the nature of man's Glory as created, the horribleness of his fall, the blessedness of salvation though mixed with much sin while on this Earth, and the glories of Heaven to follow. But that's not what this post is about. I want to introduce you to what, to our modern ears, is a very strange work indeed—The Art of Man Fishing. Let me explain.

I said this would be strange to our ears, because in our modern time it seems that evangelism is all about technique, buzzwords, catch phrases, lots of smiles, and maybe some prayers. It seems like such a work of man to me. Not so with Thomas Boston. I will limit this post to the most self-deprecating introduction to the work by its author Thomas Boston. But the work throughout is more of an indictment against our sinful, half-hearted, ill-equipped, and just plain shiddy job that most people seem to do in their attempts at man fishing. There is an absence of almost anything that smacks of technique. Oh, how different was Boston's view of evangelism than ours. It had a similar discomforting effect on my emotions as did Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards. I suppose if I was going to pick one verse to sum up my view of this entire book by the godly Boston it would have to be Isaiah 2:22.

Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils:
for wherein is he to be accounted of?
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Introduction​

AH! Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? This day seems to be a day of darkness and gloominess; the glory is departed even to the threshold of the temple. We may call ordinances Ichabod; and name the faithful preachers of Scotland no more Naomi, but Marah, for the Lord deals bitterly with them, in so much forsaking his ordinances as at this day. The Lord hath forsaken them in a great measure, as to success attending their labors. They toil all the night, but little or nothing is caught: few or none can they find to come into the net. So that Jeremiah's exercise may be theirs, chap. 13:17. "If ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears."

And thou, O my soul, mayst make this thy exercise, if thou hadst a heart that could mourn either for thyself or others. Though indeed it is no great wonder that God does not countenance with much success the like of me, who (if I may or dare class myself among those that are faithful) am the meanest, the most unworthy of them all, not worthy to take his covenant in my mouth, who am a child in piety and the mystery of godliness, though not in years; who am a poor-fool, having a weak heart and a shallow head; who might rather be learning of others than teaching them; who can but wade about the outer parts of that depth, into which others can enter far; who have so little love to Christ, and so little pure zeal for his glory; can say so little for the truth, and so little against error; who am altogether unworthy and insufficient for these things: no wonder, I say, God does not countenance me, when others, that are as tall cedars in the Lord's vineyard, do so little good, even others that are great men in the church for piety and learning. But yet seeing I am called out to preach this everlasting gospel, it is my duty to endeavor, and it is my desire to be (Lord, thou knowest) a fisher of men. But, alas! I may come in with my complaints to my Lord, that I have toiled in some measure, but caught nothing, for anything I know, as to the conversion of any one soul. I fear I may say, I have almost spent my strength in vain, and my labor for naught, for Israel is not gathered. O my soul, what may be the cause of this, why does my preaching do so little good? No doubt part of the blame lies on myself, and a great part of it too. But who can give help in this case but the Lord himself? And how can I expect it from him but by prayer, and faith in the promises, and by consulting his word, where I may, by his Spirit shining on my heart, (shine, O Sun of righteousness), learn how to carry, and what to do, to the end the gospel preached by me may not be unsuccessful? Therefore did my heart cry out after Christ this day, and my soul was moved, when I read that sweet promise of Christ, Matth. 4:19. Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men, directed to those that would follow him. O how fain would my soul follow him, as on other accounts, so on this, that I might be honored to be a fisher of men; Therefore my soul would fain know what sort of following Christ this is, to which this sweet promise is annexed. I would know it, (Lord, thou knowest), that I might do it, and so catch poor souls by the gospel, and that I might know whether I have a right to this promise or not. O let thy light and thy truth shine forth that they may be guides to me in this matter, and let the meditations of my heart be according to thy mind, and directed by thy unerring Spirit. Grant light and life, O Lord my God!

 

[Jeri Tanner]

May the Lord grant this anguish for souls and for the purity of his church in the hearts of his true ministers! Thank you for sharing, Ed.

 

[C4MERON]

It is a wonderful wee book indeed. Thanks for sharing Ed

 

[Ed Walsh]

Greetings pilgrims, to the few of you who have a heart for these things,

The strangest thing happened as I sat down to begin my morning watch. I looked at this thread to see what some have said, and as I looked, within seconds the screen changed and opened my text editor where I kept the whole of Boston's book. I did a double-take, and then it occurred to me that God provided me with the knowledge that I should do what I should do. I wondered about this for about 5 Seconds and then decided to post a chapter or portion of a chapter every few days as long as interest was shown. So here it is. It's one of the strangest things that's ever happened to me. What else could I do?

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[pardon the typos, but here it is, as Cromwell said, "warts and all."]


I. How does Jesus Christ make men into fishers of men?

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
In these words, there are two things to be considered.

1. There is a duty, Follow me. Wherein consider, (1.) The object, me, even the Lord Jesus Christ, the chief fisher of men, who was sent by the Father to gather in the lost sheep of the house of Israel, who was and is the infinitely wise God, and so knew the best way to catch men and can instruct men how to be fishers of others. (2.) The act, Follow (Gr. come after) me: Leave your employment and come after me. Though no doubt there is a direction here to all the ministers of the gospel, that have left their other employments, and betaken themselves to the preaching of the word, viz. that if they would do good to souls, and gain them by their ministry, then they are to imitate Christ, in their carriage and preaching to make him their pattern, to write after his copy, as a fit mean for gaining of souls.

2. There is a promise annexed to the duty. Wherein we may consider, (1.) The benefit promised; that is, to be made fishers of men; which I take to be not only an investing of them with authority and a calling of them to the office, but also a promise of the success they should have, that fishing of men should be their employment, and they should not be employed in vain, but following Christ, they should indeed catch men by the gospel. (2.) The fountain-cause of this, I, I will make you; none other can make you fishers of men but me.

Thou mayest observe, 1. Then, O my soul, that it is the Lord Jesus Christ that makes men fishers of men.

Here I shall shew,

I. How Christ makes men fishers of men.
II. Why unconverted men are compared to fish in the water?
III. That ministers are fishers by office.

I. How does Christ make men fishers of men?

In answer to this question, spiritual fishing should be considered in two ways.

1. As to the office and work itself: and, 2. As to the success of it.
First, He makes them fishers as to their office, by his call, which is twofold, outward and inward, by setting them apart to the office of the ministry; and it is thy business, O my soul, to know whether thou hast it or not. But of this more afterwards.

Secondly, He makes them fishers as to success; that is, he makes them catch men to himself by the power of his Spirit accompanying the word they preach, and the discipline they administer, 1 Cor. 1:18. "The preaching of the cross—unto us which are saved, is the power of God. 1 Thess. 1:5. "Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." He it is that brings sinners into the net which ministers spread; if he be not with them to drive the fish into the net, they may toil all the night and day too, and catch nothing.

1. O my soul, then see that gifts will not do the business. A man may preach as an angel, and yet be useless. If Christ withdraws his presence, all will be to no purpose. If the Master of the house be away, the household will loath their food, though it be dropping down about their tent-doors.

2. Why shouldst thou then on the one hand, as sometimes thou art, be lifted when thou preachest a good and solid discourse, wherein gifts do appear, and thou gettest the applause of men? Why, thou mayst do all this, and yet be no fisher of men. The fish may see the bait, and play about it as pleasant, but this is not enough to catch them. On the other hand, why shouldst thou be so much discouraged, (as often is the case), because thy gifts are so small, and thou art but as a child compared to others? Why, if Christ will, he can make thee a fisher of men, as well as the most learned rabbi in the church, Psal. 8:2. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength. Yea, hast thou not observed how God owned a man feeble in gifts, [Mr. J. E.] and made him more successful than others that were far beyond him in parts? Has not God put this treasure in earthen vessels, that the power might be seen to be of him? Lift up thyself then, O my soul, Christ can make thee a fisher of men, however weak thou art. Follow thou him. My soul desires to follow hard after thee, O God!

3. Be concerned then, in the first place, O my soul, for the presence of God in ordinances, and for his power that will make a change among people, Psal. 110:3. When thy discourse, though ever so elaborate, shall be but as a lovely song, O set thyself most for this. When thou studiest, send up ejaculations to thy Lord for it. When thou writest a sermon, or dot ruminate on it, then say to God, Lord, this will be altogether weak without thy power accompanying it. O, power and life from God in ordinances is sweet. Seek it for thyself, and seek it for thy hearers. Acknowledge thine own weakness and uselessness without it, and so cry incessantly for it, that the Lord may drive the fish into the net when thou art spreading it out. Have an eye to this power, when thou art preaching; and think not thou to convert men by the force of reason: If thou do, thou wilt be beguiled.

4. What an honorable thing it is to be fishers of men! How great an honor shouldst thou esteem it, to be a catcher of souls! We are workers together with God, says the apostle. If God has ever so honored thee, O that thou knewest it, that thou mightiest bless his holy name, that ever made such a poor fool as thee to be a co-worker with him. God has owned thee to do good to those who were before caught. O my soul, bless thou the Lord. Lord, what am I, or what is my father's house, that thou hast brought me to this?

5. Then se est thou not here what is the reason thou toil est so long, and catch est nothing? The power comes not along. Men are like Samuel, who, when God was calling him, thought it had been Eli. So when thou speakest many times, they do not discern God's voice, but thine; and therefore, the word goes out as it comes in.

6. Then, O my soul, despair not of the conversion of any, be they ever so profligate. For it is the power of the Spirit that drives any person into the net, and this cannot be resisted. Mockers of religion, yea, blasphemers may be brought into the net; and many times the wind of God's Spirit in the word lays the tall cedars in sin down upon the ground, when they that seem to be as low shrubs in respect of them, stand fast upon their root. Publicans and harlots shall enter the kingdom of heaven before self-righteous Pharisees.

7. What thinkest thou, O my soul, of that doctrine that lays aside this power of the Spirit, and makes moral suasion all that is requisite to the fishing of men? That doctrine is hateful to thee. My soul loathes it, as attributing too much to the preacher, and too much to corrupt nature, in taking away its natural impotency to good, and as against the work of God's Spirit, contrary to experience; and is to me a sign of the rottenness of the heart that embraces it. Alas! that it should be owned by any among us, where so much of the Spirit's power has been felt.

[Next Instalment]

II. But why are unconverted men compared to fish in the water?

[coming soon]