Experiential Soul Care: Boston, a Brakel and the Scottish Pastoral Tradition

1. Lectures Listen to the lectures in order. Those marked supplementary are optional.

   • Homiletics II: Reformed experiential preaching in the Reformers, Puritans and Dutch Second Reformation divines Joel R. Beeke Open source Doctrinal Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
   • Thomas Boston: his life and ministry (Theological Conference, 25 Oct 2022) Mr F. Daubney Open source Supplementary Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
   • The doctrine of Alexander Comrie (Theological Conference, 28 Oct 2025) Mr Jan Freeke Open source Doctrinal Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
   • Communion season sermons (Opening and Closing of the Question, Fencing of the Table) Rev. R. Macleod and Rev. K. Watkins Open source Supplementary Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

2. Reading Read in the order given. Public-domain and free texts are linked; purchases are optional and never required.

   • A Soliloquy on the Art of Man-Fishing Thomas Boston 39 pages (Monergism PDF) Open source Doctrinal Public domain
   • Human Nature in its Fourfold State Thomas Boston 438 pages (Monergism PDF) Open source Doctrinal 1720. Public domain
   • The Christian's Reasonable Service (4 volumes; esp. vol. 2 chs. 30-43 on calling, regeneration, faith, assurance and the warning against pietists, and vol. 4 chs. 89-99 on spiritual growth, regression, desertion and perseverance) Wilhelmus a Brakel (trans. Bartel Elshout) 4 volumes; PDF and EPUB per volume Open source Doctrinal 1700. Free online
   • For the Work of the Ministry: A Manual of Homiletical and Pastoral Theology William Garden Blaikie 334 pages Open source Doctrinal 1896. Public domain
   • The Dying Man's Testament to the Church of Scotland, or A Treatise Concerning Scandal James Durham 470 pages Open source Doctrinal 1659. Public domain
   • Reformed Preaching: Proclaiming God's Word from the Heart of the Preacher to the Heart of His People Joel R. Beeke 512 pages; hardcover, Crossway; listed at $29.00 Open source Supplementary Purchase (optional)

   Total: 1,793 pages

3. Assignment Write a research paper of 30 pages on a topic drawn from the lectures and readings of this course. Argue from Scripture, the Westminster Standards (1647 text) and the Three Forms of Unity, cite the primary sources you read, and state the points on which the sources differ.

   Open the assignment

Every lecture and reading carries its role. "Under review" means the teacher's subscription to the Westminster Standards or the Three Forms of Unity is not yet established; "Read as comparison" means the material teaches the 1788 American text of WCF 20.4, 23 or 31 or of Larger Catechism Q.109, which the school reads beside the 1647 text. Nothing has been removed.