The focus of this thesis is the Reformed doctrine of the will of God and its pastoral application in the theology of Thomas Boston (1676-1732). The objective of this thesis is to establish Boston’s doctrine of the will of God and how he applies that doctrine pastorally. We shall argue that one significant key to understanding Boston and his theology is the use he makes of the doctrine of the will of God, particularly in relation to God’s providence. This is a common theme in Reformed theology but the way in which Boston worked the theme out in his practical theology and in his pastoral care marks him out as significant. We shall begin (chapter 1) with a brief introduction to the life and thought of Thomas Boston, before concentrating (chapter 2) on his Memoirs, in which it becomes very clear that his understanding of the doctrine of the will of God, particularly in relation to God’s providence, is not only a theological idea but an intensely personal way of understanding his own life and circumstances and those of his parishioners. In order to understand Boston’s doctrine of the will of God in its context within the wider Reformed tradition, we shall consider (chapter 3) very briefly the contribution of the Fathers, before focussing in on the writings of John Calvin (1509-64). We shall then consider the use of the doctrine of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), which was adopted as the Principal Subordinate Standard of the Church of Scotland in 1647 and to which Boston, as a Minister in that Church, would have been required to subscribe. We shall also consider in passing the influence upon Boston of John Flavel’s The Mystery of Providence (1676-77). With that background and context we shall then (chapter 4) examine closely Boston’s doctrine of the will of God, particularly in relation to the doctrine of the providence of God. This will encompass such themes as God’s being and attributes; the decrees of God; the problem of evil; election and reprobation; and free will. The pastoral and practical applications of this theological perspective will then be examined (chapter 5), demonstrating how significant a theme the will of God was for the way in which Boston ministered to his congregation in his preaching and pastoral care, as well as his wider ministry to the church through his writings.

Recent research in science indicates that we are living in a fine-tuned universe. Only a very small parameter space of universal fundamental constants in Physics is congenial for the existence of life. Moreover, recent studies in Biological evolution also reveal that fine-tuning did exist in the evolution. It seems that we are so lucky to exist as all universal fundamental constants and life-permitting factors really fall into such a very small life-allowing region. This problem is known as the fine-tuning problem. Does this phenomenon need an explanation? Can the fine-tuning problem point to the existence of God? Modern Science invokes the idea of multiverse to address the fine-tuning problem. Some scientists suggest that each universe in a set of infinitely many universes contains a typical set of fundamental constants. We should not be surprised why our universe is fine-tuned because we would not exist if the constants are not the life-allowed values. Some suggest that the existence of God can explain this fine-tuning problem. The naturalistic multiverse theory and the existence of God are the two most robust proposals to address the fine-tuning problem. Moreover, some argue that the fine-tuning problem is not real because we are just subject to observational selection effect. In this thesis, I will provide a comprehensive discussion on the fine-tuning phenomena in our universe. In particular, I will use the confirmation principle and the inference to the best explanation simultaneously to evaluate different hypotheses in a more systematic way and give some of the new and updated scientific and philosophical arguments to respond to the recent criticisms of the fine-tuning arguments. I conclude that the theistic hypothesis is the best among all to address the fine-tuning problem.

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Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-174, [180]-185).

Theses (Th. M.)--Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 1991. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-48).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [125]-132).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [125]-132).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [125]-132).

Thesis (M.A.)--Lancaster Bible College, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-71).