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The Crook in the Lot: God's Sovereignty in a Christian's Afflictions
In this work the Puritan, Thomas Boston, leads the reader through Scripture proving with Scripture how the suffering of the saints is for their sanctification, final good, and reliance up the Lord which brings him glory. This is a great work to read ballast oneself against the storms of life that are certain to come.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2021
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89 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Boston
453 books27 followersThomas Boston was a Scottish church leader.
He was born at Duns. His father, John Boston, and his mother, Alison Trotter, were both Covenanters. He was educated at Edinburgh, and licensed in 1697 by the presbytery of Chirnside. In 1699 he became minister of the small parish of Simprin, where there were only 90 examinable persons; previously, he was a schoolmaster in Glencairn. In 1704 he found, while visiting a member of his flock, a book brought into Scotland by a commonwealth soldier. This was the famous Marrow of Modern Divinity, by Edward Fisher, a compendium of the opinions of leading Reformation divines on the doctrine of grace and the offer of the Gospel, which set off the Marrow Controversy.
Its object was to demonstrate the unconditional freeness of the Gospel. It cleared away such conditions as repentance, or some degree of outward or inward reformation, and argued that where Christ is heartily received, full repentance and a new life follow. On Boston's recommendation, James Hog of Carnock reprinted The Marrow in 1718; and Boston also published an edition with notes of his own. The book, being attacked from the standpoint of high Calvinism, became the standard of a far-reaching movement in Scottish Presbyterianism.
The Marrow men were marked by the zeal of their service and the effect of their preaching. As they remained Calvinists they could not preach a universal atonement; rather they were particular redemptionists. In 1707 Boston was translated to Ettrick, Scotland. He was the only member of the assembly who entered a protest against the lightness of the sentence passed on John Simson, Professor of Divinity at Glasgow, who was accused of heterodox teaching on the Incarnation.
Boston has been described as a man of singular piety and amiability, although unduly introspective. His autobiography is an interesting record of Scottish life, full of sincerity and tenderness, and not devoid of humorous touches, intentional and otherwise. His books include The Fourfold State, one of the religious classics of Scotland; The Crook in the Lot, a little book noted for its originality; and his Body of Divinity and Miscellanies. These works had a powerful influence over the Scottish peasantry. Among his works is a learned treatise on Hebrew points. His Memoirs were published in 1776 (ed. GD Low, 1908). An edition of his works in 12 volumes appeared in 1849.
He was born at Duns. His father, John Boston, and his mother, Alison Trotter, were both Covenanters. He was educated at Edinburgh, and licensed in 1697 by the presbytery of Chirnside. In 1699 he became minister of the small parish of Simprin, where there were only 90 examinable persons; previously, he was a schoolmaster in Glencairn. In 1704 he found, while visiting a member of his flock, a book brought into Scotland by a commonwealth soldier. This was the famous Marrow of Modern Divinity, by Edward Fisher, a compendium of the opinions of leading Reformation divines on the doctrine of grace and the offer of the Gospel, which set off the Marrow Controversy.
Its object was to demonstrate the unconditional freeness of the Gospel. It cleared away such conditions as repentance, or some degree of outward or inward reformation, and argued that where Christ is heartily received, full repentance and a new life follow. On Boston's recommendation, James Hog of Carnock reprinted The Marrow in 1718; and Boston also published an edition with notes of his own. The book, being attacked from the standpoint of high Calvinism, became the standard of a far-reaching movement in Scottish Presbyterianism.
The Marrow men were marked by the zeal of their service and the effect of their preaching. As they remained Calvinists they could not preach a universal atonement; rather they were particular redemptionists. In 1707 Boston was translated to Ettrick, Scotland. He was the only member of the assembly who entered a protest against the lightness of the sentence passed on John Simson, Professor of Divinity at Glasgow, who was accused of heterodox teaching on the Incarnation.
Boston has been described as a man of singular piety and amiability, although unduly introspective. His autobiography is an interesting record of Scottish life, full of sincerity and tenderness, and not devoid of humorous touches, intentional and otherwise. His books include The Fourfold State, one of the religious classics of Scotland; The Crook in the Lot, a little book noted for its originality; and his Body of Divinity and Miscellanies. These works had a powerful influence over the Scottish peasantry. Among his works is a learned treatise on Hebrew points. His Memoirs were published in 1776 (ed. GD Low, 1908). An edition of his works in 12 volumes appeared in 1849.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 1, 2022
‘Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s learning to Dance in the Rain’. God is good ALL THE TIME! Praise God for this excellent treatise on God’s Sovereignty!
March 7, 2023
On rare occasions, one may providentially stumble across a book that God uses to lighten our darkened minds and remind us of the wonderful promises He has made in His Word. It is these rare gems that profoundly impacts our perspective in this life and changes the way we read, if only for a short time. We find ourselves reading much slower than normal so as to prolong the spiritual benefits and deeper communion with God. When we do finish, we immediately feel a longing to tell someone about it and to dive into God’s Word with renewed fervor.
Thomas Boston’s “The Crook in the Lot” is such a book and would be tremendously beneficial to any believer this side of heaven. We all have so-called crooks in our lots in the life. Many times we turn our gaze inward and sulk our way through whatever trial it may be. Boston uses three deep expositions to lay out a case that our focus should be on our sovereign God and not on our crooked lots.
In the first exposition of Ecclesiastes 7:13, Boston dives into the sovereignty and wisdom of God in the afflictions of men. He rightly shows that whatever trials we may encounter in this life are God’s doing and for our ultimate benefit. To recoil at such a gift is to sin against our God and result in certain failure. After all, who can make straight what the Lord has made crooked? What a futile effort it is to fight against Him. Instead, humbly submitting ourselves to His will in our lives instead of comparing our lots to those we deem better off is the way to relieve some of the pressures imposed by trials of any kind.
In the second exposition of Proverbs 16:19, he expands on this idea by comparing the humble with the proud. The humble, with their clear affliction, is found to be a much more desirable state compared to the proud who go about trying to immediately straighten and conform any trial to their own mind’s desires.
In the final exposition of 1 Peter 5:6, Boston concludes his overarching argument that we should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of our sovereign God and trust that He will exalt us in His time.
For those that may asininely argue that Puritan authors are too dogmatic or rigid in their writings, this book will be paradigm shifting. No logical person could read this without coming away in awe of Boston’s purely pastoral intent and love for hurting people. If you find yourself struggling in the midst of the trials of this life, do yourself a favor and read “The Crook in the Lot.” In the end, you will find yourself reoriented with your gaze firmly fixed on our magnificently gracious God.
Thomas Boston’s “The Crook in the Lot” is such a book and would be tremendously beneficial to any believer this side of heaven. We all have so-called crooks in our lots in the life. Many times we turn our gaze inward and sulk our way through whatever trial it may be. Boston uses three deep expositions to lay out a case that our focus should be on our sovereign God and not on our crooked lots.
In the first exposition of Ecclesiastes 7:13, Boston dives into the sovereignty and wisdom of God in the afflictions of men. He rightly shows that whatever trials we may encounter in this life are God’s doing and for our ultimate benefit. To recoil at such a gift is to sin against our God and result in certain failure. After all, who can make straight what the Lord has made crooked? What a futile effort it is to fight against Him. Instead, humbly submitting ourselves to His will in our lives instead of comparing our lots to those we deem better off is the way to relieve some of the pressures imposed by trials of any kind.
In the second exposition of Proverbs 16:19, he expands on this idea by comparing the humble with the proud. The humble, with their clear affliction, is found to be a much more desirable state compared to the proud who go about trying to immediately straighten and conform any trial to their own mind’s desires.
In the final exposition of 1 Peter 5:6, Boston concludes his overarching argument that we should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of our sovereign God and trust that He will exalt us in His time.
For those that may asininely argue that Puritan authors are too dogmatic or rigid in their writings, this book will be paradigm shifting. No logical person could read this without coming away in awe of Boston’s purely pastoral intent and love for hurting people. If you find yourself struggling in the midst of the trials of this life, do yourself a favor and read “The Crook in the Lot.” In the end, you will find yourself reoriented with your gaze firmly fixed on our magnificently gracious God.
March 22, 2023
Amazing exposition of Ecclesiastes 7:13, Proverbs 16:19, and 1 Peter 5:6 by the great puritan Thomas Boston regarding the sovereignty and wisdom of God in our sufferings and afflictions.
This was such an encouragement. Must read for anyone (which should be everyone) suffering from the myriad of “crooks” in their “lot” of life.
He really brings it home in the last 20-30 pages with some of the most practical wisdom for us in the midst of trials.
I love his “10 directives”:
1. “Assure yourselves that there are no circumstances so humbling that you are in, but you may get your heart acceptably brought down to them (1 Cor 10:13).”
2. “Whatever hand is or is not, in your humbling circumstances, do you take God for your party, and consider in yourselves there in as under His mighty hand (Micah 6:9).”
3. “Be much in the thoughts of God’s infinite greatness, consider His holiness and majesty, fit to awe you into deepest humiliation (Isaiah 6:3-5).”
4. “Inure yourselves silently to admit mysteries in the conduct of Providence towards you, which you are not able to comprehend, but will adore, ‘O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!’ (Rom 11:33).”
5. “Be much in the thoughts of your own sinfulness, ‘Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee? (Job 40:4).”
6. “Settle it in your heart, that there is need of all the humbling circumstances you are out in (1 Pet 1:6).”
7. “Believe a kind design of Providence in them towards you. God call us to this, as the key that opens the heart under them (Rev 3:19).”
8. “Think with yourselves, that this life is the time of trial for heaven (James 1:12).”
9. “Think with yourselves, how it is by humbling circumstances the Lord prepares us for heaven (Col 1:12, 2 Cor 5:5).”
10. “Give up at length with your towering hopes from this world, and confine them to the world to come (Isaiah 57:10).”
This was such an encouragement. Must read for anyone (which should be everyone) suffering from the myriad of “crooks” in their “lot” of life.
He really brings it home in the last 20-30 pages with some of the most practical wisdom for us in the midst of trials.
I love his “10 directives”:
1. “Assure yourselves that there are no circumstances so humbling that you are in, but you may get your heart acceptably brought down to them (1 Cor 10:13).”
2. “Whatever hand is or is not, in your humbling circumstances, do you take God for your party, and consider in yourselves there in as under His mighty hand (Micah 6:9).”
3. “Be much in the thoughts of God’s infinite greatness, consider His holiness and majesty, fit to awe you into deepest humiliation (Isaiah 6:3-5).”
4. “Inure yourselves silently to admit mysteries in the conduct of Providence towards you, which you are not able to comprehend, but will adore, ‘O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!’ (Rom 11:33).”
5. “Be much in the thoughts of your own sinfulness, ‘Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee? (Job 40:4).”
6. “Settle it in your heart, that there is need of all the humbling circumstances you are out in (1 Pet 1:6).”
7. “Believe a kind design of Providence in them towards you. God call us to this, as the key that opens the heart under them (Rev 3:19).”
8. “Think with yourselves, that this life is the time of trial for heaven (James 1:12).”
9. “Think with yourselves, how it is by humbling circumstances the Lord prepares us for heaven (Col 1:12, 2 Cor 5:5).”
10. “Give up at length with your towering hopes from this world, and confine them to the world to come (Isaiah 57:10).”
January 22, 2025
I found the start of Boston's book to be a little slow, but as the book progressed, more and more beauty and one of a kind insights were revealed that can only be known through facing trials. This book is currently in my top five! Boston has clearly lived a life of struggle, he has tasted the fruit of suffering and God, in all His glory, has used those experiences and sufferings, in conjunction with the Word of God, to help Boston synthesize this book.
All of us have many crooks, all of us have many crosses. Innately, within the human experience, we all seek to straighten them. But it is clear that in God's divine providence, He seeks for us to be refined, humbled, and made set apart. For me, when I read this book I think of the following verse ; "Whom do I have in heaven but You? There is nothing on this earth I desire but You" (Psalm 73:25). In our life, in our struggle, may we learn, as Boston expresses in this book, to be satisfied with our crook, to carry our crosses, and to be molded in a way that humbles our selves and glorifies God.
Some Highlights!!
"There are some corruptions in every man's heart, which lie, as it were, so near the surface, that they are ready on every turn to rise up; but then there are others also which lie so very deep, that they are scarcely observed at all. But as the fire under the pot makes the scum to rise up, appear a-top and run over; so the crook in the lot raises up from the bottom, and brings out, such corruptions as otherwise one could hardly imagine to be within."
"The truth is, the crook in the lot is the great engine of Providence for making men appear in their true colours, discovering both their ill and their good; and if the grace of God be in them, it will bring it out, and cause it to display itself. It so puts the Christian to his shifts, that however it makes him stagger for awhile, yet it will at length evidence both the reality and the strength of grace in him. 'Ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith."
"Great is the loss by not submitting to it. The crook in the lot, rightly improved, has turned to the best account, and made the best time to some that ever they had all their life long. As the Psalmist from his own experience testifies, 'Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word' (Ps. 119:67). There are many now in heaven, who are blessing God for the crook they had in their lot here. What a sad thing must it then be to lose this teeth-wind for Immanuel's land! But if the crook in thy lot do thee no good, be sure it will not miss of doing thee great damage; it will greatly increase your guilt and aggravate your condemnation, while it shall for ever cut thee to the heart, to think of the pains taken by means of the crook in the lot, to wean thee from the world, and bring you to God, but all in vain."
"Believe a kind design of Providence in them towards you. God calls us to this, as the key that opens the heart under them (Rev. 3:19). Satan suggests suspicions to the contrary, as the bar which may hold it shut, 'This evil is of the Lord, why should I wait for the Lord any longer? (2 Kings 6:33) As long as the suspicion of an ill design in them against us reigns, the creature will, like the worm at the man's feet, put itself in the best posture of defence it can and harden itself in sorrow: but the faith of a kind design will cause it to open out itself in humility before him."
"What makes the yoke gall our necks, but that we struggle so much against it, and cannot let it sit at ease on us (Jer. 31:18). How often are we, in that case, like men dashing their heads against a rock to remove it! The rock stands unmoved, but they are wounded, and lose exceedingly by their struggle. Impatience under the crook lays an overweight on the burden, and makes it heavier, while withal it weakens us, and makes us less able to bear it."
"But what God requires is, rather to labour to bring down the heart, than to get up the head (James 4:10). Here lies the proof of one's meetness for heaven; and then is one in the way heaven-ward, when he is more concerned to get down his heart than to get up his head, to go calmly under his burden than to get it off, to bow under the mighty hand, than to put it off him."
"The defiling objects in the world do specially take and prove ensnaring, as they are suited to the particular cast of temper in men: but by means of the crook in the lot, the paint and varnish is worn off the defiling object, whereby it loses its former taking appearance: thus, the edge of corrupt affections is blunted, temptation weakened, and much sin prevented; the sinner after 'gadding about so much to change his way, returning ashamed' (Jer. 2:36, 37). Thus the Lord crooks one's lot that 'he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from men': and so 'he keepeth back his soul from the pit"
"If you do not behave [in a] Christian [manner] under it, you will lose your souls in the other world (Jude 15, 16). Those who are at war with God in their lot here, God will have war with them forever. If they will not submit to his yoke here, and go quietly under it, he will wreathe his yoke about their neck forever, with everlasting bonds that shall never be loosed (Job 9:4). Therefore, set yourselves to behave rightly under the crook in your lot. If you ask what way one may reach that; for direction we propose:
"Satan has no readier way to gain his purpose, than to persuade men it is impossible that ever their minds should ply with the crook; that it is a burden to them, altogether insupportable; as long as you believe that, be sure you will never be able to bear it. But the Lord makes no crook in the lot of any, but what may be borne of them acceptably, though not sinlessly and perfectly"
" The man, being pressed with the cross, which is in his crook, labours all he can in the use of means to be rid of it. And if the means used be lawful, and not relied upon, but followed with an eye to God in them, the attempt is not sinful, whether he succeed in the Luse of them or not.,"
"There must be a noticing of the hand of God in humbling circumstances; 'Here ye the rod, and him who hath appointed it' (Micah 6:9). There is an abjectness of spirit, whereby some give up themselves to the will of others in the harshest treatment, merely to please them, without regard to the authority and command of God. This is real meanness of spirit, whereby one lies quietly to be trampled on."
"Objection: If we let our spirit fall, we shall lie always at folks' feet, and they will trample on us.
Answer: No; pride of spirit unsubdued, will bring men to lie at the feet of others forever (Isa. 66:24). But humiliation of spirit will bring them undoubtedly out from under their feet (Mal. 4:2, 3). They that humble themselves now will be exalted forever; they will be brought out of their low situation and circumstances. Cast yourselves even down with your low lot, and assure yourselves you shall not lie there. "
"Objection: If we do not raise ourselves, none will raise us; and therefore we must see to ourselves, to do ourselves right.
Answer: That is wrong. Humble ye yourselves in respect of your spirits, and God will raise you up in respect of your lot, or low condition; and they that have God engaged for raising them, have no reason to say they have none to do it for them. Bringing down of the spirit is our duty, raising us up is God's work; let us not forfeit the privilege of God's raising us up, by arrogating that work to ourselves, taking it out of his hand."
" Say not that your crook has been so long continued, that it will never mend. Put it in the hand of God, who made it, that he may mend it, and wait on him: and if it be for your good, that it should be mended, it shall be mended; for 'no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly' (Ps. 134:11).
All of us have many crooks, all of us have many crosses. Innately, within the human experience, we all seek to straighten them. But it is clear that in God's divine providence, He seeks for us to be refined, humbled, and made set apart. For me, when I read this book I think of the following verse ; "Whom do I have in heaven but You? There is nothing on this earth I desire but You" (Psalm 73:25). In our life, in our struggle, may we learn, as Boston expresses in this book, to be satisfied with our crook, to carry our crosses, and to be molded in a way that humbles our selves and glorifies God.
Some Highlights!!
"There are some corruptions in every man's heart, which lie, as it were, so near the surface, that they are ready on every turn to rise up; but then there are others also which lie so very deep, that they are scarcely observed at all. But as the fire under the pot makes the scum to rise up, appear a-top and run over; so the crook in the lot raises up from the bottom, and brings out, such corruptions as otherwise one could hardly imagine to be within."
"The truth is, the crook in the lot is the great engine of Providence for making men appear in their true colours, discovering both their ill and their good; and if the grace of God be in them, it will bring it out, and cause it to display itself. It so puts the Christian to his shifts, that however it makes him stagger for awhile, yet it will at length evidence both the reality and the strength of grace in him. 'Ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith."
"Great is the loss by not submitting to it. The crook in the lot, rightly improved, has turned to the best account, and made the best time to some that ever they had all their life long. As the Psalmist from his own experience testifies, 'Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word' (Ps. 119:67). There are many now in heaven, who are blessing God for the crook they had in their lot here. What a sad thing must it then be to lose this teeth-wind for Immanuel's land! But if the crook in thy lot do thee no good, be sure it will not miss of doing thee great damage; it will greatly increase your guilt and aggravate your condemnation, while it shall for ever cut thee to the heart, to think of the pains taken by means of the crook in the lot, to wean thee from the world, and bring you to God, but all in vain."
"Believe a kind design of Providence in them towards you. God calls us to this, as the key that opens the heart under them (Rev. 3:19). Satan suggests suspicions to the contrary, as the bar which may hold it shut, 'This evil is of the Lord, why should I wait for the Lord any longer? (2 Kings 6:33) As long as the suspicion of an ill design in them against us reigns, the creature will, like the worm at the man's feet, put itself in the best posture of defence it can and harden itself in sorrow: but the faith of a kind design will cause it to open out itself in humility before him."
"What makes the yoke gall our necks, but that we struggle so much against it, and cannot let it sit at ease on us (Jer. 31:18). How often are we, in that case, like men dashing their heads against a rock to remove it! The rock stands unmoved, but they are wounded, and lose exceedingly by their struggle. Impatience under the crook lays an overweight on the burden, and makes it heavier, while withal it weakens us, and makes us less able to bear it."
"But what God requires is, rather to labour to bring down the heart, than to get up the head (James 4:10). Here lies the proof of one's meetness for heaven; and then is one in the way heaven-ward, when he is more concerned to get down his heart than to get up his head, to go calmly under his burden than to get it off, to bow under the mighty hand, than to put it off him."
"The defiling objects in the world do specially take and prove ensnaring, as they are suited to the particular cast of temper in men: but by means of the crook in the lot, the paint and varnish is worn off the defiling object, whereby it loses its former taking appearance: thus, the edge of corrupt affections is blunted, temptation weakened, and much sin prevented; the sinner after 'gadding about so much to change his way, returning ashamed' (Jer. 2:36, 37). Thus the Lord crooks one's lot that 'he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from men': and so 'he keepeth back his soul from the pit"
"If you do not behave [in a] Christian [manner] under it, you will lose your souls in the other world (Jude 15, 16). Those who are at war with God in their lot here, God will have war with them forever. If they will not submit to his yoke here, and go quietly under it, he will wreathe his yoke about their neck forever, with everlasting bonds that shall never be loosed (Job 9:4). Therefore, set yourselves to behave rightly under the crook in your lot. If you ask what way one may reach that; for direction we propose:
"Satan has no readier way to gain his purpose, than to persuade men it is impossible that ever their minds should ply with the crook; that it is a burden to them, altogether insupportable; as long as you believe that, be sure you will never be able to bear it. But the Lord makes no crook in the lot of any, but what may be borne of them acceptably, though not sinlessly and perfectly"
" The man, being pressed with the cross, which is in his crook, labours all he can in the use of means to be rid of it. And if the means used be lawful, and not relied upon, but followed with an eye to God in them, the attempt is not sinful, whether he succeed in the Luse of them or not.,"
"There must be a noticing of the hand of God in humbling circumstances; 'Here ye the rod, and him who hath appointed it' (Micah 6:9). There is an abjectness of spirit, whereby some give up themselves to the will of others in the harshest treatment, merely to please them, without regard to the authority and command of God. This is real meanness of spirit, whereby one lies quietly to be trampled on."
"Objection: If we let our spirit fall, we shall lie always at folks' feet, and they will trample on us.
Answer: No; pride of spirit unsubdued, will bring men to lie at the feet of others forever (Isa. 66:24). But humiliation of spirit will bring them undoubtedly out from under their feet (Mal. 4:2, 3). They that humble themselves now will be exalted forever; they will be brought out of their low situation and circumstances. Cast yourselves even down with your low lot, and assure yourselves you shall not lie there. "
"Objection: If we do not raise ourselves, none will raise us; and therefore we must see to ourselves, to do ourselves right.
Answer: That is wrong. Humble ye yourselves in respect of your spirits, and God will raise you up in respect of your lot, or low condition; and they that have God engaged for raising them, have no reason to say they have none to do it for them. Bringing down of the spirit is our duty, raising us up is God's work; let us not forfeit the privilege of God's raising us up, by arrogating that work to ourselves, taking it out of his hand."
" Say not that your crook has been so long continued, that it will never mend. Put it in the hand of God, who made it, that he may mend it, and wait on him: and if it be for your good, that it should be mended, it shall be mended; for 'no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly' (Ps. 134:11).
March 9, 2022
This book is full of hard truths. Worth reading over and over again!
July 26, 2023
A very difficult read for essentially only a couple key points repeated. The main premise is that when we experience suffering, we should recognize it as the hand of God and endure it contentedly with a trust in His character. However, I do find the repetition helpful to really hammer in the point. Overall, Boston provides a very helpful Christian perspective on suffering.
January 9, 2026
This book was a Divine help to me at just the right time. Absolutely wonderful explanation and commentary on God's sovereign work through difficulty in life. How to view it, embrace it, learn from it, grow in it, and deal with it if God does not straighten the crook before eternity.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly again and again.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly again and again.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews