Death Judgment Hell and Heaven, Biography
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Mr. BOLTON.
THat one age may tell another, that the memoriall of the just shall be ever blessed, when the persons and names of those that are otherwise minded shall rot and vanish away: It hath beene the pious custome of ancient and later times, to commend to posterity the eminent graces of the Saints departed. Famous are those Panegyricke Orations made at the tombes of the Martyrs in the Primitive times; when as their persecuting Emperours, priding themselves in their lamentable deaths, have left no other noyse behind them, than the loud and long continued cries of spilling innocent bloud.
Memorable also are the Funerall Orations of the two Gregories, Nyssen and Nazianzen on Basill the great: And in later times, to give a few instances, (for the number in this kinde is infinite) Melancthon and Camerarius wrote the life of Martyn Luther; Iunius the life of Vrsine; Beza the life of Calvin; Antonius Faius the life of Beza; Iosias Simler the life of Peter Martyr; and Dr. Humphrey the life of our most renowned Iewell.
This manner of honouring the Saints is warranted by GODS owne example; who (for ought is revealed to us) tooke order for Moses buriall, digged his grave, covered him with molds, and made for him that excellent Funerall Sermon expressed in the first Chapter of Ioshuah. And that all-wise GOD who sweetly disposeth all things, thinkes it needfull thus to grace his owne people, that he may hereby uphold their spirits amid those many pressures, scornes, reproaches, cruell mockings, and innumerable other miseries which they endure of the world, meerely for his service; be they otherwise never so wise, just, meeke, peaceable, and unrebukeable amongst men: Witnesse those many terrible persecutions (mentionedEuseb Hist. Lib. 4. & 5. in Ecclesiasticall Stories) against the Christians, though harmlesse and innocent, though they prayed for their Emperours, and GOD did miracles in their armies by their prayers; yet for this onelyonly cause, that they honoured CHRIST, and called themselves Christians, (so odious was that precious name unto their adversaries) they were put to the extremest tortures that the utmost inventions of cruelty and rage could devise against them, as Iustine Martyr and Tertullian in their learned and eloquent Apologies for them do amply demonstrate: this caused Adrian the Emperour to ordaine,Euseb. Lib. … ▪ Cap. 9. that thenceforth none of them should be appeached barely for that name, unlesse they transgressed the Lawes.
According to these examples, and for the3 very same causes, I have adventured to publish to the world, the life and death of this man of GOD the Authour of this Work, now a Saint in heaven. I confesse his worth and parts deserved rather an advancement by some such eloquent Orators as I mentioned before, than a depression by my pen; but yet a pearle may be shewed forth as well by a weake hand, as by the arme of a gyant, I shall do no more. And let his owne worth and workes praise him in the gates. I knew him from the beginning of my youth, being my first Tutour in the Vniversitie of Oxford, and my selfe one of his first Schollers, and from that time to the day of his death, being above seven and twenty yeares, none knew him better, or loved him more; our familiarity was such, that (alluding to that betweene Paul and Timothy)2 Tim. 1, 4. I may say, I knew his doctrine, manner of life, faith, charity, patience; and now will onelyonly relate what I have heard and seene, wherein I will not exceed the bounds of modesty or truth.
To begin with his birth; I observe that4 throughout the sacred Bible, and writings on the persons of holy men, their places of birth are ever remembred; GOD loves the very ground his servants tread on: The LORD shall count (sayes David) when he Psal. 87. 6.numbreth up the people, that this man was borne there; whereas of other men there shall be no remembrance of them, they shall have none to lament or bury them, but shall be cast forth as dung on the face of the earth: so that I may say of them, as was said of Pope Boniface the eight, famous for nothing but his wickednesse; intravit vulpes, regnavit leo, exivit canis; the Prophet David renders it thus in plaine English. They spend their daies in mirth, and suddenly go downe into hell.
He was borne at Blackborne a towne of5 good note in Lancashire on Whitsunday,Camb. Brit. pag. 752. Anno Dom. 1572. His parents being not of any great meanes, yet finding in him a great towardlinesse for learning, destinated him to be a scholler, and strugled with their estate to furnish him with necessaries in that kind, apprehending the advantage of a singular Schoole-master that was then in theMr. Yates. towne. He plied his booke so well, that in short time he became the best scholler in the schoole: and no marvell; for, he had those sixe properties of a scholler noted by Isocrates and others, which concurring inforeign. one, thrust up learning to a very high elevation.
1. He was (foreign) of excellent parts and abilities of mind, and of a sound constitution of body.
2. He was (foreign) of a very strong memory; I meane such a memory as was notably actuated by his ready and quicke understanding. For, (as Philosophers observe) that memory which tends to admiration, being of a quite differing temperature from the understanding, inclines rather to folly, and becomes the ground of that Proverbe, The greatest Clerkes are not alwaies the wisest men.
3. He was (foreign) a moover of doubts and questions; this was ever an evident signe of learning; by this our blessed Saviour approoved His learning amongst theLuk 2. 46. Doctours in hearing them and asking them questions: So did the Queene of Shebah to King Salomon. A dunce seldome makes doubts; but (as Salomon saith of a foole) alwayes boasteth and is confident.
4. He was (foreign) a speciall lover of learning; it was alwayes his delight to exercise himselfe in studies, and would not endure any aversions from them, as shall be hereafter shewed.
5. He was (foreign) a very laborious painfull student, as shall be more largely shewed, for it is worthy imitation.
6. He was (foreign) a great listner after the sayings and speeches of others, and hath beene often observed to be onelyonly a hearer, and to sit silent himselfe, unlesse he was urged with some importunity, and the things he heard, he suffered them not to be lost, (if they were of worth) but alwayes put them downe in a booke which he particularly kept for that purpose.
He continued long at schoole, and came6 not to the Vniversity till about the twentiethHis studies in Lincolne Colledge. yeare of his age. He was placed at Oxford in Lincolne Colledge under the tuition of Mr. Randall, a man of no great note then, but afterward became a learned Divine and godly Preacher at London. In that Colledge he fell close to the studies of Logick and Philosophie, and by reason of that groundworke of learning he got at schoole, and maturity of yeares, he quickly got the start of those of his owne time, and grew into fame in that House. In the middest of these his studies his father died, and then his meanes failed, for all his fathers lands fell to his elder brother now living: but this crosse by GODS providence prooved a great advantage to him for his growth in learning, though it put him to monstrous paines of body and mind: for now wanting meanes to buy him bookes, he borrowed of his Tutour and others the best writers on Naturall and Morall Philosophy, and the Politicks, and read them all over, and abridged them all in his note-bookes, which are now to be seene, and then returned the bookes to their owners. Nay such a desire he had to attaine a perfection in the things he studied, that though he was very well skilled in the Greeke tongue, yet that he might attaine an exactnesse in it, he did with intolerable pains write out with his owne hand all Homer, (or Hesiod I am sure) for I have seene it in a faire Greeke character; for he wrote that language better than he did either English or Latine; and asking him the reason of his paines, he told me, it was onelyonly that he might accent perfectly. This brought him to such a readinesse, that he could with as much facility course in the publike Schooles (for he was a famous disputant) in the Greeke tongue, as in the Latine or English: and in them all he wrote and spake Stilo imperatorio, as Lipsius calls it, viz. a high and lofty stile, which was so familiar to him, as that he could not avoid it in ordinary conference.
From Lincolne Colledge he remooved to7 Brasen-nose: For, by the Founders of thatIn Brasen-nose Colledge. House most of the Fellowships therein were ordained for Lancashire and Cheshire men, but comming to that Colledge, having but few friends, he stayed long without a Fellow-ship▪ about which time (that I may not bury in silence the charitable acts of such men whom their learning and piety have made eminent) it pleased Mr. Dr. Bret, knowingA man of sirgular … for learning and …. his deserts, and perceiving him to languish for want of meanes, most bountifully to contribute for his reliefe, and by his and others bounty, with some small stipends he had for his Lectures in that House, he was upheld untill he had got a Fellowship, which fell out about the thirtieth yeare of his age, at which time he commenced Master of Arts; and then by the Exercises he performed in the House and abroad, being Regent-Master he grew into fame, and was still successively chosen to be Reader of the Lectures of Logick, and Morall, and Naturall Philosophy, (as by the Statutes of the House they were appointed to be read) which he performed so strictly, and with such exactnesse, as that he got credit and applause with the best, but some envy with his successours, that by his example were now provoked to a more frequent and painfull reading of them, which were seldome and sleightly performed before. And such was his esteeme in the Vniversitie for his publike disputations, which he ever performed with such readinesse and acutenesse of speech and wit, and such profoundnesse of learning, that when he was a Master of Arts but of small standing, he was chosen by the now Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterburie, Vice-Chancellour at King IAMES His first comming to that Vniversity, to be one of the disputants before the King, and to read in Naturall Philosophy in the publike Schooles. Besides his knowledge in Logick and Philosophy, wherein he excelled, he was also well studyed in the Metaphysicks and Mathematicks, and in all Schoole-Divinity, especially in Thomas Aquinas, which he had read over once or twice, and had exactly noted him throughout, as may appeare in his notes.
But all this while though he was *I may truly say of him, a… Tertullian of Irenaeus, That he was curiosissimus omnium doctrinarum explorator.very8 learned, yet he was not good, he was a very meane scholler in the schoole of CHRIST, he drew no religious breath from the soyle he came, and his master like an ill seedsman sowed the tares of Popery in most of his schollers: this manner of education made him more apt to tread in any path than that which was holy; he loved Stage-playes, cards and dice, he was a horrible swearer and sabbath-breaker, and boone-companion, and was ever glad (as I have heard him say) of Christmas-holy dayes, and marvellous melancholie when they were ended, he loved not goodnesse nor good men, and of all sorts of people could not abide their company that were of a strict and holy conversation, such he would fetch within the compasse of Puritans, thinking that by that lawlesse name he had deprived them ipso facto both of learning and good religion. Such a generall scorne hath this degenerate age put upon the wayes of GOD, that the name of Puritan which is truly and properly the name of the Euseb. Hist. l. 6 cap. 42. & lib. 7 cap. 7.proud heresie of Novatus, or els of the bPreface of K. Iames to his foreignvile sect of the Anabaptists, is for want of seeking redresse by our Ecclesiasticall Laws▪ become the honourable nickname of the best and holiest men This wretched humour Mr. Bolton further discovered at Cambridge, for being there at a Commencement, and meerely caried with the fame of Mr. Perkins, went to heare him preach, whose plaine but very sound and substantiall preaching meeting at once in him with a curious palate and unsanctified heart; quite turned his stomacke against that good man that he thought him (to speake in his owne phrase) a barren empty fellow, and a passing meane scholler. I have heard many of late (much of Mr. Boltons temper in goodnesse at that time, but inferiour in learning) speak the like of Mr. Perkins; but the eminent learning of that man (famous cWilllelmus Perkinsus doctissimus theologus. Keck. Syst. Pol. lib. 1. p. 208.abroad as well as at home) is so farre above their reach; that to traduce his worth is to question their owne. And that late learned dDr. Abbot in his reply to Bishop.Bishop of Salisbury in the defence of his booke against the cavils of Dr. Bishop, hath in many places amply commended his learning. So that the precious name of Mr. Perkins shall like an ointment powred forth, fill all the quarters of this land with a fresh and fragrant sweetnesse, when nothing shall survive of his Detractors, but their unsavoury and unlearned spight against so holy a man. And Mr. Bolton himselfe when GOD changed his heart (which I will next write of) he changed his opinion of Mr. Perkins, and thought him as learned and godly a Divine as our Church hath for many yeares enjoyed in so He was but little aboue 40 yeares old when he diedyoung a man: But I proceed.
When he was of Brasen-nose Colledge, he9 had familiar acquaintance with one Mr. Anderton his country-man, and sometime his schoole-fellow, a very good scholler, but a strong Papist, and now a Popish Priest, andHis connersion one of the *He was for his eloquence called Golden mouthed Anderton when he was but a Schollar.learnedest amongst them: This man well knowing the good parts that were in Mr. Bolton, and perceiving that he was in some outward wants, tooke this advantage, and used many arguments to perswade him to be reconciled to the Church of Rome, and to go over with him to the English Seminary, telling him he should be furnished with all necessaries, and should have gold enough (one of the best arguments to allure an unstable mind to Popery). Mr. Bolton being at that time poore in minde and Purse, accepted of the motion, and a day, & place was appointed in Lancashire, where they should meet, and from thence take shipping and be gone. Mr. Bolton met at the day and place, but Mr. Anderton came not, and so he escaped that snare, and soone after returned to Brasen-nose, where falling into the acquaintance of one Mr. Peacocke Fellow of that House, a learned and godly man, it pleased GOD by his acquaintance to frame upon his soule that admirable workmanship of his repentance and conversion to eternall life, but by such a way of working as the LORD seldome useth but upon such strong vessels which in his singular wisdome he intendeth afterward for strong incounters, and rare imployments. The first newes he heard of GOD was not by any soft and still voice, but in terrible tempests and thunder, the LORD running upon him as a gyant, taking him by theIob 16. ver. 1…, 13, 14. necke and shaking him to peeces, as he did Iob; beating him to the very ground, as he did Paul, by laying before him the ugly visage of his sins which lay so heavy upon him, as he roared for griefe of heart, and so affrighted him, as I have heard him say, he rose out of his bed in the night for very anguish of spirit. And to augment his spirituall misery, he was exercised with fowle temptations, horribilia de DEO, terribilia de fide, which Luther called Colaphum Satanae, for as he was parallell with Luther in many things as I shall shew anon: so was he in these spirituall temptations which were so vehement upon Luther, that the very venome of them dranke up his spirits, and his body seemed dead, *In his Epistle to Melancthon.Vt nec calor, nec sanguis, nec sensus, nec vox superesset, that neither speech, sense, bloud or heat appeared in him, as Iustas Ionas that was by and saw it, reporteth of him: but this sharpe fit of Luthers lasted but for one day, but Mr. Boltons continued for many moneths, but yet GOD gave him at length a blessed issue, and these grievous pangs in his spirituall birth produced two admirable effects in him (as well as in Luther) which many times ensue upon such hard labour, an invincible courage and resolution for the cause of GOD, in the which he feared no colours, not the face or force of any; secondly, a singular dexterity in comforting afflicted and wounded spirits, as shall be likewise further shewed.
VponUpon this he resolved to enter into the10 Ministery, and about the thirty fift yeare of his age was ordained Minister, after which he wholly applied him selfe to the worke of the Ministry, and improoved all his learning and time to that excellent end: A little while after he was in the Ministry, he was by meanes made knowne to Mr. Iustice Nicolls, at that time Serjeant at Law, who observing the comlinesse of his person and the stuffe that was in him, had it alwayes in his thoughts to advance him, and about the thirty seventh yeare of Mr. Boltons age, the personage of Broughton in Northampton shire falling void, he did by my hand send for him from the Vniversity to his chamber at Serjeants Inne, and presented him to that living, at which time Dr. King late Bishop of London being then by accident at the Iudges chamber, thanked him for Mr. Bolton, but told him withall, that he had deprived the Vniversity of a singular Ornament▪ Then did he put out his first booke, containing A discourse of true happinesse, which he dedicated to Serjeant Nicolls his patron, which for the godlinesse of the matter, and cloquence of the stile therein contained, was universally bought up, and divers have confessed, that at first bought it out of curiosity, for some sweet relish in the Phrase, tooke CHRIST to boote and thereby tooke the first beginning of their heavenly tast.
About the fortieth yeare of his age, for11 the better setting of himselfe in house-keeping vponupon his Personage, he resolued vponupon marriage, and tooke to wife Mrs. Anne Boyse a Gentle woman of an ancient house and worshipfull family in Kent, to whose care he committed the ordering of his outward estate, he himselfe onelyonly minding the studies and weighty affaires of his heauenly calling, in the which for the space of twenty yeares and more, he was so diligent and laborious, that twice every Lords day hee preached, and Catechized in the Afternoone, in which Catechisme he expounded the Creed and ten Commandements in a very exact manner; And vponupon every holyday, and on eueryevery friday before the Sacrament he expounded some Chapter, by which meanes he went over the greater portion of the Historicall part of the Old and New Testament. And in them all, as was well observed by a learned and graue *Mr. Estwick in his Sermon at his funerall.Divine that preached at his funerall, he prepared nothing for his people but what might have served a learned Auditory, and in all his preachings he still aimed next to the glory of God at the Conversion of soules, the very crowne and glory of a good Minister at the appearing of that great day: and herein GOD wonderfully honoured his Ministery in making him an aged father in CHRIST, and to beget many sonnes and daughters vntounto righteousnesse; for I may truely say, many hundreds were either absolutely converted, or mightily confirmed, or singularly comforted in their grievous agonies by his Ministery: for he had such an art in this kinde of relieving afflicted consciences, which hee acquired, partly by great paines and industry in searching into that skill, but chiefly by that manifold experience he had in himselfe and others, that he was sought to farre and neare, and divers from beyond the seas desired his resolution in divers cases of Conscience, which was the onelyonly cause that made him put forth that last learned and godly Treatise of his, which he stiled; Instructions for a right comforting afflicted consciences.
And though in his manner of preaching12 he was a Sonne of thunder, yet unto bruised reeds and those that mourned in spirit, hee was as sweete a sonne of Consolation as ever I heard, and with a very tender and pitifull heart powred the oyle of mercy into their bleeding wounds. He (as was said of Luther) was a mighty opposite to the Divels kingdome, and had a singular skill to discerne his sleights and that cunning craftinesse whereby hee lies in wait to deceive. He ever thought that there was no such way to cast downe the strong holds of Sathan and to batter his kingdome, then after the steps of Iohn the Baptist, to lay the axe close to the roote of sinne, and to set it on with such power, as that the Divell and all his agents were not able to resist it. By this meanes he got ground of Satan and wasted his kingdome, and there were daily added to his Ministery such whose hearts were softned thereby. And in all his Sermons he ever used to discover the filthinesse of sinne, and to presse very powerfully upon the conscience the duties of Sanctification, in expression whereof three things were remarkeable in him.
1. Such courage and resolution of spirit as is scarcely to be found in any. I am perswaded that in the cause of GOD he could have beene contented with Martin Luther, totius mundi odium & impetum sustinere; to have undergone the rage and violence of the whole world, whereby he gave such vigour unto the truth he delivered, that it pierced betweene the very joynts and the marrow.
2. Impartiality; he would spare none in their sinnes either great or small, he knew he was to deliver his Masters will, with whom was no respect of persons.
3. His wisedome; as he was of high courage, so was it excellently tempered with wisdome, descryed in these foure things. 1. In all his denunciations against sinne, he never personated any man whereby to put him to shame, unlesse his owne inward guiltinesse caused him to apply it to himselfe. 2. Hee would never presse upon the conscience the guiltinesse of sinne, but he would for…ifie it by Scripture, by the ancient Fathers (in which he was ripe and ready) and the concurrence of the best Orthodoxe Writers, to stop the mouth of all slanderers that should accuse his doctrine, either of novelty or of too much precisenesse. 3. When he had searcht the conscience to the very quicke (as he would doe) he ever offred CHRIST in all his beauty and sweetnesse, and powred it forth upon the conscience with such a torrent of Eloquence as would hauehave melted the hearts of any, but those which obstinately refused the voice of that powerfull charmer. 4. He would alwaies protest unto his people, that it was a trouble and griefe to him to preach against their sinnes, hee delighted not to vexe any of their consciences, he should be glad the case was so with them, that hee might only preach the riches of the mercies in CHRIST all his dayes; But he knew no other way to pull them out of the snare of Satan and state of darkenesse then the way he tooke, without drawing the horrible sin of Bloud-guiltinesse upon his soule.
But that which made his preaching more illustrious, was that burning and shining light which appeared in his life and conversation in these five particulars.Piety.
1. His Piety, wherein I need not say much, for that second booke of his concerning directions for walking with GOD, were framed out of the pious Meditations of his owne heart as a guide for himselfe for the ordering of his steps in the waies of righteousnes, which he so strictly observed throughout the course of his life that (allowing to him his frailties and aEt certè ea est semper que suit hominum omnium etiam piorum & Chistianorum vita, vt semper etiam in optimis & castissimis moribus tamen aliquid possis desiderare. Iewel. Apol. Aug. p. 64.infirmities, which the holiest men while their flesh is upon them shall not be freed from) hee could not bee justly taxed by any, no not his very enemies (if he had any such) of any grosse and bSanctorum vitam inveniri posse dicimus sine crimine: sine peccato autem qui se vivere existimat non id agit vt peccatum non habeat, sed ut veniam non accipiat. Aug. Enchir.scandalous sinnes since his first conversion from them. And no marveile if hee attained to such a height of holinesse when he was lifted up thither by the wings of prayer. His constant course was to pray sixe times a day, twice by himselfe in private, twice in publique with his family, and twice with his wife. Besides, many daies of private humiliation and prayer ever before the receiving of the Communion, and many daies besides, for the miseries of the Churches in France and Germany, &c▪ which he performed with such ardencie of spirit, that as was saidTria faciunt Theologum; Oratio, meditatio, tentatio. Luther▪ T…s. Author was exe…cised in them all. of Martin Luther, He used such humility as in the presence of Almighty GOD, but such fer vencie and faith, as if he had beene talking with his friend. And GOD heard his prayers, for to the comfort of his soule a litle before his death, he heard of the mighty victories obtained by the King of Sweden against the Emperour to the astonishment of all the world, that those eyes which now behold it with joy, doe scarce beleeve themselves in the fruition of it. When the LORD (saith thePsal. 126. ver. 1. Psalmist) turned againe the captivity of Zion, wee were like them that dreame. So indefatigable were the paines of this godly man in his private devotions and publike preaching, that being advised by Physitians for his healths sake, to breake off the strong intentions of his studies; he rejected their counsell, accounting it greater riches to enjoy CHRIST by those fervent intentions of his minde, then to remit them for the safeguard of his health: Much like the speech of that famously learned D•. Reynolds to the Doctors of Oxford, comming to visit him in his last sickenesse (contracted meerely by his exceeding paines in studie, by which he brought his body to a very foreign) who earnestly perswading him that he would not peraere substantiam propter accidentia, i. e. …o loose his life for learning, he with a sweete smile finelyIuuenal. answered out of the Poet. Nec propter vitam vivendiperdere causas:
Nor yet for love of life loose that dare I,
Which is the cause I live, my industry.
2. For his Gravity, he was of a veryGrauity. comely presence, he had a countenance so finely tempered with gravitie and austerity, that hee in a manner commanded respect from others; insomuch that many forbare to speake or act unseemely things in his presence, that would not have beene so modest in other company: Such a Majestie doth grace imprint upon the countenances of holy men, that they draw respect from the greatest: this made those persecuting Emperours to feare the verie faces of those poore Christians that appeared before them: And this caused Constantine the Great so to honour the countenance of Old Paphnutius S…crates …. 1. c. 8.though disfigur'd by the losse of his eye, that he did often for his delight kisse the hollow of that eye which was lost for the cause of CHRIST. So true is that of Salomon, wisedome causeth the face to shine, and the rigour of the countenance to bee changed.
3. He was very Zealous for GOD, notZeale. onelyonly by the power of his Ministery in converting many, wherein GOD had wonderfully blessed him, but in any publike or private good that tended to the honour of GOD, to whose glory he wholly sacrificed himselfe and all his studies, which I can the more safely affirme, in that I know he hath divers timesA true argument that he sought not great things to himselfe. refused preferment from some of the Nobility and Prelates of this Kingdome, and for no other cause in the world, but that hee might not be divorced from that countrey where his Ministery was so much embraced and wrought so good effects.
4. But zeale is oft of such violent motion, that as the antient Philosophers supposed ofWisdome. the primum mobile, that if the motion thereof were not finely cooled and allayed by the coelum Christallinum next to it, it would set all the Orbes on fire; and therefore the zeale of this Reverend man was alwayes tempered with singular Wisedome and discretion, for though in all his Sermons he prest mightily upon the conscience of his hearers, who many times like babes childishly wrangled at the breasts which should nourish them, yet were they never able to resist the authority by which he spake, so that for the space of 22 yeares being the whole time that his Lamp of light shined in Northampton Shire, his doctrine was never drawne into question either for error or schisme: so studious was hee ever of the unity and peace of the Church of ENGLAND which hee dearely loved that none could justly quarrell with him, but Papists and other Sectaries, as also others that were corrupted with error or evill life.
5. Lastly for his Charity, hee was everCharity. universally bountifull, but especially he exceeded in those publike distresses of Germany, France, Bohemia, &c. and to those that stood in true neede: for the enabling of himselfe hereunto, I have heard him often say (& he made it evident to me) that ever since he was Minister of Broughton, he spent every yeare all the revenewes of his Parsonage (which was of good valew) in the maintenance of his family and acts of hospitality and charity; And that the estate wherewith GOD hath blessed him otherwise, was meerely raised by that temporall estate hee had at first. Let them therefore of his owne coate from henceforth cease to traduce him, whom they never did nor dare to imitate. I am sure the Towne of Broughton will ever blesse GOD for his charity: for when that lamentable fire was among them, September 21: Anno Dom. 1626. besides the many pounds he spent out of his owne purse, he was a chiefe meanes that by the only supply of the country without any Letters Patents from above, their houses which were burnt down unto the ground were all new built, and their outward estates liberally sustained and upheld. Nay such was his charity, that though some of his owne towne had not onelyonly slandered his Ministry, but wronged him in his tithes, yet he put it up, and never called them to question as he might, nor ever had any suite with them. So that I may for conclusion summe up this in that wittie commendation of Nazianzen on Basill the Great,Oratio funebrin laudem Basilj. He thundered in his Doctrine, and lightned in his conversation.
This inestimable treasure it pleased GOD14. to put in an earthen vessell, and about theHis sickenesse. beginning of September last, began to breake it by visiting him with a Quartan ague; a disease which brought Calvin to his end, and by the judgement of the best Physitians, by reason of the long & grievous paroxysmes whereby it afflicts, is ever deemed mortall vntounto old men: and so it appeared to him, for perceiving after two or three sits that it mastered his strength, he patiently submitted to indure, what by strugling hee could not overcome; And called for his Will which he had made long before, and perfecting some things in it, he caused it to be laid up, and afterwards wholly retired into himselfe, quitting the world and solacing his soule with the meditation of the joyes of heaven, which he had provided to preach to his people, for having compiled an elaborate discourse, de quatuor Novissimis, of the foure last things, DEATH, IVDGEMENT, HELL and HEAVEN, an argument that some Iesuites and Friars have bungled in, and having finished the three former, told them that the next day he would treat of Heaven: But the day before being Saturday he was visited with sickenesse, and never preached after. GOD then preparing him for the fruition of those inexplicable joyes which hee had provided for his people in contemplation.
His sickenesse though it was long and15. sharpe, yet he bare it with admirable patience, for he saw Him that was invisible, and his whole delight was to bee with Him, often breathing out such speeches as these whiles the violence and frequencie of his fits gave him any intermission, Oh when will this good hou… … shall I bee dissolved, when shall I bee with CHRIST? Being told that it was indeed better for him to be dissolved, but the Church of GOD could not misse him nor the benefit of his Ministery. To which he thus sweetely replyed with David: 2. Sam. 15. 25, 26.If I shall finde favour in the eyes of the LORD hee will bring mee againe and shew me both it and his habitation, but if otherwise, loe heere I am, let him doe what seemeth good in his eyes. Being asked by another, whether hee could not bee content to live if GOD would grant him life, he thus answered; I grant that life is a great blessing of GOD, neither will I neglect any meanes that may preserve it, and doe heartily desire to submit to GODS will: But of the two I infinitely desire to be dissolved and to bee with CHRIST.
In the time of his sickenesse there16. came many to visit him, but hee admitted none but his intimate friends, using a speech of *Antè dies firme decem quàm exitet è corpore à nobis postulavit praesentibus, ne quis adeum ingredetetur, nisi ijs tantum horis quibus medici ad inspiciendum intrarent, velcum ei inferretur refectio, & ità observatum ac factum est, & omni illo tempore orationi vacabat. Possid. de vit. August.Saint Augustine, who desired ten daies before he died, none might come to him, that he in that time might the better fit himselfe for GOD. But to those that came to him he gave very godly and wise exhortations suting to their callings and conditions, for although his body was wasted with continuall fits towards the Close of his life, yet his understanding and memory was as active and quicke as in the time of his health. He encouraged the Ministers that came to him, to be diligent and couragious in the worke of the LORD, and not to let their spirits faint or droope for any affliction that should arise thereupon. To all that came to him, he bad them make sure of CHRIST, before they came to die, and to looke upon the world as a lump of vanity; He thanked GOD for his wonderfull mercy to him in pulling him out of hell in sealing his Ministry with the conversion of many soules, which he wholly ascribed to his glory.
About a weeke before he died, when his17. silver cord began to loosen, and his golden boule to breake: He called for his wife, and desired her to beare his dissolution, which was now at hand, with a Christian fortitude, a thing which he had prepared her for by the space of twenty yeares, telling her that his approaching death was decreed upon him from all eternity, and that the counsell of the LORD must stand, and bad her make noIsay 46. doubt but shee should meete him againe in Heaven: And turning toward his *He had five Children, one sonne, and foure daughters.children told them, that they should not expect hee should now say any thing to them, neither would his ability of body and breath give him leave, he had told them enough in the time of his sicknesse and before, and hoped they would remember it, and verily believed that none of them durst thinke to meete him at that great Tribunall in an unregenerate state. About two daies after, divers of his Parish comming to watch with him, he was mooved by a friend that as he had discover'd to them by his Doctrine, the exceeding comforts that were in CHRIST, he would now tell them what he felt in his soule. Alas (said he) doe they looke for that of me now that want breath and power to speake? I have told them enough in my Ministry: But yet to give you satisfaction, I am by the wonderfull mercies of GOD as full of comfort as my heart can hold, and feele nothing in my soule but Christ with whom I heartily desire to be; And then looking upon some that were weeping, said, Oh what a deale adoe there is ere one can die!
The night before hee died, when the doores without began to be shut, and the daughters of Musicke to bee brought low, and hee lying very low with his head, expecting every moment when the wheele should be broken at the Cisterne, yet being told that some of his deare friends were then about him to take their last farewell, He caused himselfe to be lifted up, and then like old Iacob bowing himselfe on his beds-head, after a few gaspings for breath, hee spake in this manner. I am now drawing on apace to my dissolution, and am just in the Case of *A Iustice of Peace in Northhampton S…re, whose vertuous memorie I can never th…nke of but in the phrase of the Apostle, The world was not worthy of him, Heb. 11.Sir Iohn Pickering, Hold out Faith and patience, your work will speedily be at an end: And then shaking them all by the hands, prayed heartily, and particularly for them, and desired them to make sure of heaven, and to beare in minde what he had formerly told them in his Ministery, protesting to them, that the doctrine which he had preached to them for the space of twenty yeares was the truth of GOD as he should answer it at that great Tribunall of CHRIST, before whom he should shortly appeare. This he spake when the very pangs of death were upon him. Whereupon a very deare friend of his taking him by the hand, and asking him if he felt not much paine, Truely no (said he) the greatest I feele is your cold hand. And then speaking to be laid downe againe, hee spake no more untill the next morning when he tooke his last leave of his Wife and Children, prayed for them and blessed them all, and that day in the afternoone about five of the clocke, being Saturday the 17. day of December. Anno Dom. 1631. in the LXth. yeare of his age yeelded up his spirit to GOD that gave it, and according to his owne speech celebrated the ensuing Sabbath in the Kingdome of Heaven. Thus in the space of fifteene weekes was the first and most glorious light put out in Broughton, that ere that Towne injoyed or that many ages wil render againe.
And thus hauehave you (good reader) the Life and Death of this very learned and godly man truly set forth: if any man shall contradict any thing that I hauehave written of him; I shall not be carefull to answer him: For if he be good, and well knew Mr Bolton, he will not have the face to object: If he be *Contra Syco phantae morsum non est remedium▪ Sen.bad, I hold him not worth answering: I shall onelyonly say to him in the language of Tacitus, didicit ille maledicere, & ego contemnere, He hath taught his tongue to speake ill, and I have learned to contemne it.
There is onelyonly one obiection which I20. will answer, and noe more, which beganne to bee muttered in his life time and is now likely to make a lowder noyse, if it bee not put to silence.
This preaching twice a Sabboth is moreOb. then needs, halfe of it is but prating. And Ministers under the Gospell may take more libertie, and are not tied to such precisenes and severity of life as hee used.
I will not grace this objection so muchAns. as to beelong in answering it: The former part of this objection this learned Author in his Booke of Walking with God, and in his Epistle to his last Booke dedicated to that religious noble Knight, S•. Robert Carre, both by reasons and the constant practise and precepts of the ancient Fathers, preaching twice a day, sometimes every day, hath a bundantly and unanswerably confuted. I will onelyonly adde two examples of later times, the one of renowned Caluin (the glorieInvita Calui. per Theodor. Pez. & Melch. Adam. of his age) who Preached or Lectured almost eueryevery day, and some dayes twice▪ which Preachings were so excellent that they were the matter of those laborious and learned Commentaries of his upon the Bible, which occasioned D. Reynolds aptly and truly to call him doctissimus & fidelissimus Scripturae interpres, the most learned and faithfull expounder of Scripture. The other of our most precious Iewell, who was a very frequent and constant Preacher, and hastned his own death this way: for, riding to preach at Lacock in Wilt-Shire, a gentleman that met him perceiving the feeblenesse of his body, (which he had wasted out in such spirituall labours) advised him for his healths sake to returne home againe. To whom this godly Bishop by way of allusion to that braue speech of *Oportet imperatorem stantem mori. Xiphil. in vita Vespat.Vespatian the Emperor thus excellently replyed, Oportet episcopum concionantem mori, which in the *Dr. Humphrey in the life of …. Iewell.storie of his life is thus englished, It becommeth best a Bishop to die preaching in the pulpit. And so he did, for presently after the Sermon hee was by the reason of sicknes forced to his Bedd, from whence hee never came off, till his translation to Glory.
For the latter part of the Objection touching that precisenes of life that was in him and which ought to bee in the Ministers of GOD, Let him that thus objecteth, but well read and minde those strict precepts of the Apostle Paul to Timothy and Titus, the examples1. Tim 3. …. …. of primitiue times and those precise injunctions for the Clergy that are dispersed throughout the whole body of the Canon Law and to come neerer home in the A …rapula & …brietate quae honestatem corum deformant omnes omnino clerici abstineant & vigilanter. Steph. in Concil. Oxon.Provinciall Constitutions of Canterbury, But especially in those excellent reformed Ecclesiasticall Lawes compiled by the two and thirty Commissioners (whose names I hauehave under *M. S. Sr. Rob. Cotton. Consistit haec deformitas in vanitate habitus. Item in mala societate. Item deformatur haec honcstas, cum clericus seimmiscet in negotijs socularibus. Itē intendendo mimis & joculatoribus. Item tabernas ingrediendo, nisi tempore itineris. Item ad aleas & taxillos ludendo, vel eisdem interessendo. Item quocunque ornatu superstuo utendo. Lindwood lib. 3. de vi. & honest. Cleric. fol. 87. b.King EDVVARD the sixths owne hand appointed by him for the purgation of that soule body of the Canon Lawe) and I doubt not but hee that so obiecteth will either be ashamed of his ill tongue or his ill life.
These last Lawes were by Royall Authority printed in the MonethMonth of Aprill Anno Domini 1571. and are at this Day (for ought I know) Authenticke rules and Canons amongst the Clergy: One of these Laws touching Ministers, I will recite in the proper words of the Law. Non sint compotores, non aleatores, non aucupes, non venatores, non sycophantae, non otiosi, aut supini, sed sacrarum literarum studijs, et praedicationi verbi et orationibus pro Ecclesia ad DOMINVM diligenter incumbant. Refor. legum ECCLES. Tit: de ECCLES. et Minist. Cap. 4. Fol. 48.Iewell Apol.
Nay that Councell or rather Conspiracy of Trent, as Bishop Iewell cals it, of which I may say as was said of Ithacius, that the hatred of the Priscillian heresy was all the virtue hee had: So all the goodnes of this Councell chiefely consisted in the reformation of the badnes of the Clergy. Heare how precisely it speakes in it owne Language Nihil est quod alios magis ad pietatem & Dei cultum assiduè instruat, quàm eorum vi…a et exemplum qui se divino ministerio dedicarunt &c. Quapropter sic decet omninò clericos in sorcem Domini vocatos vitam moresque suos omnes componere, ut habitu, gestu, incessu, sermone, alijsque omnibus rebus nil nisi grave, moderatum, etreligione plenum prae se ferant: le via etiam delicta, qua in ipsis maxima essent, effugiant, ut eorum actiones cunctis afferant venerationem▪ &c. Statuit sancta Synodus, ut quae aliàs a summis Pontificibus et à sacris Concilijs de Clericorum vita, honestate, cultu, doctrina que retinendâ, a… simul de luxu, commessationibus, choreis, aleis, ac quibuscun que criminibus, nec non *Veteres Canones Apo stolorum illum episcopum, qui simul & civilem ma gistratum & ecclesiasticam functionem obite velit, ju bent ab officio sununoveri. Can. 8. Iew. pol. pag. 122.secularibus negotijs fugiendis copiose ac salubriter sancita fuerunt, eadem imposterum ijsdem poenis, velmaioribus, arbitrio Ordinarij imponendis observentur: nec appellatio executionem hanc quae ad morum correctionem pertinet suspendat. Concil. Triden: sess. 22. Cap: 1.
If any man have any more Objections against this Reverend and gratious Author I will giuegive him no other answer then our Sauiour did to that Curious question, Goe thou and doe likewise. And I makeLuke 10. 37. no doubt but that all these Cauills against him (for they can bee no other) will by a sweete and sacred exchange bee resolued into earnest contentions after that happines which hee now enioyes at his right hand where is, Fulnes of ioy and pleasures for euermore.