Two Sermons Preached at Northampton, Title page – To the reader
TWO SERMONS PREACHED AT NORTHAMPTON AT TWO SEVERALL ASSISES THERE. The one in the time of the Shrevalty of Sir Erasmus Dryden Baronet. Anno Domini, 1621. The other in the time of the Shrevalty of Sir Henry Robinson Knight, Anno Domini, 1629.
By Robert Bolton Bachelour in Divinity, late Minister of Broughton in Northampton-shire, and sometimes Fellow of Brasen-nose Colledge in Oxford.
Published by E. H.
LONDON, Printed by GEORGE MILLER dwelling in the Blacke-Fryers. 1635.
TO THE READER.
THe ancient Imperiall Lawes gave to an Overseer of a Will, F. de Administ. Tutor. li. 1. §. 1.not onelyonly a protection over it but an Action for itin case of abuse. If I had not had this interest in the last will of this Author; yet as a *Est ille cujus fidei legatum vel relictum committitur. Ant. Koberg. in Vocab. ut…ius que Iuris.Fidei Commissarius to him, and specially intrusted by him for the publishing these two Assise-Sermons, I durst not but performe this trust to my deare friend. I neede not assure the Reader, that these Sermons are truely his owne, for when hee shall observe how they are cloathed and apparrelled, hee will quickly discover who was their Father. Besides, there are hundreds of people yet living who heard him preach them, and can with me sufficiently attestate their legitimation. But I cannot say so for some other Sermons that are audaciously vented under his Name. For I must say, that the Booke called the Carnall Professor, printed for R. Dawlman 1634, is none of Master Boltons, neither Quoad materiam, nor quoad formam, as they say in Schooles. I goe not about to question it, or to draw any party into punishment; and therefore I will not ventilate a question in the Civill Law, whether *D. de Dolo l. 2. C. eode… tit.Actio de dolo, doth not lie in this case: I onelyonly note the injury and protest against it.
In the former Workes of this Author you may observe his Eloquence for GOD: In this for his Prince: in vindicating the Soveraignty of Kings, as the immediate Ordinance of GOD against those proud usurpations upon them by that Man of sinne, and in extolling Piety, which is then set in the highest place, when it wisely rules, and directs in the hearts and wayes of righteous Governours.
I will say no more of this Worke, nor of the Workeman: for neither he nor it stand in need of my praise, it onelyonly contents me that I have lived, to see him live againe, to performe his will, to execute his trust committed to me; though it might have beene better done by another if hee had so pleased. The law of reason and right pardons some aberrations in the Worke where there is a necessity of Doing, and I doubt not but a loving Reader will performe this right to me, that am content thus to expose my selfe for his sake. From any other I expect it not; it being a common humour with men that live at ease, to censure other men, as too busie though they worke for the publike; of whom I may say as Erasmus spake of the Friers in his time;Erasm. Coll de Fra. Francise. They are more then men at their meate, and lesse then women at their worke. And as I contemne the flouts of the one, so I covet the good will and desires of the other. Let me enjoy this and I have done.
Middle Temple Aprill 24, 1635. EDW. BAGSHAWE.