The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Robert Bolton
R BOLTON
The Life of Robert Bolton, who died Ano Christi 1631.
RObert Bolton was born at Blackborn in Lancashire, Anno Christi 1572.His birth and education. His Parents finding in him a great promp… nesse to learning, though they had no great means, yet they intended him for a Scholar, the rather having an opportunity of a good Schoolmaster in the town, where he profited exceedingly, and at twenty years old he went to Lincoln Colledge in Oxford, He goes to Oxford.and was Master Randal's Pupil (afterwards a famous Preacher) there in a short time (being wel grounded before, and industrious) he became an excellent Logician, and Philosopher. But about that time his father dying, and his meanes failing, hee took excessive paines, and wanting bookes,His poverty. he borrowed of his Tutor, and others, read them over, and abridged them; and to perfect his knowledge in the Greek, he wrote out all Homer with intollerable pains, so that he could with as much facility dispute in the Schools in Greek, His Industry.as in Latine, or English.
From thence he removed to Brasen-nose Colledge, because the Fellowships in that house belonged to Lancashire, and Cheshire men; yet for want of acquaintance, he stayed long without a Fellowship, which made him to languish through want; but his deserts being known, Dr. Bret, and some others, together with some small stipends he had for his Lectures in that house,He is made a Fellow. supported him, till he gat a Fellowship, about the thirtieth year of his age; then also he Commenced Master of Arts, and being chosen Lecturer, he performed it with such exactness, that he grew very famous. His Disputations in the University were performed with such acuteness of wit, and profound learning, that he was chosen by the Vice-chancellor (at King James his first coming to the University) to be one of the Disputants before him; and to read Natural Philosophy in the publick Schools: He was also well studied in Metaphysicks, Mathematicks, and School Divinity; yet all this while he had nothing in him for Religion, he loved Stage-playes, Cards,His Prophanesse. Dice, was a horrible swearer, Sabbath-breaker, and boon-companion; he neither loved goodness, nor good men. Yet hearing the fame of Master Perkins, he went to Cambridge at a Cōmencement that he might hear him preach, and having heard him, said, That he was a barren empty fellow, and a passing mean Scholar; His judgement of Mr. Perkins.but when God changed his heart, he changed his tune, and said, That Master Perkins was as learned, and godly a Divine as our Church hath in many yeares enjoyed in so young a man.
He had familiar acquaintance with one Master Anderton, a good scholar,His tentation. his countriman, and formerly his schoolfellow, but a strong Papist, yea a Priest; This man knowing Mr. Bolton's good parts, and outward wants, took that advantage to perswade him to go over with him to the English Seminarie at Rome, where he should be furnished with all necessaries, and have gold enough. This motion he accepted of, and a day, and place was appointed in Lancashire, to take shipping from thence, and be gone:A special providence. Thither Mr. Bolton repaired at the time prefixed, but Anderton came not, whereby escaping that snare, he returned to Oxford, where he fell into acquaintance with Mr. Peacock, a learned and godly man, whereby it pleased God to bring him to repentance, but by such a way as the Lord seldom useth, but upon such strong vessels,His conversion. as he intendeth for strong encounters, and rare employments, for the Lord ranne upon him as a Gian, taking him by the neck, and shaking him to pieces, as he did …ob▪ beating him to the ground as he did P…ul, by laying before him the ugly visage of his su…,His …. which lay so heavy upon him that he roared for anguish of heart; yea, it so affrighted him, that he rose somtimes out of his bed in the night, for very anguish of spirit; and to augment his spiritual misery. hee was assaulted with foul temptations, Horribili … Deo, te…ribilia de side, which Luther called colaphum Satanae This continued for many moneths, but God at last gave a b…essed issue, and these grievous pangs in his New-Birth produced two admirable effects in him: An invincible courage in the cause of God;His comfort. and a singular dexterity in comforting afflicted spirits. Hereupon he resolved to enter into the Ministry,He is ordained Minister. and was accordingly ordained the thirty fifth year of his age; and about two years after, the Parsonage of Broughton in Northamptonshire falling v…yd,Gods providence. Serjeant Nicols the P…tron, preferred him to it.
About the fortieth year of his age he married Mistris Anne Bois of an antient family in Kent, His marriage.and to her care committed the ordering of his outward estate, and applied himself wholly to his studies, and the work of the Ministry, and for twenty years together preached twice every Lords day, and catechised; and on every Holyday,His great labours. and Friday before the Sacrament, he expounded a Chapter, whereby he went over most of the Historical books of the Old, and New Testament; and therein prepared nothing for his people, but what might have se…ved a very learned Auditory.
In all his preaching, next after Gods glor…,The success of his Ministry. he …imed at the Conversion of souls, and God crowned his labours by making him an instrument to beget many sons, and daughters unto righteousnesse. He had an excellent Art in relieving afflicted consciences, so that he was sought to far, and near; yea divers that lived beyond sea desired his resolution in divers Cases of Conscience. Though in his preaching he was a son of Thunder, yet to those that mourned in spirit, he was a sweet son of Consolation,Preachers pattern. with a tender heart pouring the oyl of mercy into their bleeding wounds. He had a singular skill in discovering Satans sleights, and in battering down his Kingdom. In all his Sermons he used to discover the filthinesse of sin, and to presse hard upon the Conscience the duties of Sanctification; yea, he would spare none, great or small in their sins; yet in reproving sin, he never personated any man to put him to shame.
His life was so blamelesse that he could not justly be taxed by any,His holy life. of any scandalous sin. He prayed constantly six times a day; twice with his family, twice with his wife, and twice in secret.His frequent prayers. He kept many daies of private humiliation; alwaies before the Sacrament, and upon the occasions of the miseries of the Church at home, and abroad, which he performed with much ardency of spirit; and being advised by Physicians, for his healths sake, to break off the strong intentions of his studies, he rejected their counsel, accounting it greater riches to enjoy Christ,Christ preferred before health. by those fervent intentions of his mind, then to remit them for his healths sake.
He was of a comely presence, his countenance was so mixed with gravity, and austerity, that it commanded respect from others. He oft refused preferment, that he might not be divorced from that Country where his Ministry found such entertainment,His humility. and effect. He was universally bountiful; but especially he exceeded in those publick distresses of Germany, His Charity.France, Bohemia, &c. He alwaies spent all the revenues of his living (which was of good value) in the maintainance of his Family, Hospitality, and Charity.
He fell sick of a Quartane Ague in September, Anno Christi 1631,His sicknesse. whereupon finding his disease to get strength, and his vigor to grow weaker, he revised his Will, and then wholly retired himself from the world,Preparation for death. and solaced his soul with the Meditation of the joyes of heaven; and having compiled a discourse De quatuor Novissimis; of Death, Judgment, Hell, and Heaven; having preached over the three former, he told his people, that the next day he would preach of Heaven, but the Saturday before he fell so sick that he never preached after. Though his sicknesse was long and sharp, yet he bore it with admirable patience; often breathing forth these speeches, Oh when will this good hour come! when shall I be dissolved! when shall I be with Christ? His patience.Being told that it was better for the Church (if God would) for him to stay here,Death desired. He answered, If I shall find favour in the eyes of God he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation, and if otherwise, lo here I am, let him do what seemeth good in his eyes, 2 Sam. 15. 25, 26.His submission to God. And being asked of another, if he could be content to live if God would grant it him; he said, I grant that life is a great blessing of God; neither will I neglect any means that may preserve it, and do heartily desire to submit to Gods will, but of the two I infinitely more desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. To those that came to visit him in his sicknesse, he gave very godly, and wise exhortations.His Thanksgiving. He thanked God for his wonderful mercy in pulling him out of hell, in sealing his Ministry by the Conversion of Souls, which he wholy ascribed to his glory. A week before his death he called for his Wife, and desired her to bear his Dissolution with a Christian Fortitude; and turning to his children, he told them, that they should not now expect that in regard of his weaknesse he should say any thing to them; he had formerly told them enough, and hoped they would remember it,His admonition to his children. and hee verily beleeved that none of them durst think to meet him at the great Tribunal of Christ, in an unregenerate state. Some of his neighbours moved, that as he had in his Ministry discovered to them the exceeding comforts that were in Christ, so he would now tel them what he felt in his soul: Alass! sayd he; doe you looke for that now from me, that want breath and power to speake? I have told you enough in my Ministry; yet to satisfie you, I am, by the wonderful mercies of God, as full of comfort as my heart can hold, His joy unspeakable.and feel nothing in my soul but Christ, with whom I heartily desire to be. Then seeing some weeping, he said, Oh what a deal ado there is before one can dye? When the very pangs of Death were upon him, some of his dear friends coming to take their leave of him, he caused himself to be raised up, and after a few gapings for breath, he said to them, I am now drawing on a pace to my Dissolution; His speech to his friends.hold out Faith, and Patience, your work will quickly be at an end. Then shaking them by the hand, he desired them to make sure of heaven, and to remember what hee had formerly taught them, protesting that it was the Truth of God, as he should answer it at the Tribunal of Christ, before whom he should shortly appeare: and a dear friend taking him by the hand, aske him if hee felt not much pain: Truly no (said he) the greatest I feel, is your cold hand; and then being laid down againe, not long after he yeelded up his spirit unto God,His death. Anno Christi 1631, and of his age 60.
He was one of a thousand for Piety and Courage, which were so excellently mixed with wisdom, that they who imagined mischief against his Ministry, were never able by all their plottings to doe him any more hurt, then only to shew their teeth.
He wrote a discourse of true happiness.His works. Directions for a comfortable walking with God. Ins…utions for comforting afflicted Consciences. A threefold Treatise, of the World, Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and Fasting, De quatuor novissimis.
Laus Deo.