The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 107
Robert Bolton, Batchelour in diuinity & minister of Gods word att Broughton in Northamton shire
The Life and Death of Robert Bolton.
RObert Bolton was born at Blackborn in Lancashire, Anno Christi 1572. his Parents finding in him a great promptnesse 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, and was Master Randa…'s Pupil [afterwards a famous Preacher] there in a short time (being well grounded before, and industrious) he be…ame an excellent Logician and Phylosopher; at which time his father dying, and his meanes failing, he took excessive pains, and wanting books 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 intolerable pains, so that he could with as much facility dispute in the Schools in Greek, as in Latine, or English. From thence he removed to Brasen-nose Colledge, the Fellowships there 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, Doctor Bret and some others, together with some small stipends he had for his Lectures in that House, supported him till he gat a Fellowship, about the thirtieth year of his Age; then also he Commenced Mr. 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 acutenesse of wit and profound learning, that he was chosen by the Vice chancellor (at King Iames his first coming to the University) to be one of the Disputants before him, and to read naturall Phylo…sophy in the Publick S…hools: he was also well studyed in Metaphysicks, Mathamaticks and School…Divinity; yet all this while he had nothing in him for Religion: he loved Stage-playes, Cards, Dice, was a horrible swearer, Sabbath…breaker and boon-companion; he neither loved goodnesse nor good men.
He hearing the fame of Master Perkins went to Cambridge at a Commencement that he might hear him Preach, and h…ving heard him said, That he was a barren empty fellow, and a passing meane Scholar: but when God changed his heart, he changed his tune, and said, That Master Perkins was a… learned and godly a Divine a… our Church hath in many years enjoyed in so young a man. He had familiar acquaintance with one Master Anderton a good scholer, his Country man, and formerly his Schoolfellow, but a strong Papist, yea a Priest; he knowing Master Boulton's good parts and o…tward wants, took that advantage to perswade… him to go over with him to the English Seminary at Rome, where he should be furnished with all necessaries, and have gold enough: this motion he excepted of, and a day and place was appointed in Lan…ashire, to take shipping from thence and be gone.
Thither Master Bolton repaired at the time prefixed, but Anderton came not, whereby escaping that snare, he returned to Oxford, where he fell into acquaintance with Master Peacock a learned and godly man, whereby it pleased God to bring him to repentance, but by …uch a way as the Lord seldome useth, but upon such strong vessels, as he intendeth for strong encounters and rare employments; for the Lord ran upon him as a Giant, taking him by the neck and shaking him to p…eces, as he did Iob; beating him to the ground as he did Paul, by laying before him the ugly visage of his sins, which lay so heavy upon him that he roared …or anguish o… heart; yea it so affrigh…ed him, that he rose sometimes out of his bed in the night, for very anguish of spirit: and …o augment his spirituall misery, he was assaulted with soul temptations, Horribilia de D…o, …er…ibilia de fide, which Luther called c…laphum Satanae: this continued for many months, but God at last gave a blessed issue, and these grievous pangs in the New Birth produced two admirable effects in him; an invincible courage in the cause of God; and a singular de…terity in comforting afflicted spirits. Hereupon he resolved to enter into the Ministry, and was accordingly Ordained the thirty fifth year of his Age: and about two years after, the Parsonage of Broughton in Nor…hamptonshire falling void, Serjeant Nicols the Patron, pre…rred him to it: about the fortieth year of his age he marryed Mis…ris Ann Bois, of an ancient family in Kent, and to her care committed the ordering of his outward estate, and applyed himselfe wholly to his studyes, and the work of the Ministry, & for twenty years together Pr…ached twice every Lords-day and Catechized; and in every Holy-day and Friday before the Sacrament he expounded a Chapter, whereby he went over most of the Historicall books of the Old & New Testament; and therein preparing nothing for his People, but what might have served a very learned A… ditory. In all his Preaching, next after Gods glory, he aymed at the Conversion of souls, and God crowned his labors by making him an instrument to beget many sons and daughters unto righteou…nesse.
He had an excellent Art in relieving afflicted consciences, so that he was sought to far and near; yea diverse beyond Sea desired his resolution in diverse 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, with a tender heart powring the oyl of mercy into their bleeding wounds. He had a singular skill in discovering Satans sle…ghts, and in battering down his Kingdome. In all his Sermons he used to discover the filthinesse of sin, and to presse hard upon the Consci…nce 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 wa… blamelesse that he could not justly be taxed by any, of any scandalous sin. He constantly prayed six times a day: twice with his family. twice with his wife, and twice in secret: He kept many dayes of private humiliation: alwayes before the Sacrament, and upon the occasions of the miseries of the Church at home & abroad, which he performed with much ardency of Spirit: and being advised by Phisitians for his healths sake, to break off …he strong intention of his study, he rejected their counsell, accounting it greater riches to enjoy Christ by those servent intentions of his minde, 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 and effect. He was universaly bountifull: but especially he …xceeded in those publick distresses of Germany, France, Bohemia, &c. He alwayes spent all the revenews of his living (which was of good valew) in the maintenance of his Family, Hospitality and Charity: He fell sick of a Quartane Ague in Sept…mber An. Christi 1631. whereupon finding his disease to get strength, and his vigor to grow weaker, he revised his Will, and then wholly retired himselfe from the world, and solaced his soul with the Meditation of the joyes of heaven: and having compiled a discourse De qua…uor Novissimis, of Death, Judgement, 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 sharpe, yet he bore it with admirable patience: often breathing forth these speeches, Oh when will this good hour com! When shall I be dissolved! when shall I be wi…h Christ? Being told that it was better for the Church (if God would) for him to stay here: He answered, If I shall finde favor in the eyes of God, hee will bring me againe, and shew me both it and his habitation; and if otherwise, lo here I am, let him doe what seemeth good in his eyes, 2. Sam. 15.25, 26. 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 neglest any meanes that may preserve it, and doe 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 …n his sicknesse, he gave very godly and wise exhortations. He thanked God for his wonderfull mercy in pulling him out of hell, in …ealing his Ministry by the Conversion of Souls, which he wholly ascribed to his glory: a week before his death he called for his wife, and desired her to bear his Dissolution with a Chris…ian Fortitude; and turning to his chrildren, he told them that they should not now expect that in regard of his weakenesse he should say any thing to them; he had formerly told them enough, and hoped they would remember it, and he verily believed that none of them durst think to meet him at the great Tribunall in an unregenerate state. S…me of his neighbors moved, that as he had in his Ministry discoursed to them the exceeding commforts that were in Christ, so he would now tell them what he felt in his soul: Alas! said he, doe you look for that now from mee that want breath and power to speak? I have told you enough in m… M…nistry: yet to satisfie you, I am by the wonderfull mercies of God, as full of comfort as my heart can hold, and feel nothing in my soul but Christ, with whom I heartily desire to bee: Then seeing some weeping, he said, Oh what a deal adoe there is before one can dye? When the very panges of death were upon him, some of his dear friends coming to take their leave of him he caused himselfe 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: hold out Faith and Patience, your worke will quickly be at an end: then shaking them by the hand, he desired them to make sure of heaven, and to remember what he had formerly taught; them protesting that it was the Truth of God, as he should answer it at the Tribunall of Christ, before whom he should shortly appear: and a dear friend taking him by the hand, ask't him if hee felt not much paine: Truely no (said he) the greatest I feel is your cold hand: and then being layed downe againe, no long after he yeelded up his spirit unto God, Anno Christi 1631. and of his age sixty.
He was one of a thousand for Piety and Courage, which were so excellently mixed with wisdome, that they who imagined mischiefe against his Ministry, were never able by all their plottings to doe him any more hurt, then onelyonly to shew their teeth.
Laus Deo.
Of all the worthyes that deserv'd so well
And did in parts and piety excell:
And Garlands therefore of just honour have,
None more did merit then this Past or grave.
Renowned Robert Bolton, one well known
For his divine rare parts second to None:
Who though in's youth he seem'd a wicked Saul,
In's riper years he prov'd a precious Paul:
A most renowed preaching Son of thunder,
Yet a sweet Barnabas (even to deep wonder)
To sons of sorrow; and for Gods blest cause,
Invincible in courage; and from pawes
Of Sathans power, who pull'd afflicted spirits
By comforts sweet: herein, being of high merits;
And as for's preaching, so for's writings rare,
Extant in print, even almost past compare:
One of ten thousand for his piety,
Constancy, wisdome, learning, gravity;
Who as he liv'd belov'd, so blestly dy'd,
And now his Sainted soul in heaven doth bide.