Mr. Bolton's last and learned work of the four last things death, judgement, hell,…

For assuredly, He that is afflicted with thee in all thy afflictions, will ever fortify thee with sufficient strength before-hand, uphold thee with His all-powerful presence in the middest of them, and at length most gloriously deliver thee in despite of all hell, and the whole world.

For assuredly, He that is afflicted with thee in all thy afflictions, will ever fortifie thee with sufficient strength before-hand, uphold thee with His all-powerfull presence in the middest of them, and at length most gloriously deliver thee in despite of all hell, and the whole world.

5. It is comfortable to consider; that GOD never puts His servants to suffer, but He furnisheth them with spiritual sufficiency to go through. If He mean to bring thee to the stake, He will undoubtedly give thee a Martyrs strength. It is His sweetest method and mercy, first to fit His children with divine ability and answerable endowments, and then sets them on work to do or suffer any thing for His sake. He suffers some to become extraordinary objects and the special aim of extremest malice, spiteful railings, and all the keenest arrows of lewdest tongues; when He hath filled him first with so much Christian magnanimity and nobleness of spirit, that he is able to pass by the most scurrile gybe of the impurest drunkard, or the disdainful frown of the proudest Haman, without wound or passion; and doth resolvedly and bravely contemn all contumelies and contempts for his conscience: taking them as Crowns and confirmations of his conformity to the LORD CHRIST: others to be afflicted with variety of worldly crosses, whose heart He hath already happily crowned with contempt of the world▪ some to be exercised with fiercest assaults, and Satan's ⟨p. 53⟩fieriest darts, having been formerly brought up in the School of temptations: others to be exposed to the fury of Popish flames, when He hath so inflamed their hearts with the love of the LORD JESUS, that they dare undauntedly look the bloodiest persecutor in the face. The prudent Commander makes not choice of fresh-water or white livered soldiers (as they say) for any hot service or high attempt; but of Veterans, and those of greatest experience and most approved valour: A discreet School-Master gives not the longest lessons and hardest task to dullards and blockheads, but such as are of pregnantest wits, and best capacity: the understanding armourer tries not common Arms with Musket-shot, but that of Proof. The skilful Lapidary doth not try the tender Crystal or softer stones by the stiddy and hammer; but the Adamant, which is readier to bruise the hardest iron or steel: the careful Husbandman thresheth not the fitches with a threshing instrument; ¹neither turneth a cart-wheel upon the cummin: but beats out the fitches with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. For his GOD (saith the Prophet) doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

5. It is comfortable to consider; that GOD never puts His servants to suffer, but He furnisheth them with spirituall sufficiency to go thorow. If He meane to bring thee to the stake, He will undoubtedly give thee a Martyrs strength. It is His sweetest method and mercy, first to fit His children with divine ability and answerable endowments, and then sets them on work to do or suffer any thing for His sake. He suffers some to become extraordinary objects and the speciall aime of extremest malice, spiteful railings, and all the keenest arrowes of lewdest tongues; when He hath fil'd him first with so much Christian magnanimity and noblenesse of spirit, that he is able to passe by the most scurrill gybe of the impurest drunkard, or the disdainefull frowne of the proudest Haman, without wound or passion; and doth resolvedly and bravely contemne all contumelies and contempts for his conscience: taking them as Crownes and confirmations of his conformity to the LORD CHRIST: others to be afflicted with variety of worldly crosses, whose heart He hath already happily crowned with contempt of the world▪ some to be exercis'd with fiercest assaults, and Satans ⟨p. 53⟩sieriest darts, having been formerly brought up in the Schoole of temptations: others to be exposed to the fury of Popish flames, when He hath so inflamed their hearts with the love of the LORD IESVS, that they dare undauntedly looke the bloudiest persecutor in the face. The prudent Commander makes not choice of fresh-water or whitelivered souldiers (as they say) for any hot service or high attempt; but of Veterans, and those of greatest experience and most approoved valour: A discreet Schoole-Master gives not the longest lessons and hardest taske to dullards and blockeheads, but such as are of pregnantest wits, and best capacity: the understanding armourer tries not common Armes with Musket-shot, but that of Proofe. The skilfull Lapidary doth not trie the tender Crystall or softer stones by the stiddy and hammer; but the Adamant, which is readier to bruise the hardest iron or steele: the carefull Husbandman thresheth not the fitches with a threshing instrument; ¹neither turneth a cart-wheele upon the cummin: but beates out the fitches with a staffe, and the cummin with a rod. For his GOD (saith the Prophet) doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

1. 1Isa. 28. •7.

Now if the LORD of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working, give this discretion and wisdom to frail man; Himself is infinitely more mercifully wise, to proportion and sit His trials to the state and strength of His Patients; singling out His valiantest soldiers for the strongest encounters; His best scholars, for the largest lessons; His choicest Armour, for the highest ⟨p. 54⟩Proof; His hardest Adamants, for the most steely Anvil: the most courageous Christians, for the •orest conflicts: His ablest Followers, for extraordinary service and sufferings. Abraham the Father of the faithful, and Friend of GOD; Job, the justest man upon earth; David, a man after GODS own heart; Paul, abounding in the riches of grace, and the rarest revelations: I say, these eminent Champions thus highly favoured, and heroically •itted, were put to it indeed, as appears in divine Story. The LORD in mercy did first infuse an invincible mightiness of spirit and much flaming zeal into the breasts of those three Christian Worthies, Athanasius, Chrysostom, and Luther, before He employed them in His so glorious service, and exposed them to the rage of so ¹many implacable persecutions in their several ages. The first stood at swords point (I mean the Sword of the Spirit) with the whole world: The whole world against Athanasius, and Athanasius against it, saith Hooker, out of the Ecclesiastical Story; ⟨p. 55⟩Half an hundred years spent in doubtful trial, which of the two in the end would prevail, the side which had all, or else the Part which had no friend, but GOD and Death: the One, a Defender of his innocency; the other, the finisher of all his troubles. After the Church of GOD, (hunted like a Partridge on the mountains by the Arian Bishops) woefully wasted and wearied, had laid down her head in the bosom of this blessed man ready to breathe out her last, he had never quiet day. Hear my Author: By the space of six and forty years, from the time of his consecration, to succeed Alexander Arch-Bishop of Alexandria, till the last hour of his life in this world, they never suffered him to enjoy the comfort of a peaceable day. The second was a mighty Thunderer against the corruptions of the times; feared not the face of the greatest woman in the world, armed as well with might, as enraged with malice, (I mean Eudoxia the Empress.)

stood upright and unshaken, like an unmoveable Rock, against all the tempestuous storms and swelling seas of the most furious persecutions that ever were raised by the powers of hell against mortal man: and did so shake the kingdom of Antichrist, that since that time, the most glorious light of the Gospel, and resurrection of Saving Truth hath broken out upon, and blessed the face of Christendom, that did ever shine upon earth, or was seen amongst the sons ⟨p. 58⟩of men. Herein was he like unto Athanasius: As he opposed the Arian, so Luther the whole Antichristian world; and they both in despite of all adversary malice, both from Man and Devil, ^sgave up blessedly their happy souls in peace into the bosom of JESUS CHRIST, whom they had formerly served so faithfully, and for whose sake they had gloriously suffered so much. Thus you see, when GOD singles out and designs any of His for some special services, and extraordinary sufferings, He ever furnisheth them before-hand with singularity of gifts, and sufficiency of spiritual ability to go through, and stand to it to death. But now on the other side, He will never break a bruised reed, nor quench smoking flax, Isa. 42. 3. but will ever gather the Lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young, Isa. 40. 11. I make no doubt, but that in Queen Mary's days He mercifully hid many a good soul from the implacable fury of those Popish morning Wolves: who, though they were in a saving state, and loved the LORD JESUS in sincerity, Ephes. 6. 24. yet they wanted strength to stand in the face of the fiery tempests of those times.

stood upright and unshaken, like an unmooveable Rocke, against all the tempestuous stormes and swelling seas of the most furious persecutions that ever were rais'd by the powers of hell against mortall man: and did so shake the kingdome of Antichrist, that since that time, the most glorious light of the Gospell, and resurrection of Saving Truth hath broken out upon, and blessed the face of Christendome, that did ever shine upon earth, or was seene amongst the sonnes

6. Beware lest any earthly contentment encroach upon, impair, and eat up thy delight in heavenly things. But let thy spiritual joy ever utterly over-weigh all humane miseries, and overtop incomparably all worldly pleasures. And there is good reason for it: In respect, Of the 1. Object. The matter, whereupon earthly joy ⟨p. 59⟩doth feed, is base and vile, filth and fashions, gaming and good-fellowship, revelling, and in our days, even roaring, lust and luxury, &c. and other such froth and fooleries, the very garbage of hell; at the best corn, wine, oil, gold, greatness, offices, honours, high rooms, Princely favours, &c. as transitory as an hasty headlong torrent, a shadow, a ship, a bird, an arrow, a Post that hasteth by; or if you can name any thing of swifter wing, and sooner gone. But the object about which spiritual joy is exercised, are ^tJEHOVAH blessed for ever, ^uHis free and everlasting love, ^xthe light of His countenance, His ^ysweet name, ^zThat our names are written in heaven; the ^aSon of His Love, His Person, whose glory, beauty, amiableness, sweetness and excellency is something shadowed (but infinitely short) by outward beauties, Cant. 5. 10. ^bThe preciousness of His meritorious blood, ^cexceeding great and precious Promises, ^dpardon of sins, ^e

it makes quick, active, and excellent for the discharge of any divine duty. 5. Calling to mind, carnal joy in the evil day torments extremely, and turns it into gall and worm-wood: but remembrance of those sweetest glimpses, and heavenly dews of spiritual joy which were wont to shine into, and refresh our humbled souls when we were conscionably busied in the ways and work of the LORD, will serve as a precious cordial, to re-comfort our spirits in sadder times, and surest pledge of their most certain return in due time. 6. Spiritual joy is many times much enlarged in times of tribulation: But the heart of the wicked is sorrowful in laughter, and troubled with melancholy amidst their greatest mirth. 7. Spiritual joy is ordinarily most free, full, and at the highest in solitariness, soliloquies, and the ⟨p. 61⟩most retired exercises of the soul: but carnal joy and want of company are for the most part incompatible. And it is kept in that poor little dying life it hath, by good-fellowship, and sensual employments. 8. Carnal joy ever ends in bitterness, spiritual in blessedness. As the rivers of fresh water run their course with an hasty current to fall into the salt Sea; so the Posting Sun of all worldly pleasures after a short gleam, and vain glistering, sets in the Ocean of endless sorrow.

it makes quicke, active, and excellent for the discharge of any divine duty. 5. Calling to mind, carnall joy in the evill day torments extremely, and turnes it into gall and worme-wood: but remembrance of those sweetest glimpses, and heavenly deawes of spirituall joy which were wont to shine into, and refresh our humbled soules when we were conscionably busied in the waies and worke of the LORD, will serve as a precious cordiall, to re-comfort our spirits in sadder times, and surest pledge of their most certaine returne in due time. 6. Spirituall joy is many times much enlarged in times of tribulation: But the heart of the wicked is sorrowfull in laughter, and troubled with melancholy amidst their greatest mirth. 7. Spirituall joy is ordinarily most free, full, and at the highest in solitarinesse, soliloquies, and the ⟨p. 61⟩most retired exercises of the soule: but carnall joy and want of company are for the most part incompatible. And it is kept in that poore little dying life it hath, by good-fellowship, and sensuall imployments. 8. Carnall joy ever ends in bitternesse, spirituall in blessednesse. As the rivers of fresh water run their course with an hasty current to fall into the salt Sea; so the Posting Sun of all worldly pleasures after a short gleame, and vaine glistering, sets in the Ocean of endlesse sorrow.

7. Make thy peace with GOD upon good ground in the mean time, and graciously walk with Him by a rule and daily direction. Watch over thine heart with extraordinary industry. Mortify thy members which are upon earth; pride, choler, covetousness; self-love, hankering after the fashions, &c. Strangle thy lusts, stand at the Swords Point with thy most beloved sin. Bear the yoke from thy youth, and ^lexercise thy spiritual arms every day. Get a habit of heavenly-mindedness and holy familiarity with GOD aforehand; and then shall we hold up our heads and our hearts with boldness and undauntedness of spirit in the evil day. The strongest and stoutest creatures (saith a godly Divine, pressing this Point) ⟨p. 62⟩are afraid of those things which are contrary to their natures, which other creatures never so weak, fear not, being of the same nature. No more fearful creature than a •ish, flying at the shadow of a man; yet it fears not the Ocean Sea, because of its own nature and acquaintance: which Lions, and the stoutest creatures fear.—A sheep •eares not his shepherd, by reason of acquaintance, whom yet the bear and the wolf fear: Whatsoever is strange and unacquainted, is fearful. If we acquaint our selves with GOD, and walk with Him as His friends, we shall have the more boldness with Him, when we have most need of Him. In a word, be very temperate, honest, holy. For, the² more conscionable thou hast formerly been, the less power will the cross have when it comes. It was the saying of a reverend man, where sin lies heavy, the cross lies light: and contrarily, that heart is like to be most lightsome in a storm, which hath been the holiest in a calm.

7. Make thy peace with GOD upon good ground in the meane time, and graciously walke with Him by a rule and daily direction. Watch over thine heart with extraordinary industry. Mortifie thy members which are upon earth; pride, choler, covetousnesse; selfe-love, hankering after the fashions, &c. Strangle thy lusts, stand at the Swords Point with thy most beloved sinne. Beare the yoke from thy youth, and ^l

8. Possess thy mind betime of many mortifying motives and meditations, to master the immoderate fear of death the king of terror, and then thou wilt be able with far more patience and resolution to digest all petty troubles and miseries in the mean time. For which purpose Ponder upon these Points.

8. Possesse thy mind betime of many mortifying motives and meditations, to master the immoderate feare of death the king of terrour, and then thou wilt be able with farre more patience and resolution to digest all petty troubles and miseries in the meane time. For which purpose Ponder upon these Points.

1. There is almost no man, but he hath suffered more pain in his life, than ordinarily he shall pass through in death. The pangs of death (saith Mr. Ward) are often less than of the tooth-ache. 2. The covenant of GOD is of force with us,¹ as we lie in the dust of the earth, Mat. 22. 31, 32. ⟨p. 63⟩3. Our union with CHRIST holds still, Col. 1. 18. As the Hypostatical did, when CHRIST lay in the grave. 4. Death is but a sleep, 1 Thess. 2. 13. Acts 7. 60. 5. ^mCHRISTS death hath taken away the sting, and sweetened it to all His, Heb. 2. 15. 6. It is but a sturdy Porter, opening the Door of Eternity, and letting us into Heaven• A rougher passage to eternal pleasures. 7. It is but like the fall of a wheat corn into the ground, and dying, that it may spring up afterwards more gloriously, Joh. 12. 24. 8. It is but a Departing out of this world unto the Father, Joh. 1. 31. 9. It is called in the Old Testament, A gathering to their Fathers. 10. Jacob made nothing of it. And Israel said unto Joseph: Behold, I die. Gen. 48. 21. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

1. There is almost no man, but he hath suffer'd more paine in his life, than ordinarily he shall passe thorow in death. The pangs of death (saith Mr. Ward) are often lesse than of the tooth-ache. 2. The covenant of GOD is offorce with us,

9. Let us trim our lamps betime, I mean try our spiritual states: for there are many foolish virgins; and many thousands, who for want of a true touch-stone and sound trial this way, find the pit of destruction to have shut her mouth upon them irrevocably and for ever, before they will acknowledge themselves to be wide of the right way to heaven. I have been often upon this argument, at this time I desire only to discover the delusion of the greatest part by an imaginary ⟨p. 64⟩faith; and of understanding and worldly-wise men by a temporary faith, and that in short.

9. Let us trimme our lamps betime, I meane try our spirituall states: for there are many foolish virgins; and many thousands, who for want of a true touch-stone and sound triall this way, find the pit of destruction to have shut her mouth upon them irrevocably and for ever, before they will acknowledge themselves to be wide of the right way to heaven. I have beene often upon this argument, at this time I desire onely to discover the d•lusion of the greatest part by an imaginary ⟨p. 64⟩faith; and of understanding and worldly-wise men by a temporary faith, and that in short.

For the first sort; these four Demands may easily discover and destroy the vanity of their spiritual self-cozenage and soul-deceit.

For the first sort; these foure Demaunds may easily discover and destroy the vanity of their spirituall selfe-cousenage and soule-deceit.

1. Ask them how they came by their faith, when they begun to believe, &c. and their ordinary answer will be this, or the like: We cannot tell: we are not such Atheists, or so profane, but we have believed ever since we were borne: we have ever trusted in CHRIST, and made account of Him as our Saviour: We never doubted, but that He which made us, ⁿwill have mercy on us, &c. but now these poor deluded ignorants are in the mean time mere strangers to any work of the spirit of bondage, and pangs of the new-birth, which would have taught them with a witness to have taken notice what a mighty work and admirable change the glorious Sun of saving faith is wont to cause wheresoever it comes. They could never yet sensibly and heartily cry, We are unclean, we are unclean; we are sick, we are lost, we are heavy-laden, we are undone, we die, we are damned; except we drink of the water of life, wash in that Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, and have a blessed part in the passion and purity of JESUS CHRIST, &c. Whereas now the true believer can tell you readily and experimentally, that he was first enlightened, convinced and terrified with sight, sense, and sorrow for sin; and so on, as you shall find it Instruct. for comfort▪ afflict. Consc. pag. 324. & seq. But especially ⟨p. 65⟩fair fall one good token: ever when justifying faith is infused, there is a thorough-sale of all […], The Pearl of great price will never be had, except all be sold: which is a matter so remarkable, a•d makes such a miraculous change in a man, that i• cannot choose but be strongly remembered, and with greatest astonishment, and th• even for ever, both in this world and th• world to come. Sensual pleasures and bosom• si•es are notoriously na•l'd and glued to a ca• […]: they are as near and dear unto it, as […] dainty and delicious meat to the p•te; […] (saith Zophar) is sweet in his m•th, he hies i under his

nay, and as the most necessary and noble parts, the right eye, and the right hand; If thy right eye offend thee (saith CHRIST) pluck it out, and cast it from thee:—And if thy ¹right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: yea dearer then very life it self to flesh and blood: For we may observe and see too often such sons of pleasure, and slaves of lust to have no joy in this life, after they have lost the joy of this life. Hence it is, that many times the wretched worldling being robbed one way or other of the very ⟨p. 66⟩life of his life, his wedge of gold and hoards of wealth, makes an end of himself: that the wanton missing of his lustful aim and much desired choice, finds no pleasure in this life; but cuts off himself by a violent and untimely death: that Ahithophel being disgraced and over-topped in a Point of Policy, the crown and pride of his worldly happiness, put his household in order, and hanged himself. Well then, if it be thus, that parting from carnal pleasures be as painful and vexing, as if a man should pull the meat from our mouth, the chain from our neck, clothes from our back, the limbs from our body, the right arm from our shoulder, the eyes out of our head, and as the loss of our life, that happy soul which bids adieu everlastingly to all earthly delights, must needs take extraordinary notice, and be able for ever to give a ready and most sensible account of such a mighty change and marvellous work.

nay, and as the most necessary and noble parts, the right eye, and the right hand; If thy right eye offend thee (saith CHRIST) plucke it out, and cast it from thee:—And if thy ¹right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: yea dearer then very life it selfe to flesh and bloud: For we may observe and see too often such sonnes of pleasure, and slaves of lust to have no joy in this life, after they have lost the joy of this life. Hence it is, that many times the wretched worldling being robbed one way or other of the very ⟨p. 66⟩life of his life, his wedge of gold and hoards of wealth, makes an end of himselfe: that the wanton missing of his lustfull aime and much desired choise, finds no pleasure in this life; but cuts off himself by a violent and untimely death: that Achitophel being disgraced and over-top'd in a Point of Policy, the crowne and pride of his worldly happinesse, put his houshold in order, and hang'd himselfe. Well then, if it be thus, that parting from carnall pleasures be as painfull and vexing, as if a man should pull the meat from our mouth, the chaine from our necke, clothes from our backe, the limbes from our body, the right arme from our shoulder, the eyes out of our head, and as the losse of our life, that happy soule which bids adieu everlastingly to all earthly delights, must needs take extraordinary notice, and be able for ever to give a ready and most sensible account of such a mighty change and marvellous worke.

2. Ask them, how they keep their faith: and they will tell you, they thank GOD, they are not troubled about it. They find no such scruples, doubts, distrusts, fears, jealousies, terrors, temptations, desertions, wants, weaknesses, &c. as some preciser fellows, who stand so much upon their profession, strictness, conscience, and other singularities above ordinary, so much talk of, and take to heart. They see no such necessity of running after sermons, so much reading, prayer, poring upon precise books, recourse to Puritan-Ministers, Humiliation-days, &c. They can believe quietly, follow their business, and go to ⟨p. 67⟩Heaven without so much ado. Nay, they are so far from being troubled in any of these kinds, that if any amongst them be troubled in mind, and extraordinarily visited with spiritual distress, the portion many times of GODS dearest children; they presently please and applaud themselves, that they are free; and conceive and peremptorily conclude that the afflicted is an hypocrite, hath been a more heinous sinner then others, or meddled too much with Scripture-businesses and divine matters. But now the true believer holds the precious heavenly Jewell of justifying Faith with much ado, difficulty and ^*doubtings. He is as careful and covetous (if it be possible) to preserve and save this Pearl, as the worldling his gold. For this purpose, he passeth through many fore and bitter conflicts with the fiercest assaults and fieriest darts of the Devil; (for he knows full well, that that is the arm and power of GOD unto us, for all sound comfort and spiritual wellbeing, and therefore he is most furious to weaken us there) with infinite gain-sayings and temptations of our inbred infidelity, native ignorance, diffidence, wisdom of the flesh, our own sense and feeling, and a world of oppositions continually. He is driven many and many a time to the Throne of Grace with prayers, tears, and strongest wrestlings for auxiliary forces, and renewed strength. O how often doth he resort with extremest thirst, and dearest longings to all the blessed Fountains, that feed his faith; the person of CHRIST, His meritorious blood, the Promises, ⟨p. 68⟩GODS freest love, His sweetest name; the covenant of grace, all the Ordinances, those Ones of a thousand, who are able to discover both the depths of the Devil, and the mysteries of Evangelical mercy, &c.

and for all this is glad many times to say unto his GOD: Though Thou slay me, yet will I ¹trust in Thee: LORD, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief, &c. The difference then stands thus: They hold it the easiest thing of a thousand; but he finds it the hardest matter in the world, To believe.

and for all this is glad many times to say unto his GOD: Though Thou slay me, yet will I ¹trust in Thee: LORD, I believe, helpe Thou mine unbeliefe, &c. The difference then stands thus: They hold it the easiest thing of a thousand; but he finds it the hardest matter in the world, To believe.

1. 1Job 13 15. Ma•k▪ 9. 24.Iob 13 15. Ma•k▪ 9. 24.