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

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