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,…

And yet let no man think, that I am come hither;

And yet let no man thinke, that I am come hither;

1. Either to smooth and mollify any faults or frailties; any falls or infirmities; any personal sins or imperfections that might be in this great Man. I dare not go about to cover them; that's not my office; I leave that to the precious blood of the Son of GOD, and tender-hearted mercies of our gracious Father. I would rather in this point ⟨p. 159⟩advise great men to walk warily. For, their greatness makes their sins greater, and their mightiness will make them mightily tormented, except they stand constantly on GODS side. Height of Place ever adds two wings unto sin: Example and Scandal; whereby it soars higher, and flies much further. If the Sun be eclipsed and obscured; a thousand eyes gaze upon it: a lesser Star may be darkened, and no man take notice. 2. Or to fasten upon him any false praises in a flattering funeral Panegyric. I dare not daub for a world of gold. Himself abhorred that. And not long before his last sickness complained much against flattery, as a grievous iniquity of the times. 3. Or to make a solemn and formal narration of all his noble commendable parts. When I undertook this business first, I studied only, and bethought my self, how I might speak most profitably, and make the best use of the present occasion to my living Auditors. And had I not found pregnant matter for that purpose, I had not been here this day. And therefore for conclusion, and as the last and best service I can now do unto him, to whom I owed as much as any man alive: I will labour from the occasion to work some heavenly good (if GOD so please) upon the hearts, presented here this day as a selected and choice number of his worthiest and dearest friends. And to this end give me leave to single out, and propose for imitation, some worthy and noble parts of ⟨p. 160⟩his, and only those which I conceive may be most seasonable and suitable to the exigency of my Auditory. And I must also crave the aid of your loves unto him, and those softened thoughts of mortality which are wont to attend these times; that I may convey and commend them to your liking, and practise with more success and stronger impression.