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,…

1. Untameable. The heart of man is naturally¹ of the hardest flint, hewed immediately out of the sturdy and stubborn rock of the race of Adam. It own corruption, the just curse of GOD upon it, and the accursed influence of hellish malice, fill it so full of iron sinews, and of such adamant and prodigious hardness, that no cross or created² power, not the softest eloquence or severest course; nay, not the weight of the whole world, or the heaviness of hell, if they were all pressed upon it, could possibly bend and break it, make it yield or relent one jot from it obstinate and outrageous fury in it own ways: this is only the work of the holy Ghost, with the hammer of the Word. The stubborn Israelites were heavily laden, with an extraordinary variety of most grievous crosses and afflictions: there was nothing wanting to make them outwardly miserable; and no misery inflicted upon them, but upon purpose to humble and take down their rebellious hearts. See Isa. 1. 5, 6, 7. How the Prophet paints out to the life the rueful and distressful state of their fresh-bleeding desolations: The whole head (saith he) is sick, and the whole heart is heavy, &c. for the ⟨p. 220⟩place is meant, not (as some take it) of their sins, but of their sorrows. But all the blows and pressures were so far from softening their hearts, that they hardened and emmarbled more and more. Wherefore (saith the Prophet) should ye be smitten any more, for ye fall away more and more? What created power can possibly have more power upon the souls of men, than the sacred Sermons of the Son of GOD, who spake as never man spake? And yet these dear entreaties and melting invitations which sweetly & tenderly flowed from that heart, which was resolved to spill that warmest and inmost blood for their sakes moved those stiff-necked Jews never a jot: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, saith he, which killest the Prophets, &c. Mat. 23. 37. Isaiah that noble Prophet, whose matchless eloquence surpasseth the capacity of the largest created understanding; and to which the powerful elegancies of profane writers is pure barbarism, shed many and many a gracious and golden shower of softest and sweetest eloquence upon a sinful nation and rebellious people, which was fruitlessly and vainly spilt as water upon the ground, or lost upon the hardest flint:

1. Untameable. The heart of man is naturally¹ of the hardest flint, hew'd immediatly out of the sturdy and stubborne rock of the race of Adam. It owne corruption, the just curse of GOD upon it, and the accursed influence of hellish malice, fill it so full of iron sinewes, and of such adamant and prodigious hardnesse, that no crosse or created² power, not the softest eloquence or severest course; nay, not the weight of the whole world, or the heavinesse of hell, if they were all pressed upon it, could possibly bend and breake it, make it yeeld or relent one jot from it obstinate and outragious fury in it owne waies: this is onely the worke of the holy Ghost, with the hammer of the Word. The stubborne Israelites were heavily laden, with an extraordinary variety of most grievous crosses and afflictions: there was nothing wanting to make them outwardly miserable; and no misery inflicted upon them, but upon purpose to humble and take downe their rebellious hearts. See Isa. 1. 5, 6, 7. How the Prophet paints out to the life the rufull and distresfull state of their fresh-bleeding desolations: The whole head (saith he) is sicke, and the whole heart is heavy, &c. for the ⟨p. 220⟩place is meant, not (as some take it) of their sins, but of their sorrowes. But all the blowes and pressures were so farre from softning their hearts, that they hardned and emmarbled more and more. Wherefore (saith the Prophet) should ye be smitten any more, for ye fall away more and more? What created power can possibly have more power upon the soules of men, than the sacred Sermons of the Son of GOD, who spake as never man spake? And yet these deare intreaties and melting invitations which sweetly & tenderly flow'd from that heart, which was resolved to spill that warmest and inmost blood for their sakes moved those stiffe-necked Iewes never a jot: Ierusalem, Ierusalem, saith he, which killest the Prophets, &c. Mat. 23. 37. Isaiah that noble Prophet, whose matchelesse eloquence surpasseth the capacity of the largest created understanding; and to which the powerfull elegancies of prophane writers is purebarbarisme, shed many and many a gracious and golden shower of softest and sweetest eloquence upon a sinfull nation and rebellious people, which was fruitlesly and vainly spilt as water upon the ground, or lost upon the hardest slint:

1. 1No works, signs or miracles are able to change the hardness of mans heart, but grace from GOD only.No workes, signes or miracles are able to change the hardnesse of mans heart, but grace from GOD onely.
2. 2Joh. 12. 37, 38.Ioh. 12. 37, 38.

many a piercing and powerful Sermon had he spent amongst them, to the wasting of his strength and spirits; which yet was to them as an idle and empty breath, vanishing into nothing, and scattered in the air. The LORD (as He says Himself) made His mouth as a sharp sword,¹ and Himself as a chosen shaft; and yet that two edged sword was full often blunted upon their hardest hearts; and his keen arrows discharged ⟨p. 221⟩by a skilful hand, rebounded from their flinty bosoms, as shafts shot against a stone wall. And that made that Seraphical Orator, the unmatched Paragon of sacred eloquence, thus to complain, Isa. 47. 4. I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength in vain, and for nothing: A course of extraordinary severity and terror was taken with Pharaoh; he was not only chastised with rods, but even scourged with Scorpions: and yet all the plagues of Egypt were so far from piercing and softening his hard heart, as that every particular plague added a several iron sinew, and more flintiness to his already stony heart. And as the heart is naturally thus hardened towards godliness, so also hollow towards the godly: See Sauls carriage towards David. No material weight can more crush the heart of man, than braying in a mortar; and yet saith Solomon, Prov. 27. 22. Though thou shouldest bray a fool, a desperate sinner, a rebellious wretch in a mortar amongst wheat brayed with a pestle; yet will not his foolishness, his sinfulness, which is the greatest, depart from him, no more than the skin from the Black-moor, or the spots from the Leopard by washing him. Shame an old obstinate beaten sinner with his horrible ingratitude; show him the ugly face of his heinous sins, tell him of the loss of the happiness of heaven; affright him with the fear of hell and damnation: in all this he is like a Smiths anvil, that grows harder and harder for all his hammering. Lastly, a damned spirit, though he lie in the lowest dungeon of utter darkness, laden with that ⟨p. 222⟩burden of sin, which pressed down a glorious Angel of light and all his followers from the top of heaven into that lowest pit, with the full weight of the unquenchable and everlasting wrath of GOD; with all the heavy chains of that infernal lake;

and with that which (me thinks) is far worse and more cutting than many hells, than ten thousand damnations, even with despair of ever having ease, end, or remedy of those most bitter, everlasting, intolerable hellish torments: I say, though a damned soul be thus laden, and thus heavily pressed down with all this cursed weight, and heinousness of hell; yet he is still as hard as a stone. So certain it is, that no curse, or created power, not the softest eloquence or severest course, not the weight of the whole world or the heaviness of hell; if all were pressed and laid upon the heart of a man; could possibly break that stubbornness, or tame that rebellion. This is only the work of the blessed Spirit with the hammer of the Word.

and with that which (me thinkes) is farre worse and more cutting than many hels, than ten thousand damnations, even with despaire of ever having ease, end, or remedy of those most bitter, everlasting, intolerable hellish torments: I say, though a damned soule be thus laden, and thus heavily prest downe with all this cursed waight, and hainousnesse of hell; yet he is still as hard as a stone. So certaine it is, that no curse, or created power, not the softest eloquence or severest course, not the waight of the whole world or the heavines of hell; if all were prest and laid upon the heart of a man; could possibly breake that stubbornesse, or tame that rebellion. This is onely the worke of the blessed Spirit with the hammer of the Word.

What a strange stony heart lodged in the breast of the tyrant Pharaoh? When the Prophet (1 Kin. ⟨p. 224⟩13.) cried to the altar of Jeroboam, O altar, altar, the altar clave presently asunder at the Word of GOD in the mouth of the Prophet; but this mighty hammer of the Word, (Jer. 23. 29.) with ten miracles gave ten mighty strokes at Pharaohs heart; and yet could find no entrance, could not pierce it; but rebounded back as an arrow shot against a stone wall. Let no man then think it strange to see many stubborn and rebellious wretches run on in their courses, and rage against the ways of GOD, though they have both the Ministry of the Word of GOD to reclaim them, and be many times singled out particularly by the hand of GOD with some special judgement, for the abatement of their fury. For, the rebelliousness of mans nature can never possibly be tamed, corrupt affection can never be conquered, until the heart wherein it sits enthroned, be crushed and broke in pieces: and this hardness of heart can never be mortified, no created power can possibly pierce it, until the Almighty Spirit take the hammer of the Word into His own hand; that by His special, unresistable power He may first break and bruise it, and after by sprinkling it with the blood of CHRIST, dissolve it into tears of true repentance, that so it may be softened, sanctified, and saved. And let no man marvel, that the powerfullest Ministry doth produce by accident the most pestilent scorners, cruellest persecutors, and men of most raging carriage against the means of their salvation; for these reasons.

What a strange stony heart lodged in the breast of the tyrant Pharaoh? When the Prophet (1 Kin. ⟨p. 224⟩13.) cried to the altar of Ieroboam, O altar, altar, the altar clave presently asunder at the Word of GOD in the mouth of the Prophet; but this mighty hammer of the Word, (Ier. 23. 29.) with ten miracles gave ten mighty strokes at Pharaohs heart; and yet could find no entrance, could not pierce it; but rebounded backe as an arrow shot against a stone wall. Let no man then thinke it strange to see many stubborne and rebellious wretches run on in their courses, and rage against the waies of GOD, though they have both the Ministry of the Word of GOD to reclaime them, and be many times singled out particularly by the hand of GOD with some speciall judgement, for the abatement of their fury. For, the rebelliousnesse of mans nature can never possibly be tamed, corrupt affection can never be conquered, untill the heart wherein it sits inthron'd, be crusht and broke in peeces: and this hardnesse of heart can never be mortified, no created power can possibly pierce it, untill the Almighty Spirit take the hammer of the Word into His owne hand; that by His speciall, unresistable power He may first breake and bruise it, and after by sprinkling it with the bloud of CHRIST, dissolve it into teares of true repentance, that so it may be softened, sanctified, and sav'd. And let no man marvell, that the powerfullest Ministry doth produce by accident the most pestilent scorners, cruellest persecutors, and men of most raging cariage against the meanes of their salvation; for these reasons.

1. From the nature of the glorious Gospel ⟨p. 225⟩of JESUS CHRIST, the sun of righteousness, which shining upon one that hath spiritual life, will more revive and quicken him: but in one dead in sins and trespasses, causes him to stink more hatefully before the face of GOD and man.

1. From the nature of the glorious Gospell ⟨p. 225⟩of IESVS CHRIST, the sunn of righteousnesse, which shining upon one that hath spirituall life, will more reuiue and quicken him: but in one dead in sinnes and trespasses, causes him to stinke more hatefully before the face of GOD and man.

2. From the cruelty of Satan: who lays more burdens and heavier chains upon him; that the Ministers labour to pull out of h•s snares.

2. From the cruelty of Satan: who laies more burdens and heavier chaines upon him; that the Ministers labour to pull out of h•s snares.

2. Unsatiable. Corrupt affection is unsatiable in all it sensual pursuits for the empoisoned,

2. Vnsatiable. Corrupt affection is unsatiable in all it sensuall pursuits for the empoysoned,

1. Fountain of original pollution is bottomless, restless, and ever working; it sends out uncessantly fresh desires, new longings, and more greediness, for the grasping, engrossing, and devouring of earthly delights and carnal pleasures.

1. Fountaine of originall pollution is bottomlesse, restlesse, and ever working; it sends out uncessantly fresh desires, new longings, and more greedinesse, for the grasping, engrossing, and devouring of earthly delights and carnall pleasures.

2. When the heart of man forsakes the blessed and boundless Fountain of living waters; of which if it should drink heartily and sincerely, and every drop should be in it a well of water springing up to everlasting life; and digs unto it earthly pits; whereout to suck the muddy▪ and troubled streams of vanity and sensual delights; then GOD in his just Judgement makes those pits bottomless, that they'll hold no water; so that it shall seek and never be satisfied: it shall toil and tire out it self in ways of wickedness and destruction, and shall never find end and rest; but in endless woe and restless torments.

2. When the heart of man forsakes the blessed and boundlesse Fountaine of living waters; of which if it should drinke heartily and sincerely, and every drop should be in it a well of water springing up to everlasting life; and digs unto it earthly pits; wherout to suck the muddy▪ and troubled streams of vanity and sensuall delights; then GOD in his just Iudgement makes those pits bottomlesse, that they'le hold no water; so that it shall seeke and never bee satisfied: it shall toile and tire out it selfe in waies of wickednes and destruction, and shall never find end and rest; but in endlesse woe and restlesse torments.

3. Never was jailer so jealous over his prisoners, as Satan is watchful over every wicked man. ⟨p. 226⟩And therefore least he should wax weary of his way to hell, he fails not by a secret accursed influence to fill his sinful heart, with an unquenchable thirst after pleasures of the earth. And he doth not only put this insatiable thirst into the soul of a carnal man; but also by his juggling and art of imposture, he gilds over sensual objects, with lying glory, and a deceitful lustre, and puts a violent, strong enticing power into worldly vanities, that they may continually feed his greedy appetite with fresh succession, and an endless variety of sensual sweetnesses. Satan himself is infinite in malice against the majesty of GOD. He drinks up sin, and devours iniquity with as insatiable greediness, as Behemoth the river Jordan. Of all those huge mountains, the numberless number, and purple seas of sins and transgressions, which have at any time, any where, by any creature been committed since himself first fell from heaven unto this hou•e, or shall be from thence until the day of doom, or from thence everlastingly in hell, by bannings, cursings and despairs amongst those damned fiends: I say, of all these sins Satan is guilty one way or other: and if he might have his will, he hath malice enough to make an infinite addition both in number and heinousness. Where one sin is committed, he wisheth there were ten thousand. He would have every sinful thought be a sin of Sodomy: every idle word a desperate blasphemy: every angry look, a bloody murder: every frailty, a crying sin: every default, a damnable rebellion. Now as Satan himself is thus infinite ⟨p. 227⟩and insatiable in the ways of darkness; so doth he inspire every limb of his with a spice of this sinful greediness, and restless pursuit of their own wicked ways. To give an instance of trembling and terror in this kind, and of Satan's merciless malice that way. I knew a man which in his life time was given to that fearful blasphemous sin of swearing, who coming to his deathbed, Satan so filled his heart with a madded and enraged greediness after that, most gainless and pleasureless sin) that though himself swore as fast and furiously as he could;

3. Never was jaylor so jealous over his prisoners, as Satan is watchfull over every wicked man. ⟨p. 226⟩

yet (as though he had been already amongst the bannings and blasphemies of hell) he desperately desired the standers by to help him with oaths, and to swear for him. Incredible rage, prodigious fury! Now if Satan be able to beget such insatiableness after sin wherein there is no profit or delight at all; how fiercely & fearfully will he enrage carnal men in the pursuit of gainful, pleasure full and advancing sins?

yet (as though hee had beene already amongst the bannings and blasphemies of hell) he desperatly desir'd the standersby to helpe him with oathes, and to sweare for him. Incredible rage, prodigious fury! Now if Satan be able to beget such insatiablenesse after sin wherein there is no profit or delight at all; how fiercely & fearefully will he enrage carnall men in the pursuit of gainfull, pleasure full and advancing sinnes?

You see then how the insatiableness of corrupt affection springs out of the fountain of original naughtiness, from the just curse of GOD and malice of Satan.

You see then how the insatiablenesse of corrupt affection springs out of the fountaine of originall naughtinesse, from the just curse of GOD and malice of Satan.

It is clear and evident by ordinary experience, and observation in the world, with what insatisfiable desire and greediness, corrupt affection doth feed upon that sensual object, and earthly pleasure, upon which with special apprehension, and delightful taste, it seizes and sets it self.

It is cleare and evident by ordinary experience, and observation in the world, with what insatisfiable desire and greedinesse, corrupt affection doth feed upō that sensuall object, and earthly pleasure, upon which with speciall apprehension, and delightfull taste, it seazes and sets it selfe.

1. If it fall in love with honour and high ⟨p. 228⟩rooms; it begets ambition, which is an unsatiable thirst after glory, and a gluttonous excessive desire after greatness. Of all other vicious passions which do possess the heart of man, it is the most powerful and unconquerable. As it is superlative and transcendent in it object and aspirations; and seated in the highest, and haughtiest spirits; so is it resolute and desperate in it undertakings furious and head-strong in it pursuits and persecutions. It is venturous to remove any let, and hardened for all means; many times without remorse or tears, it takes out of the way by some cruel contrivance, their dearest friends, and tramples the nearest blood, as we see ordinarily in the Turkish Emperors, to get up into an high place, and grasp an Imperial Crown. It is victorious over all other affections, and masters even the sensuality of lustful pleasures, as we may see in many great men of the Heathens, Alexander, Scipio, Pompey, and many others; who being tempted with the exquisiteness and varieties of choicest beauties, yet forbore that villainy, not for conscience sake, or for fear of GOD, whom they knew not; but least thereby they should stop the current of their victorious achievements, and obscure the glory of their remarkable valour. It prefers a high room in the world before a temporal life; yea, and eternal life too. How many great mens hearts have burst, at the displeased and frowning countenance of a King? how many either by desperate practices or their own violent hands have brought themselves to untimely ends, because they were ⟨p. 229⟩impatient of the lower places they had formerly enjoyed. Ahithophel, when he was like to loose the reputation and rank of a Privy Counsellor, saddled his Ass, went home, put his house in order, and hanged himself. How many daily run great hazards, to domineer for a while in their undeserved dignities? And prepare against the day of wrath, by an unconscionable purchasing of highest rooms amongst the sons of men?

1. If it fall in love with honour and high ⟨p. 228⟩roomes; it begets ambition, which is an unsatiable thirst after glory, and a gluttonous excessive desire after greatnesse. Of all other vicious passions which doe possesse the heart of man, it is the most powerfull and unconquerable. As it is superlative and transcendent in it object and aspirations; and seated in the highest, and haughtiest spirits; so is it resolute and desperate in it undertakings furious and head-strong in it pursuits and persecutions. It is ventrous to remove any let, and hardned for all meanes; many times without remorse or teares, it takes out of the way by some cruell contriuance, their dearest friends, and tramples the neerest blood, as we see ordinarily in the Turkish Emperours, to get up into an high place, and grasp an Imperiall Crowne. It is victorious over all other affections, and maisters even the sensuality of lustfull pleasures, as we may see in many great men of the Heathens, Alexander, Scipio, Pompey, and many others; who being tempted with the exquisitenes and varieties of choisest beauties, yet forbare that villanie, not for conscience sake, or for feare of GOD, whome they knew not; but least thereby they should stop the current of their uictorious atchieuements, and obscure the glory of their remarkable valour. It preferres a high roome in the world before a temporall life; yea, and eternall life too. How many great mens hearts have burst, at the displeased and frouning countenance of a King? how many either by desperate practices or their own violent hands have brought themselves to untimely ends, because they were

Lastly, it is uncapable of society, and sharpened by the enjoyment of that it desireth. Give room to Caesar, and heel ambitiously pursue the Sovereignty of the whole world: Let Alexander conquer the whole world, heel ask for moe; let those be subdued; he would climb towards the stars, if he could aspire thither, he would peep beyond the heavens. For the proud and ambitious man enlargeth his desire like hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, &c. Hab. 2. 5. Who can fill the bottomless gulf of hell, or stop the insatiable jaws of death? neither can the greedy humour of a haughty spirit be satisfied. Let a consideration of that crown of endless joy and glory, which the Christian hath in pursuit; be unto him a counterpoison to uphold his heart in comfort and contentment against the vanity and venom of such endless ambitions; and if men be so infinitely venturous for an earthly crown, which (as one says) if we well weighed with what fears, jealousies, cares, insidiations, &c. it is thick set, if we found it before us in the way, we would not take it up. I say then, how eager should we be ⟨p. 228⟩[…] ⟨p. 229⟩[…] ⟨p. 230⟩after the glory of Heaven?

Lastly, it is uncapable of society, and sharpned by the enjoyment of that it desireth. Give roome to Caesar, and heele ambitiously pursue the Soveraignty of the whole world: Let Alexander conquer the whole world, heele aske for moe; let those be subdued; he would climbe towards the starres, if he could aspire thither, he would peep beyond ye heavens. For the proud and ambitious man enlargeth his desire like hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, &c. Hab. 2. 5. Who can fill the bottomlesse gulfe of hell, or stop the insatiable jawes of death? neither can the greedy humour of a haughty spirit be satisfied. Let a consideration of that crowne of endlesse joy and glory, which the Christian hath in pursuit; be unto him a counterpoyson to uphold his heart in comfort and contentment against the vanity and venome of such endlesse ambitions; and if men be so infinitly ventrous for an earthly crowne, which (as one sayes) if wee well weighed with what feares, jealousies, cares, insidiations, &c. it is thick set, if we found it before us in the way, we would not take it up. I say then, how eager should wee bee