A16333:448
A16333:448
Mr. Bolton's last and learned work of the four last things death, judgement, hell, and heaven. With an assizes-sermon, and notes on Justice Nicolls his funeral. Together with the life and death of the author. Published by E.B.Mr. Boltons last and learned worke of the foure last things death, iudgement, hell, and heauen. With an assises-sermon, and notes on Iustice Nicolls his funerall. Together with the life and death of the authour. Published by E.B.
London: printed by George Miller, 1632
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Upon which before I enter, give me leave to give you an account, why at this time I labour rather to work upon your consciences for your personal conversion, than as heretofore to tender unto you counsels and considerations, for a more conscionable deportment in your several public places. When I well weighed with my self, the truth of that principle and position in Hooker, That it is no peculiar conceit, but a matter of sound consequence, that all duties are by so much the better performed, by how much the men are more religious, from whose abilities the same proceed. And finding by experience of all ages, and most of all in these worst and woeful times, that men of public employment and in high places, until there be infused into their souls by the Spirit of grace an internal supernatural principle and divine habit to work by, untill aliquid CHRISTI (as they say) be planted in them by the power of the Ministry, they cannot possibly be universally through, and unshaken. Some strong affection, fear, favour, or some thing, will make them fly out and fail in some particular very foully. Upon extraordinary temptation they will serve the times, and their ⟨p. 257⟩own turns: for▪ alas! as yet their spirits are not steeled with that heavenly edge, and mighty vigour, as to set to their shoulders against the torrent of the times, and not to be overflowed with it. I say, upon this ground I have advisedly chosen to assay and follow this way at this time: for, if once you turn on the LORDS side in truth, you are won for ever to an invincible constancy, and conscionableness in an uniform, regular and religious discharge of your public duties: and will ever hold fast without partiality, cowardliness, or fear of mans face, that brave and noble resolution, Ut fiat justitia, ruat coelum, let heaven and earth be blundered together with horrible confusion, before I make shipwreck of a good conscience, or be any ways drawn to do basely. Being incorporated into the rock of eternity JESUS CHRIST blessed for ever, you will stand (like unmoveable rocks) against the corruptions of the times, and all ungodly oppositions; and never before. For, in the mean time (say Ministers what they will) you will not be moved; but you hear our discourses of a faithful discharge of your places, as ye would hear a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice;
Upon which before I enter, give me leave to give you an account, why at this time I labour rather to work upon your consciences for your personall conversion, than as heretofore to tender unto you counsels and considerations, for a more conscionable deportment in your severall publike places. When I well weighed with my selfe, the truth of that principle and position in Hooker, That it is no peculiar conceipt, but a matter of sound consequence, that all duties are by so much the better performed, by how much the men are more religious, from whose abilities the same proceed. And finding by experience of all ages, and most of all in these worst and wofull times, that men of publike imployment and in high places, untill there be infused into their soules by the Spirit of grace an internall supernaturall principle and divine habit to worke by, untill aliquid CHRISTI (as they say) be planted in them by the power of the Ministry, they cannot possibly be universally thorow, and unshaken. Some strong affection, feare, favour, or some thing, will make them flie out and faile in some particular very fowly. Upon extraordinary temptation they will serve the times, and their ⟨p. 257⟩owne turnes: for▪ alas! as yet their spirits are not steeled with that heavenly edge, and mighty vigour, as to set to their shoulders against the torrent of the times, and not to be overflowen with it. I say, upon this ground I have advisedly chosen to assay and follow this way at this time: for, if once you turne on the LORDS side in truth, you are won for ever to an invincible constancy, and conscionablenesse in an uniforme, regular and religious discharge of your publike duties: and will ever hold fast without partiality, cowardlinesse, or feare of mans face, that brave and noble resolution, Vt fiat justitia, ruat coelum, let heaven and earth be blundred together with horrible confusision, before I make shipwracke of a good conscience, or be any waies drawne to do basely. Being incorporated into the rock of eternity IESVS CHRIST blessed for ever, you will stand (like unmooveable rocks) against the corruptions of the times, and all ungodly oppositions; and never before. For, in the meane time (say Ministers what they will) you will not be moved; but you heare our discourses of a faithfull discharge of your places, as ye would heare a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice;
they leave no more impression upon your consciences, than a sweet lesson upon the Lute in the ear, when it is ended; for, then both the vocal and instrumental sweetness dissolve into the air, and vanish into nothing: It is too truly so with our Sermons upon your souls. Hear your character in GODS own words unto the Prophet; They come unto thee, as the people cometh, and they sit before me as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness: ⟨p. 258⟩and lo, thou art unto them, as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for, they hear thy words, but they do them not. Let us lift up our voices never so high, or cry never so loud: and •ll Judges, That they ought not to be afraid 1of the face of man, for the judgement is GODS: that in judgement, they must neither respect the person of the 2poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: that they should not only hold their hands from gross bribes with Epaminondas, who (as the story tells us) refused3 great presents sent unto him, although he was poor, saying, If the thing were good, he would do it without any bribe, because good: if not honest, he would not do it for all the goods in the world. But they must also be of Austins judgement, that not only money, gold and silver, or4 presents (as they call them) are bribes; but the guilt5 of bribery also may be justly imputed, even to any exorbitant affection, which sways a man aside from an impartial execution of justice: as love, fear, hatred, anger, pusillanimity, worldliness, desire of praise and applause, which is Austins instance, &c. That they beware of bringing more blood upon the Law by sparing the spiller of blood. For ble•d (saith GOD) it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it: that they must not look upon the cases which come before them only through the spectacles of a favourite, &c, and tell Justices of Peace, that they must be truehearted patriots, and not servers of themselves, and their own turns: that they must be serious, real, and grave; not only formal, not cyphers, not unnobly light in their behaviour on the Bench:
that they must ever aim at the public good, and never at their own ⟨p. 259⟩particular and private ends: that they should disdain and scorn at any time to combine factiously, or for a petty bribe to uphold a rotten cause, a pestilent alehouse, or lewd companion; and ever join with an unanimous magnanimity to honour GOD, and do their Country good. And tell the Lawyers, that they should not make hast to be rich, for so saith Solomon, they shall not be innocent, nor swallow down gold too greedily, least it turn to gravel, and the gall of asps within them; and they be enforced to vomit up the riches (as Job speaketh) they have heaped together so hastily, either by remorse and restitution in the mean time, or with despair, and impenitent horror here after: that to oppose and wrangle against a good cause, or undertake the defence of a bad; are both equally most unworthy the very moral virtue of an honest Heathen; that they must not learn to spin out the causes of their clients from Term to Term, and wire-draw their suits until they be utterly undone; that they should not now be taking instructions from their clients, when they should themselves here in the House of GOD be instructed to the kingdom of heaven: had they this morning received a message from the Almighty, that at night they should appear before that high and everlasting Judge to give an account for all things done in the flesh; if they be not Atheists, or Papists, O with what eagerness and violence would they have attended, adderest, and applied themselves to the present opportunity! and little do we know what the evening may bring forth. For, assure your selves, there is no man so assured of his riches, or life, but that he may be deprived of one or both the very next day or hour to come. And tell the jurors and sworn-men, ⟨p. 260⟩that they should rather die than draw the blood of any mans life, livelihood, or good name upon their own consciences, either by acquitting the guilty, or betraying the innocent. Here (had I time) I would intimate unto you a mystical, but mischievous packing sometimes in choice of jury-men. I have seen (I speak of that which was long since, and at a Sessions) some of the choicest drunkards in a Country chosen for that service.
that they must ever aime at the publike good, and never at their owne ⟨p. 259⟩
Now is it not a pitiful thing, that Country businesses should be put into the hands of such as labour industriously, and with equal cunning, to plague an honest man, and deliver a drunkard? I say now, all this while, we thus discourse unto you, earnestly endeavouring, and with a thirsty desire to do you good, and direct you aright, and by a divine rule in the several duties proper to your places: we do but plough in the sea, and sow in the air (as they say) except the immortal seed of the Word hath first moulded you anew, and ye be brought by the foolishness of preaching out of the warm sun into GODS blessing, and from the fools paradise of worldly wisdom, into the holy path of sincere professors; and thereupon prize and prefer the peace of a good conscience before all the gold in the West, and preferments in the world; which blessed change from nature to grace, is wrought by such stirrings of the soul, and footsteps of the spirit as these: lend me, I beseech you, (while I pass along them) something more than ordinary attention: for, I know they will seem strange things to all such great ones as are intended in my Text, and those who live at rest in their possessions, and have nothing to vex them. The natural stoutness of their spirits will disdain and scorn to stoop to such uncouth humiliations, ⟨p. 261⟩and this mighty change. And the more they are men of the world, and wise according to the flesh, the greater repugnancy and reluctation shall they find in their affections against these spiritual workings, which makes the point good which was proved before. But yet without them in truth and effect (I define not the measure and degree, GOD is a most free agent) they can never become either gracious men, or good Magistrates. They must upon necessity become such fools, or they can never be wise unto salvation.
Now is it not a pitifull thing, that Country businesses should be put into the hands of such as labour industriously, and with equall cunning, to plague an honest man, and deliver a drunkard? I say now, all this while, we thus discourse unto you, earnestly endeavouring, and with a thirsty desire to do you good, and direct you aright, and by a divine rule in the severall duties proper to your places: we do but plow in the sea, and sow in the aire (as they say) except the immortall seed of the Word hath first moulded you anew, and ye be brought by the foolishnesse of preaching out of the warme sun into GODS blessing, and from the fooles paradise of worldly wisdome, into the holy path of sincere professours; and thereupon prize and preferre the peace of a good conscience before all the gold in the West, and preferments in the world; which blessed change from nature to grace, is wrought by such stirrings of the soule, and footsteps of the spirit as these: lend me, I beseech you, (while I passe along them) something more than ordinary attention: for, I know they will seeme strange things to all such great ones as are intended in my Text, and those who live at rest in their possessions, and have nothing to vex them. The naturall stoutnesse of their spirits will disdaine and scorne to stoupe to such uncouth humiliations,
1. If any of you then would come out of Satan's clutches into the arms of CHRIST, he must be enlightened, convinced, and cast down with sight, sense, and trouble for sin, as in my art of comforting afflicted consciences I have showed.
1. If any of you then would come out of Satans clutches into the armes of CHRIST, he must be illightened, convinced, and cast downe with sight, sense, and trouble for sinne, as in my art of comforting afflicted consciences I have shewed.
2. Secondly, the point may teach us not to be greedy of greatness, nor hunt ambitiously after high rooms.
2. Secondly, the point may teach us not to be greedy of greatnesse, nor hunt ambitiously after high roomes.
3. The point may serve as a sovereign antidote against all discontent or fretting, when we see men of the world carry all before them, &c. We may entertain an holy indignation to see folly set in great excellency, so many servants on horse-back, and Princes walking as servants upon the ground. But I am prevented by the time from prosecuting these two latter Uses. Let me briefly say two things more, and I have done.
3. The point may serve as a soveraigne antidote against all discontent or fretting, when we see men of the world carrie all before them, &c. We may entertain an holy indignation to see folly set in great excellency, so many servants on horse-backe, and Princes walking as servants upon the ground. But I am prevented by the time from prosecuting these two latter Uses. Let me briefly say two things more, and I have done.
1. The first concerning what I have said: I have spoken much (as you have heard, my Text naturally and directly leading me thereunto) of the true misery, and spiritual madness of all great men in learning, wealth, nobility, wisdom according to the flesh. Least any be unjustly angry, and mistake, or causelessly grumble ⟨p. 260⟩[…] ⟨p. 261⟩[…] ⟨p. 262⟩and gainsay, let me take up the words of that ancient holy Father Salvianus about a thousand years ago in the like case. He having impartially discovered the horrible impieties of the noble and rich men in those corrupt times, tells them by the way, and it is my just apology at this time. I do not (saith he) speak thus of any, but only such as know these things to be in themselves. If their consciences be free, nothing that I say tends to their disparagement and disgrace: but if they know themselves to be guilty, let them know also, that they are not my words, but their own consciences which vex them. And in another place thus. Sith I speak not these things of all, but those who are such, none of you ought to be angry at all, which findeth not himself to be obnoxious; least thereby he make himself seem, and be suspected to be of the number of those that are naught. Rather let so many as being guiltless and truly noble, abhor such unworthy courses, be angry with them who disgrace the name of Nobility by their base and wicked behaviour: because although others be much worse, and scandalized by them, yet especially they bring a great deal of shame and dishonour upon those who are of the same noble rank. Take notice by the way, that by the Fathers words, those men are much too blame, who go about to daub over the disorders, and smother up the scandalous exorbitancies of delinquents in their own profession, or to be concurrents for their deliverance from deserved shame and punishment. To give instance in the highest calling: A Minister which falls to drunkenness, and ale-house-haunting, should rather be publicly shamed and censured, than a fellow of an inferior calling. We do not honour the Ministry by having our hands in helping out such, but by disclaiming, and not owning them; well may we by ⟨p. 263⟩so meddling incur suspicion of obnoxiousness: but never bring credit to our so holy a calling.
I knew a Knight did penance at Pauls-Cross, but at the same time I heard that many of his rank in the City laboured to have him dis-knighted first, before he so publicly disgraced their order. Me thinks all well-minded should be so minded. 2. The other is to my Lords the Judges. My reverend and noble Lords, give me leave to cloth the thoughts of the Country in a word or two. We much rejoice in you, and bless GOD for you, as men of singular and known integrity, special friends to the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, and a great honour, and happiness to these parts, and heartily pray that we may hold you still: and therefore my entreaty unto your Lordships is, that you would courageously advance forward, and do like your selves, and nobly still. Draw our your dreadful swords against the torrents of Belial, as David calls them, which even threaten a deluge; and be your selves as mighty torrents, armed both with j•st and holy laws, and the godly resolutions of your own noble spirits, to bear back, and beat down the common crying, and reigning sins of our Country. In a word, be unto the oppressed and innocent as a refuge from the storm, but as a terrible tempest upon the face of every humane beast, and son of Belial. And O that you could help us, that GODS people might not perish for want of bread: Is it not a pitiful thing, that in such a dear year specially, it should be almost as hard a work to get down a wicked ale-house, as to win Dunkirk? That Maltsters should snatch (as it were) the grain from the mouths of the poor in the market place, to ⟨p. 264⟩uphold these hell-houses, these nurseries of the Devil: that Magistrates should be so unmerciful, as neither for GODS sake, nor the Kings sake, nor the poor's sake, nor their own souls sake to take the utmost penalties for blasphemies, ale house-hauntings, drunkenness, and profanations of the LORDS Day? And were it not an honourable course, and worthy to have an universal contribution over the Country to pull down something the excessive prizes in market-towns for the poor thereabouts, during this extremity? But I leave it to your Lordships charitable wisdom to do the best you can possibly; that the blood of the poor this year be not added to the already crying sins of the Kingdom, to hasten GODS judgements upon us, and our long since deserved ruin.
I knew a Knight did penance at Pauls-Crosse, but at the same time I heard that many of his ranke in the City labour'd to have him dis-knighted first, before he so publikely disgraced their order. Me thinks all wellminded should be so minded. 2. The other is to my Lords the Iudges. My reverend and noble Lords, give me leave to cloth the thoughts of the Countrey in a word or two. We much rejoyce in you, and blesse GOD for you, as men of singular and knowne integrity, speciall friends to the Gospell of IESVS CHRIST, and a great honour, and happinesse to these parts, and heartily pray that we may hold you still: and therefore my intreaty unto your Lordships is, that you would couragiously advance forward, and do like your selves, and nobly still. Draw our your dreadfull swords against the torrents of Belial, as David cals them, which even threaten a deluge; and be your selves as mighty torrents, armed both with jst and holy lawes, and the godly resolutions of your owne noble spirits, to beare backe, and beat downe the common crying, and raigning sins of our Countrey. In a word, be unto the oppressed and innocent as a refuge from the storme, but as a terrible tempest upon the face of every humane beast, and sonne of Belial. And O that you could helpe us, that GODS people might not perish for want of bread: Is it not a pitifull thing, that in such a deare yeare specially, it should be almost as hard a worke to get downe a wicked ale-house, as to win Dunkerke? That Maultsters should snatch (as it were) the graine from the mouthes of the poore in the market place, to
And in the mean time you need not fear the face of the proudest Devil, whether incarnate, or in his own shape. For, while you thus advance GODS glory, and truly honour the King, assure your selves, the hearts, and tears, and prayers of all good men shall be for you, and yours shall be the crown and comfort; when all profaneness and profane opposites to the good way, all the enemies of GOD, and pestilent packings and complotments of the Devils agents against GODS people, shall be buried in hell.
And in the meane time you need not feare the face of the proudest Devill, whether incarnate, or in his owne shape. For, while you thus advance GODS glory, and truly honour the King, assure your selves, the hearts, and teares, and prayers of all good men shalbe for you, and yours shalbe the crowne and comfort; when all prophanenesse and prophane opposites to the good way, all the enemies of GOD, and pestilent packings and complotments of the Devils agents against GODS people, shalbe buried in hell.
FINIS.
they leave no more impression upon your consciences, than a sweet lesson upon the Lute in the eare, when it is ended; for, then both the vocall and instrumentall sweetnesse dissolve into the aire, and vanish into nothing: It is too truly so with our Sermons upon your soules. Heare your character in GODS own words unto the Prophet; They come unto thee, as the people commeth, and they sit before me as my people, and they heare thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse: ⟨p. 258⟩and loe, thou art unto them, as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for, they heare thy words, but they do them not. Let us lift up our voices never so high, or cry never so lowd: and •ll Iudges, That they ought not to be afraid 1of the face of man, for the judgement is GODS: that in judgement, they must neither respect the person of the 2poore, nor honour the person of the mighty: that they should not onely hold their hands from grosse bribes with Epaminondas, who (as the story tels us) refused3 great presents sent unto him, although he was poore, saying, If the thing were good, he would do it without any bribe, because good: if not honest, he would not do it for all the goods in the world. But they must also be of Austins judgement, that not onely money, gold and silver, or4 presents (as they call them) are bribes; but the guilt5 of bribery also may be justly imputed, even to any exorbitant affection, which sways a man aside from an impartiall execution of justice: as love, feare, hatred, anger, pusillanimity, worldlinesse, desire of praise and applause, which is Austins instance, &c. That they beware of bringing more bloud upon the Law by sparing the spiller of bloud. For ble•d (saith GOD) it desileth the land: and the land cannot be clea•sed of the bloud that is shed therein, but by the bloud of him that shed it: that they must not looke upon the ca•ses which come before them only through the spectacles of a favourite, &c, and tell Iustices of Peace, that they must be truehearted patriots, and not servers of themselves, and their owne turnes: that they must be serious, reall, and grave; not onely formall, not cyphers, not unnobly light in their behaviour on the Bench:
1. The first concerning what I have said: I have spoken much (as you have heard, my Text naturally and directly leading me thereunto) of the true misery, and spirituall madnesse of all great men in learning, wealth, nobility, wisdome according to the flesh. Least any be unjustly angry, and mistake, or caussesly grumble ⟨p. 260⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 261⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 262⟩and gainsay, let me take up the words of that ancient holy Father Salvianus about a thousand yeares ago in the like case. He having impartially discovered the horrible impieties of the noble and rich men in those corrupt times, tels them by the way, and it is my just apologie at this time. I do not (saith he) speake thus of any, but onely such as know these things to be in themselves. If their consciences be free, nothing that I say tends to their disparagement and disgrace: but if they know themselves to be guilty, let them know also, that they are not my words, but their owne consciences which vexe them. And in another place thus. Sith I speake not these things of all, but those who are such, none of you ought to be angry at all, which findeth not himselfe to be obnoxious; least thereby he make himselfe seeme, and be suspected to be of the number of those that are naught. Rather let so many as being guiltlesse and truly noble, abhorre such unworthy courses, be angry with them who disgrace the name of Nobility by their base and wicked behaviour: because although others be much worse, and scandaliz'd by them, yet especially they bring a great deale of shame and dishonour upon those who are of the same noble ranke. Take notice by the way, that by the Fathers words, those men are much too blame, who go about to dawbe over the disorders, and smother up the scandalous exorbitancies of delinquents in their owne profession, or to be concurrents for their deliverance from deserved shame and punishment. To give instance in the highest calling: A Minister which fals to drunkennesse, and ale-house-haunting, should rather be publikely sham'd and censured, than a fellow of an inferiour calling. We do not honour the Ministry by having our hands in helping out such, but by disclaiming, and not owning them; well may we by ⟨p. 263⟩so medling incurre suspicion of obnoxiousnesse: but never bring credit to our so holy a calling.