596 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. ROBERT BOLTON, B. D.-This excellent divinewas born at Blackburn in Lancashire, in the year 1572, and educated first in Lincoln college, then in Brazen-nose college, Oxford, where he was chosen fellow. He made uncommonprogress in logic, philosophy, and the learned languages. The means of his support being small, he borrowed books of his tutor and other persons ; when, for his greater advantage, besides reading them with close attention, he preserved abridgments of them inhis common-place book. With a viewto obtain a more perfect knowledge of the Greek, lie transcribed with uncommon pains the whole of Homer, in a very fair charac- ter. He became famous for his lectures on natural and moral philosophy, and was learned in metaphysics, mathe- matics, and school divinity. Having so eminently dis- played his learning and abilities in the public disputations of the schools, he was chosen by the vice-chancellor, when King James first visited the university, to be one of the public disputants before his majesty. Notwithstanding all his ornamental and useful accomplishments, he was still destitute of the one thing needful ; he had no serious concern for his soul ; but loved plays and cards, was a horrible swearer, sabbath-breaker, and familiar associate of the wicked. He hated all good men, especially those odiously stigmatized by thename of puritans ; and even denominated the celebrated Mr. William Perkins " a barren empty fellow, and a very mean scholar." His views, however, were afterwards changed. Having experienced the renew- ing influence of divine grace, lie said that Mr. Perkins was as learned and godly a divine as the church hadenjoyed for many years. During Mr. Bolton's residence at Oxford, he became intimately acquainted with one Anderton, formerly his school-fellow, but now a learned popish priest, who, taking an ad vantage of his mean circumstances, persuaded him into a reconciliation to the church of Rome, and to accom- pany him to one of the English seminaries in Flanders; where, said he, " you shall have gold enough." The time and place of embarking were accordingly appointed : but Andertondisappointing him, be renounced the object alto- gether, and returned to his college. Here, by the instruc- tions of the excellent Mr. Thomas Peacock, he was brought under such deep convictions ofsin, that for manymonths he lost his appetite, his sleep, and all peace of mind. In the end, by a continuance in prayer and deep humiliation before God, he found mercy and received comfort. This memorable
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