R. BOLTON. 393 A little before his departure, and expectingevery moment to be his last, being told that some ofhis best friends were about to take their last farewell, he caused himself to be raised up, and bowing himself upon his bed's head, after struggling for breath, he spoke as follows: "I am now drawing on apace to my dissolution. Hold out, faith and patience ; your work will soon be ended." Then, shaking them all by the hand, he said, " Make sure of heaven; and keep in mind what I have formerly delivered to you. The doctrine which I have preached to you for the space of twenty years, is the truth of God, as I shall answer at the tribunal of Christ, before whom I must soon appear." This he spake when the very pangs of death were upon him. A dear friend taking him by the hand, asked him whether he felt much pain. " Truly no," said he, " the greatest pain I feel is your cold hand," and presently expired. He died December 17, 1631, aged fifty-nine years. Mr. Nicholas Estwick, who preached Mr. Bolton's funeral sermon, gives him the following character : he says, "How industrious a student he was, and howwell furnished with learning, is well known. The Lord enriched himwith a great measure of grace, and his life was unreprovable. All his days lie was a hard student, and laborious in his ministry, yet was never ambitious of worldly greatness. He.sought his own sanctification and the sanctification of others, and was the means of plucking many out of the snares ofSatan. While his preaching was searching, it was happily calculated to quicken and strengthen languished souls ; for which many had cause to bless God." Our author adds, " A great man is fallen in our Israel, and there will be a great loss ofhim. His wife will find the lossof a gracious husband; his children a gracious father ; his flock a gracious shepherd ; ministers, the loss of a grave, learned, and gracious brother; the devout christian, who desired to have all his sins discovered, will find the loss of a gracious and soul-searching minister; he that would avoid sin, and make progress in holiness, will find the loss of a wise and experienced director ; be that is wounded in his conscience, will find the loss of a skilful physician ; the poor will find the loss of a liberal benefactor, a wise instructor, and a gracious friend ; and the whole land will find the loss of a zealous and powerful wrestler with God for the continuance of its happiness. "+ The Oxford historian denominateshim, Life of Mr. Bolton. + Funeral Sermon for Mr. Bolton.
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