394 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. " a most religious and learned puritan, a painful and Con- stant preacher, a person of great zeal for God, charitable and bountiful ; and so famous for relieving afflicted con- sciences, that many foreigners resorted to him, as well as persons at home, who found relief. He was so expert in the Greek language, that he could write it, and dispute in it with equal ease as in English or Latin. "* Fuller says, " he was oneof a thousand for piety, wisdom, and steadfast- ness ; and his enemies, who endeavoured to injure him in his ministry, were never able, by all their plottings, to do himany more harm than only to shew their teeth."+ Echard styles him, " a great and shining lightof the puritan party," and says, "he was justly celebrated for his singular learning and piety."I His eloquent and valuable writings will recommend his memory to the latest posterity. Most of them were published after his death by his worthy friend Mr. Edward Bagshaw, who wrote and published his life, to which reference has been already given. Mr. Bolton had been a notorious sinner, and having been reclaimed by great terrors, his writ- ings are excellent both for conviction and consolation. His style is said to be inclining to the bombast, yet many ex- pressions are truly great and magnificent. Thebeauties of imagination are chiefly apparent in his " Four Last Things;" but his most useful works are his " Directions for Walking with. God," and " Instructions for Comforting Afflicted Consciences." There we see the traces of a soul most intimately acquainted with God.§ It is observed of this holy and reverend divine, that he was so highlyesteemed inNorthamptonshire, that his people - who beheld his white locks of hair, could point at him and say, " When that snow shall be dissolved, there will be a great flood ;" and so it proved : for there never was a minister in that county who lived more beloved, or died more lamented. Floods of tears were shed over his grave.il His remains were interred in the chancel of Broughton church, where there is a half-length figure of him, with his hands erected in the attitude of prayer, resting on a book lying open before him ; and underneath is a monumental Athense Oxon, vol. i. p. 4r9, 4841. Fuller's Abel Redivivw, p. 501. of England, col, p. 98. § Doddridge's Works, vol. v. p. 489. Edit. 1804. J Bolton on Usury, Pref. Edit. 101%
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