Brooks - BX9338 .B7 1813 v3

S. BOLTON. 223 SAMUEL BOLTON, D. D.-This excellent divine wasborn in the year 1606, and educated in the universityof Cambridge. He afterwards became minister of St. Martin's church, Lud- gate-street, London ; where he continued about three years. Upon his removal from this situation, he was chosen minister at St. Saviour's, Southwark, where he continued seven years, and then removed to St. Andrew's, Holborn. At each of these places his ministry was made a blessing to many souls. He was nominated one of the additional members,in the assem- bly of divines. Upon the death of Dr. Bainbrigge, he was chosen master of Christ's college, Cambridge, which he governed with great wisdom and prudence the rest of his days. Having strong desires to win souls to Christ, though, he was master of a college, and had no ministerial chargeof his own, he preached gratuitously every Lord's day for many years. In the year 1648, a minister of his name, and pro- bably the same person, attended the Earl of Holland upon the scaffold when he was beheaded in the palace-yard, West- minster.. During his last sickness, which was long and painful, he exercised great patience, and often said, though the provi- dence of God was dark towards him, he had light and corn- fort within. A little before he died, he said to a person moving him inbed, " Let me alone ; let me lie quietly. I have as much comfort as my heart can hold." The last time Mr. Calamy visited him he was anxious to be with ChriSti saying, " Oh this vile body of mine! when will it give way, that my soul may get out and go to my God? Whenwill it be consumed, that I may mount up' to heaven ?" When he perceived any symptoms of his approaching dissolution, he rejoiced exceedingly, calling them, as the little crevices through whichhis soul peeped." He died greatly lamented, October 15, 1654, aged forty-eight years, and was buried in St. Martin's church, mentioned above. He gave orders, in his last will and testament, to be interred as a private chris- tian, and not with the outward pomp of a doctor ; " be- cause," as he obArved, " he hoped to rise in the day of judgment, and appear before God, not as a doctor but as an humble christian." Numerous elegies were published on his death. Dr. Bolton was a person of good parts and considerable learning, a burning and shining lipt in his day, and a man of great piety and excellent ministerial abilities. He was ortho- Whitiocke'A Mem. p. S87. Edit. 17

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=