A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

xxxiiMEMOIR OF THEdered by them destitute of speech or sight.This, however,seems in the case of the Reformer to have continuedbut one day, while the anguisli endm-ed by the subjectof this sketch lasted for many months. He ultimatelyhowever found p^ace with God, tlirough faith in the efficacyof the atonement, and sufficiency of the righteousnessof the Mediator ; and then the wisdom of God inthis dispensation appeared by the fervent love of his deliveredspirit, by his invincible resolution in the workof God, and by an unequalled ability to comprehend andto comfort the distresses of afflicted consciences.The spontaneous wish of his mind seems to havebeen, as in many similar instances, to devote himselfto the service and honour of that Redeemer, who hadthus enabled him to understand and love his character.About the thirty-fifth year of his age, therefore, hewas ordained, and applied himself wholly to the engagementsof the ministry, devoting all the varied andgreat resources of his understanding to that most arduousand yet most delightful of all occupations.Soon after his entrance upon the ministry, he becameknown to Mr. Justice Nicholls, at that time sergeant atlaw, who within about two years afterwards presentedhim to the living of Broughton in Northamptonshire.When his patron announced to him his intention,Dr. King, the bishop of London, happened to be present; and while he thanked him for Mr. Bolton, heassured him that he had by his gift deprived the universityof one of its greatest ornaments.He improved his retirement to a country village bywriting his first work, " A Discourse on True Happiness."This he dedicated to his patron. It was soonentirely bought up ; and many who were attracted to