A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

whenREV. ROBERT BOLTON.xxxviiobtruded upon his attention, owing to the penetrationwith which he ascertained the real nature of an application.Upon occasion of a very destructive fire, heso interested the neighbouring gentry in the necessitiesof his poor parishioners who had suffered, that withoutaid from the government he caused their habitations tobe rebuilt, and their present wants to be supplied.The time, however, of his departure drew nigh soonafter this event. A quartan ague attacked him in themonth of September before his death. The violenceof the paroxysms, and the weakness which it occasioned,rendered it evident that it was attended withthe greatest danger.At a very early period of his illnesshe finally adjusted his worldly concerns, and thengave himself up to preparation for death. Hehad announced to his people his intention of preachingto them upon the four last things, Death, Judgment,Hell, and Heaven; a favourite division in hisHedays of the most solemn truths of the scriptures.proceeded through his course as far as the last ; but onthe preceding Saturday he became more seriously indisposed,and never again ascended his pulpit. Hisillness however was greatly protracted, and often verypainful.It is said, that during the intermissions of his disorderhe was often heard to exclaim, " Oh, when will.'*this good hour come shall I be dissolved ?when shall I be with Christ ? " Being told that itwould be better for him to depart and to be withChrist ; but that it would be more profitable to hispeople that he should remain, he i-eplied in the languageof David, " If I shall find favour in the eyes ofthe Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both itd 3