Bolton, Robert. The Workes of the reverend, truly pious, and iudiciously learned Robert Bolton.as they were finished by himselfe in his life time. London: George Miller, Edmund Weaver, 1638-1640. [3707]
Recent binding in distressed calf, blind tooling along the inside edges of the covers, five panels to spine, original edge-worn red leather label "Bolton's Works" retained. 18 x 14 cm (7 x 5 1/2 inches), new chain-lined end papers. "Generall directions" title page with conservation repair. "Some General Directions" tp & 2nd leaf edge-worn. Does not exactly match the contents of different editions listed at ESTC. The contents are listed below. There is no general title page with this copy; the general title and bibliographical information are from a matching copy at ESTC. Very good. Full calf.
Title page of the first item signed by Henry G. Ludlow (1797-1867), Presbyterian minister and abolitionist who worked with the New York Armistad Committee.
Wing B3512. An edition of ESTC S122179 or S12207, which notes "copies differ in the items included." This copy has no general title page or portrait.
The book contains 4 separate works:
1. Some Generall Directions for a Comfortable Walking with God: Delivered in the Lecture at Kettering in North-Hamptonshire, with enlargement. The Fifth Edition: corrected and amended, with a Table thereunto annexed. London: Iohn Legalt, for Edmund Weaver. 1638. ESTC S122396. [16], 1-224, 227-390, [8 pp]. Complete, the break in page numbers is a binder's error present in all copies.
2. Mr. Boltons Last and Learned Worke of the Foure last Things, Death, Judgement, Hell, and Heaven. With his Assise-Sermons, and Notes on Iustice Nicolls his Funerall. Together with the Life and Death of the Author. Published by E. B. and re-viewed, with Marginall Notes, and an Alphabeticall Table added thereunto. Hereunto is added the Sermon at M. Boltons Funerall, by M. Nic. Estwick. The fourth Edition. London: Printed by George Miller. 1639. Engraved tp with columns and arch. ESTC S122207. [2], 1-264, [8], [6], 1-97, [2], 1-70 pp. This copy does not have the "Life and Death."
3. Meditationes in Diebus Dominicis de vita futura, 1628. Meditations of the life to come. 1-23 pp.
4. A Cordiall for Christians in the Time of Affliction. Or, A Sermon Preached at Kethering Lecture by Master Robert Bolton, Bachelour of Divinity, and sometimes Fellow of Brasen-nose Colledge in Oxford. Published by I. S. London: Printed by George Miller. 1640. ESTC S122177. "Sometimes bound as part of STC 3245 and consequently as part of Wing B3512." [8]. 1-27 pp. Staining to margins. Does not contain "Discourse about the state of true happiness," called for at ESTC.
Robert Bolton (1572-1631), "an eminent Puritan divine and excellent scholar, was educated at the colleges of Lincoln and Brasenose, Oxford." Allibone.
"He was a painful and a constant preacher, a person of great zeal towards God in his profession, charitable and bountiful, but above all, a reliever of afflicted consciences, which he acquired by the manifold experience which he had in himself and others; and grew so famous for it, that he was sought to far and near, and diverse beyond the seas desired his resolution in several cases of conscience." Athen. Oxon.
"He is excellent both for conviction and consolation." Dr. Doddridge.
"The excellent Robert Bolton could to his comfort on his deathbed profess that he never in his sermons taught any thing but what he had first sought to work in his own heart. An awakening and comforting writer." Bickersteth.
"He was one of the best scholars of his time, a zealous and successful preacher, and particularly skilled in resolving the doubts of timid Christians. His style is florid and often truly magnificent." - Darling, Cyclopedia Bibliographica.