A Looking-Glass of Human Frailty, Title page – Dedication
A LOOKING-GLASSE OF HVMANE FRAILTY: SET BEFORE US IN A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FUNERALS OF Mris. ANNE CALQUIT, Late Wife of Mr. NICHOLAS CALQUIT, Draper, Who died on the 7. day of April 1659. and was interr'd the 19. of the same month, At the Parish Church of Alhallows the less in Thames Street.
By NATH. HARDY, Minister of St. Dionys. Backchurch.
Psal. 144. 4.
Man is like to vanity, his dayes are as a Shadow that passeth away.
Qui aeternitate Dei perspecta breve & poenè ad puncti instar humanae vitae spatium cogitaverit, ante aculos suos semper habebit interitum, &c.
Hieron.
London, Printed by R. D. for Joseph Cranford, at the Sign of the Castle & Lion in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1659.
To his highly esteemed Friend, Mr. Nicholas Calquit.
I Much fear, lest the perusal of this Sermon prove the reviving of your sorrow, and cause that wound which the death of your Deare Consort hath made, to bleed afresh.
But I hope with all, that as your love hath prompted you to desire a perpetuation of her memory, so your prudence teacheth you to moderate your griefe for her dissolution.
That which especially concerneth you, and whereof (I trust) you are not forgetfull, is,
1. Diligently to enquire into the deserving cause wherefore God hath deprived you of so great a comfort so soon, that the showre of your tears for her, may be swallowed up in the river of godly sorrow for sin.
2. By this sad experience to be so effectually convinced of the uncertainty of all earthly enjoyments, that it may be a curb to all inordinate affection.
3. Finally, when you contemplate her dust, so to remember your owne death, that it may be a spur to a speedy and constant preparation.
So shall you have just reason to say with David, It is good for me that I have been afflicted.Psal. 119. 78.
That these white flowers may (through Gods grace) spring from the black root of your dolefull Losse, That that wise Providence which hath made this sore breach, would be pleased to make it up, That what was (I hope in love) denied to her, may be (and that in mercy) confer'd on you, namely, a long life on earth, and that which is (I trust) already confer'd on her, may (at length) be given to you, namely, an aeternal life in Heaven, is the hearty Prayer of him whom you have by many favours obliged to be
Your affectionate Friend, NATH. HARDY.