Divinity in Mortality, Title page – Dedication
DIVINITY IN MORTALITY, OR THE GOSPELS EXCELLENCY AND The PREACHERS frailty, Repreſented in a SERMON Preached at the Funerals of Mr RICHARD GODDARD late Miniſter of the Pariſh of St GREGORIES by Pauls; Who died on Thurſday the 12th of May 1653. and was buried on Moonday the 16th day of the ſame MonethMonth.
By NATH. HARDY Maſter of Arts, and Preacher to the Pariſh of St Dyonis Back-Church.
MATTH. 13. 52. Every Scribe inſtructed for the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an houſholder, which bringeth forth out of the Treaſure things new and old.
2 PET. 1. 14. Knowing that ſhortly I muſt put off this my Tabernacle, even as our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath ſhewed me.
Sacra Scriptura utilitas Chriſtianorum, Theſaurus Eccleſiae lumen animarum.
Ubique in eis veritas regnat ubi que divina virtus irradiat, ubi que panduntur humano generi profutura. Caſſiod. div. lect. c. 15, & 16.
London, Printed by A.M. for Nathanael Webb and William Grantham, and are to be ſold at the Sign of the Black Bear in St Pauls Churchyard near the little North door. 1653.
Errata.
Page 6. in marg. after foreign read foreign. p. 13. in m. for foreign r. foreign. p. 15. in m. for prefectam r. productam. p. 17. line 20. after denominateth dele te. p. 18. l. 5. before Viles, pauperes cenſu loco humiles, for vitae r. vitâ. after labore adde communes, men of low eſtates, mean trades, obſcure and laborious lives. where in the marg. ſupply Chryſol. c. 28. p. 19. l. 16. r. are after mentioned. p. 27. l. 28. for innocentia r. innocenter. p. 28. l. 1. pudet r. pudeat. p. 29. marg. for foreign r. foreign. and for foreign r. foreign.
To the Worſhipfull ROGER PRICE Eſq, The upper and the neather Springs of the Water of Life.
Worthy Sir,
I Well know how unworthy this ſlender Diſcourſe was of thoſe judicious eares which vouchſafed it the hearing; and ſurely cannot but much more judge it undeſerving a publique view: So that if (beſides friends importunity perſwading) the fear of an abortive birth to have been brought forth by ſome unskilfull Notary, had not enforced me, it ſhould have been buried in privacy.
Being thus neceſſitated, and thereupon adviſed by you and others to this unwelcome task, I knew not any fitter then your ſelf to whom I ſhould preſent this Dedication.
How cordial a welwiſher, and forward an incourager you have alwaies been of the Orthodox Clergy, all that know you will aſſert, and in particular, what an ardent affection lodged in your boſome and flamed forth in your expreſſions towards your Reverend Miniſter was abundantly teſtified both in his life and at his death, whileſt in his life you were one of the firſt in providing for his comfortable ſubſiſtence, and at his death you took care for his decent buriall, deſiring that your houſe might receive him when dead (which had ſo often entertained him alive) from whence he was honourably attended to his grave.
I doubt not but there were many other worthy Gentlemen of your Pariſh, to whom this deceaſed ſervant of Chriſt was much engaged; but I hope my ignorance of their perſons will be a ſufficient Apologie for my ſilence. With you (Eſteemed Sir) I have had by his means the honour to be acquainted, of whom therefore I am bold (eſpecially for his ſake) to deſire the Patronage of this Sermon.
What hath ſuſpended the Publication ſince I last ſaw you, I am confident you have already heard; a diſeaſe not much unlike that which ſnatched away our dear friend, but from which God was graciouſly pleaſed to deliver me: Thus is his wiſdom ſometimes pleaſed to let the barren Figtree ſtand, whileſt he plucketh up the fruitfull Vine.
His race is now run, and he is gone to Reſt; his work is finiſhed, and he hath in part received his Wages; Weep not for him who is already entred into joy, rather rejoyce, that though he be gone, God hath ſent you another, one eminent both for Piety and Learning, in whoſe converſe I doubt not but you will finde much content, and by whoſe labours I hope you will reap much profit.
And now Sir, I commend you to God, earneſtly imploring the continuance and increaſe of all externall and internall bleſsings upon you, in your own perſon, your dear Conſort, aged Father, hopefull children, till at laſt he crown you all with eternall happineſs. I take my leave and ſubſcribe my ſelf,
Your cordial Friend and Servant, NATH. HARDY.