What here we see is but a graven Face: Only the shadow of that brittle case Wherein were treasured up those Gems, which he Al. Ross. FOR AFFLICTED SOULS; OR, MEDITATIONS, SOLILOQUIES, AND PRAYERS, BY FRANCIS QUARLES. · A NEW EDITION; WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL INTRODUCTION, BY REGINALDE WOLFE, ESQ. ALSO, A STRIKING LIKENESS OF THE AUTHOR. PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED FOR W. W. WOODWARD, CORNER OF SECOND AND CHESNUT STREETS. MERRITT, PRINTER. PREFACE. THE Custom which now begins to prevail, of reprinting the works of those ancient writers who are distinguished for brilliancy of fancy, or purity of sentiment, has induced the editor of this volume to submit to the decision of modern times, the "MEDITATIONS, SOLILOQUIES, and PRAYERS, OF FRANCIS QUARLES ;" an author, who was once generally admired for the variety and sweetness of his compositions. The life and literary character of Quarles being fully discussed in the following pages, it remains here only to observe, that the former was without reproach, and that the latter was of sufficient celebrity to place him among the best writers of his age. The plan of the ensuing work is briefly this :The author divides his book into Two Parts; |