Part 3 (2/2)

His fancy was unimitably high, equalled only by his great wit; both being made useful by a commanding judgment.

His aspect was cheerful, and such as gave a silent testimony of a clear knowing soul, and of a conscience at peace with itself.

His melting eye showed that he had a soft heart, full of n.o.ble compa.s.sion; of too brave a soul to offer injuries, and too much a Christian not to pardon them in others.

He did much contemplate--especially after he entered into his sacred calling--the mercies of Almighty G.o.d, the immortality of the soul, and the joys of heaven: and would often say in a kind of sacred ecstacy--”Blessed be G.o.d that He is G.o.d, only and divinely like Himself.”

He was by nature highly pa.s.sionate, but more apt to reluct at the excesses of it. A great lover of the offices of humanity, and of so merciful a spirit that he never beheld the miseries of mankind without pity and relief.

He was earnest and unwearied in the search of knowledge, with which his vigorous soul is now satisfied, and employed in a continual praise of that G.o.d that first breathed it into his active body: that body which once was a temple of the Holy Ghost, and is now become a small quant.i.ty of Christian dust:--

But I shall see it re-animated.

I.W.

DEVOTIONS VPON Emergent Occasions and seuerall steps in my Sicknes.

Digested into

1. MEDITATIONS _upon our Humane Condition_.

2. EXPOSTULATIONS, _and Debatements with G.o.d_.

3. PRAYERS, _upon the severall occasions, to him_.

By IOHN DONNE, _Deane of S. Pauls_, London.

London

Printed by _A. M._ for THOMAS IONES. 1624.

_TO THE MOST EXCELLENT PRINCE_,

PRINCE CHARLES.

_MOST EXCELLENT PRINCE_,

I have had three births; one, natural, when I came into the world; one, supernatural, when I entered into the ministry; and now, a preternatural birth, in returning to life, from this sickness. In my second birth, your Highness' royal father vouchsafed me his hand, not only to sustain me in it, but to lead me to it. In this last birth, I myself am born a father: this child of mine, this book, comes into the world, from me, and with me. And therefore, I presume (as I did the father, to the Father) to present the son to the Son; this image of my humiliation, to the lively image of his Majesty, your Highness. It might be enough, that G.o.d hath seen my devotions: but examples of good kings are commandments; and Hezekiah writ the meditations of his sickness, after his sickness.

Besides, as I have lived to see (not as a witness only, but as a partaker), the happiness of a part of your royal father's time, so shall I live (in my way) to see the happiness of the times of your Highness too, if this child of mine, inanimated by your gracious acceptation, may so long preserve alive the memory of

Your Highness humblest and devotedest,

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