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spouse of Christ: and this good soul, being thus laid down to sleep in his peace, his left hand under her head, gathering, and composing, and preserving her dust, for future glory, his right hand embracing her, assuming and establishing her soul in present glory, in his name, and in her behalf, I say that to all you, which Christ says there in the behalf of that spouse, Adjuro vos, I adjure you, I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye wake her not till she please. The words are directed to the daughters rather than to the sons of Jerusalem, because, for the most part, the aspersions that women receive, either in moral or religious actions, proceed from women themselves. Therefore, Adjuro vos, I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, wake her not. Wake her not with any half calumnies, with any whisperings; but if you will wake her, wake her, and keep her awake, with an active imitation of her moral and her holy virtues; that so her example working upon you, and the number of God's saints being the sooner by this blessed example fulfilled, we may all meet, and meet quickly, in that kingdom which hers and our Saviour hath purchased for us all with the inestimable price of his incorruptible blood. To which glorious Son of God,

&c.

74 Cant. viii. 4.

DEATH'S DUEL,

OR, A CONSOLATION TO THE SOUL AGAINST THE DYING LIFE AND LIVING DEATH

OF THE BODY.

DELIVERED IN A SERMON AT WHITEHALL, BEFORE
THE KING'S MAJESTY, IN THE BEGINNING
OF LENT, 1630.

BY THAT LATE LEARNED AND REVEREND DIVINE,
JOHN DONNE, DR. IN DIVINITY, AND DEAN

of St. Paul's, LONDON.

BEING HIS LAST SERMON, AND CALLED BY HIS MAJESTY'S HOUSEHOLD, THE DOCTOR'S OWN FUNERAL SERMON.

TO THE READER.

THIS sermon was, by sacred authority, styled

the author's own funeral sermon, most fitly, whether we respect the time or matter. It was preached not many days before his death, as if, having done this, there remained nothing for him to do but to die: and the matter is of deaththe occasion and subject of all funeral sermons. It hath been observed of this reverend man, that his faculty in preaching continually increased, and that, as he exceeded others at first, so at last he exceeded himself. This is his last sermon ; I will not say it is therefore his best, because all his were excellent. Yet thus much: a dying man's words, if they concern ourselves, do usually make the deepest impression, as being spoken most feelingly, and with least affectation. Now, whom doth it concern to learn both the danger and benefit of death? Death is every man's enemy, and intends hurt to all, though to many he be occasion of greatest goods. This enemy we must all combat dying, whom he living did

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