"abilities of a learned divine, and will prove a powerful "preacher, and my desire is to prefer him that way." After that time, as he professeth, * the King descended to a persuasion, almost to a solicitation, of him to enter into sacred orders; which, though he then denied not, yet he deferred it for almost three years; all which time he applied himself to an incessant study of textual divinity, and to the attainment of a greater perfection in the learned languages, Greek and Hebrew.

In the first and most blessed times of Christianity, when the clergy were looked upon with reverence, and deserved it; when they overcame their opposers by high examples of virtue, by a blessed patience and long suffering, those only were then judged worthy the ministry whose quiet and meek spirits did make them look upon that sacred calling with an humble adoration, and fear to undertake it, which indeed requires such great degrees of humility, and labour, and care, that none but such were then thought worthy of that celestial dignity; and such only were then sought out, and solicited to undertake it; this I have mentioned, because forwardness and inconsideration could not in Mr. Donne, as in many others, be an argument of insufficiency or unfitness; for he had considered long, and had many strifes within himself con- . cerning the strictness of life and competency of learning required in such as enter into sacred orders; and,

In his book of Devotions,

doubtless, considering his own demerits, did humbly ask God, with St. Paul," Lord, who is sufficient for "these things?'' and, with meek Moses, "Lord, who

am I?" And sure if he had consulted with flesh and blood, he had not put his hand to that holy plough. But God, who is able to prevail, wrestled with him, as the angel did with Jacob, and marked him; marked him for his own; marked him with a blessing; a bless ing of obedience to the motions of his blessed Spirit; and then, as he had formerly asked God, with Moses, "Who am I?" so now, being inspired with an apprehension of God's particular mercy to him, in the King's and others' solicitations of him, he came to ask King David's thankful question, "Lord, who am "I, that thou art so mindful of me?" so mindful of me, as to lead me for more than forty years through this wilderness of the many temptations and various turnings of a dangerous life; so merciful to me, as to move the learnedest of kings to descend to move me to serve at thy altar; so merciful to me, as at last to move my heart to embrace this holy motion: thy -motions I will and do embrace; and I now say, with the blessed Virgin, "Be it with thy servant as seem"eth best in thy sight:" and so, blessed Jesus, I do take the cup of salvation, and will call upon thy name, and will preach thy gospel, ..

Such strifes as these St. Austin had when St. Ambrose endeavoured his conversion to Christianity,

with which he confesseth he acquainted his friend Alipius. Our learned author (a man fit to write after no mean copy) did the like; and declaring his intentions to his dear friend, Dr. King, then Bishop of London, a man famous in his generation, and no stranger to Mr. Donne's abilities, (for he had been chaplain to the Lord Chancellor at the time of Mr. Donne's being his Lordship's Secretary) that reverend man did receive the news with much gladness; and after some expressions of joy, and a persuasion to be constant in his pious purpose, he proceeded with all || convenient speed to ordain him both Deacon and Priest.

Now the English church had gained a second St. Austin, for I think none was so like him before his conversion; none so like St. Ambrose after it; and if his youth had the infirmities of the one, his age had the excellencies of the other, the learning and holiness of both.

And now all his studies, which had been occasionally diffused, were all concentred in divinity: now he had a new calling, new thoughts, and a new employment for his wit and eloquence: now all his earthly affections were changed into divine love, and all the faculties of his own soul were engaged in the conversion of others, in preaching the glad tidings of remission to repenting sinners, and peace to each troubled soul: to these he applied himself with all

care and diligence: and now such a change was wrought in him, that he could say with David, "Oh! "how amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord God of " hosts!" Now he declared openly, that when he required a temporal, God gave him a spiritual bless ing; and that he was now gladder to be a doorkeeper in the bouse of God than he could be to enjoy the noblest of all temporal employments.

Presently after he entered into his holy profession the King sent for him, and made him his chaplain in ordinary, and promised to take a particular care for his preferment.

And though his long familiarity with scholars, and persons of greatest quality, was such as might have given some men boldness enough to have preached to any eminent auditory, yet his modesty in this employment was such, that he could not be persuaded to it, but went usually accompanied with some one friend, to preach privately in some village not far from London, his first sermon being preached at Paddington: this he did till his Majesty sent and appointed him a day to preach to him at Whitehall, and though much were expected from him, both by his Majesty and others, yet he was so happy, which few are, as to satisfy and exceed their expectations, preaching the word so as shewed his own heart was possessed with those very thoughts and joys that he laboured to instill into others: a preacher in earnest, weeping sometimes for

his auditory, sometimes with them; always preaching to himself, like an angel from a cloud, but in none; carrying some, as St. Paul was, to heaven in holy raptures, and enticing others by a sacred art and courtship to amend their lives; here picturing a vice so as to make it ugly to those that practised it, and a virtue so as to make it be beloved even by those that loved it not; and all this with a most particular grace and an inexpressible addition of comeliness.

There may be some that may incline to think (such indeed as have not heard him) that my affection to my friend hath transported me to an immoderate commendation of his preaching: if this meets with any such, let me entreat, though I will omit many, yet that they will receive a double witness for what I say, it being attested by a gentleman of worth, (Mr. Chidley, a frequent hearer of his sermons) being part of a funeral eulogy writ by him on Dr. Donne, and a known truth, though it be in verse.

1010

Each altar bad bis fire---

He kept his loves, but not bis objects; wit
He did not banish, but transplanted it!

Taught it bis place and use, and brought it home
To piety, which it doth best become.---

Tell

me,

bad ever pleasure such a dress?

Have you known crimes so shap’d? or loveliness
Such as bis tips did clothe religion in ?

Had not reproof a beauty passing sin?