Sermon Preached to the King 24 February 1625, Title page – Dedication
A SERMON, PREACHED TO THE KINGS Mtie. AT WHITEHALL, 24. Febr. 1625.
By IOHN DONNE Deane of Saint Pauls, London.
And now by his Maiestes commandment Published.
LONDON, Printed for THOMAS IONES, dwelling at the Blacke Rauen in the Strand. 1626.
TO HIS SACRED MAIESTIE.
MOST GRATIOVS SOVERAIGNE
AMongst the many comforts of my Ministery, to the embracing wherof, Almightie God was pleased, to mooue the heart of your Maiesties blessed Father, of holy memory, to mooue mine, this is a great one, That your Maiesty is pleasd some times, not only to receiue into your selfe, but to returne, vntounto others, my poore Meditations, and so by your gracious commandement of publishing them, to make your selfe as a Glasse, (when the Sun it selfe is the Gospell of Christ Iesus) to reflect, & cast them vponupon your Subiects. It was a Metaphor in which, your Maiesties Blessed Father seemd to delight; for in the name of a Mirroir, a Looking Glasse, he sometimes presented Himselfe, in his publique declarations & speeches to his People; and a continued Metaphor is an Allegory, and holds in more. So your Maiestie doth more of the offices of such a Glasse; You doe that office which Moses his Glasses did, at the Brazen Sea in the Temple, (for you show others their spots, and in a Pious and vnspotted life of your owne, you show your Subiects their deficiences) And you doe the other office of such Glasses, by this communicating to all, the beames which your Maiestie receiud in your selfe. Wee are in Times when the way to Peace is Warre, but my Profession leades not me to those Warres; And wee are in Times when the Peace of the Church, may seeme to implore a kinde of Warre, of Debatements and Conferences in some points; but my disposition leades mee not to that Warre neither. For in this Sermon, my onelyonly purpose was, that no By-stander, should bee hurt, whilest the Fray lasted, with either Opinion. And that your Maiestie accepts it so your selfe, & so reflects it vponupon others, I humbly beseech your Maiestie to accept also this Sacrifice of Thanksgiuing, for that, From
Your Sacred Maiesties humblest Subiect, and Deuotedst Seruant and Chapleine. IOHN DONNE.