Essays in Divinity, Title page – To the reader
ESSAYES IN DIVINITY; By the late Dr DONNE, Dean of S Paul's. BEING Several DISQUISITIONS, Interwoven with MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS:
Before he entred into Holy Orders.
Now made publick by his Son J. D. Dr of the Civil Law.
LONDON, Printed by T. M. for Richard Marriot, and are to be ſold at his Shop in St Dunſtan's Church-yard Fleet-ſtreet. 1651.
that in owning theſe leſs, yet more lawfull iſſues of this modern Author, you will prove a greater Mecaenas then thoſe former Writers ever had, in giving a livelihood to theſe Ofſprings, that had no proviſion left them by their Father.
And to beg this favour, they come (Sir) with the greater confidence, becauſe being writ when the Author was obliged in Civill buſineſs, and had no ingagement in that of the Church, the manner of their birth may ſeem to have ſome analogie with the courſe you now ſeem to ſteer; who being ſo highly intereſſed in the publick Affairs of the State, can yet allow ſo much time to the exerciſe of your private Devotions; which, with the help of your active wiſdom, hath ſo ſetled us, as the tempeſtuous Northwindes are not like to blaſt in the Spring before it come to a full growth, nor the South to over-ripen, till it arrive at ſuch a perfection as may equall the birth of PALLAS; which could be produced from nothing but the very brains of JUPITER; who although ſhee came arm'd from thence, yet it had not been ſufficient to have had a God for her Father, if ſhe had not had METIS to her Mother. Which ſhews us, that the Ʋnion is ſo inſeparable between Counſell and Strength, that our Armies abroad of this Book to your protection, and of my ſelf to your Commands.
Your moſt humble Servant, JOHN DONNE.
To the Reader.
IT is thought fit to let thee know, that theſe Eſſayes. were printed from an exact Copy, under the Authors own hand: and, that they were the voluntary ſacrifices of ſeverall hours, when he had many debates betwixt God and himſelf, whether he were worthy, and competently learned to enter into Holy Orders. They are now publiſh'd, both to teſtifie his modeſt Valuation of himſelf, and to ſhew his great abilities; and, they may ſerve to inform thee in many Holy Curioſities.
Fare-well.