lefs children, a narrow fortune, and a confideration of the many cares and casualties that attend their education.

In this time of sadness he was importuned by the grave Benchers of Lincoln's Inn (who were once the companions and friends of his youth) to accept of their lecture, which, by reason of Dr. Gataker's removal from thence, was then void; of which he accepted, being moft glad to renew his intermitted friendship with those whom he fo much loved, and where he had been a Saul, (though not to perfecute Christianity, or to deride it, yet in his irregular youth to neglect the vifible practice of it,) there to become a Paul, and preach falvation to his beloved brethren.

And now his life was as a hining light among his old friends; now he gave an ocular testimony of the strictness and regularity of it; now he might say, as St. Paul adviseth his Corinthians, " Be ye followers of me, as I follow Chrift, "and walk as ye have me for an example;" not the example of a bufy-body, but of

66

a con

a contemplative, a harmless, an humble, and an holy life and conversation.

The love of that noble fociety was expreffed to him many ways; for, befides fair lodgings that were fet apart and newly furnished for him, with all neceffaries, other courtefies were alfo daily added; indeed fo many, and fo freely, as if they meant their gratitude fhould exceed his merits and in this love-ftrife of defert and liberality they continued for the space of two years, he preaching faithfully and conftantly to them, and they liberally requiting him. About which time the Emperor of Germany died, and the Palfgrave, who had lately married the Lady Elizabeth, the King's only daughter, was elected and crowned King of Bohemia, the unhappy beginning of many miferies in that nation.

King James, whofe motto (Beati pacifici) did truly speak the very thoughts of his heart, endeavoured first to prevent, and after to compose, the discords of that difcompofed ftate; and, amongst other his endeavours, did then fend the Lord Hay,

Earl

1619

Earl of Doncafter, his ambassador to those unfettled Princes; and, by a special command from his Majefty, Dr. Donne was appointed to affist and attend that employment to the Princes of the Union; for which the Earl was moft glad, who had always put a great value on him, and taken a great pleasure in his converfation and difcourfe: and his friends of Lincoln's Inn were as glad; for they feared that his immoderate ftudy, and fadness for his wife's death, would, as Jacob faid, make his days few, and respecting his bodily health, evil too; and of this there were many vifible figns.

At his going, he left his friends of Lincoln's Inn, and they him, with many reluctations; for though he could not say as St. Paul to his Ephefians, "Behold, "you, to whom I have preached the king"dom of God, fhall from henceforth fee 66 my face no more;" yet he believing himself to be in a confumption, queftioned, and they feared it; all concluding that his troubled mind, with the help of his unintermitted ftudies, haftened the de

cays

cays of his weak body. But God, who
is the God of all wifdom and goodness,
turned it to the beft; for this employ-
ment (to fay nothing of the event of it)
did not only diyert him from those too
ferious ftudies and fad thoughts, but feem-
ed to give him a new life, by a true occa-
fion of joy, to be an eye-witness of the
health of his moft dear and moft honoured
Mistress, the Queen of Bohemia, in a fo-
reign nation; and to be a witness of that
gladnefs which the expreffed to fee him;
who, having formerly known him a cour-
tier, was much joyed to fee him in a ca-
'nonical habit, and more glad to be an
ear-witness of his excellent and powerful
preaching.

About fourteen months after his departure out of England, he returned to his friends of Lincoln's Inn, with his forrows moderated, and his health improved; and there betook himself to his conftant course of preaching.

About a year after his return out of Germany, Dr. Carey was made Bishop of Exeter, and by his removal the deanery

of

of St. Paul's being vacant, the King sent to Dr. Donne, and appointed him to attend him at dinner the next day. When his Majefty was fat down, before he had eat any meat, he said after his pleasant manner, "Dr. Donne, I have invited you "to dinner; and though you fit not "down with me, yet I will carve to you "of a difh that I know you love well; "for knowing you love London, I do "therefore make you Dean of Paul's; "and when I have dined, then do you "take your beloved dish home to your "study, say grace there to yourself, and "much good may it do you."

Immediately after he came to his deanery, he employed workmen to repair and beautify the chapel; fuffering, as holy David once vowed, "his eyes and tem"ples to take no reft, till he had first "beautified the house of God."

The next quarter following, when his father-in-law, Sir George Moor, (whom time had made a lover and admirer of him) came to pay to him the conditioned fum of twenty pounds, he refused to re