Devotions

by John Donne

DEVOTIONS

UPON EMERGENT OCCASIONS AND SEVERAL STEPS IN
MY SICKNESS DIGESTED INTO

1. MEDITATIONS UPON OUR HUMAN CONDITION
2. EXPOSTULATIONS AND DEBATEMENTS WITH GOD
3. PRAYERS UPON THE SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HIM

SERMON COMMEMORATIVE OF LADY DANVERS

DEATHS DUELL HIS OWN FUNERAL SERMON

BY JOHN DONNE DD

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LONDON

C. WITTINGHAM, TOOKS COURT

ADVERTISEMENT OF THE PUBLISHER.

TO render this edition of Dr. Donne's Devotions more acceptable to the public the following pieces have been added. I. Walton's Life of the Author, with its original Dedication to Sir Robert Holt of Aston; this dedication first appeared in the second edition, but has been omitted in every subsequent one. II. A letter from Dr. Donne to the Duke of Buckingham. III. A letter to Sir Robert Carr, afterwards Earl of Ancram. Both letters relate to the Book of Devotions. IV. A Sermon by Dr. Donne on the death of Lady Danvers, the mother of his friend George Herbert, of which Walton has recorded that he was himself a hearer. V. Death's Duel, called by King James the Doctor's own funeral sermon.

The Book of Devotions was first printed in 1624, and passed through at least five editions; the fifth appeared in 1638, and from that time to the present it is believed that no edition has been published. In the edition of 1638 was added a frontispiece engraved by Marshall, representing Dr. Donne in his winding sheet, taken from his monument in old St. Paul's, which has been copied in the present edition. Of this monument the head and urn still exist in the Crypt of the present Cathedral. It was originally set up by Dr. Montfort and Dr. Henry King, and executed by Nicholas Stone. Whether considered as the effigy of this eminent author, or even as a work of art, it is well worthy restoration; together with those of his learned and excellent predecessors, Colet the founder, and Nowell the great benefactor of St. Paul's School.

London, June 16, 1840.

Chapters (not listed in original)

• Life of Dr. Donne by Izaak Walton
• Poems and letters
• Devotions
  • Epistle Dedicatory
  • Stationes in morbo
  • Meditation I
  • Meditation II
  • Meditation III
  • Meditation IV
  • Meditation V
  • Meditation VI
  • Meditation VII
  • Meditation VIII
  • Meditation IX
  • Meditation X
  • Meditation XI
  • Meditation XII
  • Meditation XIII
  • Meditation XIV
  • Meditation XV
  • Meditation XVI
  • Meditation XVII
  • Meditation XVIII
  • Meditation XIX
  • Meditation XX
  • Meditation XXI
  • Meditation XXII
  • Meditation XXIII
• Sermon on Lady Danvers
• Death's Duel