John Donne: The Metaphysical Preacher

Abstract

John Donne is well known in English literature as the founder of the metaphysical poets. When Donne was ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1615 he continued to use the metaphysical conceit in his sermons and theology by “yoking together” the Calvinist and Arminian positions regarding the doctrine of grace. The Church of England was decided Calvinist under King James I but moved toward the Arminian view of theology when Charles I ascended to the throne. Calvinist and Arminians argue as to whether the grace that is offer by God can or cannot be resisted by man. By dividing grace into two parts, Donne maintained that prevenient grace could not be resisted but that subsequent grace could be resisted and required human effort to work in concert with prevenient grace. Donne also maintained a moderate Calvinist conformity by adding that God does not force men to receive His grace but compels them to answer his call by drawing them with an inward call. Donne’s sermons and theology can therefore be seen as a moderate approach to the Calvinist and Arminian theological positions in order to find a solution to the question of the concurrence of the grace of God and the free will of man.