18 March 2009

A Bit of Donne

This always grips my heart:

A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER.
by John Donne


I.
WILT Thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

II.
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

III.
I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore ;
But swear by Thyself, that at my death Thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore ;
And having done that, Thou hast done ;
I fear no more.

4 comments:

DRG said...

Pastor Weedon-
That is one of my favorites. Thanks for posting it.
-Debbie

William Weedon said...

Debbie,

You're very welcome. Isn't it wonderful to read those words and realized that someone else long ago knew the struggle that WE go through? I love it.

Elephantschild said...

It's beautiful.

(I also love many of George Herbert's poems.)

Cindy R. said...

Wonderful. That great sin of unbelief, finally resolved not within me, but in who Christ is.

I bought an Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, a lovely hymnal, because this is in there (hymn 498), set to a most fitting tune.