A Hymn to God the Father

Here is something from a mind steeped in another age. An age when God was holy, and man was depraved. An age when Jesus had come to save His people from their sins. A time when men were taught the unerring truth about themselves from their infancy, and when little children understood more of the Word of God than many adults do today. It was an age when seekers were not sensitive, but were rendered sensitive to their need under the faithful presentation of the gospel of grace. Here is fruit of that ministry.

A Hymn to God the Father

Wilt thou forgive that sinne where I begunne,
Which is my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive those sinnes through which I runne,
And doe them still: though still I doe deplore?
When thou hast done, thou has not done,
For, I have more.

Wilt thou forgive that sinne by which I wonne
Others to sinne? and, made my sinne their doore?
Wilt thou forgive that sinne which I did shunne
A yeare, or two: but wallowed in, a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For, I have more.

A have a sinne of feare, that when I have spunne
My last thred, I shall perish on the shore;
Sweare by thy selfe, that at my death thy Sunne
Shall shine as it does now, and heretofore;
And, having done that, Thou hast done,
I have no more.

John Donne (Poems, 1663)