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An Hymn To God The Father
An Hymn To God The Father
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.
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 wallow`d in a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.
I have a sin of fear, that when I`ve 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.
I have the rather mentioned this hymn, for that he caused it to be set to
a most grave and solemn tune, and to be often sung to the organ by the
choristers of St. Paul`s Church, in his own hearing, especially at the evening
service; and at his return from his customary devotions in that place, did
occasionally say to a friend, "The words of this hymn have restored to me the
same thoughts of joy that possessed my soul in my sickness, when I composed
it. And, O the power of church-music! that harmony added to this hymn has
raised the affections of my heart, and quickened my graces of zeal and
gratitude; and I observe that I always return from paying this public duty of
prayer and praise to God, with an unexpressible tranquillity of mind, and a
willingness to leave the world."
After this manner the disciples of our Saviour, and the best of
Christians in those ages of the church nearest to his time, offer their
praises to Almighty God. And the reader of St. Augustine`s life may there find
that towards his dissolution he wept abundantly, that the enemies of
Christianity had broke in upon them, and profaned and ruined their
sanctuaries, and because their public hymns and lauds were lost out of their
churches. And after this manner have many devout souls lifted up their hands
and offered acceptable sacrifices unto Almighty God, where Dr. Donne offered
his, and now lies buried.
But now, O Lord! how is that place become desolate!^7
[Footnote 7: 1656]
Before I proceed further, I think fit to inform the reader, that not long
before his death he caused to be drawn a figure of the body of Christ extended
upon an anchor, like those which painters draw when they would present us with
the picture of Christ crucified on the cross: his varying no otherwise, than
to affix him not to a cross, but to an anchor - the emblem of hope; - this he
caused to be drawn in little, and then many of those figures thus drawn to be
engraven very small in Heliotropium stones, and set in gold; and of these he
sent to many of his dearest friends, to be used as seals, or rings, and kept
as memorials of him, and of his affection to them.
His dear friends and benefactors, Sir Henry Goodier and Sir Robert
Drewry, could not be of that number; nor could the Lady Magdalen Herbert, the
mother of George Herbert, for they had put off mortality, and taken possession
of the grave before him: but Sir Henry Wotton, and Dr. Hall, the then late
deceased Bishop of Norwich, were; and so were Dr. Duppa, Bishop of Salisbury,
and Dr. Henry King, Bishop of Chichester - lately deceased, - men in whom
there was such a commixture of general learning, of natural eloquence, and
Christian humility, that they deserve a commemoration by a pen equal to their
own, which none have exceeded.
And in this enumeration of his friends, though many must be omitted; yet
that man of primitive piety, Mr. George Herbert, may not; I mean that George
Herbert who was the author of The Temple, or Sacred Poems and Ejaculations. A
book in which, by declaring his own spiritual conflicts, he hath comforted and
raised many a dejected and discomposed soul and charmed them into sweet and
quiet thoughts; a book, by the frequent reading whereof, and the assistance of
that spirit that seemed to inspire the author, the reader may attain habits of
peace and piety, and all the gifts of the Holy Ghost and heaven; and may, by
still reading, still keep those sacred fires burning upon the altar of so pure
a heart, as shall free if from the anxieties of this world, and keep it fixed
upon things that are above. Betwixt this George Herbert and Dr. Donne there
was a long and dear friendship, made up by such a sympathy of inclinations,
that they coveted and joyed to be in each other`s company; and this happy
friendship was still maintained by many sacred endearments; of which that
which followeth may be some testimony.
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