A Hymn to God the Father

Hear me, O God!

   A broken heart

   Is my best part.

   Use still thy rod,

   That I may prove

   Therein thy Love.

   If thou hadst not

   Been stern to me,

   But left me free,

  I had forgot

  Myself and thee.

  For sin's so sweet,

  As minds ill-bent

  Rarely repent,

  Until they meet

  Their punishment.

  Who more can crave

  Than thou hast done?

  That gav'st a Son,

  To free a slave,

  First made of nought;

  With all since bought.

  Sin, Death, and Hell

  His glorious name

  Quite overcame,

  Yet I rebel

  And slight the same.

  But I'll come in

  Before my loss

  Me farther toss,

  As sure to win

  Under His cross.

NOTESForm: abbacc abbab ... 1.Works, 1640. After 1635 the poem became an anthem in one of the royal chapels, with musical setting by William Cross. It was imitated by Herrick in An Ado or Psalm to God, beginning: \