Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SINNER'S SACRIFICE (TO THE HOLY TRINITY), by BEN JONSON



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SINNER'S SACRIFICE (TO THE HOLY TRINITY), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: O holy, blessed, glorious trinity
Last Line: Shall I there rest!


1. O holy, blessed, glorious Trinity
Of persons, still one God, in unity,
The faithful man's believed mystery,
Help, help to lift

2. Myself up to thee, harrowed, torn, and bruised
By sin, and Satan; and my flesh misused,
As my heart lies in pieces, all confused,
O take my gift.

3. All-gracious God, the sinner's sacrifice,
A broken heart thou wert not wont despise,
But 'bove the fat of rams, or bulls, to prize
An offering meet,

4. For thy acceptance. O, behold me right,
And take compassion on my grievous plight.
What odour can be, than a heart contrite,
To thee more sweet?

5. Eternal Father, God, who didst create
This all of nothing, gav'st it form, and fate,
And breath'st into it, life, and light, with state
To worship thee.

6. Eternal God the Son, who not denied'st
To take our nature; becam'st man, and died'st,
To pay our debts, upon thy cross, and cried'st
All's done in me.

7. Eternal Spirit, God from both proceeding,
Father and Son; the comforter, in breeding
Pure thoughts in man: with fiery zeal them feeding
For acts of grace.

8. Increase those acts, O glorious Trinity
Of persons, still one God in unity;
Till attain the longed-for mystery
Of seeing your face.

9. Beholding one in three, and three in one,
A Trinity, to shine in union;
The gladdest light, dark man can think upon;
O grant it me!

10. Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, you three
All coeternal in your majesty,
Distinct in persons, yet in unity
One God to see.

11. My maker, saviour, and my sanctifier,
To hear, to mediate, sweeten my desire,
With grace, with love, with cherishing entire,
O, then how blessed;

12. Among thy saints elected to abide,
And with thy angels, placed side by side,
But in thy presence truly glorified
Shall I there rest!





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