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Today's WORSHIP QUOTE is a sonnet by John Donne, a prayer that God would have his way with our hearts. Donne, a poet, priest and preacher who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare, was very aware of how his love of God was hindered because he was "betrothed" to sin. Batter my heart, three-personed God; for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me and bend Your force, to break, blow, burn and make me new. I, like an usurped town to another due, Labor to admit you, but, oh, to no end; Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend; But is captive and proves weak or untrue. Yet dearly I love you and would be loved fain; But am betrothed unto your enemy; Divorce me, untie or break that knot again; Take me to you, imprison me, for I, Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. - John Donne (1573-1631), Sonnet XIV For some biography on John Donne, help yourself to these sites: http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/query.cgi?3+31 http://www.gospelcom.net/chi/calendar/jan24.html http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/index.html [The poem reminds me of the familiar words in Robinson's "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" in which the poet asks to be "fettered" to God's love, realizing that he, like each of us, is "prone to wander."] Have a great week, Chip Stam Pastor of Worship and Music Chapel Hill Bible Church Chapel Hill, North Carolina |