AND I have wounded Thee -- oh, wounded Thee! -- Wounded the dear, dear Hand that holds me fast! Oh, to recall the word! That cannot be! Oh, to unthink the thought that out of reach hath passed! Sorrow and bitter grief replace my bliss; I could not wish that any joy should be; There is no room for any thought but this: That I have sinned -- have sinned -- have wounded Thee! How could I grieve Thee so! Thou couldst have kept; My fall was not the failure of Thy word. Thy promise hath no flaw, no dire "except," To neutralize the grace so royally conferred. Oh the exceeding sinfulness of sin! Tenfold exceeding in the love-lit light Of Thy sufficient grace without, within, Enough for every need, in never-conquered might! With all the shame, with all the keen distress, Quick, "waiting not," I flee to Thee again; Close to the wound, beloved Lord, I press, That Thine own precious blood may overflow the stain. O precious blood! Lord, let it rest on me! I ask not only pardon from my King, But cleansing from my Priest. I come to Thee Just as I came at first, -- a sinful, helpless thing. Oh, cleanse me now! My Lord, I cannot stay For evening shadows and a silent hour: Now I have sinned, and now, with no delay, I claim Thy promise and its total power. O Saviour bid me "go and sin no more," And keep me always 'neath the mighty flow Of Thy perpetual fountain; I implore That Thy perpetual cleansing I may fully know. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE NIGHT MOTHS by EDWIN MARKHAM THANKSGIVING DAY by LYDIA MARIA CHILD THE WORLD-SOUL by RALPH WALDO EMERSON FRAGMENTS INTENDED FOR DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: MAN'S GUARD AGAINST DEATH by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES MAXIMS FOR THE OLD HOUSE: THE STAIR by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS: BOOK 1. THE FIFTH SONG by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) EPIGRAM ON THE COUNTESS OF SOMERSET'S PICTURE by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |