Pardon.

God pardons those who do through frailty sin,
But never those that persevere therein.

Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick was a 17th-century English lyric poet and cleric. He is known for his book of poems, "Hesperides," which includes the carpe diem poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." His works are noted for their clarity, simplicity, and musical quality. Herrick was also a vicar of Dean Prior in Devon, despite being ejected during the English Civil War and later reinstated.

Robert Herrick

Upon Center, A Spectacle-Maker With A Flat Nose.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

To His Muse.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

The School Or Pearl Of Putney, The Mistress Of All Singular Manners, Mistress Portman.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

To The Most Virtuous Mistress Pot, Who Many Times Entertained Him.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

English

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God's Pardon.

When I shall sin, pardon my trespass here;
For once in hell, none knows remission there.

Robert Herrick

To God.

God, who me gives a will for to repent,
Will add a power to keep me innocent;
That I shall ne'er that trespass recommit
When I have done true penance here for it.

Robert Herrick

To God.

Pardon me, God, once more I Thee entreat,
That I have placed Thee in so mean a seat
Where round about Thou seest but all things vain,
Uncircumcis'd, unseason'd and profane.
But as Heaven's public and immortal eye
Looks on the filth, but is not soil'd thereby,
So Thou, my God, may'st on this impure look,
But take no tincture from my sinful book:
Let but one beam of glory on it shine,
And that will make me and my work divine.

Robert Herrick

Penitency.

A man's transgressions God does then remit,
When man He makes a penitent for it.

Robert Herrick

Penitence.

Who after his transgression doth repent,
Is half, or altogether innocent.

Robert Herrick

To God.

If I have played the truant, or have here
Failed in my part, oh! Thou that art my dear,
My mild, my loving tutor, Lord and God!
Correct my errors gently with Thy rod.
I know that faults will many here be found,
But where sin swells there let Thy grace abound.

Robert Herrick