summary of the hymn to god the father
A Hymn to God the Father The poem starts out with a question that Donne asks from God that will He forgive his sins which he did even before his birth? Actually, Donne refers to the original sin which his ancestors Adam and Eve committed by eating the forbidden fruit, according to Christian theology. He then adds that if God has forgiven those sins he has not yet done, Donne has more sins to be forgiven. Then he seeks forgiveness for those sins wherein he tempted others to commit sins. But God still has not Donne. Donne then asks for mercy for those sins from which he refrained for a short-span but committed earlier. In the concluding verse he fears that he will still be lost (perishing on the shore on this side of the river Jordan), Donne is finally satisfied by asking God to swear an oath(!) that he will be true to his promise that His son Christ will take Donne to Heaven.