John Donne
The other day I ran across this poem. It's beautiful and moving, but at the same time kind of disturbing.
The Holy Sonnet 14
Batter my heart, three-person'd 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 usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd 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.
I think that it's stuff like this that makes so many Arminians think that Calvinism teaches that God forces Himself upon the unbeliever. If I understand that last part correctly, then Donne compares the convert to a rape victim. Not a pretty picture. I realize that most Calvinists would be shocked at this and horrified by that comparison as well. But this is why Arminians often see Calvinism as teaching that God saves people against their will.
The Holy Sonnet 14
Batter my heart, three-person'd 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 usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd 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.
I think that it's stuff like this that makes so many Arminians think that Calvinism teaches that God forces Himself upon the unbeliever. If I understand that last part correctly, then Donne compares the convert to a rape victim. Not a pretty picture. I realize that most Calvinists would be shocked at this and horrified by that comparison as well. But this is why Arminians often see Calvinism as teaching that God saves people against their will.
posted by Daniel | 11:25 AM
3 Comments:
Oh, but I love that poem :-)
Donne was known as a metephysical poet. Though I never use that analogy of rape myself because rape is evil and God is not. Nor is it evil for God to change a man nature.
I like this poem because there is still some love for the world in me. The amazing thing about it is I love it and don't want to give it up. Only by God's grace can he change that in me.
Great post!
Doug
Hey again Daniel.
Great poem. I don't think I've read that since college.
Here's my take:
I think that Donne is likening himself to the bride in Song of Songs when he says "ravish me."
He's admitting to God that he is filled with sin and he needs God to break him (and his heart) and make him new.
He wants God to know him intimately. He's trying to let God into his heart but it's difficult.
He's "betroth'd unto your enemy" i.e. betrothed to sin and he needs God's help to break him from it. Because Donne is a slave to sin (from Romans 7), he wants God to imprison him in His love and ravish him (like Song of Songs).
I don't think he thinks of himself as a rape victim but rather as a slave to sin that won't let God come into his life. As such, he's asking God to force himself into his life.
Great poem...kinda deep...
yes, very deep interesting interpretation
evie
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