Father, forgive (the Saviour said) <br />They know not what they do: <br />His heart was moved when thus he prayed <br />For me, my friends, and you. <br /> <br />He saw, that as the Jews abused <br />And crucified his flesh; <br />So he, by us, would be refused, <br />And crucified afresh. <br /> <br />Through love of sin, we long were prone <br />To act as Satan bid; <br />But now, with grief and shame we own, <br />We knew not what we did. <br /> <br />We knew not the desert of sin, <br />Nor whom we thus defied; <br />Nor where our guilty souls had been, <br />If Jesus had not died. <br /> <br />We knew not what a law we broke, <br />How holy, just and pure! <br />Nor what a God we durst provoke, <br />But thought ourselves secure. <br /> <br />But Jesus all our guilt foresaw, <br />And shed his precious blood <br />To satisfy the holy law, <br />And make our peace with God. <br /> <br />My sin, dear Saviour, made thee bleed, <br />Yet didst thou pray for me! <br />I knew not what I did, indeed, <br />When ignorant of thee.<br /><br />John Newton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/father-forgive-them-2/
