Holy Sonnet XV: "Wilt thou love God, as he thee?" by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Holy Sonnet XV: "Wilt thou love God, as he thee?"

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

Wilt thou love God, as he thee? then digest

Wilt thou love God, as he thee? then digest,

My Soul, this wholesome meditation:

How God the Spirit, by Angels waited on

In Heaven, doth make his Temple in thy breast.

 

The Father having begot a Son most blest,

And still begetting, (for he ne’er begun)

Hath deigned to choose thee by adoption,

Co-heir to his glory, and Sabbath’s endless rest.

 

And as a robbed man, which by search doth find

His stolen stuff sold, must lose or buy it again:

The Son of glory came down, and was slain,

Us whom he had made, and Satan stole, to unbind.

 

’Twas much, that man was made like God before,

But, that God should be made like man, much more.

 

Summary

The poet addresses his own soul, asking it to reflect deeply and seriously ("digest") on a profound spiritual truth: if one is to truly love God in return for His love, one must consider the immense acts of love God has shown.

He begins by describing how God, who is a divine Spirit served by angels in Heaven, has chosen to dwell not in some far-off realm but within the very heart ("Temple") of the believer. This means God lives within the soul of a human being.

The poem then explains how God the Father eternally begets the Son — not in time, but eternally, because God has no beginning. Despite this divine greatness, He has chosen to adopt human beings as His children, making them co-heirs (joint heirs) of His eternal glory and the everlasting Sabbath — a symbol of divine rest and peace.

Next, the poet compares humanity’s redemption to a man who, after being robbed, discovers his belongings sold in a market and now must either give them up or buy them back. Similarly, humankind was created by God but was stolen by Satan through sin. To rescue humanity, the Son of God came down to earth and allowed Himself to be killed — essentially “buying back” what was His to begin with.

The poem concludes by reflecting on two great acts of love: it was already amazing that man was made in the image of God. But it is even more incredible that God chose to become like man — through the incarnation of Jesus Christ — in order to save him.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. Wilt thou love God, as he thee? then digest,

If you want to love God the way He loves you, then deeply consider this truth.

 

2. My Soul, this wholesome meditation:

My soul, reflect carefully on this spiritually nourishing thought:

 

3. How God the Spirit, by Angels waited on

That God — who is Spirit and served by angels in Heaven —

 

4. In Heaven, doth make his Temple in thy breast.

Has chosen to dwell within your heart as His holy temple.

 

5. The Father having begot a Son most blest,

God the Father, who gave life to His most blessed Son,

 

6. And still begetting, (for he ne’er begun)

And continues eternally to beget Him (since God has no beginning),

 

7. Hath deigned to choose thee by adoption,

Has graciously chosen you to be His child by adoption,

 

8. Co-heir to his glory, and Sabbath’s endless rest.

Sharing in His divine glory and the eternal peace of Heaven.

 

9. And as a robbed man, which by search doth find

Just as a man who’s been robbed finds his stolen goods in a shop,

 

10. His stolen stuff sold, must lose or buy it again:

He must either let them go or purchase them back himself,

 

11. The Son of glory came down, and was slain,

In the same way, Jesus (God’s glorious Son) came down to earth and was killed,

 

12. Us whom he had made, and Satan stole, to unbind.

To free us — His own creation — whom Satan had taken captive through sin.

 

13. ’Twas much, that man was made like God before,

It was already a great thing that humans were created in God’s image,

 

14. But, that God should be made like man, much more.

But it is an even greater miracle that God chose to become like man to save him.

 

Analysis in Detail

This sonnet explores the profound theme of divine love and human response. Donne begins by asking a deeply reflective and rhetorical question: “Wilt thou love God, as he thee?” The line invites the soul to consider not just the notion of loving God, but to love Him in the same sacrificial, total, and initiating way God has loved humanity. The word “digest” suggests not a superficial thought, but one that must be spiritually internalized and meditated upon — a call for serious contemplation.

The second quatrain presents the indwelling of God in the believer. Donne reminds the soul that God, who is Spirit and served by angels in the high majesty of Heaven, chooses to dwell within the heart (“breast”) of the believer. This shocking contrast — the Almighty dwelling in frail human beings — sets up the depth of God’s humility and intimacy. It points to the incarnational theology of Christianity: that God does not remain distant but enters human life.

Donne moves into Trinitarian theology in the next section. He speaks of God the Father eternally begetting the Son (“for he ne’er begun”) — a reference to the co-eternity of the Son with the Father, a foundational Christian belief. This eternal act is not a one-time historical event but an ongoing divine relationship. Even in this eternal glory, God chooses human beings by adoption. This concept of adoption (drawn from Paul’s writings, especially Romans 8:15–17) emphasizes that humans are not naturally divine, but are lovingly brought into the family of God — made co-heirs of His glory and Sabbath’s endless rest, symbolizing eternal peace and salvation.

The sestet shifts tone, bringing in a metaphor of redemption through the image of a robbed man who finds his stolen goods being sold. The man faces a painful choice: either lose what’s rightfully his or pay the price to reclaim it. This metaphor illustrates the fallen state of humanity: though created by God, people were “stolen” by Satan through sin. To win them back, Jesus — “the Son of glory” — descended from Heaven and willingly died. This exchange becomes a deeply personal and emotional image of atonement. Christ, the Creator, sacrifices Himself to redeem what was already His, out of love and mercy.

In the closing couplet, Donne offers a profound theological reflection. He first acknowledges the wonder that man was created in God’s image (“’Twas much, that man was made like God before”). This refers to Genesis and the dignity of humanity in creation. But even greater — and more astonishing — is that God was made like man (“much more”). Here, Donne highlights the incarnation — God becoming human in Jesus. The poet is overwhelmed by the magnitude of this act, emphasizing that the movement from God to man is far more humbling and miraculous than the initial act of making man like God.

 

Stylistic and Poetic Features

Structure: The poem is a Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet with an octave (eight lines) presenting a theological meditation, followed by a sestet (six lines) reflecting on Christ’s redemptive act.

Tone: Reverent, contemplative, and awestruck.

Language: Elevated and spiritual, drawing from both Scripture and theological doctrine.

Imagery: The metaphors of the temple, adoption, robbery, and co-heirship enrich the spiritual message and make the abstract ideas tangible.

 

Conclusion

In Holy Sonnet XV, John Donne beautifully weaves doctrine, personal devotion, and poetic depth to challenge the soul to love God with the same awe and self-giving that God has shown toward humanity. The poem builds a spiritual logic: if God, in all His glory, chose to humble Himself to dwell in man, adopt him, and die for him, how can man not love Him in return?

 

Possible Exam Questions

What is the central question asked in the opening line of the poem?

 

How does Donne describe the presence of God in the believer’s heart?

 

What metaphor does Donne use to describe human redemption?

 

What does Donne mean by “Sabbath’s endless rest”?

 

How does the poet compare the creation of man with the incarnation of God?

 

Who are referred to as “co-heirs” in the poem?

 

Why does Donne say that God’s becoming man is “much more” than man being made like God?

 

Explain the metaphor of the “robbed man” used in the sonnet. How does it reflect Christ’s sacrifice?

 

How does Donne portray the relationship between God and man in this poem?

 

Discuss the theological significance of the poem’s references to the Trinity and adoption.

 

Examine the contrast between God’s majesty in Heaven and His dwelling in man’s heart as described in the poem.

 

How does John Donne develop the idea of divine love and human response in Holy Sonnet XV?

 

Critically analyze Holy Sonnet XV as a meditation on God’s love and the Incarnation.

 

Discuss how Donne blends theology and poetry in Holy Sonnet XV to express profound spiritual truths.

 

“But, that God should be made like man, much more.” — Examine how this line encapsulates the message of the entire poem.

 

How does Donne’s use of metaphysical imagery enhance the spiritual depth of Holy Sonnet XV?

 

In what ways does Holy Sonnet XV reflect John Donne’s religious devotion and poetic craftsmanship?