And Wilt Thou Pardon, Lord
And wilt Thou pardon, Lord
The hymn embodies Lutheran penitential theology, expressing confession of sin and trust in divine forgiveness as central to the Christian life. It reflects the Reformed-Lutheran emphasis on God's merciful pardon freely given to the contrite heart.
History & Background
Written by Cornelius Elven, an English Independent minister, in the 19th century as a penitential hymn. The hymn was included in TLH (The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941) as hymn 322 and appeared in Lutheran worship materials throughout the 20th century.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 263
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 322
Bulletin Note
Written by English hymnodist Cornelius Elven in 1860, this long-meter hymn crystallizes Reformed-Lutheran penitential theology: the hard honesty of confession met by the free grace of absolution.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel movement: it confronts human unworthiness and sin, then pivots decisively to confident appeal for divine forgiveness, making it a powerful musical echo of repentance theology.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Confession of Sin Small Catechism — Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Psalm 23 Christological transformation: establishment of Christ's sovereign care (1-2) → confession of human waywardness and divine retrieval (3) → victory over death through Christ's passion (4) → sacramental communion and eschatological promise (5-6)
Themes
Repentance Forgiveness of sins God's mercy Contrition Reconciliation