As due by many titles I resigne (Holy Sonnet 2)

Song Meaning

The speaker begins by acknowledging a profound debt to God, surrendering himself based on multiple claims of ownership. He was initially created by and for the divine, and even in decay, his being was redeemed by God's blood, a purchase of what was already God's. This establishes a foundational relationship of belonging, where the speaker is God's son, servant, sheep, and image, once even a temple of the divine Spirit. This sense of inherent ownership is immediately challenged by the intrusion of the devil, who is described as usurping and even ravishing what rightfully belongs to God. The speaker questions why this theft is permitted, framing it as a fight for God's own possession. The core tension arises from this conflict: if the speaker is so fundamentally God's, why is he vulnerable to demonic influence and loss? The most striking aspect is the speaker's desperate plea, "Except thou rise and for thine own worke fight." This isn't just a request for help; it's an assertion that God's own integrity is at stake. The speaker’s despair stems from a perceived contradiction: God loves humanity, yet the speaker fears he won't be chosen, and Satan's hatred is paradoxically tied to a reluctance to let go of his prize. Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they articulate a profound spiritual anxiety through the language of possession and rightful ownership. The speaker’s struggle isn't just about personal salvation, but about the very definition of divine property and the perceived inaction that allows it to be violated. The closing lines reveal a complex dynamic where divine love and demonic malice seem to converge on the speaker, leaving him in a state of agonizing uncertainty.