The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations/The Altar

by George Herbert

For works with similar titles, see Altar.

 

The Altar.

A broken Altar, Lord, thy servant reares,
Made of a heart, and cemented with teares:
⁠Whose parts are as thy hand did frame;
⁠No workmans tool hath touch'd the same.
⁠A Heart alone
⁠Is such a stone,
⁠As nothing but
⁠Thy power doth cut.
⁠Wherefore each part
⁠Of my hard heart
⁠Meets in this frame,
⁠To praise thy name:
⁠That if I chance to hold my peace,
⁠These stones to praise thee may not cease.
O let thy blessed Sacrifice be mine,
And sanctifie this Altar to be thine.