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 aloneIs such a stone,As nothing butThy power doth cut.Wherefore each partOf my hard heartMeets 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.