Friday, June 29, 2018

The Altar

A broken ALTAR, Lord, thy servant rears, 
Made of a heart and cemented with tears; 
Whose parts are as thy hand did frame; 
No workman's tool hath touch'd the same. 
A HEART alone 
Is such a stone, 
As nothing but 
Thy pow'r 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. 
Oh, let thy blessed SACRIFICE be mine, 
And sanctify this ALTAR to be thine. 

-- George Herbert (1593-1633), Anglican poet and priest

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