The Altar

By GEORGE HERBERT 1593-1633

 

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 touched the same.

A H EAR T 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.

Oh let thy blessed SACRIFICE be mine,

And sanctify this ALTAR to be thine.