The Altar by George Herbert

This poem The Altar, from a collection of Herberts poems titled The Temple describes the human heart as an altar. The Temple collection is cited by another famous poet and believer Henry Vaughn to have been instrumental in his conversion to Christ. Have a few reads through and enjoy:

  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.