'The Elixir' (poem) written by George Herbert

Teach me, my God and King,

In all things Thee to see,

And what I do in anything

To do it as for Thee.


Not rudely, as a beast,

To run into an action;

But still to make Thee propossest,

And give it his perfection.


A man that looks on glass,

On it may stay his eye;

Or if he pleaseth, through it pass,

And then the heav'n espy.


All may of Thee partake:

Nothing can be so mean,

Which with his tincture - "for Thy sake" -

Will not grow bright and clean.


A servant with this clause

Makes drudgery divine:

Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws,

Makes that and th'action fine.


This is the famous stone

That turneth all to gold;

For that which God doth touch and own

Cannot for less be told.

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