"The Altar" by George Herbert

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 HEART alone

As 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.

O let thy blessed SACRIFICE be mine,

And sanctify this ALTAR to be thine.

George Herbert (1593-1633)

Comments on this comparison between the heart and the altar of the Old Testament from "The One Year Book of Poetry" (October 24th);

"Herbert knew that his heart was so hard that only God's power could cut it. Attempting to use tools on his heart - such as self-denial, outward adjustments, or overt sanctity - would turn him into a performer rather than a worshiper.

Nothing we offer on or from the altar of our heart will curry God's favor, for God has already made the perfect offering for us - Jesus Christ. We simply need to accept his sacrifice for our sins.

...

God doesn't want us to work for his acceptance. We cannot make our heart - through self-effort - an altar that pleases him."