George Herbert


THE SINNER.

LORD, how I am all ague, when I seek
What I have treasur’d in my memorie !
            Since, if my soul make even with the week,
Each seventh note by right is due to thee.
I finde there quarries of pil’d vanities,
            But shreds of holinesse, that dare not venture
            To shew their face, since crosse to thy decrees :
There the circumference earth is, heav’n the centre.
In so much dregs the quintessence is small :
            The spirit and good extract of my heart
            Comes to about the many hundredth part.
Yet, Lord, restore thine image, heare my call :
            And though my hard heart scarce to thee can grone,
            Remember that thou once didst write in stone.




Source:
Herbert, George. The Poetical Works of George Herbert.
New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1857. 44.


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