The Elixir (Herbert)

The Elixir 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:

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' actions fine.

This is the famous stone
      That turneth all too gold;
For that which God doth touch and own
      Cannot for less be told.

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.