The Elixir

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 prepossest, 

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.

~ George Herbert