23. The Elixer

TEACH me, my God and King,

In all things Thee to see,

And what I do in any thing

To do it as for Thee.

Not rudely, as a beast,

To runne into an action;

But still to make Thee prepossest,

And give it his perfection.

A man that looks on glasse,

On it may stay his eye;

Or if he pleaseth, through it passe,

And then the heav’n espie.

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 drudgerie 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 lesse be told.