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  AN OFFERING
  by George Herbert
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of a pure heart and the
all-healing power of Christ, encouraging listeners to offer a united
gift to God.

Topics: "Heart Purity", "Gods Grace"
Scripture References: James 4:8

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DESCRIPTION
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George Herbert emphasizes the importance of offering a pure heart as a
gift to God, highlighting the need for self-reflection and the cleansing
power of Christ's dual nature. He encourages the congregation to seek
unity within themselves, to overcome divisions caused by worldly desires
and passions, in order to present multiple gifts as one. Herbert points
to the healing and transformative power of God's grace, urging the
listeners to find solace in God's mercy and to offer their praises and
gifts with a heart converted from sadness to gladness.

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CONTENT
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Come, bring thy gift. If blessings were as slow

As men's returns, what would become of fools?

What hast thou there? a heart? but is it pure?

Search well and see; for hearts have many holes.

Yet one pure heart is nothing to bestow:

In Christ two natures met to be thy cure.

O that within us hearts had propagation,

Since many gifts do challenge many hearts!

Yet one, if good, may title to a number;

And single things grow fruitful by deserts.

In public judgements one may be a nation,

And fence a plague, while others sleep and slumber.

But all I fear is lest thy heart displease,

As neither good, nor one: so oft divisions

Thy lusts have made, and not thy lusts alone;

Thy passions also have their set partitions.

These parcel out thy heart: recover these,

And thou mayst offer many gifts in one.

There is a balsam, or indeed a blood,

Dropping from heav'n, which doth both cleanse and close

All sorts of wounds; of such strange force it is.

Seek out this All-heal, and seek no repose,

ntil thou find and use it to thy good:

Then bring thy gift; and let thy hymn be this;

Since my sadness

Into gladness

Lord thou dost convert,

O accept

What thou hast kept,

As thy due desert.

Had I many,

Had I any

(For this heart is none),

All were thine And none of mine:

Surely thine alone.

Yet thy favour

May give savour

To this poor oblation;

And it raise

To be thy praise,

And be my salvation.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/george-herbert/an-offering/
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