The Windows

Lord, how can man preach thy eternal word ?
He is a brittle, crazy glass ,
Yet in thy temple thou dost him afford
This glorious and transcendent place,
To be a window through thy grace.

But when thou dost anneal in glass thy story,
Making thy life to shine within
The holy preachers , then the light and glory
More reverend grows and more doth win,
Which else shows wat'rish, bleak, and thin.

Doctrine and life, colors and light, in one
When they combine and mingle, bring
A strong regard and awe; but speech alone
Doth vanish like a flaring thing,
And in the ear, not conscience ring.