Schola cordis, or, The heart of it selfe, gone away from God brought back againe to him & instructed by him in 47 emblems.

Schola cordis, or, The heart of it selfe, gone away from God brought back againe to him & instructed by him in 47 emblems.

Table of contents

Title page

To the Divine Majestie of the onely begotten, eternall, well-belov〈…〉d Son of God and Saviour of the World Christ Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the maker, the 〈◊〉, the Searcher and the Teacher of the HEART;

The CONTENTS.

The School of the Heart. The INTRODVCTION.

§

The Infection of the Heart.

ODE 1.

§

The taking away of the Heart.

ODE 2.

§

The darknesse of the Heart.

ODE 3.

§

The absence of the Heart.

ODE 4.

§

The vanity of the Heart.

ODE 5.

§

The oppression of the Heart.

ODE. 6.

§

The covetousnesse of the Heart.

ODE. 7.

§

The hardnesse of the Heart.

ODE 8.

§

§

The insatiablenesse of the Heart.

ODE. 10.

§

The returning of the Heart.

ODE. 11.

§

The powring out of the Heart.

ODE. 12.

§

The circumcision of the Heart.

ODE. 13.

§

The contrition of the Heart.

ODE. 14.

§

The humiliation of the Heart.

ODE. 15.

§

The softening of the Heart.

ODE. 16.

§

The cleansing of the Heart.

ODE. 17.

§

The giving of the Heart.

ODE. 18.

§

The Sacrifice of the Heart.

ODE. 19.

§

The weighing of the Heart.

ODE 20.

§

The trying of the Heart.

ODE. 21.

§

The sounding of the Heart.

ODE. 22.

§

The levelling of the Heart.

ODE. 23.

§

The renewing of the Heart.

ODE. 24.

§

The enlightening of the Heart.

ODE. 25.

§

The table of the Heart.

ODE. 26.

§

The tilling of the Heart.

ODE. 27.

§

The seeding of the Heart.

ODE. 28.

§

The watering of the Heart.

ODE. 29.

§

The flowers of the Heart.

ODE. 31.

§

The keeping of the Heart.

ODE 31.

§

The watching of the Heart.

ODE. 32.

§

The wounding of the Heart.

ODE. 33.

§

The inhabiting of the Heart.

ODE. 34.

§

The enlarging of the Heart.

ODE. 35.

§

The inflaming of the Heart.

ODE. 36.

§

The ladder of the Heart.

ODE. 37.

§

The flying of the Heart.

ODE. 38.

§

The union of the Heart.

ODE. 39.

§

The rest of the Heart.

ODE. 40.

§

The bathing of the Heart.

ODE. 41.

§

The binding of the Heart.

ODE. 42.

§

The prop of the Heart.

ODE. 43.

§

The scourging of the Heart.

ODE. 44.

§

The hedging of the Heart.

ODE 45.

§

The fastening of the Heart.

ODE. 46.

§

The new wine of the Heart.

ODE. 47.

The CONCLVSION.

The Learning of the Heart. The Preface.

The Grammar of the Heart.

The Rethorick of the Heart.

The Logick of the Heart.

§

§

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SCHOLA CORDIS or The Heart of it selfe, gone away from God brought back againe to him & instructed by him in 47 Emblems.

‘Audiam quid Loquatur in me Dominus’ psalm.84.

‘Loquar ad [...]’ Cer. osa. 2

London Printed for H Blunden at the Castle in Corn-hill 1647.

Mickael uan[?] lochom facit

To the Divine Majestie of the onely begotten, eternall, well-belov [...]d Son of God and Saviour of the World Christ Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the maker, the [...], the Searcher and the Teacher of the HEART;

[Page]

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The meanest of his mostunworthy Servants offers up this poore account of his Thoughts, humbly begging pardon for all that is amisse in them, and a gracious acdeptance of these weak Erdeavours for the advancement of his Honor the good of others.

The CONTENTS.

[Page]

[Page]

THe Introduction.

E bleme,

1. The infection of the heart.

2. The taking away of the heart.

3. The darknesse of the heart.

4. The absence of the heart.

5. The vanity of the heart.

6. The oppression of the heart.

7. The covetousnesse of the heart.

8. The hardnesse of the heart.

9. The division of the heart.

10. The insatiablenesse of the heart.

11. The returning of the heart.

12. The powring out of the heart.

13. The circumcision of the heart.

14. The contrition of the heart.

15. The humiliation of the heart.

16. The softening of the heart.

17. The cleansing of the heart.

18. The giving of the heart.

19. The sacrifice of the heart.

20. The weighing of the heart.

[Page] 21. The trying of the heart.

22. The sounding of the heart.

23. The levelling of the heart.

24. The renewing of the heart.

25. The enlightening of the heart.

26. The table of the heart.

27. The tilling of the heart.

28. The seeding of the heart.

29. The watering of the heart.

30. The flowers of the heart.

31. The keeping of the heart.

32. The watching of the heart.

33. The wounding of the heart.

34. The inhabiting of the heart.

35. The enlarging of the heart.

36. The inflaming of the heart.

37. The ladder of the heart.

38. The flying of the heart.

39. The union of the heart.

40. The rest of the heart.

41. The bathing of the heart.

42. The binding of the heart.

43. The prop of the heart.

44. The scourging of the heart.

45. The hedging of the heart.

46. The fastening of the heart.

47. The new wine of the heart.

$he Conclusion.

The School of the Heart.
The INTRODVCTION.

[Page]

TUrne in, my mind, wander no more abroad,

Her's work enough at home, lay by that load

Of scatter'd thoughts that clogs and cumbers

Resume thy long neglected liberty (thee)

Of selfe-examination: bend thine eye

Inward, consider where thine heart doth lie,

How 'tis affected, how 'tis busi'd: looke

What thou hast writ thy selfe in thine own booke,

Thy conscience:-here set thou thy selfe to schoole.

Selfe-knowledge 'twixt a wise man and a foole

Doth make the difference: he that neglects

This learning, sideth with his owne defects.

Dost thou draw backe? Hath custome charm'd thee so,

That thou canst relish nothing but thy woe?

Find'st thou such sweetnesse in those sugar'd lyes?

Have forain objects so ingrost thine eyes?

Canst thou not hold them off? Hast thou an eare

To listen but to what thou should'st not heare?

Art thou incapable of every thing,

But what thy senses to thy fancie bring?

Remember that thy birth and constitution

Both promise better then such base confusion.

Thy birth's divine, from heaven; thy composure

Is spirit, and immortall; thine inclosure

[Page] In walls of flesh not to make thee debtor

For house-roome to them, but to make them better.

Thy body's thy freehold, live then as the Lord,

No tenant to thine owne: some time afford

To view what state 'tis in: survey each part,

And above all take notice of thine heart.

Such as that is the rest is, or will be,

Better or worse, blame-worthy or fault-free.

What? are the ruines such thou art affrai'd,

Or else asham'd, to see how 'tis decai'd?

Is't therefore thou art loth to see it such,

As now it is, because it is so much,

Degenerated now from what it was,

And should have been? Thine ignorance, alas,

Will make it nothing better, and the longer

Evills are suffer'd grow, they grow the stronger.

Or hath thine understanding lost its light?

Hath the darke night of error dimm'd thy sight

So that thou canst not, though thou would'st, observe

All things amisse within thee, how they swerve

From the straight rules of righteousnesse and reason?

If' so, omit not then this precious season.

Tis yet schoole time, as yet the doore's not shut.

Harke how the Master calls. Come let us put

Up our requests to him, whose will alone

Limits his pow'r of teaching, from whom none

Returnes unlearned, that hath once a will

To be his scholar, and implore his skill.

Great scearcher of the heart, whose boundlesse sight

Discovers secrets, and doth bring to light

The hidden things of darkenesse, who alone

Perfectly know'st all things that can be knowne.

Thou know'st I doe not, cannot, have no mind

To know mine heart: I am not onely blind,

But lame, and listlesse: thou alone canst make

[Page] Mee able, willing: and the paines I take,

As well as the successe, must come from thee,

Who workest both to will and doe in mee:

Having now made mee willing to be taught,

Make mee as willing to learne what I ought.

Or, if thou wilt allow thy scholar leave

To choose his lesson, lest I should deceive

My selfe againe, as I have done too often,

Teach mee to know mine heart. Thou, thou, canst soften

Lighten, enliven, purifie, restore,

And make more fruitfull, then it was before,

Its hardnesse, darkenesse, death, uncleannesse, losse,

And barrennesse: refine it from the drosse,

And draw out all the dregs, heale ev'ry sore,

Teach it to know it selfe, and love thee more.

Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst impart this skill:

And for all other learning take't who will.

§

§

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Embleme 1.

The Infection of the Heart.

[Page]

ACTS 5.3.‘Why hath Satan filled thine heart?’

Epigr. 1.

WHilst thou enclin'st thy Voyce-envcigled eare,

The subtill Serpents Syren-Songs to heare,

Thy heart drinks deadly poyson drawn from bell,

And with a Vip'rous broed of sinne doth swell.

ODE 1.

The Soule.

1.

Profit, and pleasure, comfort, and content,

Wisedome, and honour, and when these are spent

A fresh supply of more! Oh heav'nly words!

Are these the dainty fruits, that this faire tree affords

The Serpent.

2.

Yes these, and many more, if more may be,

All, that the world containes, in this one tree

Contracted is. Take but a tast, and try,

Thou maist beleeve thy self, experience can not lye.

The Soule.

3.

But thou maist lye: and with a false pretence

Of friendship rob me of that excellence,

Which my Creators bounty hath bestow'd,

And freely given me, to whom he nothing ow'd.

[Page] The Serpent.

4.

Strange composition! so credulous,

And at the same time so suspicious!

This is the tree of knowledge, and untill

Thou eat thereof, how canst thou know what's good or ill?

The Soule.

5.

God infinitly good my maker is,

Who neither will, nor can, doe ought amisse.

The being I receiv'd was that he sent,

And therefore I am sure must needs be excellent:

The Serpent.

6.

Suppose it be: yet doubtlesse he that gave

Thee such a being must himselfe needs have

A better farre, more excellent by much:

Or else be sure that he could not have made thee such.

The Soule.

7.

Such as he made me I am well content

Still to continue: for, if he had meant

I should enjoy a better state, he would

As easily as not have giv'n it, if he would.

The Serpent.

8.

And is it not all one, if he have given

Thee meanes to get it? must he still be driven

To new workes of creation for thy sake?

Wilt thou not what he sets before thee daine to take?

The Soule.

9.

Yes, of the fruits of all the other trees

I freely take and ear: they are the sees

Allow'd me for the dressing by the Maker:

But of this satall fruit I must not be partaker.

The Serpent.

10.

And why? what danger can it be to eat

That which is good being ordain'd for meat?

[Page] What wilt thou say? God made it not for food?

Or dur'st thou think that made by him it is not good

The Soule.

11.

Yes, good it is, no doubt, and good for meat:

But I am not allow'd thereof to eat.

My Makers prohibition under paine

Of death the day I eat thereof, makes me refraine.

The Serpent.

12.

Faint-hearted fondling, canst thou feare to dye,

Being a Spirit and immortall? Fie.

God knowes this fruit once eaten will refine

Thy groster parts alone, and make thee all divine.

The Soule.

13.

There's something in it sure: were it not good,

It had not in the mid'st of th'garden stood:

And being good, I can no more refraine

From wishing, then then I can the fire to burne restraine

14.

Why doe I trifle then? what I desire

Why doe I not? Nothing can quench the fire

Of longing but fruition. Come what will,

Eat it I must, that I may know what's good and ill.

The Serpent.

15.

So, thou art taken now: that resolution

Gives an eternall date to thy confusion.

The knowledge thou hast got of good, and ill,

Is of good gone, and past, of evill present still.

§

§

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Embleme 2.

The taking away of the Heart.

[Page]

HOS. 4. 11.‘Whoredome and wine, and new win take away the Heart.’

Epigr. 2.

BAse lust and luxury the scumme and d [...]osse

Of hell-borne pleasures, please thee to the losse

Of thy souls precious eyesight, reaso [...]; [...]

Mind [...]sse thy mind, hear [...] [...] heart doth grow.

ODE 2.

1.

Laid downe already? and so fast asleepe?

Thy precious heart left loosly on thime hand,

Which with all diligence thou shouldest keep,

And guard against those enemies, that stand

Ready prepar'd to plunge it in the deep

Of all distresse? Rouze thee, and understand

In time, what in the end thou must confesse,

That misery at last and wretchednesse

Is all the fruit that springs from slothfull idlenesse.

2.

Whilst thou list soaking in security,

Thou drown'st thy selfe in sensuail delight,

And wallow'st in debauched luxurie,

Which when thou art awake and see'st, will fright

Thine heart with horror. When thou shalt de [...]cry

[Page] By the daylight the danger of the night,

Then, then, if not too late, thou wilt confesse,

That endlesse misery and wretchednesse

Is all the fruit that springs from riotous excesse.

3.

Whilst thou dost pamper thy proud flesh, and thrust

Into thy panch the prime of all thy store,

Thou dost but gather fuell for that lust,

Which boyling in thy liver runneth o're,

And frieth in thy throbbing veines, which must

Needs vent, or burst, when they can hold no more.

But oh consider what thou shalt confesse

At last, that misery and wretchednesse

Is all the fruit that springs from lustfull wantonnesse.

4.

Whilst thou dost feed effeminate desires

With spumy pleasures, whilst fruition

The coals of lust fannes into flaming fires,

And spurious delights thou doatest on,

Thy mind through cold remisnesse ev'n expires,

And all the active vigour of't is gone.

Take heed in time, or else thou shalt confesse

At last that misery and wretchednesse

Is all the fruit that springs from carelesse-mindednesse.

5.

Whilst thy regardlesse sense-dissolved mind

Lies by unbent, that should have been thy spring

Of motion, all thy headstrong passions find

Themselves let loose, and follow their own swing,

Forgetfull of the great account behind,

As though there never would be such a thing,

But, when it comes indeed, thou wilt confesse

That misery alone and wre [...]hednesse

Is all the fruit that springs from soule forgetfulnesse.

[Page]

6.

Whilst thou remembrest not thy later end,

Nor what a reck'ning one day thou must make,

Putting no difference betwixt foe and friend,

Thou suffer'st hellish Fiends thine heart to take,

Who, all the while thou triflest, doe attend,

Ready to bring it to the burning lake

Of fire and brimstone: where thou shalt confesse

That endlesse misery and wretchednesse

Is all the fruit that springs from stupid heartlesnesse.

§

§

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Embleme 3.

The darknesse of the Heart.

[Page]

ROM. 1.21.‘Their foolish heart was darkened.’

Epigr. 3.

SVch cloudy shadowes have eclips'd thine heart

As Nature cannot parallel nor Art:

Vnlessethou take my light of truth to guide thee,

Blacknesse of darknesse will at last betide thee.

ODE 3.

1.

Tarry, O tarry, lest thine heedlesse hast

Hurry thee headlong unto hell at last:

See, see, thine heart's already half-way there,

Those gloomy shadowes, that encompasse it,

Are the vast confines of th'infernall pit.

O stay, and if thou lov'st not light, yet feare

That fatall darknesse, where

Such danger doth appeare.

2.

A night of ignorance hath overspread

Thy mind and understanding: thou art led

Blindfolded by unbridled passion:

Thou wand rest in the crooked wayes of errour,

Leading directly to the King of terrour:

The course thou takest, if thou holdest on,

Will bury thee anon

In deep destruction.

[Page]

3.

Whilst thou art thus deprived of thy [...]ight,

Thou know'st no difference between noone and night,

Though the Sun shine, yet thou regard'st it not.

My love-alluring beauty cannot draw thee,

Nor doth my mind-amating terrour awe thee:

Like one that had both good and ill forgot,

Thou carest not a jot

What falleth to thy lot.

4.

Thou art become unto thy selfe a stranger,

Observest not thine own desert, or danger,

Thou know'st not what thou dost, nor canst thou tel

Whither thou goest: shooting in the darke

How canst thou ever hope to hit the marke?

What expectation hast thou to doe well,

That art content to dwell

Within the verge of hell?

5.

Alas, thou hast not so much knowledge left,

As to consider that thou art bereft

Of thine owne eye-sight. But thou runn'st, as though

Thou sawest all before thee: whilst thy minde

To neerest necessary things is blind.

Thou knowest nothing as thou ought'st to know,

Whilst thou esteemest so

The things that are below.

6.

Would ever any, that had eyes, mistake

As thou art wont to doe: no difference make

Betwixt the way to heaven and to hell?

[Page] But, desperatly devoted to destruction,

Rebell against the light, abhorre instruction?

As though thou did'st desire with death to dwell,

Thou hatest to heare tell

How yet thou maist doe well.

7.

Oh that thou didst but see how blind thou art,

And seel the dismall darkenesse of thine heart:

Then would'st thou labour for, and I would lend

My light to guide thee: that's not light alone,

But life, eyes, sight, grace, glory, all in one.

Then should'st thou know whither those by wayes bend,

And that death in the end

On darkenesse doth attend.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 4.

The absence of the Heart.

[Page]

PROV. 17. 16.‘Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a foole to get wisdome, seeing he bath no heart to it?’

Epigr. 4.

HAd'st thou an heart, thou fickle Fugitive,

How would thine heart hate and disdaine to live

Mindfull of such vaine trifles, as these be,

Resting forgetfull of it selfe and me?

ODE 4.

The Soule.

1.

Brave, dainty, curious, rare, rich, precious things!

Able to make fate-blasted mortals blest,

Peculiar treasures, and delights for Kings,

That having pow'r of all would choose the best.

How doe I hugge mine happinesse that have

Present possession of what others crave?

Christ.

2.

Poore, silly, simple, sense-besotted soule,

Why dost thou hugge thy self-procured woes?

Release thy freeborne thoughts, at least controul

Those passions, that enslave thee to thy foes.

How would'st thou hate thy self, if thou did'st know

The basenesse of those things thou prizest so!

[Page] The Soule.

3.

They talk of goodnesse, vertue, piety,

Religion, honesty, I know not what;

So let them talk for me: so long as I

Have goods and lands, and gold, and jewells, that

Both equall and excell all other treasure,

Why should I strive to make their paine my pleasure

Christ.

4.

So Swine neglect the pearles that lie before them,

Trample them under foote, and feed on draffe:

So fooles gild rotten Idols, and adore them,

Cast all the corne away, and keep the chaffe.

That ever reason should be blinded so,

To graspe the shadow, let the substance goe!

The Soule.

5.

All's but opinion that the world accounts

Matter of worth: as this or that man sets

A value on it, so the price amounts:

The sound of strings is vari'd by the frets.

My mind's my kingdome: why should I withstand,

Or question that, which I my selfe command?

Christ.

6.

Thy tyrant passions captivate thy reason:

Thy lusts usurpe the guidance of the mind:

Thy sense-led fancy barters good for geason:

Thy seed is vanity, thine harvest wind:

Thy rules are crooked, and thou writ'st awry:

Thy wayes are wand'ring, and thine end to die.

The Soule.

7.

This table summes me myriads of pleasure:

That booke enroules mine honours inventory:

These bags are stuft with millions of treasure:

[Page] Those writings evidence my state of glory:

These bells ring heav'nly musicke in mine eares,

To drown the noise of cumbious cares and feare.

Christ.

8.

Those pleasures one day will procure thy paine:

That which thou glorist in will be thy shame:

Thou'lt finde thy losse in what thou thought'st thy gaine:

Thine honour will put on another name.

That musicke in the close will ring thy knell,

In stead of heaven toll thee into hell.

9.

But why doe I thus wast my words in vaine

On one, that's wholly taken up with toyes,

That will not loose one dramme of earth to gaine

A full eternall weight of heav'nly joyes?

All's to no purpose, 'tis as good forbeare,

As speak to one, that hath no heart to heare.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 5.

The vanity of the Heart.

[Page]

IOB 15.31.‘Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity, for vanity shall be his recompence.’

Epigr. 5.

AMbitious bellowes with the wind of honour

Puffe up the swelling heart, that dotes upon her:

Which fill'd with empty vanity breaths forth

Nothing, but such things as are nothing worth.

ODE 5.

1.

The bane of kingdomes, worlds disquieter,

Hells heire apparent, Satans eldest sonne,

Abstract of ills, refined Elixir,

And quintessence of sinne, Ambition,

Sprung from th'infernall shades, inhabits here,

Making mans heart its horrid mansion,

Which, though it were of vast content before,

Is now puft up, and swells still more and more.

2.

Whole armies of vaine thoughts it entertaines,

Is stuft with dreames of kingdomes and of Crownes,

Presumes of profit without care or paines,

Threatens to baffle all its foes with frownes,

[Page] In ev'ry bargaine makes account of gaines,

Fancies such frolicke mirth, as choakes and drownes

The voyce of conscience, whose loud alarmes

Cannot be hard for pleasures countercharmes.

3.

Wer't not for anger and for pity, who

Could choose but smile to see vaineglorious men

Racking their wits, straining their finewes so,

That thorow their transparent thinnesse, when

They me [...] with Wind and Sun, they quickly grow

Riv'led and dry, shrinke till they crack againe,

And all but to seeme greater then they are:

Stretching their strength they lay their weaknesse bare

4.

See how hells Fueller his bellowes plies,

Blowing the fire, that burnt too fast before:

See how the furnace flames, the sparkles rise

And spread themselve abroad still more and more:

See how the doating soule hath fixt her eyes

On her deare fooleries, and doth adore

With hands and heart lift up those trifling toyes,

Wherewith the devill cheates her of her joyes.

5.

Alas, thou art deceiv'd, that glitt'ring crowne,

On which thou gazest, is not gold but grief,

That scepter sorrow: if thou take them downe,

And try them, thou shalt find what poore relief

They could afford thee, though they were thine owne,

Didst thou command ev'n all the world in chief,

Thy comforts would abate, thy cares encrease,

And thy perplexed thoughts disturbe thy peace.

6.

Those pearles so thorow pierc'd, and strung together,

[Page] Though jewells in thine eyes they may appeare,

Will prove continu'd perills, when the weather

Is clouded once, which yet is faire and cleare.

What will that fanne, though of the finest feather,

Steed thee, the brunt of windes and stormes to beare?

Thy flagging colours hang their drooping head,

And the shrill trumpets sound shall strike thee dead.

7.

Were all those balls, which thou in sport dost tosse,

Whole worlds, and in thy power to command,

The gaine would never countervaile the losse,

Those slipp'ry globes will glide out of thine hand,

Thou canst have no fast hold but of the crosse,

And thou wilt fall, where thou dost thinke to stand.

Forsake these sollies then, if thou wilt live:

Timely repentance may thy death reprive.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 6.

The oppression of the Heart.

[Page]

LVKE 21.34.‘Take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkennesse.’

Epigr. 6.

Two massy weights, Surfciting, Drunkennesse,

Like mighty logs of lead, doe so oppresse

The heav'n-borne hearts of men, that to aspire

Vpwards they have nor power nor desire.

ODE. 6.

1.

Monster of sins! See how th'inchanted soule

O'rcharg'd already calls for more.

See how the hellish skinker plies his bowle,

And's ready furnished with store,

Whilst cups on every side

Planted attend the tide.

2.

See how the piled dishes mounted stand,

Like hills advanced upon hills,

And the abundance both of sea and land

Doth not suffice, ev'n what it fills,

Mans dropsy appetite,

And Cormorant delight.

[Page]

3.

See how the poyson'd body s puft, and swell'd,

The face enflamed glowes with heat,

The limbs unable are themselves to welld,

The pulses deaths alarme doe beat:

Yet man sits still, and laughs,

Whilst his owne bane he quaffes.

4.

But where's thine heart the while, thou senselesse sot?

Looke how it lieth crusht, and quell'd,

Flat beaten to the board, that it cannot

Move from the place, where it is held,

Nor upward once aspire

With heavenly desire.

5.

Thy belly is thy God, thy shame thy glory,

Thou mindest only earthly things;

And all thy pleasure is but transitory,

Which grief at last and sorrow brings:

The courses thou dost take

Will make thine heart to ake.

6.

Is't not enough to spend thy precious time

In empty idle complement,

Unlesse thou straine (to aggravate thy crime)

Nature beyond its owne extent,

And force it to devoure

An age within an houre?

7.

That which thou swallow'st is not lost alone,

But quickly will revenged be,

[...] on thine heart, which like a stone

[Page] Lyes buri'd in the midd'st of thee,

Both void of common sense

And reasons excellence.

8.

Thy body is diseases rendevouze,

Thy mind the market place of vice,

The devill in thy will keeps open house,

Thou liv'st, as though thou would'st intice

Hell torments unto thee,

And thine owne devill be.

9

Oh, what a dirty dunghill art thou growne,

A nasty stinking kennell foule!

When thou awak'st and seest what thou hast done,

Sorrow will swallow up thy soule,

To think how thou art foyl'd,

And all thy glory spoyl'd.

10.

Or if thou canst not be asham'd, at least

Have some compassion on thy self:

Before thou art transformed all to beast,

At last strike saile, avoid the shelf,

Which in that gulse doth lie,

Where all that enter die.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 7.

The covetousnesse of the Heart.

[Page]

MAT. 6.21.‘Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’

Epigr. 7.

DOst thou enquire, thou heartlesse wanderer,

Where thine heart is? Behold, thine heart is here.

Here thine heart is, where that is, which above

Thine own deare heart thou dost esteem, and love.

ODE. 7.

1.

See the deceitfulnesse of sinne,

And how the devill cheateth worldly men:

They heap up riches to themselves, and then

They think they cannot choose but winne,

Though for their parts

They stake their hearts.

2.

The Merchant sends his heart to sea

And there together with his ship 'tis tost:

If this by chance miscarry, that is lost,

His considence is cast away:

He hangs the head,

As he were dead.

[Page]

3.

The Pedlar cryes, What doe you lack?

What will you buy? and boasts his wares the best:

But offers you the refuse of the rest,

As though his heart lay in his pack,

Which greater gaine

Alone can draine.

4.

The Plowman furrowes up his land,

And sowes his heart together with his seed,

Which both alike earth-borne on earth doe feed,

And prosper or are at a stand:

He and his field

Like fruit doe yeeld.

5.

The Broker, and the Scriv'ner have

The Us'rers heart in keeping with his bands:

His souls deare sustenance lyes in their hands,

And if they break their shop's his grave.

His int'rest is

His only blisse.

6.

The Money-horder in his bags

Binds up his heart, and locks it in his chest;

The same key serves to that, and to his brest,

Which of no other heaven brags:

Nor can conceit

A joy so great.

7.

So for the greedy Landmunger:

The Purchases he makes in ev'ry part

Take livery and seifin of his heart:

[Page] Yet his insatiate hunger,

For all his store,

Gapes after more.

8.

Poore wretched Muckwormes, wipe your eyes,

Uncase those [...] that be [...]ot you so:

Your rich appearing wealth is reall woe,

Your death in your de [...]res lyes.

Your hearts are where

You love, and feare.

9.

Oh, think not then the world deserves

Either to [...]e belov'd, or fear'd by you:

Give heaven these affections as its due,

Which alwayes what it hath preserves

In perfect blisse

That endlesse is.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 8.

The hardnesse of the Heart.

[Page]

ZECH. 7. 12.‘They made their hearts as an adamant stone, lost they should beare th [...] Law.’

Epigr. 8.

WOrds move thee not, nor works: nor gifts, no [...] strokes

Thy sturdy adamantine heart provokes

My Justice, sleights my mercies: An [...]le [...]

Thou stand'st unmoved, though my ha [...]mer strike.

ODE 8.

1.

What have we here? An heart? It lookes like one,

The shape, and colour speake it such:

But having brought it to the touch

I find it is no better then a stone.

Adamants are

Softer by farre.

2.

Long hath it steeped been in Mercies milke,

And soaked in salvation,

Meet for the alteration

Of anvills to have made them soft as silke;

Yet it is still

Hard'ned in ill.

[Page]

3.

Oft have I rain'd my Word upon it, oft

The dew of heaven hath distill'd,

With promises of mercy fill'd,

Able to make mountaines of marble soft:

Yet it is not

Changed a jot.

4.

My beames of love shine on it every day,

Able to thaw the thickest ice,

And where they enter in a trice

To make congealed Cry [...]all melt away:

Yet warme they not

This frozen clot.

5.

Nay more, this hammer, that is wont to grind

Rocks unto dust, and powder small,

Makes no impression at all,

Nor dint, nor crack, nor flaw, that I can find;

But leaves it as

Before it was.

6.

Is mine Almighty arme decai'd in strength?

Or hath mine hammer lost its weight?

That a poore lumpe of earth should sleight

My mercies, and not feele my wrath at length,

With which I make

Ev'n heav'n to shake?

7.

No, I am still the same, I alter not,

And, when I please, my workes of wonder

Shall bring the stoutest spirits under,

[Page] And make them to confesse it is their lot

To bow or break,

When I but speak.

8.

But I would have men know, 't is not my Word,

Or works alone can change their hearts:

These instruments performe their parts,

But 'tis my Spirit doth this fruit afford.

'Tis I, not art,

Can melt mans heart.

9.

Yet would they leave their customary sinning,

And so unclench the devills clawes,

That keepes them captive in his pawes,

My bounty soone should second that beginning:

Ev'n hearts of [...]eel

My force should feel.

§

§

[...]

[Page]

3.

I gave't thee whole, and fully furnished

With all its faculties entire,

There wanted not

The smallest jot,

That strictest justice could require

To render it compleatly perfected.

4.

And is it reason what I gave in grosse

Should be return'd but by retaile?

To take so small

A part for all,

I reckon of no more availe,

Then where I scatter gold to gather drosse.

5.

Give me thine heart but as I gave it thee:

Or give it me at least as I

Have given mine

To purchase thine.

I halv'd it not when I did die:

But gave my self wholly to set thee free.

6.

The heart I gave thee was a living heart,

And when thine heart by sinne was slaine,

I laid downe mine

To ransome thine,

That thy dead heart might live againe,

And live entirely perfect, not in part.

7.

But whilst thine heart's divided it is dead,

Dead unto me, unle [...] it live

To me alone,

It is all one

[Page] To keepe all, and a part to give:

For what's a body worth without an head?

8.

Yet this is worse, that what thou keep'st from me

Thou dost bestow upon my foes:

And those not mine

Alone but thine,

The proper causes of thy woes,

For whom I gave my life to set thee free.

9.

Have I betroth'd thee to my selfe, and shall

The devill, and the world, intrude

Upon my right,

Ev'n in my fight?

Think not thou canst me so delude.

I will have none, unlesse I may have all.

10.

I made it all, I gave it all to thee,

I gave all that I had for it:

If I must loose,

I'll rather choose

Mine interest in all to quit:

Or keep it whole, or give it whole to me.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 10

The insatiablenesse of the Heart.

[Page]

HAB. 2.5.‘Who inlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied.’

Epigr. 10.

THe whole round world is not enough to fill

The Hearts three corners, but it craveth still.

Onely the Trinity, that made it, can

Suffice the vast triangled heart of man.

ODE. 10.

1.

The thirsty earth and barren wombe cry, Give:

The grave devoureth all that live:

The fire still burneth on, and never saith,

It is enough: The horseleech hath

Many more daughters: but the heart of man

Outgapes them all as much as heav'n one span.

2.

Water hath drown'd the earth: the barren wombe

Hath teem'd sometimes, and been the tombe

To its owne swelling issue: and the grave

Shall one day a [...]cke surfeit have:

When all the fuell is consum'd, the fire

Will quench it selfe, and of it self expire.

[Page]

3.

But the vast heart of man's insatiate,

His boundlesse appetites dilate

Themselves beyond all limits, his desires

Are endlesse still: whilst he aspires

To happinesse, and faine would find that treasure

Where it is not, his wishes know no measure.

4.

His eye with seeing is not satisfi'd,

Nor's care with hearing: he hath tri'd

At once to furnish [...]ry sev'rall sense

With cho [...]e of curious objects, whence

He might e [...]tract, [...] into one unite

A perfect quinteflence of all delight.

5.

Yet, having all that he can fancy, still

There wanteth something more to fill

His empty appetite. His mind is vext,

And he is inwardly perplext

He knowes not why: when as the truth is this,

He would find something there where nothing is.

6.

He rambles over all the faculties,

Ransacks the secret treasuries

Of Art and Nature, spells the Universe

Letter by letter, can reherse

All the Records of time, pretends to know

Reasons of all things, why they must be so.

7.

Yet is not so contented, but would faine

Prie in Gods Cabinet, and gaine

Intelligence from heav'n of things to come,

Anticipate the day of Doome,

[Page] And read the issues of all actions so,

As if Gods secret counsells he did know.

8.

Let him have all the wealth, all the renowne,

And glory, that the world can crowne

Her dearest da [...]gs with; yet his desire

Will not rest there, but still aspire.

Earth canno [...] hold him, nor the whole creation

Containe his wishes, or his expectation.

9.

The heart of man's but little, yet this All

Compared thereunto's but finall,

Of such a large unparallel'd extense

Is the short-lin'd [...]

Of that three-corner'd figure, which to fill

With the round world is to leave empty still.

10.

Go greedy soule, addresse thy selfe to heav'n,

And leave the world, as 't is, bereav'n

Of all true happinesse, or any thing

That to thine heart content can bring,

But there a trine-une God in glory fits,

Who all grace-thirsting hearts both fills and fits.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 11.

The returning of the Heart.

[Page]

ISAY 46.8.‘Remember this, and shew your selves men: bring it again to heart, O ye transgressors.’

Epigr. 11.

OFt have I call'd thee: O returne at last,

Returne unto thine heart: let the time past

Suffice thy wanderings: know that to cherish

Revolting still is a meer will to perish.

ODE. 11.

Christ.

1.

Returne O wanderer, returne, returne.

Let me not alwayes wast my words in vaine

As I have done too long. Why dost thou spurn

And kick the counsells that should bring thee back again?

The Soule.

2.

What's this that checks my course? Me thinks I feel

A cold remisnesse seifing on my mind:

My stagger'd resolutions seem to reel,

As though they had in hast forgot mine heart behind.

Christ.

3.

Returne, O wanderer, returne, returne.

Thou art already gone too farre away,

It is enough: unlesse thou meane to burne

In hell for ever, stop thy course at last and stay.

The Soule.

4.

There's something holds me back, I cannot move

[Page] Forward one foot: me thinks the more I strive

The leste I stirre. Is there a pow'r above

My will in me, that can my purposes reprive?

Christ.

5.

No power of thine own: 'tis I, that lay

Mine hand upon thine haste: whose will can make

The restlesse motions of the heavens stay,

Stand still, turne back againe, or new found courses take.

The Soule.

6.

What? am I riveted, or rooted here?

That neither forward, nor on either side

I can get loose? Then there's no hope I feare,

But I must back againe, what ever me betide.

Christ.

7.

And back again thou shalt. I'll have it so.

Though thou hast hitherto my voyce neglected,

Now I have handed thee, I'll have thee know,

That what I will have done shall not be uneffected.

The Soule.

8.

Thou wilt prevaile then, and I must returne.

But how? or whither? when a world of shame,

And sorrow, lie before me, and I burne

With horror in my self to think upon the same.

9.

Shall I returne to thee? Alas, I have

No hope to be received: a runne away,

A rebell to returne! mad men may rave

Of mercy miracles, but what will Justice say?

10.

Shall I returne to mine owne heart? Alas,

'Tis lost, and dead, and rotten long ago,

I cannot find it what at first it was,

And it hath been too long the cause of all my woe.

[Page]

11.

Shall I forsake my pleasures, and delights,

My profits, honours, comforts, and contents,

For that, the thought whereof my mind affrights,

Repentant sorrow, that the soule asunder rents?

12.

Shall I returne, that cannot though I would?

I, that had strength enough to go astray,

Find my self saint, and feeble, now I should

Returne. I cannot runne, I cannot creep this way.

13.

What shall I doe? Forward I must not goe,

Backward I cannot: if I tarry here,

I shall be drowned in a world of woe,

And antidate mine own damnation by despaire.

14.

But is't not better hold that which I have,

Then unto future expectation trust?

Oh no: to reason thus is but to rave.

Therefore returne I will, because returne I must.

Christ.

15.

Returne, and welcome: if thou wilt thou shalt.

Although thou canst not of thy selfe, yet I,

That call, can make thee able. Let the fault

Be mine, if when thou wilt returne I let thee lie.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 12.

The powring out of the Heart.

[Page]

LAM. 2. 19.‘Powre out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord.’

Epigr. 12.

WHy dost thou hide thy wounds? why dost thou hide

In thy close breast thy wishes, and so side

With thine owne soares and so rowes? Like a spout

Of water let thine heart to God break out.

ODE. 12.

The Soule.

1.

Can death, or hell, be worse then this estate?

Anguish, amazement, horror, and confusion,

Drowne my distracted mind in deep distresse.

My grief's grown so transcendent, that I hate

To heare of comfort, as a false Conclusion

Vainly inferr'd from feigned Premises.

What shall I do? what strange course shall I try,

That, though I loath to live, yet dare not die?

Christ.

2.

Be rul'd by me, I'll teach thee such a way,

As that thou shalt not onely draine-thy mind

From that destructive deluge of distresse,

That overwhelmes thy thoughts but clear the day,

And foone recover light, and strength to find,

And to regaine thy long lost happinesse.

Confesse, & pray. Say what it is doth aile thee,

What thou wouldst have, and that [...]all soon ava [...]e thee [...]

[Page] The Soule.

3.

Confesse and pray? If that be all, I will.

Lord, I am sick, and thou art health, restore me.

Lord, I am weake, and thou art strength, sustaine me.

Thou art all goodnesse, Lord, and I all ill.

Thou Lord, art holy, I uncleane before thee.

Lord, I am poor, and thou art rich, maintaine me.

Lord, I am dead, and thou art life, revive me.

Justice condemnes, let mercy, Lord, reprieve me.

4.

A wretched miscreant I am, compos'd

Of finne, and misery; 't is hard to say,

Which of the two allyes me most to hell:

Native corruption makes me indispos'd

To all that's good, but apt to go astray,

Prone to doe ill, unable to doe well.

My light is darknesse, and my liberty

Bondage, my beauty foule deformity.

5.

A plague of leprosie o'rspreadeth all

My pow'rs, and faculties: I um uncleane,

I am uncleane: my liver broyles with lust,

Rancor and malice overflow my gall,

Envy my bones doth rot, and keep me leane,

Revengefull wrath makes me forget what's just:

Mine eare's uncircumcis'd, mine eye is evill,

And hating goodnesse makes me parcell devill.

6.

My callous conscience is cauteriz'd;

My trembling heart shakes with continuall feare:

My frantick passions fill my mind with madnesse:

My windy thoughts with pride are tympaniz'd:

My poys' nous tongue spits venome ev'ry where:

[Page] My wounded spirit's swallow'd up with sadnesse:

Impatient discontentment plagues me so,

I neither can stand still, nor forward goe.

7.

Lord, I am all diseases: hospitalls,

And bills of Mountebanks, have not so many,

Nor halfe so bad. Lord, heare, and help, and heale me.

Although my guiltinesse for vengeance calls,

And colour of excuse I have not any,

Yet thou hast goodnesse, Lord, that may availe me.

Lord, I have powr'd out all my heart to thee:

Vouchsafe one drop of mercy unto me.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 13.

The circumcision of the Heart.

[Page]

DEVT. 10. 16.‘Circumcise the foreskin of your heart, an be no more stiffnecked.’

Epigr. 13.

HEre, take thy Saviours crosse, the nailes, and speare,

That for thy sake his holy flesh did teare:

use them as knives thine heart to circumcise,

And dresse thy God a pleasing sacrifice.

ODE. 13.

1.

Heale thee? I will. But first I'll let thee know

What it comes to.

The plaister was prepared long agoe:

But thou must doe

Something thy selfe, that it may bee

Effectually apply'd to thee.

2.

I, to that end, that I might cure thy sores,

Was slaine, and dy'd,

By mine owne people was turn'd out of doores,

And crucify'd:

My side was pierced with a speare,

And nailes my hands and feet did teare.

3.

Doe thou then to thy selfe, as they to mee:

Make haste, and try,

The old man, that is yet alive in thee,

To crucifie.

[Page] Till he be dead in thee, my blood

Is like to doe thee little good:

4.

My course of physick is to cure the soule

By killing sinne.

So then, thine owne corruptions to controule

Thou must beginne.

Untill thine heart be citcumcis'd,

My death will not be duly priz'd.

5.

Consider then my crosse, my nailes, and speare,

And let that thought

Cut Rasor-like thine heart, when thou dost heare,

How deare I bought

Thy freedome from the pow'r of sinne,

And that distresse which thou wast in.

6.

Cut out the iron finew of thy neck,

That it may be

Supple, and pliant to obey my beck,

And learne of me.

Meeknesse alone, and yeelding, hath

A power to appease my wrath.

7.

Shave off thine hairy scalpe, those curled locks

Powd'red with pride,

Wherewith thy scornfull heart my judgements mocks,

And thinks to hide

Its thunder-threatned head, which bared

Alone is likely to be spared.

8.

Rippe off those seeming robes, but reall rags,

Which earth admires

[Page] As honourable orna [...]nts, and brags

That it attires,

Cumbers thee with indeed. Thy sores

Fester with what the world adores.

9.

Clip thine Ambitions wings, let downe thy plumes,

And learne to stoope,

Whilst thou hast time to stand. Who still presumes

Of strength will droope

At last, and flagge, when he should flye.

Falls hurt them most that climbe most high

10.

Scrape off that scaly scurffe of vanities,

That clogges thee so:

Profits and pleasures are those enemies,

That worke thy woe.

If thou wilt have me cure thy wounds,

First ridde each humor that abounds.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 14.

The contrition of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 51.17.‘A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.’

Epigr. 14.

HOw gladly would I bruise, and breake this heart

Into a thousand pieces, till the smart

Make it confesse, that, of its owne accord,

It wilfully rebell'd against the Lord?

ODE. 14.

1.

Lord, if I had an arme of pow'r like thine,

And could effect what I desire,

My love-drawne heart, like smallest wyre,

Bended and writhen, should together twine,

And twisted stand

With thy command:

Thou should'st no sooner bid, but I would goe,

Thou should'st not will the thing I would not doe.

2.

But I am weake, Lord, and corruption strong:

When I would faine d [...]e what I should,

Then I cannot doe what I would:

Mine action's short, when [...] intention's long:

Though my desire

be [...] as fire,

[Page] Yet my performance is as dull as earth,

And stitles its own issue in the birth.

3.

But what I can doe, Lord, I will, since what

I would I cannot: I will try

Whether mine heart, that's hard and dry,

Being calm'd, and tempered with that

Liquor which falls

From mine eye-balls,

Will worke more pliantly, and yeeld to take

Such new impression as thy grace shall make.

4.

In mine owne conscience then, as in a mortar

I'le place mine heart, and bray it there:

If griefe for what is past, and feare

Of what's to come be a sufficient torture,

I'le breake it all

In pieces small:

Sinne shall not finde a sheard without a flaw,

Wherein to lodge one lust against thy law.

5.

Remember then, mine heart, what thou hast done;

What thou hast left undone: the ill

Of all my thoughts, words, deeds, is still

Thy cursed issue onely: thou art growne

To such a passe,

That never was,

Nor is, nor will there be, a sinne so bad,

But thou some way therein an hand hast had.

6.

Thou hast not been content alone to sinne,

But hast made others sinne with thee,

Y [...] made their sinnes thine owne to be,

[Page] By liking, and allowing them therein.

Who first beginnes,

Or followes, sinnes

Not his owne sinnes alone, but sinneth o're

All the same sinnes, both after, and before.

7.

What boundlesse sorrow can suffice a guilt

Growne so transcendent? Should thine eye

Weepe seas of blood, thy sighes outvie

The winds when with the waves they run at tilt,

Yet they could not

Cancell one blot.

The least of all thy sinnes against thy God

Deserves a thunderbolt should be thy rod.

8.

Break then, mine heart: and since thou cannot grieve

Enough at once, while thou art whole,

Shiver thy self to dust, and dole

Thy sorrow to the sev'rall atomes, give

All to each part,

And by that art

Strive thy dissever'd self to multiply,

And want of weight with number to supply

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 15.

The humiliation of the Heart.

[Page]

ECCL. 7.9.‘The patient in spirit is better then the proud in spirit.’

Epigr. 15.

MIne heart, alas, exalts it self too high,

And doth delight a loftier pitch to flye,

Then it is able to maintaine, unlesse

It feel the weight of thine imposed presse.

ODE. 15.

1.

So let it be,

Lord, I am well content,

And thou shalt see

The time is not mis-spent,

Which thou dost then bestow, when thou dost quell

And crush the heart, that pride before did swell.

2.

Lord, I perceive

As soone as thou dost send,

And I receive

The blessings thou dost lend,

Mine heart begins to mount, and doth forget

The ground whereon it goes, where it is set.

[Page]

3.

In health I grew

Wanton, began to kick,

As though I knew

I never should be sick.

Diseases take me downe, and make me know,

Bodies of brasse must pay the death they owe.

4.

If I but dreame

Of wealth, mine heart doth rise

With a full streame

Of pride, and I despise

All that is good, untill I wake, and spie

The swelling bubble prickt with poverty.

5.

A little wind

Of undeserved praise

Blowes up my mind,

And my swoll'n thoughts doth raise

Above themselves, untill the sense of shame

Makes me contemne my self-dishonour'd name.

6.

One moments mirth

Would make me run starke mad,

And the whole earth,

Could it at once be had,

Would not suffice my greedy appetite,

Did'st thou not paine in stead of pleasure write.

7.

Lord, it is well,

I was in time brought downe,

Else thou canst tell,

Mine heart would soone have flow'n

[Page] Full in thy face, and studi'd to-requite

The riches of thy goodnesse with despight.

8.

Slack not thine hand,

Lord, turne thy Screw about:

If thy Presse stand,

Mine heart may chance slip out.

O quest it unto nothing, rather then

It should forget it selfe, and swell again.

9.

Or if thou art

Dispos'd to let it goe,

Lord, teach mine heart

To lay it selfe as low,

As thou canst cast it: that prosperity

May still be temper'd with humility.

10.

Thy way to rise

Was to descend: let me

My selfe despise,

And so ascend with thee.

Thou throw'st them down, that lift themselves on high,

And raisest them, that on the ground doe lie.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 16.

The softening of the Heart.

[Page]

IOB 23.16.‘god maketh my heart soft.’

Epigr. 16.

Mine heart is of it selfe a marble ice,

Both cold, and hard: but thou can [...] in a trice

Meli it like [...]axe, great God, if from above

Thou kindle in it once thy fire of love.

ODE. 16.

1.

Nay, blessed Founder, leave me not:

If out of all this grot

There can but any gold be got,

The time thou dost bestow, the cost,

And paines will not be lost:

The bargaine is but hard at most.

And such are all those thou dost make with me:

Thou know'st thou canst not but a loser be.

2.

When the Sun shines with glitt'ring beames,

His cold dispelling gleames

Turne snow, and ice to wat'ry streames.

The waxe, as soone as it hath smelt

The warmth of fire, and felt

The glowing heat thereof, will melt.

[Page] Yea pearles with vinegar dissolve we may,

And adamants in bloud of goats, they say.

3.

If nature can doe this, much more,

Lord, may thy grace restore

Mine heart to what it was before.

There's the same matter in it still,

Though new inform'd with ill,

Yet can it not refist thy will.

Thy pow'r, that fram'd it at the first, as oft

As thou wilt have it, Lord, can make it soft.

4.

Thou art the Sun of right [...] e [...]e:

And though I must [...]

Mine heart's growne hard in wickednesse,

Yet thy resplendent rayes of light,

When once they come in sight,

Will quickly thawe what froze by night.

Lord, in thine healing wings a pow'r doth dwell

Able to melt the hardest heart in hell.

5.

Although mine heart in hardnesse passe

Both iron, steel, and brasse,

Yea th'hardest thing that ever was,

Yet, if thy fire thy Spirit accord,

And working with thy word

A blessing unto it afford,

It will grow liquid, and not drop alone,

[...] [...] it self [...] before thy throne.

6.

Yea, though my flinty heart be such,

That the Sun cannot touch,

Nor fire sometimes affect it much,

Yet thy warme reeking self shed blood,

[Page] O Lamb of God,'s so good

It cannot alwayes be withstood.

That Aqua-regia of thy love prevailes,

Ev'n where thy powers Aqua-fortis failes.

7.

Then leave me not so soon, dear Lord,

Though I neglect thy Word,

And what thy power doth afford,

Yet try thy mercy, and thy love,

The force thereof may move,

When all things else successesse prove.

Soakt in thy bloud mine heart will soone surrender

Its native hardnesse, and grow soft, and tender.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 17.

The cleansing of the Heart.

[Page]

IER. 5. 14.‘O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickednesse, that thou maist be saved.’

Epigr. 17.

OVt of thy wounded husbands Saviours side,

Espoused soul, there flowes with [...] tide

A sountaine for uncleannesse: wash thee there,

Wash there thine heart, and then thou need'st not feare.

ODE. 17.

1.

O endlesse misery!

I labour still, but still in vaine.

The staines of sinne I see

Are oaded all, or d [...]d in graine.

There's not a blot

Will stirre a jot

For all that I can doe:

There is no hope

In Fullers sope,

Though I adde nitre too.

2.

I many wayes have tri'd,

Have often soakt it in cold feares,

And, when a time I spi'd,

Powred upon it scalding teares,

Have rins'd, and rub'd,

And scrap't and scrub'd,

[Page] And turn'd it up, and downe:

Yet can I not

Wash out one spot,

It's rather fouler growne.

3.

O miserable state!

Who would be troubled with an heart,

As I have been of late,

Both to my sorrow, shame, and smart?

If it will not

Be cleaner got,

'T were better I had none.

Yet how should we

Divided be,

That are not two, but one?

4.

But am I not starke wilde,

That go about to wash mine heart

With hands that are defil'd,

As much as any other part?

Whilst all thy teares,

Thine hopes, and feares,

Both ev'ry word, and deed,

And thought is foule,

Poore filly soule,

How canst thou looke to speed?

5.

Can there no helpe be had?

Lord, thou art holy, thou art pure:

Mine heart is not so bad,

So soule, but thou canst cleanse it sure.

Speak, blessed Lord,

Wilt thou afford

Me meanes to make it cleane?

[Page] I know thou [...]:

Thy [...]loud were spilt

Should it runne still in vaine.

6.

Then to that blessed spring,

Which from my Saviours sacred side

Doth flow, mine heart I'll bring,

And there it will be purifi'd.

Although the dye,

Wherein I lie,

Crimson, or scarlet were,

This bloud I know

Will make't, as snow,

Or wooll, both cleane, and cleere.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 18.

The giving of the Heart.

[Page]

PROV. 23.21.‘My sonne give me thine heart.’

Epigr. 18.

THe onely love, the onely seare, thou art,

Dear, and dread Saviour, of my sin-sick heart.

[...] heart thou gavest, that it might be mine:

Take thou mine heart then, that it may be thine.

ODE. 18.

1.

Give thee mine [...] Lord so I would,

And there's great reason that I should,

If it were worth the having:

Yet sure thou wilt esteem that good,

Which thou hast purchas'd with thy bloud,

And thought it worth the craving.

2.

Give thee mine heart? Lord, so I will,

If thou wilt first impart the skill

Of bringing it to thee:

But should I trust my selfe to give

Mine heart, as sure as I doe live,

I should deceived be.

3.

As all the value of mine heart

Proceeds from favour, not [...],

Acceptance is its worth:

[Page] So neither know I how to bring

A present to my heav'nly King,

Unlesse he set it forth.

4.

Lord of my life, me thinkes I heare

Thee say, that thee alone to feare,

And thee alone to love,

Is to bestow mine heart on thee,

That other giving none can be,

Whereof thou wilt approve.

5.

And well thou dost deserve to be

Both loved, Lord, and fear'd by me,

So good, so great, thou art:

Greatnesse so good, goodnesse so great,

As pa [...]eth all finite conceit,

And ravisheth mine heart.

6.

Should I not love thee, blessed Lord,

Who freely of thine owne accord

Laid'st downe thy life for me?

For me, that was not dead alone,

But desp'ratly transcendent grown

In enmitie to thee?

7.

Should I not feare before thee, Lord,

Who [...] hand [...] heaven, at whose word

Devills themselves doe quake?

Whose eyes out-shine the Sunne, whose beck

Can the whole [...] of Nature check,

And its foundations shake?

8.

Should I with-hold mine heart from thee,

[Page] The fountaine of felicity,

Before whose presence is

Fulnesse of joy, at whose right hand

All pleasures in perfection stand,

And everlasting blisse?

9.

Lord, had I hearts a million,

And [...]riads in ev'ry one

Of choisest loves, and feares,

They were too little to bestow

On thee, to whom I all things owe,

I should be in arreares.

10.

Yet, since mine heart's the most I have,

And that which thou dost chiefely crave,

Thou shalt not of it misse.

Although I cannot give it so,

As I should doe, I'll offer't though:

Lord take it, here it is.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 19.

The Sacrifice of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL 51.17.‘The sacrifices of God are a broken heart’

Epigr. 19.

NOr calves, nor bulls, are sacrifices good

Enough for thee, who gav'st for me thy bloud,

And more [...] that, thy life: Take thine own part,

Great God, that gavest all, here take mine heart.

ODE. 19.

1.

Thy sormer covenant of old,

Thy Law of Ordinances, did require

Fat sacrifices from the fold,

And many other oft rings made by fire.

Whilst thy first Tabernacle stood,

All things were consecrate with [...]

2

And can thy better Covenant,

Thy law of grace, and truth by Jesus Christ,

Its proper sacrifices want

For such an Altar, and for such a Priest?

No, no, thy Gospell doth require

Choyse off'rings too, and made by fire.

3.

A sacrifice for [...]nne indeed,

Lord, thou didst make thy self, and once for all:

So that there never will be need

Of any more sin-off'rings, great, or small.

[Page] The life bloud thou did'st shed for me,

Hath set my soule for ever free.

4.

Yea, the same sacrifice thou dost

Still offer in behalfe of thine elect:

And to improve it to the most,

Thy Word, and Sacraments doe in effect

Offer thee oft, and sacrifice

Thee daily in our eare [...], and eyes.

5.

Yea, each beleeving soule may take

Thy sacrificed flesh, and bloud by faith,

And therewith an atonement make

For all its trespasses, thy Gospell faith.

Such infinite transcendent price

Is there in thy sweet sacrifice.

6.

But is this all? Must there not be

Peace-offerings, and sacrifices of

Thanksgiving tendered unto thee?

Yes, Lord, I know I should but mock, and scoffe

Thy sacrifice for [...]nne, should I

My sacrifice of praise deny.

7.

But I have nothing of mine owne

Worthy to be presented in thy fight,

Yea the whole world affords not one

Or Ramme, or Lambe, wherein thou canst delight.

Lesse then my self it must not be:

For thou didst give thy self for me.

8.

My self then I must sacrifice:

And so I will, mine heart, the onely thing

[Page] Thou dost above all other prize

As thine owne part, the best I have to bring.

An humble heart's a sacrifice,

Which I know thou wilt not despise,

9.

Lord, be my altar, [...]

Mine heart thy sacrifice, and [...] thy Spirit

Kindle thy fire of love, that I,

Burning with zeale to mag [...] thy merit,

May both consume my [...], and [...]

Et [...]nall [...]phie to thy [...].

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 20.

The weighing of the Heart.

[Page]

PROV. 21.2.‘The Lord pondereth the heart.’

Epigr. 20.

THe heart thou giv'st as a great gift, my love,

Brought to the triall nothing such will prove,

If Iustice equall baliance tell thy fight

That weighed with my Law it is too light.

ODE 20.

1.

'Tis true indeed, an heart

Such as it ought to be,

Entire, and sound in ev'ry part,

Is alwayes welcome unto me.

He that would please me with an offering

Cannot a better have, although he were a King.

2.

And there is none so poore,

But if he will he may

Bring mean heart, although no more,

And on mine altar may it lay.

The sacrice which I like best, is such

As rich men cannot beast, aud poore men need not grutch

3.

Yet ev'ry heart is not

A gift sufficient,

It must be purg'd from ev'ry spot,

And all to pieces must be rent.

[Page] Though thou hast sought to circumcise, and bruise't,

It must be weighed too, or else I shall refuse't.

4.

My ballances are just,

My Law's an equall weight,

The beame is strong, and thou maist trust

My steady hand to hold it streight.

Were thine heart equall to the world in [...]ght,

Yet it were nothing worth, if it should prove too light.

5.

And so thou see'st it doth,

My pond rous Law doth presse

This scale, but that, as fill'd with froth,

Tilts up, and makes no shew of stresse.

Thine heart is empty sure, or else it would

In weight, as well as bulke, better proportion hold.

6.

Search it, and thou shalt find

It wants integrity,

And is not yet so thorow lin'd

With single ey'd sincerity,

As it should be: some more humility

There wants to make it weight, and some more constancy.

7.

Whilst windy vanity.

Doth [...]any up with pride,

And double fac'd hypocri [...]

Doth many empty hollowes hide,

It is but good in part, and that but little,

Wav'ring unstaidnesse ma [...] its resolutions brittle.

8.

The heart, that in my sight

As currant coyne would passe,

[Page] Must not be the least graine too light,

But as at first it stamped was.

Keep then thine heart till it be better growne,

And, when it is full weight, I'll take it for mine owne.

9.

But if thou art asham'd

To find thine heart so light,

And art afraid thou shalt be blam'd,

I'll teach thee how to set it right.

Adde to my Law my Gospell, and there see

My merits thine, and then the scales will equall be.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 21.

The trying of the Heart.

[Page]

PROV. 17.3.‘The fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.’

Epigr. 21.

THine heart, my deer, more precious is then gold,

Or the most precious things that can be told:

Provided first that my pure fire have tri'd

Out all the drosse, and passe it purifi'd.

ODE. 21.

1.

What? take it at adventure, and not try

What metall it is made of? No, not I.

Should I now lightly let it passe,

Take sullen lead for silver, sounding brasse

In stead of solid gold, alas,

What would become of it? In the great day

Of making jewells 't would be cast away.

2.

The heart thou giv'st me must be such a one,

As is the same throughout. I will have none

But that, which will abide the fire.

'Tis not a glitt'ring outside I desire,

Whose seeming shewes doe soone expire:

But reall worth within, which neither drosie,

Nor base allayes, make subject unto losse.

3.

If in the composition of thine heart

[Page] A stubborne steely wilfulnesse have part,

That will not bow and bend to me,

Save onely in a meer formality

Of tinsell-trim'd hypocrisie,

I care not for it, though it shew as faire,

As the first blush of the Sun-gilded aire.

4.

The heart that in my furnace will not melt,

When it the glowing heat thereof hath felt

Turne liquid, and dillolve in teares

Of true repentance for its faults, that heares

My threatning voyce, and never feares,

Is not an heart worth having. If it be

An heart of stone, 't is not an heart for me.

5.

The heart, that cast into my fornace spits,

And sparkles in my face, falls into fits

Of discontented grudging, whines

When it is broken of its will, repines

At the least suffering, declines

My fatherly correction, is an heart

On which I care not to bestow mine art.

6.

The heart that in my flames asunder flies,

Scatters it selse at randon, and so lies

In heapes of ashes here, and there,

Whose dry d [...]persed parts will not draw nee [...]

To one another, and adhere

In a firme union, hath no metall in't

Fit to be stamp'd, and coyned in my mint.

7.

The heart, that vapours out it selfe in smoak,

And with those cloudy shadowes thinks to cloak

[Page] Its empty nakednesse, how much

So ever thou esteemest it, is such

As never will endure my touch.

Before I tak't for mine then I will trie

What kind of metall in thine heart' doth lie.

8.

I'll bring it to my furnace, and there see

What it will prove, what it is like to be.

If it be gold, it will be sure

The hottest fire that can be to endure,

And I shall draw it out more pure.

Affliction may refine, but cannot wast,

That heart wherein my love is fixed fast.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 22.

The sounding of the Heart.

[Page]

JER. 17.9.‘The heart is deceitfull above all things, and desperatly wicked. Who can know it? I the Lord.’

Epigr. 22.

I, that alone am infinite, can try

How deep within it self thine heart doth lie.

The Sea-mans plummet can but reach the ground:

I find that which thine heart it self ne'er sound,

ODE. 22.

1.

A goodly heart to see to, faire and fat!

It may be so: and what of that?

Is it not hollow? Hath it not within

A bottomlesse whirlpoole of sinne?

Are there not secret creeks, and cranies there,

Turning, and winding corners, where

The heart it self ev'n from it self may hide,

And lurke in secret unespi'd?

I'll none of it, if such a one it prove:

Truth in the inward parts is that I love.

2.

But who can tell what is within thine heart?

'Tis not a worke of Nature, Art

Cannot performe that taske: 't is I alone,

Not man, to whom mans heart is knowne.

Sound it thou maist, and must: but then the line

[Page] And plummet must be mine, not thine,

And I must guide it too, thine hand, and eye

May quickly be deceiv'd: but I,

That made thine heart at first, am better skill'd

To know when it is empty, when't is fill'd.

3.

Lest then thou should'st deceive thy self, for me

Thou canst not, I will let thee see

Some of those depths of Satan, depths of hell,

Wherewith thine hollow heart doth swell.

Under pretence of knowledge in thy mind

Errour and ignorance I find,

Quick-sands of rotten Superstition

Spred over with misprision.

Some thing thou knowest not, misknowest others,

And oft thy conscience its owne knowledge smothers.

4.

Thy crooked will, that seemingly enclines

To follow reasons dictates, twines

Another way in secret, leaves its guide

And laggs behind, or swarves aside,

Crab-like creepes backward when it should have made

Progresse in good, is retrograde.

Whilst it pretends a priviledge above

Reasons prerogative, to move

As of it self unmov'd, rude passions learne

To leave the Oare, and take in hand the Sterne.

5.

The tides of thine affections ebbe, and flow,

Rise up aloft, fall downe below,

Like to the suddaine land-flouds, that advance

Their swelling waters but by chance.

Thy love, desire, thy hope, delight, and feare,

Ramble they care not when, nor where,

[Page] Yet cunningly beare thee in hand they be

Only directed unto me,

Or most to me, and would no notice take

Of other things, but only for my sake.

6.

Such strange prodigious impostures lurke

In thy prestigious heart, 't is worke

Enough for thee all thy life time to learne

How thou may'st truly it discerne:

That, when upon mine altar thou dost lay

Thine off'ring, thou may'st sasely say,

And sweare it is an heart: for, if it should

Prove only an heart-case, it would

Nor pleasing be to me, nor doe thee good.

An heart's no heart not rightly understood.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 23.

The levelling of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 97.11.‘Gladnesse to the upright in heart.’

Epigr. 23.

SEt thine heare upright, if thou would'st reioyce,

And please thy self in thine hearts pleasing cho [...]se:

But then be sure thy plimme, and levell be

Rightly appli'd to that which pleaseth me.

ODE. 23.

1.

Nay, yet I have not done: one triall more

Thine heart must undergo, before

I will accept of it:

Unlesse I see

It upright be,

I cannot think it fit

To be admitted in my sight,

And to partake of mine eternall light.

2.

My Will's the rule of righteousnesse, as free

From errour as uncertainty:

What I would have is just.

Thou must desire

What I require,

And take it upon trust:

If thou preferre thy will to mine,

The levell's lost, and thou go'st out of line.

3.

Do'st thou not see how thine heart turnes aside,

[Page] And leanes toward thy self? How wide

A distance there is here?

Untill I see

Both sides agree

Alike with mine, 't is cleer

The middle is not where't should be,

Likes something better, though it looke at me.

4.

I, that know best how to dispose of thee,

Would have thy portion poverty,

Lest wealth should make thee proud,

And me forget:

But thou hast set

Thy voyce to cry aloud

For riches, and unlesse I grant

All that thou wishest, thou complain'st of want.

5.

I, to preserve thine health, would have thee fast

From Natures dainties, lest at last

Thy senses sweet delight

Should end in smart:

But thy vaine heart

Will have its appetite

Pleased to day, though grief, and sorrow

Threaten to cancell all thy joyes to morrow.

6.

I, to prevent thine hurt by clining high,

Would have thee be content to lie

Quiet and safe below,

Where peace doth dwell;

But thou dost swell

With vast desires, as though

A little blast of vulgar breath

Were better then deliverance from death.

[Page]

7.

I, to procure thine happinesse, would have

Thee mercy at mine hands to crave:

But thou dost merit plead,

And wilt have none

But of thine owne,

Till Justice strike thee dead.

Thus still thy wand'ring wayes decline,

And all thy crooked [...] go crosse to mine.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 24.

The renewing of the Heart.

[Page]

EZEK. 36.26.‘A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.’

Epigr. 24.

ARt thou delighted with strange novelties,

Which often prove but old fresh garnisht lies?

Leave then thine old, take the new heart I give thee:

Condemne thy self, that so I may reprieve thee.

ODE. 24.

1.

No, no, I see

There is no remedy,

An heart, that wants both weight, and worth,

That's fill'd with naught but empty hollownesse,

And screw'd aside with stubborne wilfulnesse,

Is onely fit to be cast forth,

Nor to be given me

Nor kept by thee.

2.

Then let it goe,

And if thou wilt bestow

An acceptable heart on me,

I'll furnish thee with one shall serve the turne,

Both to be kept, and given: which will burne

With zeale, yet not consumed be:

Nor with a scornfull eye

Blast standers by.

[Page]

3.

The heart, that I

Will give thee, though it lie

Buri'd in seas of sorrowes, yet

Will not be drown'd with doubt, or discontent,

Though sad complaints sometimes may give a vent

To grief, and teares the checks may wet,

Yet it exceeds their art

To hurt this heart.

4.

The heart I give,

Though it desire to live,

And bath it self in all content,

Yet will not toyle, or taint it self, with any:

Although it take a view, and tast of many,

It feeds on few, as though it meant

To break fast only here,

And dine elsewhere.

5.

This heart is fresh,

And new: an heart of flesh,

Not, as thine old one was, of stone.

A lively sp'ritly heart, and moving still,

Active to what is good, but slow to ill:

An heart, that with a sigh, and grone

Can blast all worldly joyes,

As trifling toyes.

6.

This heart is sound,

And solid will be found;

'Tis not an empty ayrie flash,

That baites at Butterflies, and with full cry

Opens at ev'ry flirting vanity.

It sleights, and scornes such paltry trash:

[Page] But for eternity

Dares live, or die.

7.

I know thy mind:

Thou seek'st content to find

In such things as are new, and strange.

Wander no further then: lay by thine old,

Take the new heart I give thee, and be bold

To boast thy self of the exchange,

And say, that a new heart

Exceeds all art.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 25.

The enlightening of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 34.5.‘They looked unto him, and were lightened.’

Epigr. 25.

THou that art Light of lights, the onely sight

Of the blind world, lend me thy saving light:

Disperse those mists, which in my soule have made

Darkenesse as deepe as hells eternall shade.

ODE. 25.

1.

Alas, that I

Could not before espie

The soule-confounding misery

Of this, more then Egyptian, dreadfull night!

To be deprived of the light,

And to have eyes, but eyes devoid of sight,

As mine have been, is such a woe,

As he alone can know,

That feeles it so.

2.

Darknesse hath been

My God and me between

Like an opacous doubled skreen,

Through which nor light, nor heat could passage sind.

Grosse ignorance hath made my mind,

And understanding not bleer-ey'd, but blind;

My will to all that's good is cold,

Nor can I, though I would,

Doe what I should.

[Page]

3.

No, now I see

There is no remedy

Lest in my self: it cannot be

That blind men in the darke should find the way

To blessednesse: although they may

Imagine that high midnight is noone-day,

As I have done till now, they'll know

At last unto their woe,

'Twas nothing so.

4.

Now I perceive

Presumption doth bereave

Men of all hope of helpe, and leave

Them, as it finds them, drown'd in misery:

Despairing of themselves, to cry

For mercy is the only remedy

That sinne-sicke soules can have: to pray

Against this darknesse may

Turne it to day.

5.

Then unto thee,

Great Lord of light, let me

Direct my prayer, that I may see.

Thou, that did'st make mine eyes, canst soone restore

That pow'r of fight they had before,

And, if thou seest it good, canst give them more.

The night will quickly shine like day,

If thou doe but display

One glorious ray.

6.

I must confesse,

And I can doe no lesse,

[Page] Thou art the Sun of righteousnesse:

There's healing in thy wings: thy light is life;

My darkenesse death. To end all [...]rise,

Be thou mine husband, let me be thy wife.

Then both the light, and life that's thine,

Though light, and life divine,

Will all be mine.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 26

The table of the Heart.

[Page]

IER. 31.33.‘I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.’

Epigr. 26.

IN the soft table of thine heart I'll write

A new Law, which I newly will ind te.

Hard stony tables did containe the old:

But tender leaves of flesh shall this infold.

ODE. 26.

1.

What will thy fight

Availe thee, or my light,

If there be nothing in thine heart to see

Acceptable to me?

A self-writ heart will not

Please me, or doe thee any good, I wot,

The paper must be thine,

The writing mine.

2.

What I indite

'Tis I alone can write,

And write in bookes that I my self have made.

'Tis not an easie trade

To read or write, in hearts:

They that are skilfull in all other arts,

When they take this in hand,

Are at a stand.

[Page]

3.

My Law of old

Tables of stone did hold,

Wherein I writ what I before had spoken,

Yet were they quickly broken:

A signe the Covenant

Contain'd in them would due ob [...]ervance want.

Nor did they long remaine

Coppy'd again.

4.

But now I'll try

What force in flesh doth lie:

Whether thine heart renew'd afford a place

Fit for my Law of grace.

This covenant is better

Then that, though glorious, of the killing letter.

This gives life, not by merit,

But by my Spirit,

5.

When in mens hearts,

And their most inward parts,

I by my Spirit write my Law of love,

They then begin to move,

Not by themselves, but me,

And their obedience is their liberty.

There are no slaves, but those

That serve their foes.

6.

When I have writ

My Covenant in it,

View thine heart by my light, and thou shalt fee

A present fit for me.

The worth for which I look,

[Page] Lies in the lines, not in the leaves of th book.

Course paper may be lin'd

With words refin'd.

7.

And such are mine.

No furnace can resine

The choisest silver so to make it pure,

As my Law put in [...]

Purgeth the hearts of men:

Which being rul'd, and written with my Pen,

My Spirit, ev'ry letter

Will make them better.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 27.

The tilling of the Heart.

[Page]

EZEK. 36.9.‘I will turne unto you, and yee shall be tilled, and sowne.’

Epigr. 27.

MIne heart's a field, thy crosse a plow: be pleas'd

Dear Spouse, to till it, till the mould be rais'd

Fit for the seeding of thy Word: then sow,

And if thou shine upon it, it will grow.

ODE. 27.

1.

So, now me thinks I find

Some better vigour in my mind,

My will begins to move,

And mine affections stirre towards things above:

Mine heart growes bigge with hope it is a field,

That some good fruit may yeeld,

If it were till'd, as it should be,

Not by my self, but thee.

2.

Great Husbandman, whose pow'r

All difficulties can devour,

And doe what likes thee best,

Let not thy field, mine heart, lie lay, and rest,

Lest it be over-runne with noysome weeds,

That spring of their own seeds:

Unlesse thy grace the growth should stoppe,

Sinne would be all my croppe.

[Page]

3.

Break up my fallow ground,

That there may not a clod be found

To hide one root of finne.

Apply thy plow betime: now, now beginne

To furrow up my stiffe, and starvy heart,

No matter for the smart,

Al though it roare, when it is rent,

Let not thine hand relent.

4.

Corruption's rooted deep,

Showres of repentaut teares must steep

The mould to make it soft:

It must be stirr'd, and turn'd, not once, but oft.

Let it have all its feasons. O impart

The best of all thine art.

For, of it self it is so tough,

All will be but enough.

5.

Or, if it be thy will

To teach me, let me learne the skill

My self to plow mine heart:

The profit will be mine, and 't is my part

To take the paines, and labour, though th' encrease

Without thy blessing cease:

If fit for nothing else, yet thou

May'st make me draw thy Plow.

6.

Which of thy Plowes thou wilt,

For then hast more then one. My guilt,

Thy wrath, thy rods, are all

[...] fit to [...] mine heart to pieces small:

And, when in [...] [...] prehends thee neer,

[Page] 'Tis furrowed with fear:

Each weed turn'd under hides its head,

And shewes as it were dead.

7.

But, Lord, thy blessed passion

Is a Plow of another fashion,

Better then all the rest.

Oh fasten me to that, and let the best

Of all my powers strive to draw it in,

And leave no roome for finne.

The vertue of thy death can make

Sinne its fast hold forsake.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 28.

The seeding of the Heart.

[Page]

LVKE 8.15.‘That on the good ground are they, which with an honest, and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.’

Epigr. 28.

Lest the field of mine heart should unto thee,

Great Husbandman that mad'st it, barren be,

Manure the ground, then come thy self and seed it;

And let thy servants water it, and weed it.

ODE. 28.

1.

Nay, blessed Lord,

Unlesse thou wilt afford

Manure, as well as tillage, to thy field,

It will not yeeld

That fruit which thou expectest it should beare:

The ground I feare

Will still remaine

Barren of what is good: and all the graine

It will bring forth,

As of its owne accord, will not be worth

The paines of gathering

So poore a thing.

2.

Some faint desire,

[Page] That quickly will expire,

Wither, and die, is all thou canst expect.

It thou neglect

To sow it now't is ready, thou [...] find

That [...] [...] [...],

And [...] grow

Then at the first it was. Thou must bestow

Some further cost,

Else all thy former labour will be lost.

Mine heart no corne will breed

Without thy seed.

3.

Thy Word is seed,

And manure too: will seed,

As well as fill mine heart. If once it were

Well rooted there,

It would come on apace: O then neglect

No time expect

No better season.

Now, now thy field mine heart is ready: reason

Surrenders now,

Now my rebellious will begins to bow,

And mine affections are

Tamer by farre.

4.

Lord, I have laine

Barren too long, and saine

I would redeem the time, that I may be

Fruitfull to thee,

Fruitfull in knowledge, saith, obedience,

Ere I goe hence:

That when I come

At harvest to be reaped, and brought home;

Thine Angels may

[Page] My soule in thy celestiall garner lay,

Where perfect joy, and blisse

Eternall is.

5.

If, to intreat

A crop of purest wheat,

A blessing too transcendent should appeare

For me to beare,

Lord, make me what thou wilt, so thou wilt take

What thou do st make,

And not disdaine

To house me, though amongst thy coursest graine,

So I may be

Laid with the gleanings gathered by thee,

When the full sheaves are spent,

I am content.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 29.

The watering of the Heart.

[Page]

ISA. 27.3.‘I the Lord doe keep it. I will water it every moment.’

Epigr. 29.

CLose downwards tow'rds the earth, open above

Tow'rds heaven mine heart is. O let thy love

Distill in fructifying dewes of grace,

And then mine heart will be a pleasant place.

ODE. 29.

1.

See how this dry, and thirsty land,

Mine heart, doth gaping gasping stand,

And close below opens towards heav'n, and thee

Thou fountaine of felicity,

Great Lord of living waters, water me:

Let not my breath that pants with paine,

Waste, and consume it selfe in vaine.

2.

The mists, that from the earth doe rise,

An heav'n-borne heart will not suffice:

Coole it without they may, but cannot quench

The scalding heat within, nor drench

Its dusty dry desires, or fill one trench.

Nothing, but what comes from on high,

Can heav'n-bred longings satisfie.

3.

See how the seed, which thou did'st sow

[Page] Lies parch'd, and wither'd, will not grow

Without some moisture, and mine heart hath none,

That it can truly call its owne,

By nature of it self, more then a stone:

Unlesse thou water't, it will lie

Drowned in dust, and still be dry.

4.

Thy tender plants can never thrive,

Whilst want of water doth deprive

Their roots of nourishment: which makes them call,

And cry to thee, great All in All,

That seasonable show'rs of grace may fall,

And water them: thy Word will do't,

If thou vouchsafe thy blessing to't.

5.

O then be pleased to unseal

Thy fountaine, blessed Saviour, deal

Some drops at least, wherewith my drooping spirits

May be revived. Lord, thy merits

Yeeld more refreshing then the world inherits:

Rivers, yea seas, but ditches are,

If with thy springs we them compare.

6.

If not whole show'rs of raine, yet Lord,

A little pearly dew afford,

Begot by thy celestiall influence

On some chast vapour, raised hence

To be partaker of thine excellence:

A little, if it come from thee,

Will be of great availe to me.

7.

Thou boundlesse Ocean of grace,

Let thy free spirit have a place

Within mine heart: full rivers then I know

[Page] Of living waters forth will flow,

And all thy plants, thy fruits, and flow'rs will grow.

Whilst thy Springs their roots doe nourish,

They must needs be fat, and flourish.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 30.

The flowers of the Heart.

[Page]

CANT. 6. 2.‘My beloved is gone downe into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lillies.’

Epigr. 30.

THese lillies I doe consecrate to thee,

Beloved Spouse, which spring as thou ma [...]st see,

Out of the seed thou sowedst, and the ground

Is better'd by thy Flow'rs, when they abound.

ODE. 31.

1.

Is there a joy like this?

What can augment my blisse?

If my beloved will accept

A po [...]e of these flowers kept,

And consecrated unto his content,

I hope hereafter he will not repent

The cost, and paines he hath bestow'd

So freely upon me, that ow'd

Him all I had before,

And infinitly more.

2.

Nay, try them, blessed Lord,

Take them not on my word,

But let the colour, [...]ast and [...]

The truth of their [...] [...] tell.

Thou that art in [...]nite in wisdome [...]ee

[Page] If they be not the same that came from thee.

If any difference be found,

It is occasion'd by the ground,

Which yet I cannot see

So good as it should be.

3.

What say'st thou to that Rose,

That queen of flowers, whose

Maidenly blushes, fresh, and faire,

Out-brave the dainty morning aire?

Dost thou not in those lovely leaves espy

The perfect picture of that modesty,

That self-condemning shamefastnesse,

That is more ready to confesse

A fault, and to amend,

Then it is to offend?

4.

Is not this Lilly pure?

What Fuller can procure

A white so perfect, spotlesse, clear,

As in this flower doth appear?

Do st thou not in this milky colour see

The lively lustre of sincerity,

Which no hypocrisie hath painted,

Nor self-respecting ends have tainted?

Can there be to thy sight

A more entire delight?

5.

Or wilt thou have beside

Violets purple-di'd?

The Sun-observing Marigold,

Or Orpin never waxing old,

The Primrose, Cowslip, Gilliflow'r, or Pinke,

Or any flow'r, or herbe, that I can think

[Page] Thou hast a mind unto? I shall

Quickly be furnisht with them all,

If once I doe but know

That thou wilt have it so.

6.

Faith is a fruitfull grace,

Well planted stores the place,

Fills all the borders, beds, and bow'rs

With wholsome herbs, and pleasant flow'rs.

Great Gardiner, thou saist, and I beleeve,

What thou do'st meane to gather thou wilt give.

Take then mine heart in hand to fill't,

And it shall yeeld thee what thou wilt.

Yea thou, by gath'ring more,

Shalt still increase my store.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 31.

The keeping of the Heart.

[Page]

PROV. 4.23.‘Keepe thy heart with all diligence.’

Epigr. 31.

Like to a [...], that is [...],

[...] heart is [...], [...] still is found

Comp [...]st w [...]th care, [...]nd [...] with the feare

Of God, as with a flaming sword, and speare.

ODE 31.

The Soule.

1.

Lord, wilt thou suffer this? Shall vermine spoile

The [...]uit or all thy toyle,

Thy trees, thine herbs, thy plants, thy flow'rs thus:

And for an overplus

Of spite, and malice overthrow thy mounds,

Lay common all thy grounds?

Canst thou endure thy pleasant garden should

Be thus turn'd up as ordinary mould?

Christ.

2.

What is the matter? why do'st thou complaine?

Must I as well maintaine,

And keep, as make thy fences? wilt thou take

No paines for thine own sake?

Or doth thy self-confounding fancy feare thee,

When there's no danger neer thee?

Speak out thy doubts, and thy desires, and tell me,

What enemy or can, or dares to quell thee?

[Page] The Soule.

3.

Many, and mighty, and malicious, Lord,

That seek, with one accord,

To work my speedy ruine, and make haste

To lay thy garden waste.

The devill is a ramping roaring lion,

Hates at his heart thy Zion,

And never gives it respit day, nor houre,

But still goes seeking whom he may devoure.

4.

The world's a wildernesse, wherein I find

Wild beasts of ev'ry kind,

Foxes, and Wolves, and Dogs, and Boares, and Bears;

And which augments my feares,

Eagles and Vultures, and such birds of prey,

Will not be kept away:

Besides the light-abhorring Owles, and Bats,

And secret corner-creeping Mice and Rats.

5.

But these, and many more would not dismay

Me much, unlesse there lay

One worse then all within, my self I meane,

My false, unjust, unclean,

Faithlesse, disloyall self, that both entice,

And entertaine each vice.

This homebred traiterous partaking's worse,

Then all the violence of forain force.

6.

Lord, thou maist see my feares are grounded, rise

Not from a bare surmise,

Or doubt of danger only, my desires

Are but what need requires,

Of thy divine protection, and defence

To keep these vermine hence:

[Page] Which, if they should not be re [...]rain'd by thee,

Would grow too strong to be kept out by me.

Christ.

7.

Thy feare is just, and I approve thy care.

But yet thy comforts are

[...] for, [...] in that care, and feare:

Whereby it d [...]th appeare

[...] [...] what then [...], my protection

To keep thee from defection.

The [...] [...] cares, and [...], is kept by me.

I watch thee, whilst thy foes are watch'd by thee.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 32.

The watching of the Heart.

[Page]

CANT. 5.2.‘I sleep, but my heart waketh.’

Epigr. 32.

WHilst the soft hands of sleep tie up my sences,

My watchfull heart, free from all such [...],

Searches for thee, enquires es all about thee,

Nor day, nor night, able to be without thee.

ODE. 32.

1.

It must be so: that God that gave

Me senses, and a mind, would have

Me use them both, but in their severall kinds.

Sleep must refresh my senses, but my minds

A [...] of heav'nly fire, that seeds

On [...], and employment, needs

No [...] or rest: for, when it thinks to please

[...] with idlenesse, 'tis least at ease.

Though quiet rest refresh the head,

The heart that stirres not sure is dead.

2.

Whilst then my body ease doth take,

My [...] refusing heart [...] all wake:

And that mine heart the better watch may keep,

I'll lay my senses for a t [...]e to sleep.

Wanton de re shall not [...],

Nor lust enveigle them to vi [...]e:

No sading colours shall [...] my fight,

[Page] Nor sounds enchant mine eares with their delight:

I'll bind my smell, my touch, my tast,

To keep a strict religious fast.

3.

My worldly businesse shall lie still,

That heav'nly thoughts my mind may fill:

My Marthaes cumb'ring cares shall cease their noise,

That Mary may attend her better choise.

That meditation may advance

Mine heart on purpose, not by chance,

My body shall keep holy day, that so

My mind with better liberty may goe

About her bus'nesse, and ingrosse

That gaine, which worldly men count losse.

4.

And though my senses sleep the while,

My mind my senses shall beguile

With dreames of thee, dear Lord, whose rare perfections

Of excellence are such, that bare inspections

Cannot suffice my greedy soule,

Nor her fierce appetite controule,

Bur that the more she lookes the more she longs,

And strives to thrust into the thickest throngs

Of those divine discoveries,

Which dazell even Angels eyes.

5.

Oh could I lay aside this flesh,

And follow after thee with fresh

And free desires, my disentangled soule,

Ravisht with admiration, should roule

It self, and all its thoughts on thee,

And by beleeving strive to see,

What is invisible to flesh and blood,

And only by fruition understood,

[Page] The beauty of each sev'rall grace,

That shines in thy Sunne-shaming face.

6.

But what I can doe that I will,

Waking and sleeping, seek thee still:

I'll leave no place unpri'd into behind me,

Where I can but imagine I may find thee:

I'll aske of all I meet, if they

Can tell thee where thou art, which way

Thou go'st, that I may follow after thee,

Which way thou com'st, that thou mai'st meet with me.

If not thy face, Lord, let mine heart

Behold with Moses thy back part.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 33.

The wounding of the Heart.

[Page]

LAM. 3.12.‘He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.’

Epigr. 33.

A Thousand of thy strongest shasts, my light,

Draw up against this heart with all thy might,

And strike it through: They, that in need doe stand

Of cure, are healed by thy wounding hand.

ODE. 33.

1.

Nay, spare me not dear Lord, it cannot be

They should be hurt, that wounded are by thee.

Thy shafts will heale the hearts they hit,

And to each sore its salve will fit.

All hearts by Nature are both sick, and sore,

And mine as much as any else, or more:

There is no place that's free from finne,

Neither without it, nor within,

And universall maladies doe crave

Variety of medicines to have.

2.

First, let the arrow of thy piercing eye,

Whose light outvieth the star-spangled skie,

Strike through the darkne [...] of my mind,

And leave no cloudy mist behind.

Let thy resplendent rayes of knowledge dart

Bright beames of understanding to mine heart,

[Page] To my finne-shadow'd heart, wherein

Black ignorance did first begin

To blurre thy beauteous Image, and deface

The glory of thy self-sufficing grace.

3.

Next let the shaft of thy sharp-pointed pow'r

Discharged by that strength that can devour

All difficulties, and encline

Stout opposition to resigne

Its steely stubbornesse, subdue my will,

Make it hereafter ready to fulfill

Thy royall Law of righteousnesse,

As gladly, as I must confesse

It hath fulfilled heretofore th' unjust,

Prophane, and cruell lawes of its own lust.

4.

Then let that love of thine, which made thee leave

The bosome of thy Father, and be [...]eave

Thy self of thy [...] glory,

Matter for an eternall story.

Strike through mine affections all together,

And let that Sun shine [...]eer the cloudy weather,

Wherein they wander without guide,

Or order, as the wind, and tide

Of floting [...] transport, and tosse them,

Till self-begotten troubles curbe and crosse them.

5.

Lord, empty all thy Quivers, let there be

No corner of my spacious heart left free,

Till all be but one wound, wherein

No subtill sight-abhorring sinne

May lurk in secret unespi'd by me,

Or reigne in power unsubdu'd by thee.

Perfect thy purchas'd victory,

[Page] That thou mai'st ride triumphantly,

And leading captive all captivity

Mai'st put an end to enmity in me.

6.

Then, blessed Archer, in requitall I

To shoote thine arrowes back again will try.

By pray'rs, and praises, fighs, and sobs,

By vowes, and teares, by groans, and throbs,

I'll see if I can pierce, and wound thine heart,

And vanquish thee againe by thine own art.

Or, that we may at once provide

For all mishaps that may betide,

Shoot thou thy self, thou polisht shaft, to me,

And I will shoot my broken heart to thee.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 34.

The inhabiting of the Heart.

[Page]

GAL. 4.6.‘God hath sent [...] the Spirit of his Son into your hearts.’

Epig [...]. 34.

MIne heart's an [...], my [...], and thou [...] tell

[...] [...] enough [...] thy Spirit dwell

For ever ther [...] [...] [...] [...] mai'st love me,

And being to [...] I m [...]y aga [...]ne love thee.

ODE. 34.

1.

Welcome, great guest, this house, mine heart,

Shall all be thine:

I will resigne

Mine interest in ev'ry part:

Only be pleas'd to use it as thine own

For ever, and inhabite it alone:

There's roome enough, and if the furniture

Were answerably fitted, I am sure

Thou would'st be well content to stay,

And by thy light

Possesse my sight

With sense of an eternall day.

2.

It is thy building, Lord, 'r was made

At thy command,

And still doth stand

Upheld, and shelter'd by the shade

[Page] Of thy protecting providence: though such

As is decaied, and impaired much,

Since the removall of thy residence,

When with thy grace glory departed hence,

It hath been all this while an Inne

To intertaine

The vile, and vaine,

And wicked companies of sinne.

3.

Although't be but an house of clay,

Fram'd out of dust,

And such as must

Dissolved be, yet it was gay,

And glorious indeed, when ev ry place

Was furnished, and fitted with thy grace:

When in the Presence-chamber of my mind,

The bright Sun-beames of perfect knowledge shin'd:

When my will was thy Bed-chamber,

And ev'ry pow'r

A stately Tow'r

Sweetned with thy Spirits amber.

4.

But whilst thou do'st thy self absent,

It is not grown

Noysome alone,

But all to pieces torne, and rent.

The windowes all are stopt, or broken so,

That no light without wind can thorow goe.

The roofe's uncover'd, and the wall's decai'd,

The door's flung off the hooks, the floor's unlai'd,

Yea, the foundation rotten is,

And every where

It doth appeare

All that remaines is farre amisse,

[Page]

5.

But if thou wilt returne againe,

And dwell in me,

Lord, thou shalt see

What care I'll take to intertaine

Thee, though not like thy self, yet in such sort,

As thou wilt like, and I shall thank thee for't.

Lord, let thy blessed Spirit keep possession,

And all things will be well; at least confession

Shall tell thee what's amisse in me,

And then thou shalt

Or mend the fault,

Or take the blame of all on thee.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 35.

The enlarging of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 119.32.‘I will runne the way of thy Commandements, when thou shall enlarge my heart.’

Epigr. 35.

HOw pleasant is that now, which heretofore

Mine heart hela buter, sacred learnings l [...]e?

[...] hearts enter with greatest ease

The [...] paths, and runne the narrowest wayes.

ODE. 35.

1.

What a blessed change I find,

Since I intertain d this guest!

Now me thinks another mind

Moves and rules within my brest.

Surely I am not the same,

That I was before he came,

But I then was much too blame.

2.

When before my God commanded

Any thing he would have done,

I was close, and gripple handed,

Made an end ere I begunne.

If he thought it fit to lay

Judgements on me, I could say

They are good, but shrinke away.

3.

All the wayes of righteous [...]sse

[Page] I did think were full of trouble,

I complain'd of tediousnesse,

And each duty [...] double.

Whilst I serv'd him but of feare,

Ev'ry minute did appeare

Longer sarre then a whole yeare.

4.

Strictnesse in Religion seemed

Like a pined pinion'd thing:

Bolts, and fetters I esteemed

More beseeming for a King,

Then for me to bow my neck,

And be at anothers beck,

When I felt my conscience check.

5.

But the case is alter'd now:

He no sooner turnes his eye,

But I quickly bend, and bow,

Ready at his feet to lie:

Love hath taught me to obey

All his precepts, and to say,

Not to morrow, but to day.

6.

What he wills I say I must:

What I must I say I will:

He commanding, it is just

What he would I should fulfill.

Whilst he biddeth I beleeve

What he calls for he will give.

To obey him is to live.

7.

His Command'ments grievous are not

Longer then men think t [...]m so:

[Page] Though he send me forth I care not,

Whilst he gives me strength to goe.

When, or whither, all is one,

On his bus'nesse, not mine owne,

I shall never goe alone.

8.

If I be compleat in him,

And in him all fulnesse dwelleth.

I am sure aloft to swim,

Whilst that Ocean overswelleth,

Having him that's All in All,

I am confident I shall

Nothing want, for which I call.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 36.

The inflaming of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 39.3.‘My heart was hot within me: while I was musing the sire burned.’

Epigr. 36.

SPare not, my love, to kindle, and enflame

Mine heart within throughout, untill the same

Breake forth, and burnc: that so, thy Salamander,

Mine heart may never from thy furnace wander.

ODE. 36.

1.

Welcome, holy, heavenly fire,

Kindled by immortall love:

Which descending from above,

Makes all earthly thoughts retire,

And give place

To that grace,

Which with gentle violence

Conquers all corrupt affections,

Rebell Natures insurrections,

Bidding them be packing hence.

2.

Lord, thy fire doth heat within,

Warmeth not without alone;

Though it be an heart of stone,

Of it self congeal'd in sinne,

Hard as steel,

If it feel

[Page] Thy dissolving pow'r, it groweth

Soft as waxe, and quickly takes

Any print thy Spirit make,

Paying what thou sai'st it oweth.

3.

Of it self mine heart is dark,

But thy fire by shining bright,

Fills it full of saving light

Though't be but a little spark

Lent by thee,

I shall see

More by it, then all the light,

Which in fullest measures streames

From corrupted Natures beames,

Can discover to my sight.

4.

Though mine heart be ice, and snow,

To the things which thou hast chosen,

All benum'd with cold, and frozen,

Yet thy fire will make it glow.

Though it burnes,

When it turnes

Tow'rds the things which thou do'st hate:

Yet thy blessed warmth, no doubt,

Will that wild-fire soone draw out,

And the heat thereof abate.

5.

Lord, thy fire is active, using

Alwayes either to ascend

To its native heav'n, or lend

Heat to others: and diffusing

Of its store

Gathers more,

Never ceasing till it make

[Page] All things like it selfe, and longing

To see others come with thronging

Of thy goodnesse to partake.

6.

Lord, then let thy fire enflame

My cold heart so thoroughly,

That the heat may never die,

But continue still thr same:

That I may

Ev'ry day

More, and more, consuming sinne,

Kindling others, and attending

All occasions of ascending,

Heaven upon earth begin,

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 37.

The ladder of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 84. 5.‘In whose heart are the wayes of them.’

Epigr. 37.

WOuld'st thou, my love, a ladder have, whereby

Thou mai'st climbe heaven to sit downe on high?

In thine owne heart then frame thee steps, and bend

Thy mind to muse how thou mai'st there ascend.

ODE. 37.

The Soule.

1.

What?

Shall I

Alwayes lie

Grov'ling on earth,

Where there is no mirth?

Why should I not ascend,

And climbe up, where I may mend.

My meane estate of misery?

Happinesse I know's exceeding high:

Yet sure there is some remedy for that

Christ.

2.

True,

There is.

Perfect blisse,

The fruit of love,

May be had above:

But he, that will obtaine

Such a gold-exceeding gaine,

Must never think to reach the same,

And scale heav'ns walls, untill he frame

A ladder in his heart [...] [...] [...]

[Page] The Soule.

3.

Lord,

I will:

But the skill

Is not mine owne:

Such an art's not knowne,

Unlesse thou wilt it teach:

It is farre above the reach

Of mortall minds to understand.

But if thou wilt lend thine helping hand,

I will endeavour to obey thy Word.

Christ.

4.

Well

Then, see

That thou be

As ready prest

To performe the rest,

As now to promise faire,

And I'll teach thee how to reare

A scaling-ladder in thine heart

To mount heaven with: no rules of art,

But I alone, can the composure tell.

5.

First,

Thou must

Take on trust

All that I say,

Reason must not sway

Thy judgement crosse to mine,

But her Scepter quite resigne.

Faith must be both thy ladder sides,

Which will stay thy steps what e'er betides,

And satisfie thine hunger, and thy thirst.

[Page]

6.

Then,

The round

Next the ground,

Which I must see;

Is Humilitie:

From which thou must ascend,

And with perseverance end.

Vertue to vertue, grace to grace,

Must each orderly succeed in'ts place.

And when thou hast done all beginne againe.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 38.

The flying of the Heart.

[Page]

ISA. 60. 5.‘Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the Doves to their windowes?’

Epigr. 38.

OH that mine heart had wings like to a Dove,

That I might quickly hasten hence, and move

With speedy flight tow'rds the cel [...]stiall spheares,

As weary of this world, its faults, and feares!

ODE. 38.

1.

This way, though pleasant, yet me thinks is long:

Step after step makes little haste,

And I am not so strong

As still to last

Among

So great

So many lets:

Swelter'd and swill'd in sweat

My toyling soule both fumes and frets,

As though she were inclin'd to a retreat.

2.

Corruption clogs my seet like filthy clay,

And I am ready still to slip:

Which makes me often stay,

When I should trip

Away.

My feares

[Page] And faults, are such,

As challenge all my teares

So justly, that it were not much,

If I in weeping should spend all my yeares.

3.

This makes me weary of the world below,

And greedy of a place above,

On which I may bestow,

My choisest love,

And so

Obtaine

That favour, which

Excells all worldly gaine,

And maketh the possessour rich,

In happinesse of a transcendent straine.

4.

What? must I still be rooted here below,

And riveted unto the ground,

Wherein mine haste to grow

Will be though sound,

But slow?

I know

The Sunne exhales

Grosse vapours from below,

Which, scorning as it were the Vales,

On mountaine-topping clouds themselves bestow.

5.

But my fault-frozen heart is flow to move,

Makes poore proceedings at the best,

As though it did not love,

Nor long for rest

Above.

Mine eyes

Can upward looke,

[Page] As though they did despise

All things on earth, and could not brooke

Their presence: but mine heart is slow to rise.

6.

Oh that it were once winged like the Dove,

That in a moment mounts on high,

Then should it soone remove,

Where it may ly

In love.

And loe,

This one desire

Me thinks hath imp'd it so,

That it already flies like fire,

And ev'n my verses into wings doe grow.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 39.

The union of the Heart.

[Page]

EZEK. 11.19.‘I will give them one heart.’

Epigr. 39.

LIke minded minds, hearts al ke heartily

Affected will together live, and die:

Many things meete, and part: but loves great gable

Tying two hearts makes them inseparable.

ODE. 39.

The Soule.

1.

All this is not enough: me thinks I grow

More greedy by fruition: what I get

Serves but to set

An edge upon mine appetite,

And all thy gifts doe but invite

My pray'rs for more.

Lord, if thou wilt not still encrease my store,

Why did'st thou any thing at all bestow?

Christ.

2.

And is 't the fruit of having still to crave?

Then let thine heart united be to mine,

And mine to thine

In a firme union, whereby

We may no more be thou, and I,

Or, I, and thou,

But both the same: and then I will avow,

Thou canst not want what thou do'st wish to have.

[Page] The Soule.

3.

True, Lord, for thou art All in All to me,

But how to get my stubborne heart to twine,

And close with thine,

I doe not know, nor can I guesse

How I should ever learne, unlesse

Thou wilt direct

The course that I must take to that effect.

'Tis thou, not I, must knit mine heart to thee.

Christ.

4.

'T is true, and so I will: but yet thou must

Doe something tow'rds it too: First, thou must lay

All [...]nne away,

And separate from that, which would

Our meeting intercept, and hold

Us distant still:

I am all goodnesse, and can close with ill

No more, then richest diamonds with dust.

5.

Then thou must not count any earthly thing,

How ever gay, and gloriously set forth,

Of any worth,

Compar'd with me, that am alone

Th' eternall, high, and holy One:

But place thy love

Onely on me, and on the things above:

Which true content, and endlesse comfort bring.

6.

Love is the loadstone of the heart, the glew,

The cement, and the [...]oder, which alone

Unites in one

Things that before were not the same,

But only like, imparts the name,

And nature too

[Page] Of each to th' other: nothing can undoe

The knot that's knit by love, if it be true.

7.

But if in deed, and truth thou lovest me,

And not in word alone, then I shall find

That thou dost mind

The things I mind, and regulate

All thine affections, love, and hate,

Delight, desire,

Feare, and the rest, by what I doe require,

And I in thee my self shall alwayes see.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 40.

The rest of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 116.7.‘Returne unto thy rest, O my soule.’

Epigr. 40.

MY busie, stirring heart, that seekes the best,

Can find no place on earth wherein to rest:

For God alone, the author of its blesse,

Its only rest, its onely center [...].

ODE. 40.

1.

Move me no more, mad world, it is in va [...]ne,

Experience tells me plaine

I should deceived be,

If ever I againe should trust in thee.

My weary heart hath ransackt all

Thy treasuries both great, and small,

And thy large inventories beares in minde:

Yet could it never finde

One place wherein to rest,

Though it hath often tried all the best.

2.

Thy profits brought me losse in stead of gaine,

And all thy pleasures paine:

Thine honours blurr'd my name

With the deep staines of self-confounding shame,

Thy wisdome made me turne starke fool,

And all the learning, that thy school

Afforded me, was not enough to make

[Page] Me know my self, and take

Care of my better part,

Which should have perished for all thine heart.

3.

Not that there is not place of rest in thee

For others: but for me

There is, there can be, none:

That God, that made mine heart, is he alone,

That of himself both can, and will,

Give rest unto my thoughts, and fill

Them full of all content, and quietne [...],

That so I may [...]

My soule in patience,

Untill he find it time to call me hence.

4.

On thee then, as a sure foundation,

A tried corner-stone,

Lord, I will strive to raise

The tow'r of my salvation, and thy praise.

In thee, as in my center, shall

The lines of all my longings fall.

To thee, as to mine anchor, surely ti'd

My ship shall safely ride.

On thee, as on my bed

Of soft repose, I'll rest my weary head.

5.

Thou, thou alone, shalt be my whole desire,

I'll nothing else require,

But thee, or for thy sake.

In thee I'll sleepe secure, and when I wake

Thy glorious face shall satisfie

The longing of my looking eye.

I'll roule my self on thee, as on my rock,

[Page] And threatning dangers mock.

Of thee, as of my treasure,

I'll boast, and bragge, my comforts know no measure.

6

Lord, thou shalt be mine All, I will not know

A profit here below,

But what [...] on thee:

Thou shalt be all the pleasure I will see

In any thing the earth affords.

Mine heart shall owne no words

Of honour, out of which I cannot raise

The matter of thy praise.

Nay, I will not be mine,

Unlesse thou wilt vouchsafe to have me thine.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 41.

The bathing of the Heart.

[Page]

JOEL 3.21.‘I will cleanse their bloud, that I have not cleansed.’

Epigr. 41.

THis bath thy Saviour swet with drops of bloud,

Sick heart, of purpose for to doe thee good.

They that have tri'd it can the vertue tell,

Come then and use it, is thou wilt be well.

ODE. 41.

1.

All this thy God hath done for thee:

And now mine heart

It is high time that thou should'st be

Acting thy part,

And meditating on his blessed Passion,

Till thou hast made it thine by imitation.

2.

That exercise will be the best

And surest meanes,

To keep thee evermore at rest,

And free from paines.

To suffer with thy Saviour is the way

To make thy present comforts last for aye.

3.

Trace then the steps, wherein he trade,

And first begin

To sweat with him. The heavy load,

Which for thy sinne

[Page] He underwent, squeez'd bloud out of his face,

Which in great drops came trickling downe apace.

4.

Oh let not then that precious bloud

Be spilt in vaine,

But gather ev'ry drop. 'Tis good

To purge the staine

Of guilt, that hath defil'd, and overspred

Thee from the sole of th'foot to th'crown of th'head.

5.

Poison possesseth every veine,

The fountaine is

Corrupt, and all the streames uncleane:

All is amisse.

Thy bloud's impure, yea thou thy self, mine heart,

In all thine inward pow'rs polluted art.

6.

When thy first father first did ill,

Mans doome was read,

That in the sweat of's face he still

Should eat his bread.

What the first Adam in the garden caught,

The second Adam in a garden taught.

7.

Taught by his owne example, how

To sweat for sinne,

Under that heavy weight to bow,

And never linne

Begging release, till with strong cries, and teares

The soule be drain'd of all its saults, and [...]eares.

8.

If sins imputed guilt opprest

Th' Almighty so,

[Page] That his sad soule could find no rest

Under that woe:

But that the bitter agony he felt

Made his pure bloud, if not to sweat, to melt.

9.

Then let that huge inherent masse

Of sinne, that lies

In heapes on thee, make thee surpasse

In teares, and cries,

Striving with all thy strength, untill thou sweat

Such drops as his, though not as good, as great.

10.

And if he thinke it fit to lay

Upon thy back,

Or paines, or duties, as he may

Untill it crack,

Shrinke not away, but straine thine utmost force

To beare them cheerfully without remorse.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 42.

The binding of the Heart.

[Page]

HOS. 11.4.‘I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love.’

Epigr. 42.

Mr sinnes, I doe consesse, a cord were found

Heavy, and hard by thee, when thou wast bound,

Great Lord of love, with them, but thou hast twin'd

Gentle love cords my tender heart to bind.

ODE. 42.

1.

What? could those hands,

That made the world, be subject unto bands?

Could there a cord be found,

Wherewith omnipotence it self was bound?

Wonder mine heart, and stand amaz'd to see

The Lord of liberty

Led captive for thy sake, and in thy stead.

Although he did

Nothing deserving death, or bands, yet he

Was bound, and put to death, to set thee free.

2.

Thy sinnes had ti'd

Those bands for thee, wherein thou should'st have di'd

And thou did'st daily knit

Knots upon knots, whereby thou mad'st them [...]t

Closer, and faster, to thy faulty self.

So like a cursed else,

[Page] Helplesse, and hopelesse, friendlesse, and forlorne,

The sinke of scorne,

And kennell of contempt, thou should st have laine

Eternally enthrall'd to endlesse paine.

3.

Had not the Lord

Of love and life been pleased to afford

His helping hand of grace,

And freely put himself into thy place.

So were thy bands transferr'd, but not unti'd,

Untill the time he did,

And by his death vanquisht, and conqu'red all,

That Adams sall

Had made victorious. Sinne, Death, and Hell,

Thy fatall foes, under his footstool sell.

4.

Yet he meant not

That thou should'st use the liberty he got

As it should like thee best,

To wander as thou listest, or to rest

In soft repose carelesse of his commands:

He that hath loos'd those bands,

Whereby thou wast enslaved to the foes,

Binds thee with those,

Where with he bound himself to doe thee good,

The bands of love, love writ in lines of blood.

5.

His love to thee

Made him to lay aside his Majesty,

And cloathed in a vaile

Of fraile, though faultlesse flesh, become thy baile.

But love requireth love: and since thou art

Loved by him, thy part

It is to love him too: and love affords

[Page] The strongest cords

That can be: for it ties, not hands alone,

But heads, and hearts, and soules, and all in one.

6.

Come then, mine heart,

And freely follow the prevailing art

Of thy Redeemers love.

That strong magnetique tie hath pow'r to move

The steeli'st stubbornesse. If thou but twine,

And twist his love with thine,

And by obedience labour to expresse

Thy thankfulnesse,

It will be hard to say on whether side

The bands are surest, which is fastest tide.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 43.

The prop of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 102.7, 8.‘His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be affraid.’

Epigr. 43.

My weak, and seeble heart, a prop must use,

But pleasant fruits, and flow'rs doth refuse:

My Christ my pillar is, on h [...]m rely,

Repose, and rest my self, alone will I.

ODE. 43.

1.

Suppose it true, that whilst thy Saviours side

Was furrowed with [...]courges he was ti'd

Unto some pillar fast,

Think not, mine heart, it was because he could

Not stand alone, or that left loose he would

Have shrunk away at last.

Such weakne [...] suits not with Omnipotence,

Nor could mans malice match his patience.

2.

But, if so done, 't was done to tutor thee,

Whose frailty, and impatience he doth see

Such, that thou hast nor strength,

Nor will, as of thy self, to undergo

The least degree of duty, or of woe,

But would'st be sure at length

To flinch, or faint, or not to stand at all,

Or in the end more fearfully to fall.

[Page]

3.

Thy very frame, and figure, broad above,

Narrow beneath, apparently doth prove

Thou canst not stand alone,

Without a prop to boulster, and to stay thee.

To trust to thine own strength would soone betray thee.

Alas, thou now art growne

So weak, and feeble, wav'ring, and unstaid,

Thou shrink'st at the least weight that's on thee laid.

4.

The ea [...]est command'ments thou declinest,

And at the lightest punishments thou whinest:

Thy restlesse motions are

Innumerable, like the troubled sea

Whose waves are toss'd, and tumbled ev'ry way.

The Hound-pursued Hare

[...] [...] so many doubles, as thou do'st,

Till thy crosse courses in themselves are lost.

5.

Get thee some stay that may support thee then,

And stablish thee, lest thou should'st start againe.

But where may it be found?

Will pleasant fruites, or flowers serve the turne?

No, no, my tott'ring heart will overturne,

And lay them on the ground.

Dainties may serve to minister delight,

But strength is onely from the Lord of might.

6.

Betake thee to thy Christ then, and repose

Thy selfe in all extremities on those

His everlasting armes,

Wherewith he girds the heavens, and upholds

The pillars of the earth, and safely folds

[Page] His faithfull flocke from harmes.

Cleave close to him by saith, and let the bands

Of love tie thee in thy Redeemers hands.

7.

Come life, come death, come devills, come what will,

Yet [...] ned so thou shalt stand [...] still:

And all the pow'rs of hell

Shall not [...] to shake thee with their shock,

So long as [...] art founded on that rock:

No duty shall thee quell,

No danger shall [...] thy [...] state,

Nor soule-perplexing [...] thy mind [...]

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 44.

The scourging of the Heart.

[Page]

PROV. 10.13.‘A rod is for the backe of him that is void of understanding.’

Epigr. 44.

WHen thou withhold'st thy scourges, dearest love,

My sluggish heart is slack, and slow to move.

Oh let it not stand still, but lash it rather,

And drive it, though unwilling, to thy Father.

ODE. 44.

1.

What doe those scourges on that sacred flesh,

Spotlesse and pure?

Must he, that doth sin-weari'd soules refresh,

Himself endure

Such tearing tortures? Must those sides be gash'd?

Those shoulders lash'd?

Is this the trimming that the world bestowes

Upon such robes of majestie as those?

2.

Is't not enough to die, unlesse by paine

Thou antidate

Thy death before hand, Lord? What do'st thou meane

To aggravate

The guilt of sinne? or to enhance the price

Thy sacrifice

Amounts to? Both are infinite I know,

And can by no additions greater grow.

[Page]

3.

Yet dare I not imagine that in vaine

Thou did'st endure

One stripe: though not thine owne thereby, my gaine

Thou did'st procure,

That when I shall be scourged for thy sake,

Thy stripes may make

Mine acceptable, that I may not grutch,

When I remember thou hast borne as much.

4.

As much, and more, for me. Come then mine heart,

And willingly

Submit thy selfe to suffer: smile at smart

And death de [...]e.

Feare not to feel that hand correcting thee,

Which set thee free.

Stripes as the tokens of his love he leaves,

Who scourgeth ev'ry sonne whom he receives.

5.

There's foolishnesse bound up within thee fast:

But yet the rod

Of fatherly correction at the last,

If blest by God,

Will drive it farre away, and wisdome give,

That thou maist live,

Not to thy self, but him, that first was slaine,

And died for thee, and then rose againe.

6.

Thou art not onely dull, and slow of pace

But stnbborne too,

And refractory, ready to outface,

Rather then doe,

Thy duty: though thou know'st it must be so,

[Page] Thou wilt not go

The way thou should'st, till some affliction

First set thee right, then prick, and spurre thee on.

7.

Top-like thy figure, and condition is,

Neither to stand,

Nor stirre, thy self alone, whilst thou do'st [...]

An helping hand

To set thee up, and store of stripes bestow

To make thee goe.

Begge then thy blessed Saviour to transferre

His scourges unto thee, to make thee stirre.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 45.

The hedging of the Heart.

[Page]

HOS. 2.6.‘I will hedge up thy way with thornes.’

Epigr. 45.

HE, that of thornes would gather roses, may

In his own heart, if handled the right way.

Hearts hedged with Christs Crowne of thornes, in stead

Of thorny cares, will sweetest roses breed.

ODE 45.

1.

A crowne of thornes! I thought so: ten to one,

A crowne without a thorne there's none:

There's none on earth I meane, what shall I then

Rejoyce to see him crown'd by men,

By whom Kings rule, and reigne? Or shall I scorne,

And hate, to see earths curse, a thorne,

Prepost' rously preferr'd to crowne those browes,

From whence all blisse, and glory flowes?

Or shall I both be clad,

And also sad,

To think it is a crowne, and yet so bad?

2.

There's cause enough of both, I must confesse:

Yet, what's that unto me, unlesse

I take a course his crowne of thornes may be

Made mine, transferr'd from him to me?

Crownes had they been of starres could adde no more

Glory, where there was all before,

And thornes might scratch him, could not make him worse

[Page] Then he was made finne, and a curse.

Come then, mine heart, take downe

Thy Saviours Crowne

Of thornes, and see if thou canst make't thine owne.

3.

Remember first, thy Saviours head was crown'd

By the same hands that did him wound:

They meant it not to honour, but to scorne him,

When in such sort they did bethorne him.

Think earthly honours such, if they redound

Not to his glory, th' are not sound.

Never beleeve they minde to dignifie

Thee, that thy Christ would crucifie.

Think ev'ry crowne a thorne,

Unlesse 't adorne

Thy Christ, as well as him, by whom 't is worne.

4.

Consider then that, as the thorny crowne

Circled thy Saviours head, thine owne

Continuall care to please him, and provide

For the advantage of his side,

Must fence thine actions, and affections so,

That they shall neither dare to goe

Out of that compasse, nor vouchsase accesse

To what might make that care goe [...].

Let no such thing draw nigh,

Which shall not spie

Thornes ready plac'd to [...]ick it till it die.

5.

Thus, compass'd with thy Saviours thorny Crowne,

Thou mai'st securely sit thee downe,

And hope that he, who made of water wine,

Will turne each Thorne unto a Vine,

Were thou [...] gather grapes, and to delight thee

[Page] Roses: nor need the prickles fright thee.

Thy Saviours sacred temples tooke away

The curse, that in their [...] lay.

So thou mai'st crowned be,

As well as he,

And at the last light in his light shalt see.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 46.

The fastening of the Heart.

[Page]

JER. 32.40.‘I will put my feare in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.’

Epigr. 46.

THou, thath wast nailed to the Crosse for me,

Lest I stould slip, and fall away from thee,

Drive home thine holy feare into mine heart,

And clench it so, that it may ne'er depart.

ODE. 46.

1.

What? do'st thou struggle to get loose againe?

Hast thou so soone forgot the former paine,

That thy licentious bondage unto sinne,

And lust enlarged thraldome, put thee in?

Hast thou a mind againe to rove, and ramble

Rogue-like a vagrant through the world, and scramble

For scraps, and crusts of earth bred base delights,

And change thy dayes of joy for tedious nights

Of sad repentant sorrow?

What? wilt thou borrow

That griefe to day, which thou must pay to morrow?

2.

No, self-deceiving heart, lest thou should'st cast

Thy cords away, and burst the bands at last

Of thy Redeemers tender love, I'll try

What further fastnesse in his feare doth lie.

The cords of love soaked in lust may rot,

[Page] And bands of bounty are too oft forgot:

But holy filiall feare, like to a naile

Fast ned in a sure place, will never faile.

This driven home will take

Fast hold, and make

Thee that thou darest not thy God forsake.

3.

Remember how, besides thy Saviours bands,

Wherewith they led him bound, his holy hands,

And feet, were pierced, how they nail'd him fast

Unto his bitter [...], and how at last

His precious side was goared with a speare.

So hard sharp-pointed [...], and steel did teare

His tender flesh, that from those wounds might flow

The sov'raigne salve for sin-procured woe.

Then that thou mai'st not saile

Of that availe,

Refuse not to be fast'ned with his naile.

4.

Love in an heart of flesh is apt to taint,

Or be fly-blowne with folly: and its saint

And feeble spirits, when it shewes most faire,

Are often fed on by the empty aire

Of popular applause, unlesse the salt

Of holy feare in time prevent the fault:

But season'd so it will be kept for ever.

He, that doth feare because he loves, will never

Adventure to oftend,

But alwayes [...]end

His best endeavours to content his friend.

5.

Though perfect love cast out all servile feare,

Because such feare hath torment: yet thy dear

Redeemer meant not so to set thee free,

[Page] That filiall feare, and thou should strangers be.

Though, as a sonne, thou honour him thy father,

Yet, as a master, thou maist feare him rather.

Feare's the soules Centinell, and keepes the heart,

Wherein love lodges so, that all the art,

And industry, of those,

That are its foes,

Cannot betray it to its former woes.

§

§

[Page]

Embleme 47.

The new wine of the Heart.

[Page]

PSA [...]. 104.115.‘Wine that maketh glad the heart of man.’

Epigr. 47.

CHrist the true Vine, grape, cluster, on the Crosse

Trod the [...]nepresse alone, unto the losse

Of bloud, & life. Draw, thankfull heart, and spare not:

Here's wine enough for all, save those that care not.

ODE. 47.

1.

Leave not thy Saviour now, what ev'r thou do'st,

Doubtfull distrustfull heart,

Thy former paines, and labours, all are lost,

If now thou shalt depart,

And faithlesly fall off at last from him,

Who to redeeme thee spar'd nor life nor limme.

2.

Shall he, that is thy Cluster, and thy Vine,

Tread the winepresse alone,

Whilst thou stand'st looking on? Shall both the wine,

And worke be all his owne?

See how he bends, crusht with the straitned Screw

Of that fierce wrath, that to thy sinnes was due.

3.

Although thou canst not helpe to beare it, yet

Thrust thy selfe under too,

That thou mai'st feel some of the weight, and get

Although not strength to doe,

Yet will to suffer something as he doth,

[Page] That the same stresse at once may squeeze you both.

4.

Thy Saviour being press'd to death, there ran

Out of his sacred wounds

That wine, that maketh glad the heart of man,

And all his foes confounds.

Yea, the full-flowing fountain s open still

For all grace-thirsting hearts to drinke their fill.

5.

And not to drinke alone, to satiate

Their longing appetites,

Or drowne those cumbrous cares, that would abate

The edge of their delights,

But, when they toyle, and foile themselves, with sinne,

Both to refresh, to purge, and cleanse them in.

6.

Thy Saviour hath begun this Cup to thee,

And thou must not refuse't.

Presse then thy sin-swoll'n sides, untill they be

Empty, and fit to use't.

Doe not delay to come, when he doth call,

Nor feare to want, where there's enough for all.

7.

Thy bounteous Redeemer in his bloud

Fills thee not wine alone,

But likewise gives his flesh to be thy food,

Which thou [...] make thine owne,

And feede on him, who hath himself revealed

The bread of Life by God the Father sealed.

8.

Nay, he's not food alone, but physicke too,

When ever thou art sick,

And in thy [...] strength, that thou mai'st doe

[Page] Thy duty, and not stick

At any thing, that he requires of thee,

How hard soever it may seeme to be.

9.

Make all the haste then that thou canst to come,

Before the day be past,

And think not of returning to thy home,

Whilst yet the light doth last.

The longer, and the more thou draw'st this wine,

Still thou shalt find it more, and more divine.

10.

Or if thy Saviour think it meet to throw

Thee in the Presse againe,

To suffer as he did: yet doe not grow

Displeased at thy paine:

A Summer season followes Winter weather,

Suffring you shall be glorifi'd together.

REVEL. 22. 17.

The Spirit, and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is a thirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The CONCLVSION.

[Page]

[Page]

IS this my period? Have I now no more

To doc hereafter? Shall my mind give o're

Its [...] [...] thus, and idle be,

Or buss'd other wise? Should I not see

How to improve my thoughts more [...],

Before [...] these Heart School [...] by?

Sea-knowledge is an [...] [...],

An [...] that doth not onely aske

A [...] time, but challengeth

To [...] until death.

Yet as in [...] they have a care

To call for [...] [...], and are

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

So [...]

What I have done, [...]

Perhaps I may [...]

To alter, or to [...]

And I may [...]

With my great [...]

From taking our [...]

How I retaine [...] old [...]

[Page] And if it be his pleasure, I shall say

These [...] before others, that they may,

Or learne them too, or only censure me;

I'll wait with patience the successe to see.

And though I looke not to have leave to play,

For that this School allowes not, yet I may

Another time perhaps, if they approve

Of these, such as they are, and shew their love

To the School of the Heart, by calling for't,

Adde other lessons more of the like sort.

The Learning of the Heart.
The Preface.

[Page]

I Am a Scholar. The great Lord of Love

And life, my Tutor is: Who from above

All that lack Learning, to his School invites,

My Hearts my Prayer-book, in which he writes,

Systemes of all the Arts and Faculties:

First reads to me, then makes me exercise,

But all in paradoxes, such high strains,

As flow from none but love Inspired Brains;

Yet bids me publish them abroad and dare

T' excell his Arts above all other Arts that are.

Why should I not? me thinks it cannot be,

But they should please others as well as me.

Come then joyn'd hands, and let our heart's embrace,

Whil'st thus loves Labyrinth of Arts we [...];

I mean the Sidem's call'd [...]:

Both [...], and [...].

With the higher [...], [...];

And Law, and [...]

The Grammar of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 15. 2.

That speaketh the Truth in his Heart.

MY Grammar, I define to he an Art,

Which teacheth me to write and speak mine heart,

By which I learn that smooth tongu'd flatt'ries are

False Language, and in love irregular.

Among'st my Letters, Vow-wells I admit,

Of none but Consonant to sacred [...].

And therefore when my Soul in silence moans,

Half vowel'd sighs, and double deep thong'd groans,

Mute looks, and liquid tears in stead of words,

Are of the language that mine heart affords.

And since true love abhors all variations,

My Grammar hath no moads nor conjugations:

Tenses, nor Persons, nor Declensions,

Cases, nor genders, nor comparisons:

What are my Letters are, my Words but one,

And on the meaning of it love alone.

Concard is all my Syntax and agreement:

Is in my Grammar perfect regiment.

He wants no Language that hath learn'd to love,

When tongues are still, hearts will be heard above.

The Rethorick of the Heart.

[Page]

PSAL. 45. 1.

My Heart is inaiting a good matter.

MY Rethorick is not so much an Art,

As an infused habit in mine Heart,

Which a sweet secret Elegance Instills,

And all my Speech with Tropes and Figures fills.

Love is the tongues Elixir, which doth change

The ordinary sense of words, and range

Them under other kinds, dispose them so

That to the height of eloquence they grow,

E'vn in their native plainness, and must be

So understood as liketh love and me.

When I say Christ, I mean my Saviour;

When his Command'ment my behaviour;

For to that end it was he [...] [...],

And to this purpose 'tis I bear his Name.

When I say Hallow'd be thy name, he knows

I would be holy: for his glory grows

Together with my good, and he hath not

Given more honour then himself hath got

So when I say, Lord let thy Kingdom come,

He understands it, I would be at home;

To raign with him in glory. So grace brings

My love in me to be the [...] of Kings

He teacheth me to say. Thy will be done,

But meaneth he would [...] me do mine own;

By making [...] to [...]

And so to rule my self and serve him both.

[Page] So when he saith, My Son give me thine heart:

I know his meaning is, that I should part

With all I have for him, give him my self,

And to be rich in him from worldly pelf.

When he says come to me, I know that he

Means I should wait his coming unto me,

Since 'tis his coming unto me that makes

Me come to him, my part he undertakes.

And when he says, Behold I come, I know

His parpose and intent is I should go

With all the speed I can, to meet him whence

His coming is attract ve, draws me hence.

Thick folded Repititions in Love,

Are no [...], but strongly move

And bind [...] Attention. Exclamations,

Are the hearts heaven [...] Exaltions.

Epiphonemaes and Apostrophes,

Love likes of well, but no Prosopopes.

Not doubtful but careful deliberations,

Love holds as grounds of strongest Resolutions.

Thus love and I a thousand ways can find,

To speak and understand each others mind,

And descant upon that which unto others,

Is but plain Song, and all their Musick smothers

[...] that which worldly wit worms call nonsence,

Is many times loves purest Eloquence.

The Logick of the Heart.

[Page]

1 Pet. 3. 15.

Be ready always to give an Answer to every man that asketh you a Reason of the Hope that is in you.

MY Logick is the faculty of Faith,

Where all things are resolv'd [...] be saith;

And Ergoes drawn from trust and [...]

Twist and tie Truths with stronger [...]

Then either sense or reason: for the heart

And not the head is fountain of this Art.

And what the heart objects none can [...],

But God himself, till death the frame [...],

Nay Faith can after death [...] with dust,

And argue ashes into stronger trust.

And better hopes then Brass and [...] can

Be emblemes, of unto the outward man.

All my invention is to find what terms

My Lord and I stand in: how he confirms

His [...] to me, how I inherit

What he hath purchased for me by his merit.

My judgment is submission to his will.

And when he once hath spoken to be still.

My Method's to be [...] by him

What he [...], that I think most trim.

Loves Arguments, are all will, thou must,

What he says and commands are true and [...].

When to dispute and argue's [...] of [...],

Then to [...] and to [...] is [...].

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

Schola cordis, or, The heart of it selfe, gone away from God brought back againe to him & instructed by him in 47 emblems.

Harvey, Christopher, 1597-1663.

Edition statement

1647

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A43639

ID [STC]

Wing H183

ID [STC]

ESTC R13211

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

13316676

ID [OCLC]

ocm 13316676

ID [VID]

99023

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A43639)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 99023)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 457:2)

Source

— Schola cordis, or, The heart of it selfe, gone away from God brought back againe to him & instructed by him in 47 emblems., Harvey, Christopher, 1597-1663., Haeften, Benedictus van, 1588-1648. Schola cordis., Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644..

Extent

[6], 195 p.

Printed for H. Blunden ...,. London :: 1647.. (Illustrated t. p.) (Adapted by Christopher Harvey from Bendictus van Haeften's "Schola cordis." Sometimes wrongly ascribed to Francis Quarles.) (Reproduction of original in British Library.)

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