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 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 â—… 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 â—… strength that thou mai'st doe 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 IS this my period Have I now no more To doe hereafter Shall my mind give o're It s â—…â—… thus and idle be Or buss'd other wise Should I not see How to improve my thoughts more â—… Before â—… these Heart School â—… by Sea-knowledge is an â—…â—… An â—… that doth not onely aske A â—… time but challengeth To â—… until death Yet as in â—… they have a care To call for â—…â—… and are â—… â—… â—… â—… So â—… What I have done â—… Perhaps I may â—… To alter or to â—… And I may â—… With my great â—… From taking our â—… How I retaine â—… old â—… And if it be his pleasure I shall say These â—… 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 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 â—… I mean the Sidem's call'd â—… Both â—… and â—… With the higher â—… â—… And Law and â—… The Grammar of the Heart 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 â—… 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 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 â—…â—… And to this purpose 't is 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 â—… of Kings He teacheth me to say Thy will be done But meaneth he would â—… me do mine own By making â—… to â—… And so to rule my self and serve him both 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 't is 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 â—… but strongly move And bind â—… Attention Exclamations Are the hearts heaven â—… 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 â—… that which worldly wit worms call nonsence Is many times loves purest Eloquence The Logick of the Heart 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 â—… be saith And Ergoes drawn from trust and â—… Twist and tie Truths with stronger â—… Then either sense or reason for the heart And not the head is fountain of this Art And what the heart objects none can â—… But God himself till death the frame â—… Nay Faith can after death â—… with dust And argue ashes into stronger trust And better hopes then Brass and â—… 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 â—… 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 â—… by him What he â—… that I think most trim Loves Arguments are all will thou must What he says and commands are true and â—… When to dispute and argue's â—… of â—… Then to â—… and to â—… is â—… FINIS
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 Yâ—… made their sinnes thine owne to be 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 Embleme 15. The humiliation of the Heart 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 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 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 Embleme 16. The softening of the Heart 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 canâ—… in a trice Meli it like â—…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 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 rightâ—… eâ—…e And though I must â—… 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 â—…â—… it self â—… 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 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 Embleme 17. The cleansing of the Heart 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 â—… 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 dâ—…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 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
obâ—…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 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 â—… Purgeth the hearts of men Which being rul'd and written with my Pen My Spirit ev'ry letter Will make them better Embleme 27. The tilling of the Heart 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 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 â—… fit to â—… mine heart to pieces small And when in â—…â—… prehends thee neer 'T is 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 Embleme 28. The seeding of the Heart 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 That quickly will expire Wither and die is all thou canst expect It thou neglect To sow it now 't is ready thou â—… find That â—…â—…â—… And â—… 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 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 Embleme 29. The watering of the Heart 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 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
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 â—…eares 8. If sins imputed guilt opprest Th' Almighty so 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 Embleme 42. The binding of the Heart 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 â—…t Closer and faster to thy faulty self So like a cursed else 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 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 Embleme 43. The prop of the Heart 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 hâ—…m rely Repose and rest my self alone will I. ODE 43. 1. Suppose it true that whilst thy Saviours side Was furrowed with â—…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 weakneâ—… 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 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 eaâ—…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 â—…â—… 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 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 â—… ned so thou shalt stand â—… still And all the pow'rs of hell Shall not â—… to shake thee with their shock So long as â—… art founded on that rock No duty shall thee quell No danger shall â—… thy â—… state Nor soule-perplexing â—… thy mind â—… Embleme 44. The scourging of the Heart 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 3. Yet dare I not imagine that in vaine Thou
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 I know thou â—… Thy â—…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 Embleme 18. The giving of the Heart 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 â—… heart thou gavest that it might be mine Take thou mine heart then that it may be thine ODE 18. 1. Give thee mine â—… 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 â—… Acceptance is its worth 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 paâ—…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 Whoâ—… hand â—… heaven at whose word Devills themselves doe quake Whose eyes out-shine the Sunne whose beck Can the whole â—… of Nature check And its foundations shake 8. Should I with-hold mine heart from thee 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 â—…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 Embleme 19. The Sacrifice of the Heart 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 â—… that thy life Take thine own part Great God that gavest all here take mine heart ODE 19. 1. Thy former 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 â—… 2 And can thy better Covenant Thy law of grace and truth by Jesus Christ It s 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 â—…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 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 eareâ—… 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 â—…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 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 â—… Mine heart thy sacrifice and â—… thy Spirit Kindle thy fire of love that I Burning with zeale to magâ—… thy merit May both consume my â—… and â—… Etâ—…nall â—…phie to thy â—… Embleme 20. The weighing of the Heart 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. 'T is 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 and 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 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 â—…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 â—…any up with pride And double fac'd hypocriâ—… Doth many empty hollowes hide It is but good in part and that but little Wav'ring unstaidnesse maâ—… its resolutions brittle 8. The heart that in my sight As currant coyne would passe 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 Embleme 21. The trying of the Heart 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 'T is 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 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 dâ—…persed parts will not draw neeâ—… 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 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 Embleme 22. The sounding of the Heart 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 'T is 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 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 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 Embleme 23. The levelling of the Heart 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 choâ—…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
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 righteousâ—…sse I did think were full of trouble I complain'd of tediousnesse And each duty â—… 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 tâ—…m so 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 Embleme 36. The inflaming of the Heart 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 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 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 Embleme 37. The ladder of the Heart 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 â—…â—…â—… 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 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 Embleme 38. The flying of the Heart 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 celâ—…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 feet like filthy clay And I am ready still to slip Which makes me often stay When I should trip Away My feares 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