CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM Cornell University Library PR 3506.H6A17 1874 The complete poems of C. Harvey, for the 3 1924 013 185 198 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013185198 C^£ gnlkx Matt^m' fikarij. THE COMPLETE POEMS OF CHRISTOPHER HARVEY, M.A. I. MBMOBIAL-INTRODUCTION. II. THE SYNAGOGUE ; OE THE SHADOW OE THB TEMPLE. in. SCHOLA COEDIS; OE THE HBAET OF ITSBLFB GONE AWAY FEOM GOD, BEOUGHT BACK AGAINE TO HIM, AND INSTEUCTBD BY HIM. IV. NOTES AND ILLUSTEATIONS, AND GLOSSAEIAL INDEX. LONDON : ROBSON ANU SONS, PRINTERS, PANCKAS ROAD, N,W. 'ay/ ^ i ^i inlkt maxil^m' f ibrarjj. THE COMPLETE POEMS CHRISTOPHER HARVEY, M.A. FOB THE FIRST TIME FULLY COLLECTED AND COLLATED WITH THE OBIOINAL AND EARLY EDITIONS ; AND IN QUARTO, WITH ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS. BEING A SUPPLEMENTARY VOLUME TO THE COMPLETE WORKS IW VERSE AND PROSE OP GEORGE HERBERT. EEV. ALEXANDEE B. GEOSAET, ST. GEORGE'S, BLACKBURN, LANCASHIRE. PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION, 1874. 100 copies only. TO THE KEV. RICHARD WILTON, M.A. LONDESBOROUOH RECTOBT, MARKET WEIGnTON : DEAR TO ME AS THE POET OF ' WOOD NOTES AND CHURCH BELLS ;' DEARER AS A EKIEND AND FELLOW-WORKER IN REVIVING ORASHAW AND HERBERT, BT CONJOINTLY MAKINO THEIR LATIN AND GREEK ' SPEAK ENGLISH' FOR THE FIRST TIME; DEAREST OF ALL AS A ' BROTHER BELOVED' IN SERVING THE ONE MASTER : I iiMtuk THIS COLLECTION OF THE POEMS OP A ' SWEET SINGER,' NOT UNWORTHY OF THE LOWLY ASSOCIATION WITH GEORGE HERBERT WHICH HE CLAIMED ; GEATEPUL TO KNOW THAT I MAY WHITE ' AUOTOB PRETIOSA PACIT.' VERY FAITHFULLY, ALEXANDEE B. GEOSAKT. CONTENTS. PAGE ■ Dpdi cation V II. Editor's Preface . . . xiii III. Memorial-Introduction . xvii I. The Synagogue ; or the Sliadow of the Temple, pp. 1-85. PAGE 1 PAGE To the Author 4 21. The Overseer of the Poor 32 1. Subterliminare .... S 22. The Churchwarden . . 34 2. A Stepping-Stone to the 23. The Deacon 36 Threshold of Mr. Her- 24. The Priest 38 bert's Church-Porch . 6 25. The Bishop .... 40 3. The Dedication .... 7 26. Church-Festivals . . . 43 4. The Churchyard . . . 7 27. The Sabbath, or Lord's 5. The Church- Stile . . . 8 Day 43 6. The Church-Gate . . . 8 28. The Annunciation, or 7. The Church-Walls . . 9 Lady-day .... 45 8. The Church . . . . . lO 29 The Nativity, or Christ- 9. The Church-Porch . . ir mas-day 46 10. Church-Utensils . . 13 30. Th& Circumcision, or New 11. The Font 14 Year's-day .... 47 12. The Reading-Pue . . . IS 31. TheEpiphany, orTwelfth- 13. The Book of Common day 49 Prayer 17 32. The Passion, or Good 14. The Bible- 19 Fryday 51 15. The Pulpit 21 33. The Kesurrection, or Eas- 16. The Communion-table . 24 ter-day 53 17. Commimion-plate . . . 26 34 The Ascention, or Holy 18. Church-Officers . . . 28 Thursday 54 19. The Sexton 29 35. Whit- Sunday .... 56 20. The Clerk 30 36. Trinity Sunday .... 58 Vlii CONTENTS. PAGE PAGE 37 Tn■^^it^^^inn 6o 46. The Search 74 75 77 38 i.11 V I LabiUlL • • • • t Comfort in Extremity . fiesolution and Assurance Vows broken and renewed 6i 47. The Return . . 39 62 63 48. Inundations . 40 49. Sin 79 41 Confusion . . . . 64 50. Travels at Home 79 42 A Paradox 65 51. The Journey 81 43 Inmates . . . 66 52. Engines . . . 82 44. The Curb . ... 71 Commendatory Verses 86 45. The Loss. . 72 Notes and Illustrations . . 90 * ^* /'or readier refertnce, these Contents are aho arranged alpha- betically. The figures 1, 2, (Jc. onward, denote the number of the Poem. 42. A Paradox . ... 65 8. The Church . . 10 2. A Stepping. Stone to the 6. The Church-Gate . . . S Threshold of Mr. Her- 9. The Church-Porch . II bert's Church-Porch 6 5. The Church-Stile . . . 8 26. Church-Festirals . 43 7. The Church-Walls 9 18. Church-Officers . . . 28 22. The Churchwarden . . 34 10, Church-Utensils . . 13 4. The Churchyard . . . 7 38. Comfort in Extremitj' 61 30. The Circumcision, or Commendatory Verses . 86 New Year's-day . . 47 17. Communion-plate 26 20. The Clerk . "... 30 41. Confusion . . 64 16. The Communion-table . 24 52. Engines 82 44. The Curb .... 71 43. Inmates 66 •i.3. The Deacon .... 36 48. Inundations .... 77 3. The Dedication .... 7 37. Invitation 60 31. The Epiphany, or Twelfth- 39. Resolution and Assurance 62 day . . . . 49 19. Sin Subterliminare .... 79 5 11. The Font 14 81 1. 51. The Journey . . 28. The Annunciation, or 45. The Loss . . ... 72 Lady-day . ... 45 29. The Nativity, nr Christ- 34. The Ascention, or Holy mas-day . . . . 46 Thursday 54 21. The Overseer of the Poor 32 14. The Bible . . 19 32. The Passion, or Good 2b. The Bishop 40 Fryday .... 51 13. The Book of Common 24. The Priest .... 38 Prayer . , 17 15. The Pulpit . . . 21 CONTENTS. 12. The Reading-Pue . . . 33. The Resurrection, or Eas- ter-day 47. The Return .... 27. The Sabbath, or Lord's Day 46. The Search 19. The Sexton . ... 29 To the Author .... 4 50. Travels at Home . . 79 36. Trinity Sunday .... 58 40. Vows broken and renewed 63 35. Whit-Sunday .... 56 u, ScHOLA Cordis, pp. 99-234. For the successive headings of the Epigrams and Odes, see Contents on pp. 105, 106. Lines to Izaak Walton .... . . . xxiii-i\ ILLUSTRATIONS IN 4to. . The Grammar School, Kington, Herefordshire : anastatic etch- ing by Rev. W. F. Francis, Great Saxham, Suffolk, after a photograph by Stephens, Kington , . . Jacing title-page If I am rightly informed, this School has neyer before been given in any book. As stated in tte text (pp. xix.-xx.), It retains still its original quaint and now hoary characteriatics. By the kindness of the Eev, C. J. Robinson, M.A. , Norton CanonjWeobley — who has done so much to illustrate and elucidate Herefordshire history — I am enabled to furnish the following details concerning this fine old school. It was designed and contracted for in 1622 by John Abel— he finding all materials— for 24.01. J equal perhaps now to well-nigh lOOOZ. This John Abel was especially skilful in the construction of the timber mansions, ' black and white,' which once were the ornaments of Herefordshire. His chief works were the Town Hall or Market House at Hereford, 1618-20 (long since pulled down) ; Market House at Leominster, 1633 (still standing, but— American fashion— on a different site) ; Market Houses at Brecon, Kington, Weobley ; new church at Abbey Dore ; and the present School. He was of great service to the besieged of Hereford in 1645, in constructing defences and mills to grind their com. On this account he was made by Charles I. one of his Majesty's carpenters. He died in 1694, in the 97th year of his age. His epitaph — composed by himself, and still to be seen on the tomb which he erected for him- self in Samesfield churchyard — may interest : • This craggy Stone a covering is for an Architector's Bed, That loffy Buildings raisdd tdgh, yet now lays low his Head. His Line and Rule, so Death concludes, are locked up in Store ; Build they who list or they who wist, for he can build no more : His house of Clay could hold no longer ; May Heaven's Joy build Him a stronger. JOHN Abel. I^ibc nl bibttS in hximxi sctcntum.' Sir John Hawkins, Knight, the illustrious 'navigator' and discoverer, treasurer of the Navy to Queen Elizabeth, was buried in St. Dunstan's in the East, London; died 12th Nov. 1595. His wife was Margaret Vaughan, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth; daughter of Charles Yaughan of Hargest (by his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir William Yaughan of Talgark) ; died 2d Feb. 1620. It was by Lady Hawkins's will the Grammar School of Kington was built. I harve the greater pleasure in furnishing this Rembrandt-like etching of the ancient Grammar School, in that Wood's blunders in making * Thomas Harvey,' instead of oiu: Christopher Harvey, its first master, and author XU ILLUSTRATIONS IN 4TO. of ' The Synagogue,' have hitherto dissociated our "Worthy from it, and robbed him of hia renown as the 'imitator' of 'divine Herbert' (see our Memorial-Introduction, pp. xxi.-ii.). II. Kington Church : anastatic etching by Rev. W. F. Francis, after photograph by R. Jones, Leominster . to face page xvii III. Clifton on Dunsmore Church : after a photograph . . Ibid. It shows no ' spire,' agreeably to Dugdale's account as quoted in Memorial-Introduction, p. xx. In connection with a sculptured muz- zled bear on the west side of this church there is a singular tradition about it, which is still quick, to wit, that on one occasion the parish- ioners of Clifton sold their church Bible to buy a bear to bait. Unfor- tunately for the myth, the sculpture belongs to the fifteenth century, when Bibles were not used in English churches. The bear is in reality the crest of an old family formerly residing at Clifton, viz. a bear sable holding up the dexter paw, the name of the family being BeretorA, Barford, or Barfoot. In the year 1648 a John Barford appears as one of the eight freeholders who entered into an agreement with the then Lord of the Manor of CUfton, Sir Richard Lucy, for the enclosure of the open and common lands there, and to this John Barford were allotted 96| acres of land in lieu of two yards land and a half and two cottage commons. The laat of the Barford family at Clifton was mar- ried to a Fi-aneis about the middle of the last century ; and in 1748 Mr. Robert Francis made a present of the communion-plate — a flagon, chalice, and paten — to Clifton Church. These are engraved with the arms of the Barford family and the crest, a bear passant. The daughter of this marriage married a Mr. Bristow, and their daughter a Mr. Jenaway. The allotment of land to John Barford in 1648 was offered for sale by the devisees in trust, under the will of the late Mi-, Bethuel Grimes Jenaway, in 1870. The ancient mansion of the Barford family was demolished a few years ago. A story is told of a yotmg man of dissipated habits fond of frequenting two public-houses near the church — the Lion and the Bull — who was accosted on one occasion by a friendly adviser in the following words : * Take heed of the Bull, of the Lion beware ; If you wish to be happy, turn in at the Bear.* (Letter of M. H. Bloxam, Esq., Rugby.) IV. Autograph of Christopher Harvey, from the parish register of Clifton on Dunsmore — facsimiled by Miss ITewall . , Jbid. %* These anastatic etchings are from the press of Mr, Stephen H. Cowell, Ipswich, Whitney Church was carried away by the Wye in 1735-6, and was rebuilt in 1740. The present fabric is thus excluded from these Illustrations. PEEFACE. Fkom 1640 onward to the present decade, ' The Syna- gogue' of Christopher Harvey has accompanied nearly every edition of ' The Temple' of George Herbert, and I was readily persuaded by many spontaneous Corre- spondents not to sever the venerable association. I have deemed it well, nevertheless, to make the Poems of this Worthy an independent and separate, though companion, volume to the set of Herbert's Works. Nor was there a moment's hesitation as to adding ' Schola Cordis' to ' The Synagogue.' Throughout, ' Schola Cordis' bears the same mint-mark, and is informed with the same lowly, tender, sweet spirit as the better known ' Synagogue.' Perhaps my words toward the close of the Memorial- Introduction will lead some to ^ prove' that, besides their piety and inno- cent quaintness, the Poems of Christopher Harvey have qualities that make them worthy of their long association with Herbert. It is possible an unsjTnpathetic reader may feel disposed to liken the placing of ' The Synagogue' and ' Schola Cordis' beside the marble-work of ' The Temple,' to those huts one meets with in classic lands squatting at the foot of once splendid and consecrate temples. I rather like to think of their association as symbolised by the swallows' nests hung in metope or frieze, to their passing stain, perchance, yet by ' imme- morial lease of love,' and the glance of swift and burnished XIV PREFACE. wing and breast, and the tropic note, vindicating their intrusion — if intrusion it be. ' The Synagogue,' as above, was first published in 1640, and then only contained the following : The Dedication. Subterliminare — A Stepping- Stone, &c. The Church-yard. The Church-stile. The Church-gate. The Church-walls. The Church. The Church-porch. Invitation. Comfort in Extremity. Eesolution and Assurance (divided into three stanzas). The Nativity. Vows broken and rewarded \_sic, but clearly an error for 'renewed']. Confusion. A Paradox. Inmates. The Curb [4 st.]. The Loss. The Search. The Return [7 st.]. The Circumcision. Inundations. Sin [5 St.]. Travels at Home. It will thus be seen that in the after- editions there was a very considerable increase in the number of pieces. I. L. addressed his ingenious friend, the author of ' The Syna- gogue,' upon his additional Church-utensils. As stated in the relative note, our text is that of the fourth edition, 1661, as the last that could have come under the author's PREFACE. XV own eyes. A return thereto has corrected various errors and restored the genuine orthography. The ninth edition was published in 1709, along with the thirteenth edition of ' The Temple.' ' Sahola Cordis' was first published in 1647 — title-page on p. 101. By the liberality of H enry Huth, Esq., I have been enabled to reproduce its text. For fuU details on this second volume of Harvey's Verse, the reader is re- ferred to our Memorial-Introduction. I have now to thank very cordially the following friends and correspondents for services rendered in my work on this Worthy : Dr. Beinsley Nicholson, as before ; W. Aldis Weight, Esq., M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge ; the Rev. William Lowe, Bunbury, Cheshire ; Haber- dashers' Hall, London, through Thomas Wilson, Esq., Harpenden, St. Albans ; the Rev. Samuel Newall, M.A., Clifton on Dunsmore ; the Rev. Henry Dew, M.A., Whitney; the Rev. James Davies, M.A., Moor Court, Kington ; M. H. Bloxam, Esq., Rugby. The Memorial- Introduction wUl be found to supply a missing page or two of biography, and the Notes and Illustrations to elucidate things left obscure. The Glos- sarial Index wiU reveal the common use of words and turns of phrase of ' The Synagogue' and ' Schola Cordis.' The anastatic etchings of scenes related to Harvey (fur- nished in the 4to) I owe to the continued interest and well-trained hands of the Rev. W. Francis Francis, Great Saxham, Bury St. Edmunds. With reference to the prose books by Christopher Harvey, described in the Memorial- Introduction (pp. xxviii.-ix.), I should willingly give five guineas for them, assured as I am that they will reveal much of his intellect and heart. ALEXANDER B. GROSAET. Park View, Blackburn, Lancashire, June 18, 1874. Eiuston (JTfnttcfi. Clrytllo>A',p^'^ 1^^^^ MEMOEIAL-INTRODUCTION. CiiEisTOPHEE Harvey (or Harvie'), whose Poems it is my privilege (as with so many of these Worthies) for the first time to bring together, has himself very much to blame that so little has come down to posterity concern- ing him, and that hitherto he has been confounded with another Harvey, and robbed variously of the honour of contributions to the sacred poetry of England notable in their own humble way. For in a gracious little epistle - dedicatory to Sir Robert Whitney of one of the posthu- mous expositions (viz. of Psalm Ixxxv., 1647) of good Thomas Pierson of Brampton-Brian, he avows that ' long agoe' he had ' put on almost an obstinate resolution never to send' his 'own name to the presse, except it' was ' to bring to light another man's labours.' Hence the anony- mous title-pages, epistles, &c., of all he published, with the exception of a treatise hereafter to be noticed. The same epistle contains other references that have enabled me to shed a little more light on the long-dimmed me- mory than others have done, and to correct mistakes of Anthony a- Wood that have gone on uncorrected, as usual, ever since he made them. The epistle thus opens : ' To the Right WorshipfuU my truly noble and thrice most honoured patron. Sir Robert Whitney, Knight.^ ' As onward it will be found his father's name is sometimes spelt Harvey and Hanfy and sometimes Harvie; and so with his own. 2 Bom 1592, buried 15th September 1653. His widow survived him. Her will, dated 14th September 1667, was proved 20th Novem- ber 1668. XVIU MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. ' It is not unknown unto Him, unto Whose eyes all things are naked and opened, that a strong desire doth possesse me (if it be not more proper to call it ambition) of offering to the present age, and leaving to posterity, some pubhck evidence of that unfeigned thankfulnesse, which I humbly acknowledge to be due unto you, for your altogether undeserved as well as unexpected at the first, and now Utile lesse than twenty years' continued favour, expressed amongst many other particulars by thi'ee severall presentations unto such Church-livings as were in your power to dispose of; and those not only so freely, but also so friendly, not granted, but offered, that would be the severest censurer of symonie that ever was chose of pur- pose a pattern in that particular for patrons perpetually to practise by, the world could not afford him any one that might more truly say than you can. Nee prece, nee precis' Dated in 1647, the ' little less than twenty years' of this epistle takes us back to about 1629, and the ' three severall presentations' indicated, find partial elucidation at any rate in these Facts : (a) In 1629-30 the following entry occurs in the register of Whitney : ' Anne, the daughter of Chris- topher Harvey and Margaret his wife, was baptized March 13th, 1630.' Another entry informs us that 'William Huddleston, clerck. Rector of Whitney, was buryed De- cember 19th, 1630.' It thus appears that Harvey was living at Whitney before he himself became its rector, which he did upon the death of Huddleston. Probably he was acting as ' assistant' to his predecessor while the old man ' walked' slowly and lingeringly along the valley of the shadow of death. These other ' baptism' entries at Whitney carry us forward to 1639 — the first a very remarkable Christian name, but not without suggestive- ness in the recollection of Christopher Marlowe's mighty tragedy (1586) of ' Tambnrlaine the Greate' : (2) Tamberlane, the sonne of Christopher Harvey, clerck, and Margaret his wife, was baptized July 7, 1633. MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. XIX (3) John, y" sonne of Christopher Harvey, clerck, and Margaret his wife, baptized June 21, 1635. (4) Robert, the sonne of Christopher Harvey, clerck, and Margaret his wife, was baptized July 30, 1637. (5) Hellen, the daughter of Christopher Harvey, clerck, and Margaret his wife, was baptized September 22, 1639. With the last all notice of Christopher Harvey at Whit- ney ends. (i) In the original ' Register Booke, or a Perfect Ac- count both of Schoolmasters and Scholars,' &o., of the Grammar School of Kington, Herefordshire, the first entry runs : ' Mem. that the day and yeare in the margin men- tioned (A.D. 1632, Septemb. 29), Christopher Harvey, M' of Arts, late rector of the parish church of Whitney . . . was, by direction from Captain Anthony Lewes, Esq., one of the executors of the last will and testament of the said Lady [=Dame Margaret Hawkins, widow of the circum- navigator ; her maiden name Vaughan], admitted by us the first prselector or head schoolmaster of the said school : John Vaughan. James Vaughan,' &c. The word Hate Rector of Whitney' would seem to showthat Harvey had resigned that ' living' in 1632 for the school- mastership of Kington. His patron-friend Whitney was one of the School's trustees. Perhaps the baptism- entries on to 1639 point to a mUd kind of ' symonie,' as noted in the epistle supra. Or is the explanation that Harvey resigned Whitney conditionally ? He must have continued master at Kington a very short time, being appointed Sept. 29, 1632, while David Meredith was made his successor March 25, 1633. So he seems to have quietly returned to Whit- ney, as the baptism-entries imply. The importance of this newly-found bit of fact will appear immediately. Meantime, possessors of our quarto will be gratified with a cunningly -rendered anastatic etching of the vener- able school, with the hoar of centuries on it now and a XX MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. piquant quaintness of look.' (c) On 14th November 1639, Christopher Harvey was instituted to the vicarage of Clifton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, on the pre- sentation of Sir Robert Whitney of Wtiitney. His ' pre- sentation' was coincident with a fact given by Dugdale in his county history of Warwickshire, as follows under Clifton : ' Here was a fair spire steeple, as an eminent landmark, seen over all the part of the countrey in re- gard of its height and situation of the place ; which in the year 1639 was pull'd down to save the costs of its repair' (p. 9, edition 1765, folio). The following baptism entries are from the parish register of Clifton on Duns- more : (1) Bridgett and Mary, [twin] daughters of Chris- topher Harvey and Margaret his wife, were baptized June 12, 1642. (2) Witney, the son of Christopher Harvey and Mar- garet his wife, was baptized September 24, 1643 ; and, alas, ' buryed' October lltb, 1643 ; thus ' No sooner borne then blasted.' (3) Thomas, the son of Christopher Harvey and Mar- garet his wife, was baptized February 22, 1645. Turning back on these ' three severall presentations,' there can be no doubt that they answer throughout to the words of the epistle-dedicatory to the gallant Cavalier Sir Robert Whitney ; while another epistle (to exposition by Pierson of Psalm Ixxxvii.), 'to the right vertuous and religious, my most honoured ladie, the Ladie Anne Whit- ney,' similarly acknowledges obligation to this famous daughter of Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecote.^ It will be 1 See note on page xi. ante, for information on this school. ■-' I have concluded that Kington School was one of the three ' preferments' to which Harvey alludes, because, though Sir Robert Whitney was not the actual patron, his influence was absolute from his family position and relationship to the Vaughans. It is just MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. XXI observed, too, that the little son ' Witney' (or Whitney) drew his brief -worn name from his father's friends. But the mastership of Kington Grammar School is most of all to be remembered, seeing that Anthony a-Wood desig- nated Thomas Harvey as 'the first master of Kington School,' and, what is worse, ' the author of " The Syna- gogue," in imitation of divine Herbert.' With an uncha- racteristic lack of inquisitiveness, Wood, in chronicling, sub George Turbervile (' Athense,' i. 628, ed. Bliss), trans- lations of Eclogues of Mantuan, remarks : ' The said eclogues were afterwards translated by another hand ; but not without the help of that translation of Turber- vUe, though not acknowledged. The person that per- formed it was Thomas Harvey, who writes himself gent. But whether the same Thomas Harvey who was master of arts, the first master of Kington School in Hereford- shire (founded 1620), and the author of ■' The Synagogue," in imitation of divine Herbert, / hnow not.'' It is a pity he did not exercise his usual painstaking, when he would have discovered that Christopher, not Thomas, was ' the first master of Kington School,' and Christopher, not Thomas, Harvey author of ' The Synagogue.' The ' Tho- mas Harvey, gent^ was a translator, with some salt of wit, of various Italian and Latin poets, as ' The Bucolicks of Baptist Mantuan, in Ten Eclogues. Translated out of Latine into English, by Tho. Harvey, Gent' (1656), and ' The Latine Epigrams of John Owen, late one of the Fellows of New CoUedge in Oxford. Rendred into Eng- lish by Thomas Harvey, Gent. Once a Commoner in the CoUedge at Winchester' (1677). In the 'Fasti' (ii. 9) there is a notice of ' William Harvey, son of Thomas Harvey, gent, by Joan Halke his wife ; born at Folkstone in Kent on the second day of April 1578.' Query, the ' Thomas possible that the associated chapel-of-ease with Clifton may have been the third. The Kector of Clifton then drew its revenues. XXll MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. Harvey, Gent,' supra f or was this the great discoverer of the circulation of the blood, renowned Dr. William Harvey ? So elsewhere. The invariable occurrence of his name in fall to all he published, and the as invariable addition of 'Gent' (that is, gentleman), enable us to set aside in another way Wood's mistake, and also a similar one — of which more in the sequel — on ' Schola Cordis.' Izaak Walton here furnishes undoubtable testimony. In the ' Complete Angler' be quotes a poem from ' The Synagogue' (viz. 13. The Book of Common Prayer, pp. 17-18), and puts in margin to it the name of ' Christopher Harvie ;' and that he knew the man is shown by these three things : (1) That he himself wrote a commendatory poem to his friend the author of ' The Synagogue' (see it onward). (2) That in the ' Complete Angler' he calls him ' a friend of mine.' (3) That Christopher Harvey in turn addressed a conmiendatory poem on the 'Complete An- gler,' given onward. Further, Walton calls him in the prefix to the poem before ' The Synagogue' ' my reverend friend,' and in the ' Complete Angler' in making the quo- tation ' a divine.' Now Thomas Harvey was not ' master of Kington School,' and not ' reverend' or ' a divine,' but ostentatiously ' GenC It will summarise the matter to give here successively — (a) the heading of Walton's poem ; (6) Walton's words in ' Complete Angler ;' (c) Harvey's poem to Walton. (a) Heading of Walton^ s poem to Harvey. To my Reverend Friend the Author of ' The Synagogue.' (6) Walton's words in ' Complete Angler,' chap. v. ' Vcn. I thank you, good master, for your good direc- tion for fly-fishing, and for the sweet enjoyment of the pleasant day, which is, so far, spent without ofEcnce to God or man. And I thank you for the sweet close of your discourse with Mr. Herbert's verses, who, I have MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. XXlll heard, loved angling ; and I do the rather believe it, because he had a spirit suitable to anglers, and to those primitive Christians that you love and have so much commended. ' Pise. Well, my loving scholar, and I am pleased to know that you are so well pleased with my direction and discourse. And since you like these verses of Mr. Her- bert's so well, let me tell you what a reverend and learned divine [in margin, Ch. Earvie'] that professes to imitate him, and has indeed done so most excellently, hath writ of our Book of Common Prayer, which I know you will like the better, because he is a friend of mine, and I am sure no enemy to angling. " Wiat ! Pray'r by ti' book? and common ? Yes ; why not ?" ' (c) Christopher Harvey's poem to Walton, prefixed to second edition of the' Com,plete Angler' (1655). To the Reader of the Complete Angler. First, mark the title well ; my friend that gave it Has made it good; this book deserves to have it : For he that views it with judicious looks Shall find it full of art, baits, lines, and hooks. The world the river is ; both you and I And all mankind are either fish or fry ; If we pretend to reason, first or last His baits will tempt us, and his hooks hold fast. Pleasure or profit, either prose or rhime. If not at first will doubtlesse take's in time. Here sits in secret blest Theologie, Waited upon by grave Philosophie Both naturall and morall ; Historie Deck'd and adorn'd with flowers of poetrie, The matter and expression striving which Shall most excel in worth, yet not seem rich : There is no danger in his baits ; that hook Will the safest that is surest took. Nor are we caught alone, but (which is best) We shall be wholsom and be toothsom drest : Drest to be fed, not to be fed upon ; And danger of a surfet here is none. XXIV MEMOHIAL-INTEODUCTION. The solid food of serious contemplation Is sauc'd here with such harmlesse recreation, That an ingenuous and religious minde Cannot inquire for more than it may finde Ready at once prepar'd, either t' excite Or satisfie a curious appetite. More praise is due j for 'tis both positive And truth, which once was interrogative, And utter'd by the poet then in jest, Ei jHscatorem piscis amare potest, C. H., Master of Arts. It may be safely assumed, with all this concurrent evi- dence, that Anthony a-Wood, misinformed as to Thomas Harvey having been ' the first master of Kington School,' was also misinformed on the authorship of ' The Syna- gogue,' much as he was in assigning the well-known Poems of Southwell to John Davies of Hereford. Another line of research has yielded us additional Facts, that go to give definiteness to an indefinite state- ment of Wood, and to explain how it came to pass that our Worthy is found in Herefordshire, viz. at Whitney and Kington. First of all, in preparing our Memoir of learned and saintly Samuel Torshell— for the reprint iu Nichol's Puritan Commentaries of Stock and Torshell on Malachi (1865) — I discovered that a Christopher Harvey was the ' preacher' at Bunbury, Cheshire, in association with ' holy' William Hinde, the golden-penned biographer of John Bruen of Bruen-Stopford. This Christopher Harvey I find from the ancient Records of the Haberdashers' Company of London, in whom vests the ' presentation' to Bunbury, must have been among the first, if not the very first, preacher and schoolmaster (both apparently united in one) of the place, founded by moneys and lands ' delivered' and ' conveyed' to the ' master and wardens' by one of their own members, ' Mr. Thomas Aldersey,' as appears by these extracts : MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. XXV (1) 1594. ' Mr. T. Aldersey delivered to the Mr. [mas- ter] and wardens the some of £300, to the use of the company for ever, to be employed in purchasing of land or otherwise, as to the Mr., wardens, and assistants of the worshipful company for the tyme being, or the more part of them, shaU seem good in their discretion, they giving yearly for ever £viii. to eight poor householders of the company, according to former order taken in that behaulf ; the same to be yearly distributed thereto forever, by his appointment, on the morrow of the elecson of the master and wardens of this worshipful company, and the first payment to be on the morrow after the next elecson daie now next comynge ; and it is ordered that the master and wardens shall set the seale of the house for the sealing of such counterparts of wryting and other things as is need- ful to be done about Mr. Aldersey's busyness, touchinge the tythes of Bunbery and other lands that are to be con- veyed to the use of the free schoole there ; and this is to be their warrant on that behaulf.' (2) 2d November 1597. ' At the request of Mr. John Aldersey, and for the better despatch of the business of Mr. Aldersey's schoole and other things touching that cor- poracion in Cheshire, it is ordered that a letter of attorney shalbe made from the governors of the said school to one John Aldersey of Spurstowe, in the county of Chester, gentleman, to collect the rents and revenues of the land assured to that corporacion by Mr. John Aldersey, wherein it is thought convenyent that there shalbe conteyned a covenant on the behaulf of the said John Aldersey, that he shall well and trulie paie and destribute out of his receipts such somes of money to the preacher, the schoo'e- master, and others in the parish of Boneburie, as is thereto paid and distributed according to the order sett downe and provided in that behaulf ; and that he shall accompt yearly for the same and the residue of his receipts, with proviso that the same letter of attourney shall not stand d XXVI MRMOBIAL-INTRODUOTION. any longer in force than it shall seem good to the gover- nors aforesaid.' Then specifically : (3) 14th July 1600. ' First [=the first business before the Court that day], ou reading of a letter sent to our master and wardens from Mr. Christopher Harvie, Mr. Aldersey's preacher at Bunbury in Cheshire, containing the names of the schollers and the order of their proceed- ing and the state of the school there, it is ordered that a letter shalbe sent unto him from our master and wardens in answer thereof, desyringe him to persevere and con- tinue his care unto the schoole, as he hath already done according to the trust reposed in him.' These extracts are all of distinct statement remaining in the old records — searched diligently backward to 1590 — and they leave the date of the first preachership and the date of the appointment of Christopher Harvey undeter- minable. But it seems clear that in 1600 he was the preacher, and probably was at once given the post by Mr. Aldersey in 1594-5. I fix on 1594-5, because the letters patent of Queen Elizabeth are dated 2d January 1594 ; the lease a.d. 1595 ; and Thomas Aldersey's own wiU 20th February 1595. Then in the statutes 'prescribed, limited, and ordained by Thomas Aldersey, citizen and haber- dasher,' Article 12 reads: 'Item: the preacher for the time being shall have and enjoy for his dwelling-house that messuage or tenement with the appurtenances and all the lands which he, the said Thomas Aldersey, purchased of Thomas Bonebury, Esq., all which he now uses, and occupied by Christopher Harvey the preacher, their or his assignes.' This must have been before 1595. Unfortu- nately the registers of the church — a very fine miniature- cathedral one — of Bunbury are fragmentary, and do not include 1597. Among the earliest entries is the burial of the good preacher : 1601, 23 N[ovember], Xtopher Harvy, preachr of Bunb. MEMOEIAIi-INTRODUCTION. XXVH But though we are thus deprived of the satisfaction of finding the ' baptism' of our Christopher Harvey in the register, it will be immediately seen that he was certainly son of the preacher of Bunbury. Wood describes him as ' a minister's son of Cheshire,' and that he was ' aged six- teen years' in 1613, which gives his birth as 1597, or exactly in agreement with the preceding data.' A further entry in the Bunbury register makes the identity stiU more certain, viz. the following : Matrimonia, 1G08 [=1609 according to our style]. Feb. 21. Thomas Pierson of Waverham, presbyter, and Ellen Harvie of Bunburie, Wid[ow]. This ' Thomas Pierson' of Waverham was the after- wards celebrated Thomas Pierson of Brampton- Brian, the editor of the Works of William Perkins, the chosen friend of the Harleys, and the ' savoury' expositor of certain of the Psalms. Here is explained our Christopher Harvey's migration to Herefordshire and his loving publication of Pierson's expositions. His mother in her widowhood hav- ing become Pierson's wife. Master Christopher, born in 1597, would be in his twelfth year at the date of the mar- riage. His stepfather Pierson loved him as his own child — ■ all the more, perchance, that he had none of his own — and the epistles-dedicatory to the posthumously published ex- positions show that Harvey reciprocated the affection, not to say that he reverenced him with pathetic wistf ul- ness. It is extremely satisfying to have been enabled thus by widely-gleaned memoranda to recover the per- sonality of the ' sweet singer' of ' The Synagogue.''^ No 1 One separate sheet at Bunbury contains the baptism-entries to 1578. There is then a gap, and the regular entries are not resumed until 1598. 2 The following entries at Bunbury are placed here as they probably belong to the same family of Harveys : Sepulturw. 1G19. May 20. John, the son of James Harvy of Bunbury. XXVm MEMOEIAL-INTEODUCTION. doubt our Worthy was first of all educated in the Gram- mar School of Bunbury, with his venerable father's eye on him. The ' Athensg' and ' Fasti' furnish these further Facts : that Christopher Harvey ' became a batler [^poor scholar : and be it remembered, Jeremy Taylor was en- terei pauper scholaris] of Brasen-nose Coll. in 1613, aged [as su,2>ra] 16 years ; took the degrees in arts [Bachelor of Arts, May 10, 1617 ; ' Fasti,' i. 369], that of master being compleated 1620 [May 10 ; ' Fasti,' i. 393] ; holy orders ; and at length was made Vicar o£ Clifton [with Dunsmore] in Warwickshire.' Wood also records the following work by him : ' The Right Rebel. A Treatise discovering the true Use of the Name by the Nature of Rebellion, with Baptisriiata. 1620. June 11. Mary, the daughter of James Harvy of Wood- ward Green. 1627. August 6. John, the son of John Harvey of Tearton [=TivertonJ. 1628. Jan. 18. Elizabeth, the daughter of James Harvey of Cal- veley. Matrvmonia, 1605. Jan. 28. John Smith and Margaret Harvey. 1618 (U.S. 1619). January 4. James Harvy and Elizabeth Jones, both of this parish. 1629. Septem. 13. John Williamson of Burwardsley, and Jane Ilarvie of Tilston. It may be permitted me to refer to my full Memoir of Pierson in the reprint of his Expositions of certain Psalms (1868. Nichol's Puritan Commentaries), where, for the first time, a, noticeable life is ade- quately treated. With reference to the elder Christopher Harvey of Bunbury, it is interesting and pleasant to know that an eminent successor of his — Samuel Torshell — remembered him in his noble sermon at the funeral of Mr. John Moulson of Hargrave, at Bunbury ('Home of Mourning' (1672), sermon xx.); e.g. 'He began to sort himself with the gravest company, chiefly with that learned and godly Master Christopher Harvey, sometime incumbent in this church, to whom he was dear.' MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. XXIX the Properties and Practices of Eebels. Applicable to all both old and new Phanatics. Lond. 1661 (oct.).' . . . ' Paction supplanted : or, a Caveat against the ecclesias- tical and secular Rebels, in two Parts. 1. A Discourse con- cerning the Nature, Properties, and Practices of Rebels. 2. Against the Inconstancy and inconsistent Contrariety of the same Men's Pretensions and Practices, Principles and Doctrines. Lond. 1663 (oct.) ; pen'd mostly in 1642, and finished 3 Ap. 1646.' He remarks of the latter : ' This book, I suppose (for I have not seen it or the other), is the same with the former, only a new title put to it, to make it vend the better.' Further : ' Another book goes under his name, called " Conditions of Christianity," printed at Lond. in two ; but that, or any other besides, I have not yet seen.' Wood also notices his publication of Pierson's Expositions (' Athense,' iii. 538). No more than "Wood have I succeeded in finding either of the two books named ; but Pickering's Herbert (1853, vol. ii. p. 291) to the first title-page prefixes ' A*HNIA2TH2 or . . . ,' and gives the name and publisher and collation in full : 'by Christopher Harvey, Vicar of Clifton, in the county of Warwich. Lond. Printed for R. Royston, Bookseller to his sacred Majesty, 1661 ;' oct. p. 176, besides title, dedication (to Sir GeofEery Palmer, Knight and Bart.), and preface, eight leaves. It is vexatious that the ' Right Rebel' and ' Conditions' should thus have disappeared. Harvey was fortunate in all his locations (if an Ame- ricanism be permitted), from his Bethlehem-like birth- place in antique Bunbury to his pleasant rectory on the Wye at Whitney and his school at Kington, and finally in semi-historical Clifton - on - Dunsmore on the rooky shores of the Avon. These outward facts alone survive in relation to the last — viz. (a) In 1653, under a decree of the Court of Chancery, he was appointed a trustee of neighbouring Rugby School by the designation of Chris- topher Harvey, Esquire, of Clifton, it having been not XXX MEMOEIAL-INTBODUCTION. then unusual to designate well-born clergymen as 'Esquire,' as witness burial-entry of George Herbert. (6) The re- gister under 4th of April 1663 enters, 'buried Mr. Chris- topher Harvey, Vicar of Clifton.' (c) There is no monu- ment to his memory ; but in the churchyard, south of the chancel, and not many feet from it, is a low flat tomb, with a moulding on the verge, of the seventeenth century. This tomb is uninsoribed, but is supposed by an antiquary iu the neighbourhood to have covered the remains of Christopher Harvey. Within the church of Clifton no- thing remains of the early woodwork or church furniture, even the ancient font, in which Thomas Carte the historian — a native of Clifton — was baptised by immersion, being gone ; but externally it is the same as in Harvey's time.' I do not doubt, accordingly, that our anastatic etching of it after a photograph (in 4to) will be acceptable. Cu- riously enough there is a chapel-of-ease to the mother- church of Clifton — Brownsever Chapel — considered by competent authority to have been erected in the eleventh or twelfth century, very similar in size and general ap- pearance to the church of George Herbert at Bemerton.^ 1 Samuel Carte baptised all hia family by immersion. See below for more on successors of Har^'cy. - The present Incumbent of Clifton-on-Duusmore (Rev. Samuel Nowall, JI.A.) has communicated to me various mterestmg memo- randa on three of his predecessors. This is scarcely the place for utilising thc-m in full, but their names and a little more may be re- curded here : {a) Samuel Carte, Prebendary of Lichfield, was in- ducted into the vicarage on '27th March 1684. He is still remem- bered as an accomplished antiquary, but mainly as the father of Thomas Carte the Historian of Ormonde, (i) Bartholomew Fox, in- ducted into the vicarage on 4th September 1733. He claimed to be a descendant of the martyrologist. He was interred 3d April 1780. (c) The Eev. J. H. C. Moor, B. D., was curate and vicar from June 1803 to March 1853. A vol. of his ' Sermons' was published in 1855. Pickering's Herbert (1853: vol. ii. p. 291) mistakenlj' names bim Vicar of Rugby. It may be added that Edward Cave, the first MEMOEIAL-INTRODUOTION. XXXI The authorship of ' The Synagogue' having been vin- dicated for Christopher Harvey as against the blunder of Anthony a- Wood in assigning it to Thomas Harvey, Gent, it is only required that the Facts be told concerning ' Schola Cordis.' Like ' The Synagogue' — as we have seen — 'Schola Cordis' was issued anonymously in 1647. A second edition was also published anonymously in 16G4, ' for Lodowick Lloyd at the Castle in Cornhill.' A third edition appeared in 1675, and on its title-page after ' Em- blems' comes — ' hy the Author of the Synagogue annexed to Herbert's poems. Whereunto is Added, The Learning of the Heart, by the same Hand. The third edition. London, Printed for Lodowick Lloyd.' ' The Learning of the Heart' was given in the 1647, and I have seen it in copies of that of 1664, though not named in either of their title-pages. It will be observed that the same publisher issued both the second and third editions. All the three engraved titles are different ; but the ' Emblems' them- selves — of which more anon— are from the same plates. Mr. W. C. Hazlitt in his ' Bibliography of Old English Literature' commits several errors about ' Schola Cordis.' First of all, he places it under Thomas Harvey, on the alle- gation that while Sir John Hawkins ascribed the book and ' The Synagogue' to Christopher Harvey, he is opposed by Wood in this assertion. Neither Wood nor Hawkins so much as names ' Schola Cordis.' Moreover if Mr. Hazlitt accepted Wood's imagined assignment of ' Schola Cordis' to Thomas Harvey, why did he not place ' The Synagogue' also under his name ? There is not a shadow of proof that Thomas Harvey ever claimed one syllable of ' Schola Cordis.' He put his own name in full to all his books. He was also Sylvanus Urban of the ' Gentleman's Magazine,' and whose life Dr. Johnson wrote, was a native of the township of Newton in Clifton parish, having been born in a house which is still called Cave's Inn. The old Clifton Vicarage is now used as a farmhouse. XXXU MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. still living in 1675, when the third edition was published. But indeed his non-authorship of ' The Synagogue,' cwteris paribus, involves his non- authorship of ' Schola Cordis.' Internally no one could for a moment imagine the mere- tricious translator of ' Mantuan' writing one line of ' Scho- la Cordis.' Modern reprints of ' Schola Cordis' in 1808, 1812, 1823, and even so recently as 1866, misled by the word ' Emblems' and a very superficial resemblance in the opening of the first Emblem to his well-known Emblems, boldly as ignorantly put the name of Francis Quarles on the title-page. This odd blunder is one of the ' Curiosities of Literature' worthy of a place in a revised D'Israeli. It is only a typical example of how hastily and perfunctorily much editorial work is done. ' Schola Cordis' derives its engravings — very poor as a whole — from the Dutch Haeften, with the exception of i. ii. and iii., engraved by William Marshall. To Haeften also belong the hexameters and texts from iv. to xlvii. Whose those of i. to iii. are does not appear ; nor is it of any moment. The texts of these three, unUke the rest, are not from the Vulgate. With reference to the Verse — called Odes and Epigrams — an examination of Haeften shows that Harvey took from him only the general idea and the subjects and texts (exclusive of i. to iii.). The Odes and Epigrams are his own. These details may in- terest, as showing Haeften's and Harvey's plans and (ap- parent) reasons for arranging their quotations and texts as they have done : Lib. i. This is a kind of introduction to ' The School,' the ' Emblems' commencing with Lib. ii. Lib. ii. Aversi Cordis ad Deum conversio at dii-eotio. Prima Classis: Cordis Aversio, Embl.i.-vii.^iv- 10, Har- vey ; Secundi Classis : Cordis Reversio et Expurgato, Embl. Yiii.-xiv.=xi.-xvii., Harvey; Tert. Classis : Cordis Oblatio et Examen, Embl. xv.-xx=xviii.-xxiii., Harvey. Lib. iii. Dei erga Cor humanum beneficia. Quarta Clas- MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. XKXIU sis : Cordis Illuminatio et Spiritualis Profectus, Etnbl. xxi.-xxxi., i.e. Cor renov. — C. dilitatio; Quinta Classis : Cordis perfectio et cum Christo Unio, Embl. xxxii.- xxxix., i.e. C. inhab. — C. Quies. Lib. iv. Exercitatio Cordis in Christi Passione Prsef atio. De utilitate medilandi passionem Domini nostri Jesu Christi. Sexta Classis : Peregrinatio Cordis cum Christi Patiente, Embl. xl.-xlvii., i.e. Bain. C. — Compunct. C. ; Septima Classis : Cordis cum Cruce et Crucifixo Confor- matio, Embl. xlviii.-lv., i.e. C. in cruce exp. — Thai. C. &c. I have not put in the Harvey numbers in books iii. iv. because then the arrangement begins to vary, and while i.-xxviii. of Haeften run parallel with iv.-xxxi. of Harvey and in same order, there are subsequently differences ; e.g. the engraving in Harvey opposite xxxi. is a reduplication by error of xli. Then xxx. Cordis Scalse is. xxivii. Har- vey ; xxxi. is xxxv. ; xxxii. is xxxiv. ; xxxiv. is xxxiii. ; XXXV. is xxxvi. ; xxxvi. is xxxii. ; xxxvii. is xxxviii. ; xxxviii. is xxxix. ; and so on one in advance in Harvey to xliv.— xlv. ; then xlvii. is xlvi. ; Iii. is xlvii. Harvey omits the following altogether : xxix. Cordis Protectio : Dedisti eis scutum cordis la- borem tuum (Thren. iii. 66). xxxiii. Obsignatio Cordis : Pone me ut signaculum, super cor tuum (Cant. viii. 6). xlv. Pictura Cordis ex sindone Veronicse expressa : Signatum est super nos lumen vultus tui Domine (Psal. iv. 7). xlvi. Cor Phiala Christo sitienti : Dabo tibi poculum ex vino condito (Cant. viii. 2). xlviii. Cordis in cruce expansio : In simplicitate cordis quasrite ilium (Sap. i. 1). xlix. Crucis in corde Plantatio : Plantatio Domino ad gloriflcandum (Isaice Ixi. 3). 1. Dedicatio Cordis Titulo Crucis : Titulus Domini XXXIV MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. juxta terminmn altaris erit in signum et in testimonium Domino exercituum (Isaice xix. 19). li. Apertio Cordis LanceS Longini : Vulnerata chari- tate ego sum (Cant. ii. 5). liii. Azylum Cordis in latere vulnerato : Esto quasi columba nidificans in summo ore foraminis (Jerem. xlviii. 28). Hv. Speculum Cordis in quinque vulneribus : Inspice et f ac secundum exemplar quod tibi in monte monstratum est (Exod. XXV. 40). Iv. Thalamus Cordis in Christi sepulchro : Consepulti snmus cum Christo (Bom. vi. 4). The engraved frontispiece (or title-page) of Harvey's ' Schola Cordis' is an exceedingly poor and reversed copy of Haef ten's. The ' Emblems' in Haeften are far superior to those in Harvey's book — indeed those in Haeften of 1629 are wonderfully soft. Those of 1663, though from the same plates, are so inferior that they must have been used in intermediate editions and often retouched. Van Lochem in Harvey seems to have traced his from the back, at least xviii.-xxix. and xlvii. are reversed. The rest are not reversed, but must have all been traced in the principal parts and occasionally in a glass ; for though the faces differ, and there are slight variations in the hair and of the back- placed foot, yet the general resemblance in the proportions and attitudes of the figures and the folds of flying scarfs is too close to be accounted for by mere copying by eye. One cannot quite understand why Harvey omitted some that he has omitted, as for instance Haeften's xxxiii. Obsignato cordis, &c. ; but he appears in all the other cases to have avoided any Emblem with a cross or such repre- sentations as contained the inscription inei as 1., or the wounded body of Christ, liii.-iv. Yet he has illustrated one of the Emblems showing the ' five wounds.' It is a pity he did not take Iv. with its Consepulti sumus cum Christo, together with the rest of the passage, or it and MBMORIAL-INTBODDOTION. XXXV then the rest of the passage as a final Emblem. He would thereby have had a better close and ending of the whole. It is characteristic of Harvey's humble self- estimate that in ' The Synagogue' he sought to ' imitate' with dis- tant footstep ' The Temple,' and that in ' Schola Cordis' he accepted the Emblems and texts of Haeften. This modesty of his similarly leads him to adopt even Herbert's oddities of form, as his Easter Wings, which in Harvey is reproduced in Ode xxxviii. (pp. 208-10) and in Ode xxxvii. (pp. 205-7). His notices of himself are likewise shaped on Herbert's of himself, e.g. p. 149. So throughout ; and yet equally throughout there is evidence of a very distinct individuality, as well as of a singularly holy and conse- crate life. The ' tune' of the Poetry may be no more than that of a ' singing brook' under the leaves, yet is it a God -given ' tune,' with melodies and harmonies and changes to the listening and stooped ear. Turning to ' The Synagogue,' these additional notes of Coleridge — additional to those incorporated in our Notes and Illustrations — on certain of the poems in it are of value : P. 46, The Nativity, &c. The only poem in ' The Synagogue' which possesses poetic merit ; with a few changes and additions this would be a striking poem. Mr. C[oleridge] proposes to substitute the following for the fifth to the eighth line : ' To sheath or blunt one happy ray, That wins new splendour from the day. This day that gives the power to rise. And shine on hearts as well as eyes ; Tills birthday of all souls, when first On eyes of flesh and blood did burst That primal great lucific light, That rays to thee, to us gave sight.' P. 66, Whitsunday. The spiritual miracle was the descent of the Holy Ghost ; the outward the wind and the toncrues ; and so St. Peter himself explains it. That each XXXVl MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. individual obtained the power of speaking all languages, is neither contained in nor fairly deducible from St. Luke's account. P. 69, ' All reason doth transcend.' Most true ; but not contradict. Beason is to faith as the eye to the tele- scope. (Coleridge's Notes, from Pickering's Herbert, 1835, onward). P. 10, ' The best and most forcible sense of a word is often that which is contained in its etymology. The author of the poems (" The Synagogue") . . . gives the original purport of the word integrity : " Next to sincerity, remember still Thou must resolve upon integrity. God will have all thou hast — thy mind, thy will, Thy thoughts, thy words, thy works." And again, after some verses on constancy and humility, the poem concludes with : " He that desires to see The face of God, in his religion must Sincere, entire, constant, and humble be."' (' The Friend,' vol. i. p. 53, edition 1837.) I must demur to the dictum that The Nativity is the only poem of ' The Sjmagogue' of ' poetic merit' as I must prefer Harvey's own simpler if ruggeder lines to the Cole- ridge version. The student wUl find several other complete poems of true ' poetic merit,' and many a line and epithet and quaint conceit such as only a real Maker could have given us. I have always deemed the opening of 17. Com- munion Plate as demonstrative of an imaginative faculty in hind resembling Herbert and Vaughan's. The noblest use of gold is surely very fine. Then his entitling the Book of God as the ' god of books' (p. 21) is very memor- able, and has been often since misassigned to others. The Notes and Illustrations to the poems and the Glossarial Index will guide to a goodly number of some- MEMOBIAL-INTBODUCTION. XXXVll what out-of-the-way words and phrases and compound epithets and conceits which are common to ' The Syna- gogue' and ' Schola Cordis.' The rhythm and entire mode of expression are ako alike. The student-reader will be abundantly rewarded if he give an hour or two to study the thinking and the feeling of Odes ix. xiv. xvi. xvii. xviii. xix. xxiii. xxv. xxvi. xxviii. and xxx. There are subtleties and daintinesses in all of these — to name no more — that seem to me exquisite. Altogether this Worthy stands out a very venerable and lovable man and a genuine Singer, as well as of ' the godly best divines' whose ' lives,' as old Samuel Rowlands sang in his ' Fooles Bolt is Soone Shot' (1614), ' according to their doctrine shine, That have not their religion all in tongue,' As a Poet his note is true as a singing-bird's, and there is throughout the felt presence of The Master. And so to shy, modest, hiding Christopher Harvey may there be given all kindliest greeting and welcome by a new and enlarged circle of friends I If comparisons with Herbert as a Poet show him far beneath him, let Timothe Kendall's pleading (1677) avail : ' Now, reader, lende thy listyning eare, And after synging larke, Content thj' self of chattyng crow Some homely notes to marke.' ('Trifles.') Altogether and intrinsically the gentle Singer of ' The Synagogue' and of ' Schola Cordis' will abundantly reward sympathetic days spent over his lowly pages. Be it re- membered that one of his poems. Of the Book of Com- mon-prayer, was in the mind of Elia when he thus wrote to Coleridge, 28th October 1796 : ' Among all your quaint readings, did you ever light upon Walton's " Complete An- XXXVm MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION. gler" ? I asked you the question once before ; it breathes the very spirit of innocence, purity, and simpUcity of heart ; there are many choice old verses inter spersedin it; it would sweeten a man's temper at any time to read it ; it would christianise every discordant angry passion : pray make yourself acquainted with it.' Charles Lamb rarely mis- estimates or exaggerates. ALEXANDER B. GROSART. I. THE SYNAGOGUE; OK THE SHADOW OF THE TEMPLE. NOTE. Opposite is given the title-page of the last edition of the Synagogue puhlished during the author's Uf etime ; and which is our text. See our Preface and Memorial-Introduction for account of other editions, original, early, and modem. G. THE SYNAGOGUE, OR, THE SHADOW OF THE TEMPLE. Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations. In imitation of Mr. George Herbert. Plin. Sec. lib. i. Ep. 5. Stultissimum credo ad imitandum non optima quEcque proponere. I do esteem't a folly not the least To imitate examples not the best. The fourth Edition, corrected and enlarged. LONDON, Printed for Philemon Stephens, at the guilded Lyon in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1661. [12mo.] To the Author. He that doth imitate must comprehend Verse, matter, order, titles, spirit, wit ; For these om- Church-Poet doth intend, And he who hath this Imitation wiit. gloiy of the time ! hest English singer ! Happy both he the hand, and thou the Finger ! K. L[angford of Gray's lun. Counsellor of Law]. THE SYNAGOGUE. 1. SUBTERLIMINARE.' Die, cujus Templum ■? Chiisti. Quis condiJit? Ede. Condidit Herbertus. Die, quibus aiixiliis 1 Auxiliis multis : quibus baud mihi dicere fas est. Tanta est ex dictis lis oriunda meis. Gratia, si dicam, dedit omnia ; protiuus obstat 5 Ingenium, dicens cuncta fuisse sua. Ars negat, et nihil est non nostrum dicit in illo ; Nee facile est Utem composuisse mihi. Divide : materiam det gratia, materiaeque Ingenium cultus induat arsque modos. jo If on : ne dispUeeat pariter res omnibus ista, K"ec sortita velint jura vocare sua. Nempe pari sibi jure petunt cultusque modosque Materiamque ars et gratia et ingenium. Ergo, velit si quis dubitantem tollere elenchum, 1 5 De Templo Herbert! talia dicta dabit. In Templo Herbertus condendo est gratia totus, Ars pariter totus, totus et ingenium. Cedite Eomanae, Graiiae quoque cedite Musae ; Unum par cunctis Anglia jactat opus. 20 ' The figures ', ', &c., refer to Notes and Illustrations at p. 90 et seq. G. O THE SYNAGOGUE. 2. A STEPPING-STONE TO THE THRESHOLD OF ME. HEKEEEl'S CHUKCH-POECH. What church is this? Christ's church. Whobuildedit? Master George Herbert. Who assisted it 1 Many Eissisted ; who I may not say, So much contention might arise that way. If I say Grace gave all, Wit straight doth thwart,^ 5 And says, ' All that is there is mine ;' but Art Denies, aud saies, ' There's nothing there but's mine.' Nor can I easily the right define. Divide ; say, Grace the matter gave, aud Wit Did polish it : Art measur'd and made fit 10 Each sev'ral piece, and fram'd it altogether. jS'^o, by no means ; this may not please them neither : tone's well contented with a part alone. When each doth challenge all to be his own. The matter, the expressions, and the measures, 15 Are equally Art's, Wit's, and Grace's treasures. Then he that would impartially discuss This doubtful question must answer thus : In building of his Temple Master Herbert Is equally all grace, all wit, all art. 20 Roman and Grecian Muses, all give way ; One English poem darkens all your day. THE SYNAGOGUE. 3. THE DEDICATION. Lord, my first-fruits should have been sent to Thoe ; For Thou, the tree That bare them, only lentest unto me. But while I had the use, the fruit was mine ; Not so divine, 5 As that I dare presume to call it Thine. Before 'twas ripe it fell unto the ground ; And since, I found It bruisfed in the dirt ; nor clean nor sound. Some I have pick'd and wip'd, and bring Thee now : ro Lord, Thou know'st how Gladly I would, but dare not it avow. Such as it is, 'tis here. Pardon the best ; Accept the rest : Thy pardon and acceptance maketh blest. 1 5 4. THE CHURCHYARD. Thou that intendest to the church to-day, Come, take a turn or two, before thou go'st, In the Churchyard ; the walk is in thy way. Who takes best heed in going, hasteth most ; But he that unprepared rashly ventures 5 Hastens perhaps to seal his death's indentures. THE SYNAGOGUE. 5. THE CHURCH-STILE. Seest thou that Stile 1 Observe, then, how it rises. Step after step, and equally descends : Such is the way to win celestial prizes ; Humility the course begins and ends. Wouldst thou in grace to high perfections grow ? 5 Shoot thy roots deep, ground thy foundations low. Humble thyself, and God will lift thee up ; Those that exalt themselves He casteth down ; The hungry He invites with Him to sup, And cloaths the naked with His robe and crown. 10 Think not thou hast what thou from Him wouldst His labour's lost, if thou thyseK canst save, [have ; Pride is the prodigality of grace. Which casteth all away by griping all ; Humility is thrift, both keeps its place, 15 And gains by giving ; riseth by its fall : To get by giving, and to lose by keeping. Is to be sad in mirth, and glad in weeping. 6. THE CHURCH-GATE. ISText to the Stile, see where the Gate doth stand ; Which, turning upon hooks and hinges, may Eas'ly be shut or open'd with an hand, Yet constant to its center still doth stay ; THE SYNAGOGUE. 9 And fetchmg a wide compass round about, 5 Keeps the same course and distance, never out. Such must the course be that to heaven tends ; He that the gates of righteousness would enter Must still continue constant to his ends, And fix himself in God, as in his center ; 10 Cleave close to Him by faith ; then move which way Discretion leads thee, and thou shalt not stray. We never wander till we loose our hold =iet go Of Him that is our Way, our Light, our Guide ; But when we grow of our own strength too bold, 1 5 Unhook'd from Him, we quickly turn aside. He holds us up whilst in Him we are found ; If once we fall from Him, we go to ground. 7. THE CHUKCH-WALLS. Now view the Walls ; the church is compass'd round As much for safety as for ornament ; 'Tis an inclosure, and no common ground ; 'Tis God's free-hold, and but our tenement. Tenants at will, and yet in taU,^ we be ; S Our children have the same right to't as we. Eemember there must be no gaps left ope Where God hath fenc'd, for fear of false illusions. God wUl have all, or none ; aUows no scope For sin's incroachments or men's own intrusions. 10 10 THE SYNAGOGUE. Close binding locks His laws together fast f He that plucks out the first puUs down the last. Either resolve for all, or else for none ; Obedience universal He doth claim. Either be wholly His, or all thine own ; 1 5 At what thou canst not reach, at least take aym : He that of purpose looks beside the mark Might as weU hood-winckt^ shoot, or in the dark. 8. THE CHUECH. Lastly, consider where the Church doth stand ; As near unto the middle as may be : God in His service chiefly doth command Above all other things sincerity : Lines drawn from side to side within a round, 5 Not meeting in the center, short are found. Religion must not side with anything That swerves from God, or else withdraws from Him ; He that a welcome sacrifice would bring Must fetch it from the bottom, not the brim : lo A sacred temple of the Holy Ghost Each part of man must be, but his heart most. Hypocrisie in church is alchimy," That casts a golden tincture'^ upon brass ; There is no essence in it j 'tis a lye, 15 Though, fairly stampt, for truth it often pass ; THE SYNAGOGUE. 11 Only the Spirit's^ aqua regia doth Discover it to be but painted froth. 9. THE CHURCH-POECH. Now, ere thou passest further, sit thee down In the Church-Porch, and thiak what thou hast seen ; Let due consideration either crown Or crush thy former purposes : between Eash undertakings and firm resolutions 5 Depends the strength or weakness of conclusions. Trace thy steps backward in thy memory; And first resolve of what thou heardest last,^ Sincerity : it blots the history Of all religious actions, and doth blast 10 The comfort of them, when in them God sees l^othing but outsides of formalities. In earnest be religious, trifle not. And rather for God's sake than for thine own ; Thou hast robb'd Him, unless that He have got 1 5 By giving, if His glory be not grown Together with thy good : who seeketh more Himself than God would make His roof his floor. Next to sincerity, remember still Thou must resolve upon integrity : 20 God wiU have aU thou hast — thy mind, thy wiU, Thy thoughts, thy words, thy works, A nullity 12 THE SYNAGOaUE. It proves, when God, tliat should have all, doth find That there is any one thing left hehind. And having giVn Him aH, thou must receive 2 5 All that He gives ; mete His commandment ; Eesolve that thine obedience must not leave Until it reach unto the same extent : For all His precepts are of equal strength, And measure thy performance to the length. 30 Then call to mind that constancy must knit Thine undertakings and thine actions fast : He that sets forth tow'rds heaven, and doth sit Do'vvn by the way, wiU be found short at last. Be constant to the end, and thou shalt have 35 An heavenly garland, though an earthly grave. But he thafr would be constant must not take Religion up by fits and starts alone, =oniy, merely But his continual practice must it make ; His course must be from end to end but one : 40 Bones often broken and knit up again [gain. Lose of their length, though in their strength they Lastly, remember that humility Must soHdatei" and keep all close together. What pride puffs up with vain futility 45 Lyes open and expos'd to all ill weather ; An empty bubble may fair colours carry, But blow upon it, and it will not tarry. THE SYNAGOGUE. 13 Prize not thine own too high, nor under-rate Another's worth, but deal indifferently ; 50 View the defects of thy spiritual state, And others' graces, with impartial eye : The more thou deemest of thyself, the less Esteem of thee will all men else express. Contract thy lesson now, and this is just 55 The sum of aU ; — ^he that desires to see The Face of God, in his religion must Sincere, entire, constant, and humble be. If thus resolvfed, fear not to proceed ; Else the more haste thou mak'st, the worse thou'lt speed. 60 10. CHURCH-UTENSILS-. Betwixt two dang'rous rocks, Prophaneness on Th' one side, on th' other Superstition, How shaU I sail secure ? Lord, be my steersman, hold my helm. And then, though winds with waves orewhelm 5 My sails, I will endure It patiently. The bottom of the sea Is safe enough, if Thou direct the way. I'll tug my tacklings then, I'll ply mine oars. And cry, ' A fig for fear !' He that adores 10 The giddy multitude 14 THE SYNAGOGUE. So much as to despise my rhymes Because they tune not to the times, I wish may not intrude His presence here. But they (and that's enough) 1 5 "Who love God's House •will like His houshold stuff. 11. THE FONT. ' The Font,' I say. ' Why not 1 And why not near To the church-door f ' Why not of stone V ' Is not that blessed fountain open'd here. From whence that water flows alone r^^^^ j^-;; Which from sin and uncleanness washeth clear?' 5 ' And may not beggers well contented be Their first alms at the door to take 1 Though, when acquainted better, they may see Others within that bolder make : Low places wUl serve guests of low degree.' 10 ' What ! Is He not the rock, out of whose side Those streams of water-bloud run forth? i Cor. *. 4 Th' elect and precious corner-stone well try'd ? Though th' odds be great between their worth, Eock-water and stone-vessels are ally'd.' 1 5 But call it what, and place it where you wiU, Let it be made Ladififerently Of any form or matter ; yet, untill The blessed Sacrament thereby Impaired be, my hopes you shall not kill. 20 THE SYNAGOGUE. 15 To want a complementii of comliness Some of my comfort may abate, And for the present make my joy go less ; Yet I ■wiU hug mine homely state, And poverty with patience richly dress. 25 Eegeneration is aU in all ; Washing or sprinkling but the sign The seal, and instrument thereof; I call The one as well as the other mine, And my posterity's, as foederal.^^ 30 If temporal estates may be convey'd By cov'nants on condition To men and to their heirs ; be not affraid. My soul, to rest upon The covenant of grace, by Mercy made. 35 Do but thy duty, and rely upon't. Repentance, faith, obedience, Whenever practis'd truly, will amount To an authentick evidence. Though th' deed were antidated at the Font. 40 12. THE BEADING-PUE." Here my new-enter'd soul doth first break fast, Here seasoneth her infant tast, And at her mother-nurse the Churche's dugs With lab'ring lips and tongue she tugs. 16 THE SYNAGOGUE. For that sincere milk, which alone doth feed 5 Babes new-horn of immortal seed ; Who, that they may unto perfection grow, Must be content to creep before they go. They that would reading out of church exclude Sure have a purpose to obtrude lo Some dictates of their own, instead of God's Eevealed wiU, His Word. 'Tis odds. They do not mean to pay men currant coyn, Who seek the standard to purloyn, And would reduce all tryals to their own, 1 5 But touch-stones, baUances, and weights alone. ^* What reasonable man would not misdoubt Those comments that the text leave out ? And that their main intent is alteration. Who doat so much on variation, 20 That no Set Forms at all they can endure To be prescrib'd, or put in ure ? =use Rejecting bounds and limits is the way. If not all waste, yet common all to lay. But why should he that thinks himself well grown 20 Be discontent that such a one As knows himseK an infant yet, should be Dandled upon his mother's knee, And babe-like fed with milk, till he have got More strength and stomach ? Why should not 30 THE SYNAGOGUE. 17 NuTslings in church, as well as weanlings, find Their food fit for them in their proper kind ? Let them that would build castles in the air Vault thither without step or stair ; Instead of feet to climbe, take wings to flie, 3 5 And think their turrets top^^ the skie. But let me lay all my foundations deep, And learn, before I run, to creep. "Who digs through rocks to lay his ground-works low May in good time build high and sure, though slow. To take degrees per saltum, though of quick 41 Dispatch, is but a truant's trick. Let us learn first to know our letters well. Then syllables, then words to spell. Then to read plainly, e're we take the pen 45 In hand to write to other men. I doubt their preaching is not always true Whose way to th' pulpit's not the Eeading-pue. 13. THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. 'What ! Pray'r by th' book? and Common?' 'Yes. Why not?' ' The .Spirit of grace And supplication Is not left free alone S For time and place ; 18 THE SYNAGOGUE. But manner too.' ' To read or speak by rote Is all alike to liini that praies "With's heart what with his mouth he saies.' ' They that in private by themselves alone i o Do pray, may take What liberty they please In choosing of the waies Wherein to make Their souls' most intimate aifections known 1 5 To Him that sees in secret, when Th' are most conceal'd from other men. But he that unto others leads the way In publick pray'r Should choose to do it so 20 As all that hear, may know They need not fear To tune their hearts unto his tongue, and say Amen ; nor doubt they were betray'd To blaspheme, when they should have pray'd. 2 5 Devotion will adde life unto the letter; And why should not That which authority Prescribes esteemed be Advantage got? 30 If the pray'r be good, the commoner the better ; Pray'r in the Churche's words, as well As sense, of all pray'rs bears the bell.'^^ THE SYNAGOGUE. 19 14. THE BIBLE. The Bible; that's the Book. The Book indeed, The Book of Books ; On which who looks, As he should do, aright, shall never need Wish for a better light To guide him in the night ; Or, when he hungry is, for better food To feed upon Than this alone, If he bring stomach and digestion good ; And if he be amiss. This the best physick is. The true panchreston^'' 'tis for ev'ry sore And sickness, which The poor and rich With equal ease may come by : yea, 'tis more ; An antidote as well As remedy 'gainst heU. 'Tis heaven in perspective ;i^ and the bliss Of glory here. If anywhere, By saints on earth anticipated is ; Whilst faith to ev'ry word A being doth afford. 20 THE SYNAGOGUE. It is the looking-glass of souls, wherein 2 5 All men may see Whether they he , Still, as by nature th' are, deform'd with sin ; Or ia a better case, As new-adorn'd with grace. 30 'Tis the great magazine of spir'tual arms. Wherein doth lye Th' artnierie Of heaven, ready-charg'd against all harms That might come by the blowes 35 Of our infernal foes. God's cabinet of roveal'd counsel 'tis ; Where weal and woe Are order'd so, That every man may know which shall be his ; 40 Unless his own mistake False application make. It is the index to eternity; =poini.er He cannot miss Of endless bliss 45 That takes this chart to steer his voyage by ; Nor can he be mistook That spcaketh by this book.^'-" A book to which no book may be compar'd For excellence ; 5 o Pre-eminence THE SYNAGOGUE. 21 Is proper to it, and cannot be shar'd ; Divinity alone Belongs to it or none. It is the Book of God. What if I should 55 Say, god of books 1 Let him that looks Angry at that expression, as too bold, His thoughts in silence smother Till he finds such another. 60 15. THE PULPIT. 'Tis dinner-time ; and now I look Por a full meal. God send me a good cook i-^" This is the dresser-bord ; and here I wait in expectation of good chear. I'm sure the Master of the house 5 Enough to entertain His guests allows ; And not enough of some one sort alone, But choyce of what best iitteth every one. God grant me taste and stomach good ; My feeding will diversifie my food ; i o 'Tis a good appetite to eat, And good digestion that makes good meat : The best food in itself will be, Not fed on well, poyson, not food, to me ; Let' him that speaks look to his words; my ear 15 Must careful be both what and how I hear. 22 THE SYNAGOGUE. 'Tis manna that I look for here, The bread of Heaven, Angels' food. I fear Ho want of plenty, where I know The loayes by eating more and greater grow ; 20 Where nothing but forbearance makes A famine ; where he only wants that takes Not what he will ; provided that he would Take nothing to himself but what he should. Here the same fountain poureth forth 25 Water, wine, milk, oyl, honey ; and the worth Of all transcendent, infinite In excellence, and to each appetite In fitness answerable ; so That none needs hence unsatisfied go, 30 Whose stomach serves him unto any thing That health, strength, comfort, or content can bring. Yea, dead men here invited are Unto the Bread of life, and whilst they spare To come and take it, they must blame 3 5 Themselves, if they continue still the same. The body's fed by food, which it Assimilates and to itself doth fit ; But that the soul may feed, itself must be Transformed to the Word, with it agree. 40 To mnk the strongest men must be As new-born babes, whenever they it see, THE SYNAGOGUE. 23 Desiring, not despising it. For strong meat babes must stay, and strive to fit Themselves in time, until they can 45 Get by degrees (which best beseem a man) Experience-exercisfed senses, able Good to discern from evill, truth from fable. Here I will wait, then, till I see The steward reaching out a mess for me ; 50 Eesolve I'U take it thankfully, Whate'er it be, and feed on't heartily. Although no Benjamin's choice mess, Five times as much as others', but far less; Yea, if 't be but a basket full of crums, $5 I'U bless the hand from which, by which, it comes. Like an invited guest, I wUl Be bold, but mannerly withal ; sit still And see what th' Master of the feast Will carve unto me, and account that best 60 Which He doth choose for me, not I MyseK desire : yea, though I should espy Some fault in th' dressing, in the dishing, or The placing, yet I wUl not it abhor. So that the meat be wholsome, though 65 The sauce shall not be toothsome,^^ I'll not go Empty away, and starve my soul, To feed my foolish fancy ; but controul 24 THE SYNAOOGUE. My appetite to, dainty things, Which oft, instead of strength, diseases brings ; 70 But if my Pulpit-hopes shall all prove vain, I'll back unto the reading-pue again. U. THE COMMUNION-TABLE. Here stands my banquet ready, the last course And best provision,^^ That I must feed upon Till death my soul and body shall divorce And that I am 5 Call'd to the marriage-supper of the Lamb. Some call't the Altar, some the Holy Tabic,: The name I stick not at ; Whether 't be this or that, I care not much, so that I may be able 10 Truly to know Both why it is and may be called so. And for the matter whereof it is made, The matter is not much. Although it be of tuch,^^ 1 5 Or wood, or mettal, what will last or fade, So vanity And superstition avoided be. Nor would it trouble me to see it found Of any fashion 20 That can be thought upon, — THE- SYNAGOGUE. 25 Square, oval, many-angled, long, or round ; If close^* it be,_ Fixt, open, moveable, all's one to me. And yet, methinks, at a- Communion 25 In uniformity There's greatest decency. And that which maketh most for union ; But needlessly To vary tends to th' breach of charity. 30 ' Yet, rather than I'll give, I will not take Offence, if it be given ; So that^^ I be not driven To thwart authority, a party make For faction, 3 5 Or side but seemingly in th' action. At a Communion I wish I might Have no cause to suspect Any, the least, defect Of unity and peace, either in sight 40 Apparently, = visibly Or in men's hearts concealed secretly. That which ordained is to make men one More than before they were Should not itself appear, 45 Though but appear, distinctly divers. None Too much can see Of what when most, yet but enough can be. 26 THE SYNAGOGUE. If others will dissent and vary, who Can help it ? If I may, 50 As hath heen done alway By th' best and most, I will myself do so : Of one accord The servants should he of one God, one Lord. 17. COMMUNION-PLATE. Never was gold or silver graced thus Before : To bring this Body and this Blood to us Is more Then to crown kings, 5 Or be made rings For star-like diamonds to glitter in. No precious stones are meet to match this bread Divine; Spirits of pearls dissolved would but dead^'' 10 This wine : This heav'nly food Is too-too good To be compar'd to any earthly thing. For such inestimable treasure can 1 S There be Vessels too costly made by any man ? Sure he THE SYNAGOGUE. 27 That knows the meat So good to eat 20 Would wish to see it richly served in. Although 'tis true that sanctitie's not ty'd To state, Yet sure Eeligion should not be envy'd The fate 35 Of meaner worth, To be set forth As best becomes the service of a King. A King unto Whose Cross aU kings must vaU^'^ Their crowns, 30 And at His beck in their fuU course strike sail ; Whose frowns And smiles give date Unto their fate, And doom them either unto weal or woe. 35 A King Whose will is justice, and Whose word Is pow'r And wisdom both ; a King, Whom to afford An hour Of service truly 40 Perform'd and duly, Is to bespeak eternity of bliss. When such a King offers to come to me As food, Shall I suppose His carriages can be 45 28 THE SYNAGOGUE. Too good 1 No ; stars to gold Turn'd, never could Be rich enough to be employed so. If I might wish, then, I would have this bread, 50 This wine, Vessel'd^^ in what the sun might blush to shed His shine When he should see ; But till that be, 55 I'll rest contented with it as it is. 18. CHURCH-OFFICERS. Stay — ' Officers in church V Take heed : it is A tender matter to be toucht. If I chance to say any thing amiss, Which is not fit to be avoucht, I must expect whole swarms of waspes to sting me ; 5 Few or no bees, honey or wax to bring me. Some would have none in church do anything As Officers but gifted men ; Others into the number more would bring Then I see wan'ant for : so then, i c All that I say, 'tis like will censur'd be. Through prejudice or partiality. THE SYNAGOGUE. 2 'J But 'tis no matter ; if men censure me, They but my fellow-servants are : Our Lord allows us all like liberty. 1 5 I write, mine own thoughts to declare, Not to please men ; and if I displease any, I will not care, so they be of the many.^^ 19. THE SEXTON. The churche's key-keeper opens the door And shuts it, sweeps the floor, Eings beUs, digs graves and fills them up again ; All emblems unto men Openly owning Christianity, 5 To mark, and learn many good lessons by. O Thou that hast the Key of David, Who Open'st and shuttest so That none can shut or open after Thee, Vouchsafe Thyself to be 10 Our souls' doorkeeper by Thy blessfed Spirit ; The lock and key's Thy mercy, not our merit. Cleanse Thou our sin-soyl'd souls from th' dirt and dust Of every noysome lust Brought in by the foul feet of our affections ; 1 5 The beesome^" of afflictions. With th' blessing of Thy Spirit added to it. If Thou be pleas'd to say it shall, will do it. 30 THE SYNAGOGUE. Lord, ringlag changes all our bells hath marr'd, Jangled they have and jarr'd 20 So long, they're out of tune and out of frame ; They seem not now the same. Put them in frame anew, and once begin To tune'i them so, that they may chime all in. Let all our sins be buri'd in Thy grave, 2 5 No longer rant and rave, As they have done, to our eternal shame. And th' scandal of Thy name. Let's as door-keepers in Thine house attend, Ps. ixxxiv. lo Kather than th' throne of wickedness ascend. 30 20. THE CLEEK. The churche's Bible-Cleaik attends Her utensils, and ends Her prayers with Amen ; Tunes Psalms, and to the Sacraments Brings in the elements, 5 And takes them out again ; Is humble-minded and industrious-handed ; Doth nothing of himself, but as commanded. All that the vessels of the Lord Do bear, with one accord 10 Must study to be pure THE SYNAGOGUE. 31 As they are : if His holy eye Do any spot espy, He cannot it endure, But most expecteth to be sanctifi'd^^ 1 5 In those come nearest Him, and glorifi'd. Psalms then are alwaies tunfed best When there is most exprest The holy penman's heart ; All musick is but discord where 20 That wants, or doth not bear The first and chiefest part : Voices without affections answerable, When best, to God are most abominable. Though in the blessed Sacraments 25 The outward elements Are but as husks and shells, Yet he that knows the kernel's worth. If even those send forth Some aromatick smels,'' 30 Will not esteem it waste, lest, Judas-like, Through Marie's side he Christ Himself should strike. Lord, without Whom we cannot tell How to speak or think well. Lend us Thy helping hand, 35 That what we do may pleasing be, Not to ourselves, but Thee, And answer Thy command : =agree with 32 THE SYNAGOGUE. So that, not we alone, but Thou mayst say Amen to all our pray'rs, pray'd the right way. 40 21. THE OVERSEER OP THE POOR. The Churche's Almoner takes care that none In their necessity Shall unprovided be Of maint'nance or imployment ; those alone Whom careless idleness 5 Or riotous excess Condemns to needless want, he leaves to be Chasten'd a while by their own povertie. Thou, gracious Lord, rich in Thyself, dost give To all men lib 'rally, 10 Upbraiding none ; Thine eye Is open upon all ; in Thee we live, We move, and have our being : But there is more than seeing For th' poor with Thee ; they are Thy special charge ; 1 5 To them Thou dost Thine heart and hand enlarge.^* Four sorts of poor there are, with whom Thou deal'st — Though alwaies diff'rently — With such indiflf'rency, =impartiaiity That none hath reason to complain; Thou heal'st 20 AU those whom Thou dost wound ; If there be any found THE SYNAGOGUE. 33 Hurt by themselves, Thou leav'st them to endure The pain, till th' pain render them fit for cure. Some Lq the world are poor, but rich in faith ; 2 5 Their outward poverty St. j.imes ii, 5 A plentiful supply Of inward comforts and contentments hath ; And their estate is blest In this above the rest, — 30 It was Thy choice whilst Thou on earth didst stay, And hadst not whereupon Thy head to lay. Some ' poor in spirit' in the world are rich, Although not many such ; And no man needs to grutch 35 Their happiness, who to maintain that pitch Have an hard task in hand, Nor eas'ly can withstand The strong temptations that attend on riches : Mountains are more expos'd to storms than ditches. 40 Some rich in th' world are spiritually poor. And destitute of grace ; Who may perchance have place In the church upon earth ; but Heaven's door Too narrow is t' admit 45 Such camels in at it, Till they sell all they have, that field to buy Wherein the true treasure doth hidden lye. M.ut. xiii. 44 F 34 THE SYNAGOGUE. Some sp'ritually poor and destitute Of grace in th.' world are poor, 50 Begging from door to door, Accursfed both in God's and man's repute ; Till, by their miseries Tutor'd, they learn to prize Hungring and thirsting after righteousness, 55 Whilst they're on earth, their greatest happiness. Lord, make me ' poor in spirit,' and relieve Me how Thou wilt Thyself; No want of worldly pelf Shall make me discontented, fret, and grieve. 60 I know Thine alms are best ; But, above all the rest, Condemn me not unto the hell of riches. Without Thy grace to countercharme^^ the witches. 22. THE CHUBCHWARDEN. The Churche's Guardian takes care to keep Her buildings alwaies in repaire ; Unwilling that any decay should creep On them before he is aware : Nothing defac'd, 5 Nothing displac'd He likes ; but most doth long and love to see The living stones order'd as they should be. THE SYNAGOGUE. 35 Lord, Thou not only Supervisor art Of all our works, but in all those i o WMcli we dare own, Thine is the chiefest part ; For there is none of us that knows How to do well ; Nor can we tell What we should do, unless by Thee directed : 1 5 It prospers not that's by ourselves projected. That which we think ourselves to mend, we mar. And often make it ten times worse ; Reforming of religion by war Is th' chymick blessing^" of a curse. 20 Great odds it is That we shaU miss Of what we looked for ; Thine ends cannot By any but by Thine own means be got. 'Tis strange we so much dote upon our own 25 Deformity, and others scorn. As if ourselves were beautiful alone ; When that which did us most adorn We purposely Choose to lay by, 30 Such decency and order as did place us In high'st esteem, and guard as well as grace us. Is not Thy daughter glorious within, Ps. xiv. 13, 14 When cloath'd in needle-work without? Or is't not rather both their shame and sin 35 36 THE SYNAGOGUE. That change her robe into a clout Too narrow and Too thin to stand Her need in any stead, much less to be An ornament fit for her high degree 1 40 Take pity on her, Lord, and heal her breaches ; Clothe all her enemies with shame ; All the despight that's done unto her reaches To the dishonour of Thy name. Make all her sons 45 Eich precious stones, To shine each of them in his proper place, Eeceiving of Thy fulness grace for grace. 23. THE DEACON. ' The Deacon ! That's the minister.' ' True, taken gen'rally,'' And without any sinister Intent, us'd specially ; He's purposly ordain'd to minister 5 In sacred things t' another of&cer. At whose appointment, in whose stead, He doth what he should do In some things, not in all ; is led By law and custom too ; i o Whore that doth neither bid nor forbid, he Thinks this sufficient authority. THE SYNAGOGUE. 37 Loves not to vary, when lie sees No great necessitie ; To what's commanded he agrees i s With all humility ; Knowing how highly God submission prizes, Pleas'd with obedience more than sacrifices.' i Sam. xv. 22 Lord, Thou didst of Thyself profess Thou wast as one that serv'd, 20 And freely choosest to go less, St. Luke xxii. 27 Though none so much deserv'd. With what face can we, then, refuse to be Entred Thy servants in a low degree 1 Thy way to exaltation 25 Was by humilitie ; But we, proud generation, No diif' rence of degree In holy orders will allow ; nay more, All holy orders would turn out of door. 30 But if Thy precept cannot do't, To make us humbly serve, Nor Thy example added to't. If still from both we swerve ; Let none of us proceed,'^ tiU he can teU 35 How t' use the office of a deacon well. Which by the blessing of Thy Spirit, Whom Thou hast left to be 38 THE SYNAGOGUE. Thy vicar here, we may inherit, And minister to Thee, 40 Though not so well as Thou mayst well exiaect, Yet so as Thou wilt pleasfed be t' accept. 24. THE PRIEST. The Priest I say ; the Preshyter I mean, As now-a-daies he's call'd By many men ; but I choose to retain The name wherewith instal'd He was at first in our own mother-tongue ; 5 And doing so, I hope I do no wrong. The Priest, I say, 's a middle-officer Between the bishop and The deacon ; as a middle-offerer. Which in the church doth stand 10 Between God and the people, ready prest,^^ In the behalf of both to do his best. From Him to them offers the promises t)f mercy which He makes ; For them to Him doth all their faults confess ; 1 5 Their prayers and praises takes, And offers for them at the throne of grace. Contentedly attending his own place. =awaiiing The Word and Sacraments, the means of grace, He duly doth dispence, 20 THE SYNAGOGUE. 39 The flourishes of falshood to deface With truth's clear evidence, And sin's usurped tyranny suppress B' advancing righteousness and holiness. The publick censures *" of the Church he sees 25 To execution brought ; But nothing rashly of himself decrees, Nor covets to be thought Wiser than his superiours ; whom alwaies He actively or passively obeys. 30 Lord Jesus, Thou the Mediator art Of the ISTew Testament, And fully didst perform Thy double part Of God and man, when sent To reconcile the world, and to attone*i 35 'Twixt it and heaven, of two making one. Yea, after the order of Melchisedeck Ps. ex. 4 Thou art a Priest for ever ; With perfect righteousness Thyself dost deck. Such as decayeth never. 40 Like to Thyself make all Thy priests on earth, Bless'd fathers to Thy sons of th' second birth. Thou cam'st to do the will of Him that sent Thee, And didst His honour seek More than Thine own ; well may it, then, repent Thee, Being Thyself so meek, 46 40 THE SYNAGOGUE. To have admitted them into the place Of sons, that seek their fathers to disgrace. Lord, grant that the abuse may be reform'd Before it ruine bring 50 Upon Thy poor despised Church, transform'd As if 'twere no such thing ; Thou that the God of order art, and peace, Make curs'd confusion and contention cease. 25. THE BISHOP. ' The Bishop V ' Yes, why not ? What doth that name Import that is unlawful or unfit ? To say the Overseer is the same In substance, and no hurt, I hope, in it ; But sure if men did not despise the thing, 5 Such scorn upon the name they would not fling. Some priests — some presbyters I mean — would be Each overseer of his sev'ral cure ; But one superiour, to oversee Them altogether, they will not endure : i o This the main diflf'rence is that I can see, — Bishops they would not have, but they would be. But who can show of old that ever any Presbyteries without their bishops were ? Though bishops without presbyteries many*^ 1 5 At first must needs be almost every where ; THE SYNAGOGUE. 41 That presbyters from bishops first arose, T' assist them, 's probable, not these from those. However, a true bishop I esteem The highest officer the Church on earth 20 Can have, as proper to itself, and deem A Church without one an imperfect birth. If constituted so at first ; and maim'd. If whom it had, it afterwards disclaim'd. All order first from unity ariseth, 25 And th' essence of it is subordination ; Whoever this contemns, and that despiseth. May talk of, but intends not, reformation : 'Tis not of God, of nature, or of art, T' ascribe to all what's proper to one part. 30 To rule, and to be ruled, are distinct ; And sev'ral duties sev'rally belong To sev'ral persons, *3 can no more be linkt In altogether, than amidst the throng Of rude unruly passions in the heart, 35 Eeason can see to act her soveraign part. But a good bishop, as a tender father. Doth teach and rule the Church, and is obey'd And reverenc'd by it ; so much the rather, By how much he delighteth more to lead 40 All by his own example in the way, Then punish any when they go astray. 42 THE SYNAGOGUE. Lord, Thou the Bishop and Chief Shepherd art Of all that flock which Thou hast purchased With Thine own bloud ; to them Thou dost impart 45 The henefits which Thou hast merited. Teaching and ruling, by Thy blessed Spirit, Their souls in grace, till glory they inherit. The stars which Thou dost hold in Thy right hand, The angels of the churches, Lord, direct Rev. i. i6 50 Clearly Thy holy wiU to understand, And do accordingly : let no defect Nor fault, no not in our new politicks, Provoke Thee to remove our candlesticks ; But let Thy Urim and Thy Thummim be s 5 Garments of praise t' adorn Thine holy ones ; Light and perfection let all men see Brightly shine forth in those rich precious stones, Of whom Thou wilt make a foundation. To raise Thy new Hierusalem upon. 60 And, at the brightness of its rising, let All nations with Thy people shout for joy ; Salvation for walls and bulwarks set About it, that nothing may it annoy. Then the whole world Thy diocess shall be, 65 And bishops all but suffragans to Thee.' [Ezra iii. 12, 13; Neh. xii. 43; Job xxxviii. 7 THE SYNAGOGUE. 43 26. CHUECH-FESTIVALS. Marrow of time ; eternity in brief Compendiums epitomis'd ; the chief Contents, the indices, the title-pages Of all past, present, and succeeding ages ; Sublimate graces, antidated glories ; S The cream of holiness ; The inventories Of future blessedness ; The florilegia** of celestial stories ; Spirits of joys; the relishes and closes lo Of angels' musick ; pearls dissolved ', roses Perfumfed ; sugar'd honey-combs ; delights Never too highly priz'd ; The marriage rites, WTiich, duly solenmiz'd, 15 Usher espoused souls to bridal nights ; Gilded sunbeams ; refinM elixirs, And quintessential extracts of stars ; — Who loves not you, doth but in vain profess That he loves God, or heaven, or happiness.*^ 20 27. THE SABBATH, OR LORD'S DAY.« Haile, Vaile Holy WhoUy Bang of dales, To thy praise. The emperour. For evermore 44 THE SYNAGOGUE. Or universal Must the rehersal 5 Monarch of time, the week's Of all that honour seeks, Perpetual dictatour. Under the world's Crea- Thy My [tour. Beauty Duty Far exceeds Yet must needs 10 The reach of art Yield thee mine heart, To blazon*^ fully ; And that not dully ; And I thy light eclipse, Spirits of souls, not lips When Imost strive to raise Alone, are fit to praise [thee. [thee. What That 15 I^othLng Slow thing Else can be, Time by thee Thou only art ; Hath got the start. Th' extracted spirit And doth inherit Of all eternity, That immortality 20 By favour antidated. That I Which sin anticipated. Could lay by This body so. 25 That my soul might be Incorporate with thee. And no more to six dales owe ! THE SYNAGOGUE. 45 28. THE ANNUNCIATION, OE LADY-DAY. Unto the musick of the sphears Let men and angels joyn in consort*** theirs. So great a messenger From heaven to earth Is seldom seen 5 Attir'd in so much glory ; A message welcomer, Fraught with more mirth, Hath never been Subject of any story. 10 This by a double right, if any, may Be truly stU'd the world's birthday. The making of the world ne'er cost So dear, by much as to redeem it lost. God said but ' Let it be,' 1 5 And ev'ry. thing Was made straightway So as He saw it good ; But ere that He could see A course to bring 20 Man, gone astray. To the place where he stood. His wisdom with His mercy, for man's sake, Against His justice part did take. And the result was this dale's news, 25 Able the messenger himself t' amuse, *^ 46 THE SYNAGOGUE. As well as her, to whom By Mm 'twas told st. Luke> 34 That though she were A Virgin pure, and kaew 30 No man, yet in her womb A Son she should Conceive and bear, As sure as God was true'; Such high place in His favour she possessed, 3 5 Being among all women blessed. But blest especially in this, That she believ'd ; and for eternal bHss Eeli'd on Him Whom she Herself should bear, 40 And her own Son Took for her Saviour. And if there any be. That when they hear — As she had done— 45 Sute their behaviour, St. Luke i. 38 They may be blessed as she was, and say, 'Tis their Annunciation-day. si. Luke xi. 48 29. THE NATIVITY, OR CHEISTMAS-DAY.'" Unfold thy face, unmask thy ray. Shine forth, bright sun,^^ double the day ; Let no malignant misty fume, Nor foggy vapour, once presume THE SYNAGOGUE. 47 To interpose thy perfect sight 5 This day, which makes us love thy light For ever better, that we could^^ That hlessfed ohject once hehold. Which is both the circumference And centre of all excellence ; 10 Or rather neither, but a treasure Unconfinfed, without measure ; Whose center and circumference — Including all preheminence, Excluding nothing but defect, 1 5 And infinite in each respect — Is equally both here and there, And now, and then, and every where. And always one. Himself the same, A Being far above a name. 20 Draw nearer, then, and freely poure Forth all thy light into that houre Which was crovnifed with His birth. And made heaven envy earth. Let not His birthday clouded be 25 By Whom thou shinest, and we see. 30. THE CIRCUMCISION, OE NEW YEAE'S-DAY. Sorrow betide my sins ! Must smart so soon Seize on my Saviour's tender flesh, scarce grown Unto an eighth-daie's age 1 Can nothing else ass wage 48 THE SYNAGOGUE. The wrath of Heaven but His mfant Mood 1 s Innocent Infant, infinitely good ! Is this Thy welcome to the world, great God ? No sooner bom but subject to the rod Of sin-incensed wrath 1 Alas, what pleasure hath lo Thy Father's justice to begin Thy passion Almost together with Thine incarnation 1 Is it to antidate Thy death 1 t' indite Thy condemnation Himself, and write The copyss with Thy bloud, i s Since nothing is so good ? Or is't by this experiment to try Whether Thou beest born mortal and canst die 1 If man must needs draw bloud of God, yet why Stayes he not till Thy time be coine to die 1 20 Didst Thou thus early bleed For us to show what need Rom. ii, 29 ; Phil. iii. 3 We have to hasten unto Thee as fast, And learn that all the time is lost that's past 1 'Tis true we should do so : yet in this bloud 25 There's something else that must be understood : It seals Thy covenant, That so we may not want Witness enough against Thee that Thou art Made subject to the Law, to act our part. 30 THE SYNAGOGUE. 49 The sacrament of Thy regeneration It cannot be ; it gives no intimation Of what Thou wert, but we i^* Native impurity, Original corruption, was not Thine, 3 5 But only as Thy righteousness is mine. In holy Baptism this is brought to me, As that in Circumcision was to Thee ; So that Thy loss and pain Do prove my joy and gain. 40 Thy circumcision writ Thy death in bloud ; Baptism in water seals my livelihood.^* O blessfed change ! Yet, rightly understood, That bloud was water, and this water's bloud.*'' What shall I give again 45 To recompence Thy pain ? Lord, take revenge upon me for this smart ; To quit*'' Thy foreskin, circumcise my heart. *^ Rom. ii. 29 31. THE EPIPHANY, OR TWELFTH-DAY. Great, without controversie great, They that do know it will confess The ' mystery of godliness,' i Tim. iii. 16 Whereof the Gospel doth intreat. God in the flesh is manifest, 5 And that which hath for ever been 50 THE SYNAGOGUE. Invisible may now be seen — Th' eternal Deity new drest. Angels to sbeplierds brougbt the news ; And wise men, guided by a star lo To seek the sun, are come from far : Gentiles bave got the start of Jews. Mai. iv. « Tbe stable and the manger bide His glory from His own ; but these, Though strangers, His resplendent rayes 1 5 Of majesty divine have spy'd. Gold, frankincense, and myrrhe they give; And worshipping Him plainly show That unto Him they all things owe, By Whose free gift it is they live. 20 Though clouded in a vail of flesh. The Sun of Eighteousness appears. Melting cold cares and frosty fears. And making joyes spring up afresh. that His light and influence 25 Would work effectually in me Another new Epiphany, Exhale and elevate me hence ! =draw out That, as my caUing doth require. Star-like I may to others shine, 30 And guide them to that Sun divine Whose daylight never shall expire. THIS SYNAGOGUE. 51 32. THE PASSION, OB GOOD FRYDAY. This day my Saviour dy'd : and do I live ? What, hath not sorrow slain me yet ? Did the immortal God vouchsafe to give His life for mine, and do I set More hy my wretched life than He by His, 5 So full of glory and of bliss ? Did His free mercy and meer love to me Make Him forsake His glorious throne And mount a cross, the stage of infamy, That so He might not die alone, Mark xv. 27 10 But dying suffer more through grief and shame Than mortal men have pow'r to name 1 And can ingratitude so far prevail To keep me living still 1 Alas, Methinks some thorn out of His crown, some nail, 1 5 At least His spear, might pierce and pass Thorow and thorow till it riev'd mine heart. As the right death-deserving part. And doth He not expect it should be so ? Would He lay down a price so great, 20 And not look that His purchases should grow Accordingly 1 Shall I defeat His just desire ? no, it cannot be ; His death must needs be death to me. 52 THE SYNAGOGUE. My life's not mine, tvit His ; for He did die 25 That I might live ; yet died so, That being dead He was alive ; and I Thorow the gates of death must go To live with Him ; yea, to live by Him here Is a part in His death to bear. Rom. vi. 3-6 30 Die then, dull soul ; and if thou canst not die, Dissolve thyself into a sea Of living tears ; whose streams may ne'r go dry, Nor turned be another way. Till they have drown'd all joyes but those alone 35 Which Sorrow claimeth for its own. For sorrow hath its joyes ; and I am glad That I would grieve if I do not f^ But if I neither could nor would be sad And sorrowful this day, my lot 40 Would be to grieve for ever with a grief Uncapable of all relief. No grief was like that which He griev'd for me, A greater grief than can be told ; And like my grief for Him no grief should be, 45 If I could grieve so as I would ; But what I would, and cannot. He doth see. And will accept, that dy'd for me. Lord, as Thy grief and death for me are mine — For Thou hast given them unto me — 50 THE SYNAGOGUE. 53 So my desires to grieve and die are Tliine, For they are wrought only hy Thee. Not for my sake, then, but Thine own, be i^leas'd With that which Thou Thyself hast rais'd. 33. THE RESUEEECTION, OR EASTEE-DAY. Up, and away ; Thy Saviour's gone before : Why dost thou stay. Dull sold? Behold, the door Is open, and His precept bids thee rise, 5 Whose pow'r hath vanquisht all thine enemies. Say not, I live. Whilst in the grave thou ly'st : Coi. ii. 13 He that doth give Thee life would have thee prize 't 10 More highly than to keep it buri'd where Thou canst not make the fruits of it appear. Is rottenness And dust so pleasant to thee. That happiness 1 5 And heaven cannot wooe thee To shake thy shackles oif, and leave behind thee Those fetters which to death and hell do bind thee ? In vain thou say'st Thou'rt bury'd with thy Saviour, 20 If thou delay'st 54 THE SYNAGOGUE. To show by thy behaviour That thou art risen with Him : till thou shine Like Him, how canst thou say His light is thine ? [Col, ii. 12 Early He rose, 25 And with Him brought the day, Which all thy foes Frighted out of the way ; And wilt thou sluggard-like turn in thy bed, Till noon-sun beams draw up thy drowsie head? 30 [Proverbs vi. 9 Open thine eyes. Sin-seised^" soul, and see What cobweb- tyes They are that trammel thee ; Not profits, pleasures, honours, as thou thinkest, 35 But loss, pain, shame, at which thou vainly winkest. All that is good Thy Saviour dearly bought With His heart's bloud ; And it must there be sought, 40 Where He keeps residence Who rose this day : Linger no longer, then ; up, and away. 34. THE ASCENTION, OR HOLY THURSDAY. Mount, mount, my soul, and climbe, or rather flye, With all thy force on high : THE SYNAGOGUE. 55 Thy Saviour rose not only, but ascended ; And He must be attended Both in His conquest and His triumph too. 5 His glories strongly wooe His graces to them, and will not appear In their fuU lustre untill both be there Where He now sits, not for Himself alone, But that upon His throne 10 All His redeemed may attendants be, Eobed and crown'd as He. Kings without courtiers are 'lone men, they say ; And do'st thou think to stay Behind on earth, whilst thy King reigns in heaven, 15 Yet not be of thy happiness bereaven 1 Nothing that thou canst think worth having's here ; Nothing is wanting there That thou canst wish to make thee truly blest ; And, above all the rest, 20 Thy life is hid with God in Jesus Christ, Coi. iii. 3 Higher than what is high'st. grovel, then, no longer here on earth, Heb. i. 4, &c. Where mis'ry every moment drowns thy mirth. But tour,^i my soul, and soar above the skyes, 25 Where thy true treasure lies : Though with corruption and mortality Thou clogg'd and pinion'd be, 56 THE SYNAGOGUE. Yet thy fleet thoughts and sprightly wishes may Speedily glide away. 30 To what thou canst not reach, at least aspire ; Ascend, if not in deed, yet in desire. 35. WHIT-SUNDAY. Nay, startle not to hear that rushing wind. Wherewith this place is shaken f^ Attend a while, and thou shalt quickly find How much thou art mistaken. If thou think here S Ts any cause of fear. Seest thou not how on those twelve reVrend heads Sit cloven tongues of fire ? And as the rumor of that wonder spreads, The multitude admire = wonder 10 To see it, and Yet more amazed stand To hear at once so great variety Of language from them come, Of whom they dare he bold to say they he i j Bred nowhere hut at home, And never were In place such words to hear. Mock not, prophane despisers of the Spirit, At what's to you unknown ; 20 THE SYNAGOGUE. 57 This earnest^^ He hath sent, "Who must inherit All nations as His own ; That they may know How much to Him they owe. Now that He is ascended up on high 2 5 To His celestial throne, And hath led captive all captivity, He'll not receive alone, But likewise give Gifts unto all that live, — 30 To all that live by Him, that they may he, In His due time, each one Partakers with Him in His victory ; Nor He triumph alone. But take all His 35 Unto Him where He is. To fit them for which blessed state of glory. This is His Agent here ; To publish to the world that happy story, Alwaies and everywhere, 40 This resident Embassadour is sent, Heaven's legier^* upon earth, to counter-work The mines that Satan made. And bring to light those enemies that lurk 45 Under sin's gloomy shade ; I 58 THE SYNAGOGUE. That hell may not Still hoast what it hath got. Thus Babel's curse, confusion, is letriev'd ; Diversity of tongues Jo By this division of the Sp'rit reliev'd ; And to prevent all wrongs, One faith unites People of different rites. let His intertainment, then, be such 55 As doth Him best befit ! Whatever He requireth, think not much Freely to yield Him it ; For who doth this Eeaps the first-fruits of bliss. 60 36. TRINITY SUNDAY. Grace, wit, and art, assist me ; for I see The subject of this dale's solemnity So far excels in worth. That sooner may I drain the sea, 5 Or drive the day With light away. Than fully set it forth ; Except you joyn all three to take my part, And chiefly grace fill both my head and heart. 1 o THE SYNAGOGUE. 59 Stay, busie soul, presume nob to enquire Too much, of what angels can but admire, wonder at And never comprehend ; The Trinity In Unity, 15 And Unity In Trinity, All reason doth transcend.''^ God Father, Son God, and God Holy Ghost, Who most admireth magnifieth most. 20 And who most magnifies best understands. And best expresseth what the heads and hands And hearts of all men living. When most they try To glorifie, 25 And raise on high. Fall short, and lie Groveling below : man's giving Is but restoring by retail, with loss. What from his God he first receiv'd in gross."'' 30 Faith must perform the ofi&ce of invention, And elocution, struck with apprehension Of wonder, silence keep ; ]S"ot tongues, but eyes Lift87 to the skies 35 In reverend wise Best solemnise 60 THE SYNAGOGUE. This day ; whereof the deep Mysterious subject lies out of the reach Of wit to learn, much more of art to teach. 40 Then write non ultra here ; look not for leave To speak of what thou never canst conceive Worthily as thou shouldest ; And it shall be Enough for thee, 45 If none but He Himself doth see, Though thou canst not, thou wouldest Make His praise glorious. Who is alone Thrice-blessed One in Three, and Three in One. 50 37. INVITATION. Turn in, my Lord, turn in to me ; Mine heart's a homely place. But Thou canst make corruption flee. And iill it with Thy grace : So furnishfed it will be brave, 5 And a rich dwelling Thou shalt have. It was Thy lodging once before ; It builded was by Thee ; But I to sin set ope the door. It render'd was by me ; given up 10 And so Thy building was defac'd. And in Thy room another plac'd. THE SYNAGOGUE. 61 But he usurps, the right is Thine : dispossess him, Lord ; Do Thou hut say, ' This heart is Mine,' 1 5 He's gone at the first word ; Thy word's Thy will. Thy wUl's Thy power ; Thy time is alwaies, now's mine hour. Ifow say to sin, ' Depart ;' And, ' Son, give Me thine heart.' 20 Thou, that by saying ' Let it be,' didst make it, Canst, if Thou wilt, by saying ' Give't Me,' take it. 38. COMFORT IN EXTREMITY. Alas, my Lord is going, my woe ! Tt will be mine undoing j If He go, I'U run and overtake Him j 5 If He stay, I'U cry aloud, and make Him Look this way. stay, my Lord, my Love, 'tis L; Comfort me quickly, or I dye. 10 ' Cheer up thy drooping spirits, 1 am here ; Mine all-sufficient merits Shall appear 62 THE SYNAGOGUE. Before the throne of glory 1 5 In thy stead : I'll put into thy story What I did. Lift up thine eyes, sad soul, and see Thy Saviour here : lo, I am He.' 20 Alas, shall I present My sinfulness To Thee? Thou wilt resent The loathsomness. ' Be not afraid, I'll take 25 Thy sins on Me, And all My favour make To shine on thee.' Lord, what Thou'lt have me Thou must make me. ' As I have made thee now, I take thee.' 30 39. EESOLUTION AND ASSURANCE. Lord, Thou wUt love me ; wilt Thou not 1 Beshrew^Hhat 'not'! It was my sin hegot That question first. Yes, Lord, Thou wilt : Thy bloud was spUt 5 To wash away my guilt. Lord, I wUl love Theej shall I not? Beshrew that ' not' ! 'Twas Death's accursed plot THE SYNAGOGUE. G3 To put that question. Yes, I will, lo Lord, love Thee still, In spite of all my ill. Then life and love continue still We shall and will. My Lord and I, untill 15 In His celestial hill We love our fill. When He hath purged all mine ill. 40. VOWS BROKEN AND RENEWED. Said I not so, that I would sin no more 1 Witness, my God, I did : Yet I am run again upon the score f^ My faults cannot be hid. What shall I do ? Make vows, and break them still 1 5 'Twill be but labour lost : My good cannot prevail against mine ill ; The bus'ness will be crost. say not so ; thou canst not tell what strength Thy God may give thee at the length : i o Eenew thy vows, and if thou keep the last, Thy God will pardon all that's past. [mayst Vow whilst thou canst, while thou canst vow : thou Perhaps perform it when thou thinkest least. Thy God hath not deny'd thee all, 1 5 Whilst He permits thee but to call : 64 THE SYNAGOGUE. Call to thy God for grace to keep Thy vows ; and if thou break them, weep ; Weep for thy broken vows, and vow again ; Vows made with tears cannot be still in vain. 20 Then once again I vow to mend my ways ; Lord, say Amen, And Thine be all the praise. 41. CONFUSION. O how my mind Is gravell'd ?" Ifot a thought That I can find But's ravel'd 5 All to nought. Short ends of threds. And narrow shreds Of lists, Knot-snarl'd ruffs,''i i o Loose broken tufts Of twists, Are my torn meditation's ragged clothing ; Which, wound and woven, shape a sute for nothing ; One whUe I think, and then I am in pain 1 5 To think how to unthink that thought again. How can my soul But famish THE SYNAGOGUE. 65 With this food? Pleasure's full bowl 20 Tastes rammish/'^ Taints the blood ; Profit picks bones, And chews on stones That choak; 25 Honour climbs hills, Fats not, but fills With smoak. And whilst my thoughts are greedy upon these, They pass by pearls, and stoop to pick up pease. 30 Such wash and draif 7' is fit for none but swine : And such I am not, Lord, if I am Thine. Cloath me anew, and feed me then afresh; Else my soul dies famisht and starv'd with flesh. 42. A PAEADOX: THE WORSE THE BETTEE. Welcome, mine health; this sickness makes me well. Med'cins, adieu : When with diseases I have list'* to dwell, I'U wish for you. Welcome, my strength ; this weakness makes me able ; 5 Powers, adieu : When I am weary grown of standing stable, I'll wish for you. 66 THE SYNAGOGUE. Welcome, my wealth; this loss hath gain'd me more. Eiches, adieu : i o When I again grow greedy to he poor, I'll wish for you. Welcome, my credit ; this disgrace is glory. Honours, adieu : When for renown and fame I shall he sorry,''* 15 I'll wish for you. Welcome, content ; this sorrow is my joy. Pleasures, adieu : When I desire such griefs as may annoy, I'll wish for you. 20 Health, strength, and riches, credit and content, Are spared hest sometimes when they are spent ; Sickness and weakness, loss, disgrace, and sorrow. Lend most sometimes when they seem most to borrow. Blest he that hand that helps by hurting, gives 25 By taking, hy forsaking me relieves. If in my fall my rising he Thy wOI, Lord, I will say, ' The worse the better stUl.' I'll speak the paradox ; maiatain Thou it, And let Thy grace supply my want of wit. 30 Leave me no learning that a man may see. So I may be a scholar unto Thee. 43. INMATES. A house I had (an heart, I mean) so wide And full of spacious rooms on every side. THE SYNAGOGUE. 07 That, viewing it, I thought I might do well, Rather than keep it void, and make no gain Of what I could not use, to entertain 5- Such guests as came. I did ; but what befel Me quickly in that course I sigh to tell. A guest I had — alas, I have her still — A great big-helly'd guest ; enough to fill The vast content of hell, — Corruption. 10 By entertaining her I lost my right To more than all the world hath now in sight; Each day, each hour almost, she brought forth one Or other base-begot Transgression. The charge grew great. I, that had lost before 1 5 All that I had, was forcfed now to score''" For all the charges of their maintenance In Dooms-day book. Whoever knew't would say. The least sum there was more than I could pay When first 'twas due, — besides continuance, 20 Which could not chuse but much the debt enhance. To ease me, first I wisht her to remove ; But she would not. I su'd her then above, And begg'd the Court of Heaven, but in vain, To cast her out. No, I could not evade 25 The bargain which she pleaded I had made. That whilst both lived I should entertain At mine own charge both her and all her train. 68 THE SYNAGOGUE. No help then, but or I must dye or she ; And yet my death of no availe -would he, 30 For one death I had dy'd already, then When first she liv'd in me ; and now to dye Another death again were hut to tye And twist them both into a third,'^ which, when It once hath seiz'd on, never looseth men. 35 Her death might be my life ; but her to kill I of myself had neither power nor will : So desp'rate was my case. Whilst I delay'd. My guest stUl teem'd, my debts stiU greater grew ; The less I had to pay, the more was due. [=''ore ^^ The more I knew, the more I was afraid ; The more I mus'd, the more I was dismai'd. At last I leam'd there was no way but one : A friend must do it for me. He alone, That is the Lord of life, by dying can 45 Save men from death, and kill Corruption : And many years ago the deed was done ; His heart was pierc'd ; out of His side there ran Sinne's corrasives,'* restoratives for man. This precious balm I begg'd, for pitie's sake, 50 At Mercie's gate, where Faith alone may take What Grace and Truth do offer lib'rally. Bounty said, 'Come.' I heard it, and believ'd; None ever there complain'd but was reliev'd. THE SYNAGOGUE. 69 Hope waiting upon Faith said instantly, 5 5 That thenceforth I should live, Corruption dye. And so she dy'd, I live. But yet, alas, We are not parted : she is where she was. Cleaves fast unto me still, looks thro' mine eyes. Speaks in my tongue, and museth in my mind ; 60 Works with mine hands ; her body's left behind, Although her soul be gone. My miseries All flow from hence ; from hence my woes arise. I loath myself, because I leave her not. Yet cannot leave her. No, she is my lot, 65 Now being dead, that living was my choice ; And stiU, though dead, she both conceives and bears Many faults daily, and as many fears : All which for vengeance call with a loud voice. And drown my comforts with their deadly noise. 7 o Dead bodies kept unbury'd quickly stink And putrilie : how can I, then, but think Corruption noysome, even mortifi'd f^ Though such she were before, yet such to me She seemfed not. Kind fools can never see, 7 5 Or will not credit, until they have try'd, That friendly looks oft false intents do hide. But mortifi'd Corruption lies unmaskt. Blabs her own secret filthiness unaskt, 70 THE SYNAGOGUE. To all that understand her : that do none 80 In whom she lives embraced with delight : She first of all deprives them of their sight ; Then doat they on her, as upon their own, And she to them seems beautiful alone.^'* But woe is me ! One part of me is dead ; 85 The other lives : yet that which lives is led, Or rather carry'd, captive unto sin By the dead part. I am a living grave, And a dead body I within me have. The worse part of the better oft doth win ; go And when I should have ended, I begin. The scent would choak me, were it not that Grace Sometimes vouohsafeth to perfume the place "With odours of the Spirit ; which do ease me. And counterpoise Corruption. Blessed Spirit, 95 Although eternal torments be my merit, = desert And of myself transgressions only please me, Adde grace enough, being reviv'd, to raise me. Challenge Thiae own ; let not intruders hold Against Thy right what to my wrong I sold. 100 Having no state myself, but tenancy. And tenancy at will, what could I grant That is not voided, if Thou say, Avaunt ! =annuiied speak the word, and make these inmates flee ; Or, which is one, take me to dwell with Thee. 105 TUE SYNAGOfiDE. 71 44. THE CUKB. Peace, relDel thought ; dost thou not know thy King, My God, is here ? Cannot His presence, if no other thing, Make thee forhear 1 Or were He absent, all the standers-by s Are but His spyes : And well He knows, if thou shouldst it deny, Thy words were lyes. If others wiU not, yet I must and will MyseK complain. lo My God, ev'n now a base rebellious thought Began to move. And subt'ly twining with me would have wrought Me from Thy love : Fain he would have me to believe that sin 1 5 And Thou might both Take up my heart together for your inne. And neither loath The other's company ; a while sit still, And part again. 20 Tell me, my God, how this may be redrest : The fault is great, And I, the guilty party ,^1 have confest I must be beat. And I refuse not punishment for this, 25 72 THE SYNAGOGUE. Though to my pain, So I may learn to do no more amiss, Nor sin again ; Correct me, if Thou wilt ; but teach me then What I shall do. ^o Lord of my life, methinks I heard Thee say. That labour's eas'd ; The fault that is confesst is done away, And Thou art pleas'd. How can I sin again, and wrong Thee then, 35 That dost relent, And cease Thine anger straight, as soon as men Do but repent 1 No, rebel thought ; for if thou move again, I'U tell that too. 40 45. THE LOSS. The match*^ is made Between my Love and me ; And therefore glad And merry now I'll be. Come, glory, crown 5 My head ; And, pleasures, drown My bed Of thorns in down. Sorrow, be gone ; i o THE SYNAGOGUE. 73 Delight And joy alone Befit My honeymoon. Be packing now, i s You comb'rous cares and fears ; Mirth will allow No room to sighs and tears. Whilst thus I lay, As ravisht with delight, 20 I heard one say, ' So fools their friends requite.' I knew the voice My Lord's ; And at the noise 25 His words Did make, arose. I look'd and spy'd Each where. And loudly cry'd, 30 'My dear;' But none reply'd. Then to my grief I found my Love was gone. Without relief, 35 Leaving me all alone.s' ■ 74 THE SYNAGOGUE. 46. THE SEARCH. Whitlier, Oh ! whitlier is my Lord departed ? What, can my LoTe, that is so tender-hearted, Forsake the soul which once He thorow darted, As if it never smarted 1 No, sure my Love is here, if I could find Him ; 5 He that fiUs all can leave no place behind Him. But Oh ! my senses are too weak to wind^* Him ; Or else I do not mind Him. O no, I mind Him not so as I ought ; Nor seek Him so as I hy Him was sought, to When I had lost myself ; He dearly bought Me, that was sold for nought. But I have wounded Him that made me sound ; Lost Him again by Whom I first was found ; Him that exalted me, have cast to th' ground ; 15 My sins His bloud have drown'd. Tell me. Oh ! tell me — Thou alone canst teU. — Lord of my life, where Thou art gone to dwell ; For in Thine absence heav'n itself is hell ; Without Thee none is well. 20 Or, if Thou beest not gone, but only hidest Thy presence in the place where Thou abidest. Teach me the sacred art which Thou providest For all them whom Thou guidest, THE SYNAGOGUE. 75 To seek and find Thee by : else here I'll lie, 2 5 Untill Thou find me. If Thou let me dye, That only unto Thee for Hfe do cry, Thou dy'st as well as I. For if Thou live in me, and I in Thee, Then either both alive or dead must be; 30 At least I'll lay my death on Thee, and see If Thou -wilt not agree. For though Thou be the Judge Thyself, I have Thy promise for it, which Thou canst not wave, That who salvation at Thine hands do crave, 35 Thou wilt not fail to sa,ve. Oh ! seek and find me, then ; or else deny Thy truth. Thyself. Oh ! Thou that canst not lye, Show Thyself constant to Thy word, draw nigh ; Find me. Loe, here I lye. 40 47. THE EETURN. Loe, now my Love appears; My tears Have clear'd mine eyes ; I see 'Tis He. Thanks, blessfed Lord ; Thine absence was my hell ; 5 And now Thou art returned, I am well. By this I see I must Not trust 76 THE SYNAGOGUE. My joys unto myself; This shelf 85 =reef 10 Of too secuie and too presumptuous pleasure Had almost sunk my ship and drown'd my treasure. Who would have thought a joy So coy, To be offended so, i s And go So suddenly away ? As if enjoying Full pleasure and contentment were annoying, Hereafter I had need Take heed. zo Joyes, amongst other things, Have wings. And watch their opportunities of flight. Converting in a moment day to night. But is't enough for me 25 To be Instructed to be wise 1 I'll rise, And read a lecture unto them that are WOling to learn, how comfort dwells with care. 30 He that his joyes would keep Must weep ; And in the brine of tears And fears THE SYNAGOGUE. 77 Must pickle them. That powder^^ will preserve ; 35 Faith with repentance is the soul's conserve. Learn to make much of care ; A rare A.nd precious balsom 'tis For bliss ; 40 "Which oft resides where mirth with sorrow meets'; Heavenly joys on earth are bitter-sweets.^'' 48. INUNDATIONS. We talk of Noah's flood as of a wonder; And well we may ; The Scriptures say The water did prevail, the hUls were under, And nothing could be seen but sea. 5 And yet there are two other floods surpass That flood as far As heav'n one star ; Which many men regard as little as The ordinari'st things that are. 10 The one is sin, the other is salvation ; And we must need Confess indeed That either of them is an inundation, Which doth the deluge far exceed. 15 78 THE SYNAGOGUE. In Noah's flood lie and his houshold liv'd ; And there abode A whole ark-load Of other creatures that were then repriev'd ; All safely on the waters rode. 20 But when sin came, it overflowed aU, And left none free ; Nay, even He, That knew no sin, could not release my thrall But that He was made sin for me ; 25 And when salvation came, my Saviour's hlood Drown'd sin again. With all its train Of evUs ; overflowing them with good, With good that ever shall remain. 30 O let there be one other inundation ; Let grace o'rflow In my soul so, That thankfulness may level with salvation, =run level And sorrow sin may overgrow ! 3 5 Then will I praise my Lord and Saviour so, That angels shall Admire man's faU, When they shall see God's greatest glory grow. Where Satan thought to root out all. 40 THE SYNAGOGUE. 79 49. SIN. Sin, I would fain define thee, but thou art An uncouth thing ; All that I hring To show thee fully shows thee but in part. I call thee ' the transgression of the law ;' 5 And yet I read That sin is dead "Without the law, and thence its strength doth draw. I say thou art ' the sting of death.' 'Tis true ; And yet I find i o Death comes behind ; The work is done before the pay be due.*^ I say thou art the devil's work ; yet he Should much rather Call thee father ; 1 5 For he had been no devil but for thee. What shall I call thee, then 1 If death and devil, Eight understood. Be names too good, I'll say thou art the quintessence of evil. 20 50. TRAVELS AT HOME. Oft have I wish'd a traveller to be ; Mine eyes did even itch the sights to see That I had heard and read of; oft I have Been greedy of occasion as the grave. 80 THE SYNAGOGUE. That never saies ' enough ;' yet still was crost, 5 When opportunities had promis'd most. At last I said, 'What mean'st thou, wandring elf, To straggle thus 1 Go, travel first thyself.^" Thy little world can show thee wonders great ; The greater may have more, but not more neat^" i o And curious pieces. Search, and thou shalt find Enough to talk of. If thou wilt, thy mind Europe supplies, and Asia thy will, And Africk thine affections. And if still Thou list to travel further, put thy senses 1 5 For hoth the Indies. Make no more pretences Of new discoveries, whilst yet thine own And nearest little world is still unknown. Away, then, with thy quadrants, compasses, Glohes, tables, cards^^ and maps, and minute-glasses ; 2 o Lay by thy journals and thy diaries, Close up thine annals and thine histories ; Study thyself, and read what thou hast writ In thine own book, thy conscience. Is it fit To labour after other knowledge so, 2 5 And thine own nearest, dearest self not know ? Travels abroad both dear and dang'rous are, Whilst oft the soul payes for the bodie's fare ; Travels at home are cheap and safe : salvation Comes mounted on the \vings of meditation. 30 He that doth live at home, and learns to know God and himself, needeth no further go.' THE SYNAGOGUE. 81 51. THE JOURNEY. Life is a journey. From our mothers' wombs, As houses, we set out ; and in our tombs, As inns, we rest, till it be time to rise. 'Twixt rocks and gulfs our narrow footpath lies ; Haughty presumption and hell-deep despair 5 Make our way dangerous, though seeming fair. The world, with its inticements sleek and sly, Slabbers^^ our steps, and makes them slippery. The flesh, with its corruptions, clogs our feet, And burdens us with loads of lusts unmeet. i o The devil where we tread doth spread his snares, And with temptations takes us unawares. Our footsteps are our thoughts, our words, our works ; These carry us along ; in these there lurks Envy, lust, avarice, ambition, 15 The crooked turnings to perdition. One while we creep amongst the thorny brakes Of worldly profits ; and the devil takes Delight to see us pierce ourselves with sorrow To-day, by thinking what may be to-morrow. 20 Another while we wade and wallow in Puddles of pleasure ; and we never lin = cease Daubing ourselves with dirty damn'd delights, TUl self-begotten pain oui pleasure frights. Sometimes we scramble to get up the banks 25 Of icy honour ; and we break our ranks 11 0.i THE SYNAGOGUE. To step before our fellows ; though they say, He soonest tyreth that still leads the way. Sometimes, when others justle and provoke us, We stir that dust ourselves that serves to choak us j 30 And raise those tempests of contention which Blow us beside the way into the ditch. Our minds should be our guids ; but they are blind : Our wills outrun our wits, or lag behind. Our furious passions, like unbridled jades, 35 Hurry us headlong to th' infernal shades. If God be not our guide, oiir guard, our friend. Eternal death will be our journey's end. 52 ENGINES. Men often find, when Nature's at a stand, And hath in vain try'd all her utmost strength. That Art, her ape, can reach her out an hand, To piece her powers with to a full length ; And may not Grace have means enough in store 5 Wherewith to do as much as that, and more ? She may : she hath engines of ev'ry kind To work, what Art and Nature, when they view, Stupendious93 miracles of wonder find. And yet must needs acknowledge to be true ; 10 So far transcending all their pow'r and might. That they stand ev'n amazfed at the sight. THE SYNAGOGUE. 83 Take but three instances ; faith, hope, and love. Souls help'd by the perspective-glass of faith Are able to perceive what is above 1 5 The reach of reason ; yea, the Scripture saith Ev'n Him that is invisible behold. And future things, as if they'd been of old. Faith looks into the secret cabinet Of God's eternal counsels, and doth see 20 Such mysteries of glory there as set Believing hearts on longing ; tiD. they be Transform'd to the same image, and appear So alterM, as if themselves were there. Faith can raise earth to heaven, or draw down 25 I-Ieaven to earth, make both extreams to meet, — Felicity and misery ; can crown Eeproach with honour, season sowre with sweet. Nothing's impossible to faith ; a man May do all things that he believes he can. 30 Hope founded upon faith can raise the heart Above itself in expectation Of what the soul desireth for its part ; Then, when its time of transmigration Is delay'd longest, yet as patiently 35 To wait, as if 'twere answer'd by and by. When grief unwieldy grows, hope can abate The bulk to what proportion it will ; 84 THE SYNAGOGUE. 80 that a large circumference of late A little center shall not reach, to fiU ; 40 Nor that which gyant-Hke before did strout strut Be ahle with a pigmey's pace t' hold out. Hope can disperse the thickest clouds of night That fear hath overspread the soul withall ; And make the darkest shadows shine as bright 45 As the sunbeams spread on a silver wall ; Sin-shaken souls Hope, anchor-like, holds steady. When storm and tempests make them more than giddy. Love led by Faith, and fed with Hope, is able To travel through the world's wide wUderness ; 50 And burdens seeming most intollerable Both to take up gud bear with cheerfulness ; To do or suffer what appears in sight Extreamly heavy, Love will make most light. Yea, what by men is done or suffered, 55 Either for God, or else for one another, Though in itself it be much blemished With many imperfections, which smother And drown the worth and weight of it j yet, fall What will or can, Love makes amends for all. 60 Love doth unite and knit ; both make and keep Things one together which were otherwise. THE SYNAGOGUE. 85 Or would be both divers and distant. Deep, Higb, long, and broad, or whatsoever size Eternity is of, or happiness, 65 Love comprehends it aU, bee't more or less. Give me this threefold cord of graces then, Faith, Hope, and Love ; let them possess mine heart ; And gladly I'll resign to other men All I can claim by Nature or by Art: 70 To mount^* a soul, and make it still stand stable. These are alone engines incomparable. TO MY REVEREND FRIEND THE AUTHOR OF THE SYNAGOGUE. Sir, I lov'd you for your Synagogue before I knew your person ; but now love you more ; Because I find It is so true a picture of your mind ; Which tunes your sacred lyre To that eternal quire, Where holy Herbert sits (0 shame to prophane wits !) And sings his and your anthems, to the praise Of Him that is the First and Last of daies. These holy hymns had an ethereal birth j For they can raise sad souls above the earth, And fix them there. Free from the world's anxieties and fear. Herbert and you have pow'r To do this ; ev'ry hour I read you, kills a sin Or lets a virtue in To fight against it ; and the Holy Ghost Supports my frailties, lest the day be lost. COMMENDATOUr VERSES. 87 This holy war, taught by your happy pen, The Prince of Peace approves. When we poor men Neglect our arms, W are circumvested with a world of harms. But I will watch and ward. And stand upon my guard ; And still consult with you And Herbert, and renew My vows and say, ' "Well fare his and your heart, The fountains of such sacred wit and art.' Iz[aak] Wa[lton]. TO HIS INGENIOUS FKIEND THE AUTHOE OF THE SYNAGOGUE, UPON HIS ADDITIONAL CHUKOH-niENSILS. Sir, So the cheap touchstone's bold To question the more noble gold ; As I, at your command, Put forth my blushing hand To try these raptures, sent to my poor test; But since your question's, ' Are they like the rest ?' I say they are the best ; That once conceiv'd, the other is confest. But, sir, now they are here. For to prevent a female jeer, Thus much afSrm I do, They'r like the father too ; yS COMMENDATORY VERSES. And you like him -whose suhlime paths you tread, Herbert ! to be like whom who'd not be dead ? Herbert ! whom when I read, I stoop at stars that shine below my head. Herbert ! whose every strain Twists holy breasts with happy brain ; So that who strives to be As elegant as he Must climbe Mount Calv'ry for Parnassus' hill, And in his Saviour's sides baptise his quill; A JordanOs fit t' instill A saint-like stile, backt with an angel's skill. He was our Solomon, And you are our Centurion ; Our Temple him we owe, Our Synagogue to you ; Where, if your piety so much allow That structure with these ornaments t' endow, All good men will avow Your Syn'gogue, built before, is furnisht now. I. L. Sir, While I read your lines, methinks I spie Churches, and churchmen, and the old hierarchie : What potent charms are these ! you have the knack To make men young again, and fetch time back. COMMENDATORY VERSES. 89 I've lost what was bestow'd on Judah's prince,"" And am now where I was thrice five years since. The mid-space shrunk to nothing ; manners, men. And times, and all look just as they did then ; Rubbish and ruin's vanisht, everywhere Order and comliness afresh appear. What cannot poets do ? They change with ease The face of things, and lead us as they please. Yet here's no fiction neither : we may see The poet, prophet ; his verse, historic. A. S. Jan. 1, 1654. NOTES AND ILLUSTKATIONS. ' p. 5, ' Subterliminare.' In a contemporary handwriting I liave ' Mr. Henry Vaughan' (=Henry Vaughan the Silurist) placed under the heading of Langford's lines ' To the Anthor' (on vereo, of 5th edition of ' The Synagogue,' 1667) ; and in the same copy 'Subterliminare' is inscribed ' by Dr. Donne.' Sec our Memorial-Introduction on this. ^ p. 6, ' (/iica/r^contradict. ' p. 9, ' in tail .•' English law term^holding which is oppo- site to fee simple. ' p. 10, '/asC^fasten. ' p. 10, ' 7soo(i-i(;/Hc/ct'=blinded — from the hawking tenii. ° p. 10, ' alchimy .' the allusion is not to transmutation, but alchemy as chemistry, or rather chemistry applied to art. ' p. 10, 'tincture:' see Glossariallndex to Hekbekt, vol. ii. " p. 11, ' .Sj3i)//'8'=the Holy Spirit. From the outset on- ward it has been misprinted ' spiiits.' It might indeed be that there was a sort of verbal conceit or pun on ' spirits' and aqua regia, the ' spirits' so called ; for nitro-muriatic acid was called ' spirits,' just as sulphuric acid was ' spirits of vitriol.' But the primary and surely intended sense is that the gilded brass of hypocrisy passes as gold till detected as false by the test of the Holy Spuit. See 'Schola Cordis,' Ode xvi. line 47, andrelative note. ' p. 11, ' heardrst last :' that is, in 8. The Church. >" p 12, ' solidate'=covLSo\i&a,ie {cf. solder). " p. 15, 'complement:' seems to be used simply as an addition, and as somewhat between the exact sense of comple- ment and our compliment. '^ p. 15, '/ffideraZ'=gi'anted by a perpetual treaty to him and his posterity for ever. " p. 15, ' Reading-pue :' see Memorial - Introduction to Heeeekt on the equal height of the pulpit and reading-desk at Leighton Bromswold; and in 4to (vol. i,, facing page xxv.) a view of them. NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 91 " p. 16, 'But .... alone.' As though they were the only touchstones, &c. Bather a forced use of ' but.' The con- struction may be taken to be ' to their own [they bring] , but alone [i.e. the only] touchstones,' &c. "> p. 17, ' io^'^over-top. ' And topping all others in boast- ing' ('Coriolanus,' ii. 1). '" p. 18, ' bears the bell :' see Glossarial Index to Hekeeet, vol. ii. « V. " p. 19, ' pamcftr«ston'^all good, all-heal. " p. 19, 'perspective :' see Glossarial Index to Hekbeet, vol. ii. s.v. '" p. 20, ' speaketh by this Book'=the saying, ' he speaks by the book,' i.e. con'eotly, with exactness. '" p. 21, 'good cook.' The old proverb, 'God sends the meat and the devil the cooks,' has a solemn meaning in it. '' p. 23, ' ioot7!Some'=relishable, sweet. ^ p. 2i, ' last course andbest provision ,■' a reminiscence of the saying of the governor of the feast at the marriage of Cana in Galilee. ^' p. 24, ' iitc/j'^basanites, or hard black gi'anite ; but sometimes used, says Nares, for any costly marble. See our edition of Sir Philip Sidney, vol. i. pp. 9, 12, 109,112. Cok'- ridge is in error in his note here : ' tuch rhyming to much, from the German tuch, cloth. I never met with it before as an English word. So I findjjfaM for foliage in Stanley's History of Philosophy.' 2' p. 25, ' ctose'=shut up, enclosed with rails ; opposed to ' open,' as ' fixt' is to ' movable.' '* p. 25, ' So tJi.at'^1 will not take offence within these limits, namely, provided I be not driven to thwart authority ; or to make a party for faction, i.e. for factious purposes, or be made the tool of a faction ; and thirdly, proVided I be not made even seemingly to make or join such a party. With such I must, in the interests both of unity and charity, take offence, or become their opponent. ^'' p. 26, ' dead .■' the addition of spirits of pearls would not vivify such wine, would not increase its flavour and other qualities, but ' deaden' it. " p. 27, ' 'i'ai/'=lower, a nautical term for lowering the topsail, &c., as a sign of submission or compliment ; and often applied in those days to the taking off and consequent loweriug sweep of the bonnet or hat. See our Donne, s.c. 92 THE SYNAGOGUE. '" p. 28, 'vessel'd:'' Bacon uses this vert {Richardson, s.w.), but it is unusual. ' Invesselled' occurs in Mary Magdalene's Tears, st. 4. Both forms seem rare. " p. 29, ' the many'^ihe mob: ' Odi profannm vulgus et arceo' (Horace). ^° p. 29, ' ftfcsomc'^besom or broom. '' p. 30, ' tune'^giyes the note for and leads. So in 20. The Clerk, line 4. '"- p. 31, ' most .... sancti/i'd'=chiefly expecteth to be made, i.e. declared or praised as holy, 'sanctified'' being used in similar sense to ' glorified.' '' p. 31, 'smells.' He was probably thinking of mace, the envelope of the nutmeg. " p. 32, 'poor:' cf. St. Luke iv. 18 ; St. Matthew xix. 21 ; St. John xii. 5, 6. '" p. 34, 'coMn(crc7ian?ie'=counter-spell, as in witchcraft. '' p. 35, ' chymick blessing.' The phrase is rather oddly worded, but means is a cm-se transformed into a blessing. The cases were not alike ; but the thought was suggested by remem- brance of Balaam and the wars of Amalek, and perhaps of the commanded Canaanitish vows. We cannot, he says, expect to obtain a blessing like reformation of religion in our own way, namely, by the curse of war, except — and that is rarely — when the over-i-uling and transforming providence of God chooses to turn it into a blessing. ^' p. 36, ' gen'rally'^in the general sense of the word, ac- cording to its etymology. '* p. 37, 'procced'^advance or seek to occupy higher office. " p. 38, ' ready prest :' somewhat tautological, but empha- tic^readily, ready, or ready-hasted. Fr. pret, prest ; Latin, prjEstare. In, sense and etymology the word is different from prest or pressed of verb ' to press.' " p. 39, ' ccH»t(res'=judgments, decisions. ■" p. 39, ' attone :' according to its etymology to atone, to make at one. " p. 40, ' An instance oi proving too much' (Coleridge). " p. 41, 'persons :' ' Functions of times, but not persons of necessity ? Ex. bishop to archbishop' (Coleridge). " p. 43, 'florilegia :' a common name for collections of sen- tences from the Fathers, &c. " p. 43, ' That he loves God,' &c. ' Equally unthinking and uncharitable. I approve of them ; but yet remember Roman NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 93 Catholic idolatry, and that it originated in such high-flown metaphors as these' (Coleridge). " p. 43, The Sabbath, or Lord's Day. ' Make it sense and lose the rhyme ; or make it rhyme and lose the sense' (Cole- ridge). ■" p. 44, ' 6Za2ore'^emblazon. " p. 45, ' consort ;' see om- Hekbebi's Glossarial Index, vol. ii. s.v. '" p. 45, ' f a)7j'«se'=make muse. '° p. 46, The Nativity : see our Memorial-Introduction for Coleridge on this poem. ^' p. 46, 'Shine forth, bright sun;' 'Shine out, fair sun' (' Riohai-d III.' i. 2). " p. 47, ' that we coMM'=this day, in order that we might, &c., the intermediate clause being parenthetical. ^' p. 48, ' copy.' The meaning, as not unfrequently, is the original which supplied the copies, just as the schoolboy's ' copy' is that set for him to copy. '* p. 49, ' but we'^but of what we were or are. '^^ p. 49, ' livelihood'=\iies\a.'p, state of Hfe. '° p. 49, ' water's blond.' Holding circumcision and bap- tism as the sacraments of admission into the old and new Covenants respectively, he had come therefrom to the thought expressed in the hues from ' Original Sin' onwards, that the cii'- cumcision of Christ was not the putting off of the body of His sins, but the entering of Himself as man in the covenant be- tween God and corrupt man, Uke as in baptism we are admitted to partake of Chiist's righteousness. Now he goes farther, and expresses more fnUy the oneness of Christ with the believer, and of the believer with Christ, through the inter-communion, as it were, of His cucumcision and our baptism. Christ having entered Himself as man, and made Himself one in aU things with us, it was thus His blood gave its virtues to om- baptism, and made it a baptism by which we are baptised into His cir- cumcision and purity — ' in Whom also ye are circumcised with the cii'cumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Chi-ist' (Col. ii. 11; with which also Harvey probably connected 1 St. John i. 7, Hebrews ix. 22, and the Uke). " p. 49, ' guit'^quite, requite, give in equal exchange. *' p. 49, Romans ii. 29. Same signification Romans vi. 3, 4. ; Col. ii. 11, 12 ; Gal. iii. 27. 04 THE SYNAGOGUE. '" p. 52, ' If I do not :' I am glad I am in such a frame of miad that I wonld grieve, were it not that I rather joy in the exceeding love thus manifested for me. "" p. 54, ' sin-seised :' a technical legal term for taking possession. " p. 55, ' toMr'=tower, i.e. rise straight aloft as a hawk, lark, and sometimes other birds. ^^ p. 56, ' shaken.' ' The spiritual mii-acle was the descent of the Holy Ghost — the outward, the wind, and the tongues ; and so St. Peter himself explains it. That each individual ob- tained the power of speaking all languages is neither contained in, nor fairly deducihle from, St. Luke's account' (Coleridge). "^ p. 57, ' earnest' :=&rBt payment or deposit. °' p. 57, ' legier :' or ledger ambassador, same as resident ambassador. See Glossarial Index to Heebekt, vol. ii. s.v. "'p. 59, 'transcend;' ' Most true, but not conto'ddict. Rea- son is to faith as the eye to the telescope' (Coleridge). "" p. 59, 'in gross:' in bulk or in wholesale quantities, the gross being a number which measured wholesale quantities, besides otherwise lending itself to the idea of large quantity. See ' Schola Cordis,' Ode ix. line 19, and relative note. " p. 69, ' ;(ft'=lift or lifted ; a shortened form of the past of verbs in t, occasionally used by Greene and others, but which appears to have become more common in the later part of the reign of James. A notable example occurs in the ' Tempest' (i. 2), where Prospero, speaking of their exposure at sea, says of the ' carcass of a butt' [the hull of a Mediterranean vessel so called] , ' the very rats Iiiatinctively have [had] quit it : there they hoist us ;' where exception has been taken to Eowe's change ' had,' and to Shakespeare's supposed change from the past tense in the previous lines to the historical present, through inattention to the fact that ' quit' and ' hoist' are ^quitted and hoisted. ™ p. 62, 'beshrew:' a slight maledictory exclamation=sor- rowupon, a vexation or mischief on. This is on the supposition that it and a shrew and a shrew-mouse came directly from the Saxon. But Minsheu says that it came (intermediately) from the shrew or shi-ew-mouse ; ' a shrew mouse, quasi shrewd [i.e. as he explains shrewd, Ul] mouse, which, by biting catteU, so venometh them that they die U Gesu : whereof came our Eng- lish, " I beshrew thee," when we msh ill ;' and he repeats, s.v.r.. iSrOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 95 beslirew and mouse, where he also says and shows by the words that the shrew-mouse, being accounted venomous, was ' there- fore called in divers languages his name as his nature is.' Even if we do not adopt this derivation, his authority may be taken as proving that the original sense was more maledictory than that given above, and that Sherwood was right in his English- French Cotgi-ave in translating beshrew by maudii'e. Other uses of shrew and shrewd tend to the same ; but if originally more imprecatory, there can be no doubt that it became slighter and more innocent, partly perhaps from its likeness to shrew, a woman scold, partly from the after-adoption of more forcible and Low-Country swearing. "" p. 63, 'sco9'd'= Yet I am again run into debt. See Glos- sarial Index to Heebekt, vol. ii. s.v. " p. 64, ' gravelVd ;' now relegated to vulgar colloquial or slang, a metaphor=throwa on the ground or dust, and pro- bably derived from wi'estling. " p. 64, ' lists .... snarled ruffs.' Snarl, of root snare, has a similar meaning to entangle, or substantive an entangle- ment, the le being, as usual, a frequentative or reduplicative form. I believe it was (perhaps is) used for certain specific twists or hanks of woollen thread, &c. Accordingly I have ventured to read ' knot-snarled' instead of ' knots snarled ruffs,' regarding the s as having been inadvertently reduplicated. ' Lists' = the selvedge portion of woollen cloth. " p. 65, 'ra)«;«ts/j'=tastes of an unpleasant rankness, or, to use a better equivalent, ' tastes goatish.' " p. 65, ' loash and d)-a/f' =trash, waste-stuff (technical ' brewing' terms). " p. 65, ' Hst=desire, choose. " p. 66, '6csorr)/'=WhenIshaUsorrowfor orafterrenown. '° p. 67, 'score'=chalkit on theseore,goin debt: seenote". " p. 68, ' third.' Not twist both deaths into a third death, which is contrai-y to scriptural phraseology and ideas, and does not agree with the metaphorical words following ; but twist them both into a third, which is an old form of ' thrid' or thread. Nares justly observes that we have the same word in 'Fori Have given you a third of my own life, Or that for which I live.* (Prospero giving Miranda to Ferdinand, ' Tempest,' iv. 1.) Though endeavours have been made to explain it as one-thii-d, 96 THE SYNAGOGUE. such explanations make the passage worse than nonsense bj' making it ridiculous. " p. 68, 'sin's con'asives :' ' eon-osives' is = that eat into and destroy sin. But query is ' coiTa' not a press error ? ™ p. 69, 'mortified:' a conceitfuUy used word; 'mortified' in the sense in which we use mortification of the flesh (after the phrase of St. Paul), and mortified, dead-struck. '" p. 70, ' alone ;' I have met somewhere with a weird Scot- tish hallad of a knight whose mother was burnt for a witch or for heresy, and who married a hag from abroad, beautifid to him and to him alone, till he had revenged his mother's death. The hag = murderous revenge. " p. 71, ' part?/' = individual (vulgarism now). ^ p. 72, 'matcfe'=marriage or engagement. '^ p. 73, may be said to be founded on the Song of Solomon. " p. 74, ' wind :' technical hunting term for to scent an animal of chase in the wind, so as to pursue on his traces and find him. '* p. 76, 'sfte?/'=reef. See Glossarial Index to Heebekt, vol. ii. 8.V. " p. 77, 'powder:' not strictly applicable to brine; but he was thinking of the salt added in powder to pickled meat, in order further to preserve it, and which, mingled with the ex- uded juices, becomes brine, at least in part. " p. 77, ' bitter-sweets' ^ibe love-apple or fruit of Solanum dulcamara. So Vaux (?) of Beauty : ' Ah ! bitter-sweet, infect- ing as the poison.' " p. 79, 'be due:' though sin be the sting of death, yet death comes behind, i.e. lagging behind, comes at some long time afterwards. The work is done by the deadly sting, but the due of it, death, comes not immediately, but, long after. The conceit lies in the sting being spoken of as the sting of death, as we would of the bite of a serpent ; yet the sting and the death are separate, and separate by some interval of time. " p. 80, ' travel first thyself =go travel first over thyself. The little world or microcosm was a favourite phrase and thought, because it was held that man was a little world, hav- ing analogies and relationships and sympathies, each part with each part of the greater world, the earth and its products. This thought was the basis of Fletcher's ' The Pm-ple Island.' "' p. 80, 'neat:' here=dainty, nice. " p. 80, ' cards :' used in those days both for charts and NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 97 the mariner's compass, i.e. the card of the compass. Here it is used for the latter, as shown by the word ' maps' and ' com- passes ;' above, as shown by ' quadrants,' is the mathematical instrument so called. See om- edition of Southwell, pp. 44-5. '^ p. 81, ' Slabbers .•' much the same as slobbers. Minsheu says 'slabber, to slubber or sully, v. to foule;' but here, as slab is a smooth flat stone, &c., so slabber is to make smooth with any fluid, just as grease is to make smooth and slippery with grease. °' p. 82, ' stupendious .-' a spelling found much later, as in MarveU. ■* p. 85, ' moMnt'=raise. " p. 88, 'a Jordan:^ see Hekbbkt's Glossarial Index, vol. ii. «.i!.=Tol. i. pp. 63, 283. I take this further opportunity of remarking with reference to Herbert's headings of ' Jordan,' that in 75. Jordan the meaning is — When he first joyed in the Lord he sought out best means to express that joy ; but that now, when he had crossed over for good and become a settled inhabitant of God's promised land, aU he need do is to speak in simple words what love dictates. In this he imitates somewhat the thought in Sidney's first sonnet (Astrophel and Stella). On another occasion he says, that in the fulness of its joy his heart can only repeat, ' My Joy, my Life, my Crown,' but that this is ' a true hymn' (131). In 25. Jordan the thought is similar= Now having once for all crossed Jordan, my joy can only ex- press itself simply, and what more is required when a loving heart would speak the truth ? Is there no beauty in Truth her- self ? Can she need adornment ? Do I require to embellish my verse with those inventions and ornaments which poets find necessary when describing and praising either theii- mistresses adorned by art or the fictions of their own minds ? No ; in my great happiness I can but say, ' My God, my King ;' but it is my heart verse, it has the beauty of truth, and is so accepted of the God of all truth. In 75. he says that a true loving heart needs only to express itself simply as it feels ; in the other two, that in his fulness of joy he can but speak brokenly, but that such words are true songs, and having the beauty of truth, require not the adornment of a laboured wit. Harvey follows here in Herbert's footsteps. " p. 89, ' I've lost what was bestowed on Judah's prince, ' A reference to the fifteen years added to the life of Hezekiah (2 Kings XX. 1-6). G. O II. SOHOLA COEDIS. NOTE. Opposite is the title-page of tlie only edition of ' Schola Cordis' published during the author's lifetime, and which is our text. See our Preface and Memorial-Introduction for no- tices of other editions, and of the Emblems and for theii- source. G. [Engraved Title-page.] Schola Cordis The Heart of it Selfe, gone away from God ; brought back againe to him ; & instructed by him. Audiam quid Loquatur in me Dominus. Psalm 84. in 47 Emblems. Loquar ad Cor, Osa, -. London Printed for H Blunden at the Castle in Corn-hill 1647 Michael van lochem fecit [12mo.] [Dedication.] To the Divine Majestic of the onely begotten, eternall, well-beloved Son of God and Saviour of the world, Christ Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Maker, the Mender, the Sear- cher, and the Teacher of the Heart ; The meanest of his most unwor- thy Servants offers up this poore ac- count of his Thoughts, humbly beg- ging pardon for all that is amisse in them, and a gracious acceptance of these weak Endeavours for the advancement of His Honor in the good of others. THE CONTENTS. BLEME PARK The Introduction 107 1. The infection of the heart . no 2. The taking away of the heart . • "3 3. The darknesse of the heart 115 4. The absence of the heart . rrS 5. The vanity of the heart 121 6. The oppression of the heart 123 7. The covetousnesse of the heart 126 8. The hardnesse of the heart 129 9. The division of the heart . 131 10. The insatiablenesse of the heart 134 11. The returning of the heart . 137 12. The powring out of the heart 141 13. The circumcision of the heart 142 14. The contrition of the heart 14s 15. The humiliation of the heart 14S 16. The softening of the heart . 151 17. The cleansing of the heart . IS3 18. The giving of the heart . IS5 19. The sacrifice of the heart . IS8 20. The weighing of the heart . 161 21. The trying of the heairt . 163 22. The sounding of the heart . 166 23. The levelling of the heart . 169 24. The renewing of the heart . 171 25. The enlightening of the heart 174 26. The table of the heart 176 27. The tilling of the heart . 179 28. The feeding of the heart , 181 29. The watering of the heart . 184 10b THE CONTENTS. EMBLEME PAGE 30. The flowers of the heart i86 31. The keeping of the heart . 189 32. The watching of the heart . 191 33. The wounding of the heart 194 34. The inhabiting of the heart 197 35. The enlarging of the heart. 199 36. The inflaming of the heart . 202 37. The ladder of the heart 20s 38. The flying of the heart 207 39. The union of the heart 210 40. The rest of the heart . 213 41. The bathing of the heart . 21S 42. The binding of the heart . 218 43. The prop of the heart 221 44. The scourging of the heart 223 46. The hedging of the heart . 226 46. The fastenmg of the heart . 228 47. The new wine of the heart 230 The Conclusion .... 233 The Learning of the Heart The Preface . ' ■ 23S The Grammar of the Heart , 236 The Rhetorick of the Heart ■ 237 The Logick of the Heart . . ■ 239 Notes and Illustrations . . 240 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. THE INTRODVCTION. TuBNE in, my mind, wander no more abroad ; Here's^ work enough, at home,^ lay by that load Of scatter'd tbougbts, that clogs and cumbers thee : Resume thy long-neglected liberty Of selfe-examination ; bend thine eye 5 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 10 Doth make the difference ; he that neglects This learning, sideth with his owne defects. Dost thou draw backs 1 Hath custome charm'd thee so, That thou canst relish nothing but thy woe 1 Findst thou such sweetnesse in those sugar' d' lyes 1 1 5 Have forain objects so ingrost thine eyes? Canst thou not hold them off? Hast thou an eare To listen but to what thou shouldst not heare ? Art thou incapable of every thing But what thy senses to thy fancie bring? 20 108 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. Eemember 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 In -walls of flesh, not to make thee debtor 2 5 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 : 30 Such as that is, the rest is or wUl be. Better or worse, blame-worthy or fault-free. What ! are the ruines such thou art affraid, Or else asham'd to see how 'tis decai'd ? Is't therefore thou art loth to see it such 35 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 Evils are suffer'd grow, they grow the stronger. 40 Or hath thine understanding lost its light ? Hath the darke night of error dimm'd thy sight. So that thou canst not, though thou wouldst, observe All things amisse within thee — how they swerve From the straight rules of righteousnesse and reason ? 45 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 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 109 Up our requests to Him, Whose will alone Limits His pow'r of teaching ; from Whom none 50 Eeturnes unlearned that hath once a will To be His scholar, and implore His skUl. Great Searcher of the heart. Whose boundless sight Discovers secrets, and doth bring to light The hidden things of darkenesse ; Who alone 55 Perfectly knowst all things that can be knowne, — Thou knowst I doe not, cannot, have no mind To know mine heart ; I am not onely blind. But lame and listlesse : Thou alone canst make Mee able, willing ; and the paines I take, 60 As well as the successe, must come from Thee, Who workest both to wiU. and doe in mee : Having now made mee willing to be taught, Make mee as willing to leame what I ought. Or, if Thou wUt allow Thy scholar leave 65 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 fruitfuU then it was before 70 Its hardnesse, darkenesse, death, uncleannesse, losse, And barrenesse ; refine it from the drosse. And draw out all the dregs ; heal ev'ry sore ; Teach it to know it selfe, and love Thee more. Lord, if Thou wilt. Thou canst impart this skill ; 7 5 And for all other learning, take 't who will.' 110 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 1. THE INFECTION OF THE HEART. Why hath Satan filled thine heart ? Acts v. 3. Epigr. I. Whilst thou enclin'st thy voyce-enveigled eare The subtill serpent's syren-songs to heare ; Thy heart drinks deadly poyson drawn from hell, And with a vip'rous brood of sinne doth. sweU.^ Ode I. 1. The Soule. 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 1 2. The Seipent. Yes, these and many more, if more may he ; 5 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. 3. The Soule. But thou must lye, and with a false pretence Of friendship, rob me of that excellence 1 o "Which my Creator's bounty hath bestow'd And freely given me, to whom He nothing ow'd. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. Ill 4. The Serpent. Strange composition ! so credulous, And at the same time so suspicious ! This is the tree of knowledge, and untill 15 Thou eat thereof, how canst thou know what's good or ill ? 5. The Soule. 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 he excellent. 20 6. The Serpent. 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! 7. The Soule. Such as He made me I am well content 25 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. 8. The Serpent. And is it not all one, if He have given Thee meanes to get it 1 must He still be driven 30 To new workes of creation for thy sake ? "Wilt thou not what He sets before thee daine to take 1 1 1 2 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 9. The Smile. Yes, of tlie fruits of all the other trees I freely take and eat ; they are the fees Allow'd me for the dressing by the Maker ; 35 But of this fatall fruit I must not be partaker. 10. The Serpent. And why 1 what danger can it be to eat That which is good, being ordain'd for meat ? "What wilt thou say ] ' God made it not for food' ] Or durst thou think that made by Him it is not good ? 40 11. The Smile. Yes, good it is, no doubt, and good for meat ; But I am not allow'd thereof to eat : ]\ry Maker's prohibition, under paine Of death the day I eat thereof, makes me refraine. 12. The Serpent. Faint-hearted fondling, canst thou feare to dye, 45 Being a spirit and immortal ? Fie ! God knowes this fruit, once eaten, will refine Thy grosser parts alone, and make thee all divine. 13, 14. The Soule. There's something in it, sure ; were it not good, It had not in the midst of th' garden stood ; 50 And being good, I can no more refraine From wishing then I can the fire to burne restraine. THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 113 Why doe I trifle, then 1 what I desire Why doe I not ? Nothing can quench the lire Of longing but fruition. Come what will, 55 Eat it I must, that I may know what's good and ill. 15. The Serpent. 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 eviU present still. 60 2. THE TAKING AWAY OF THE HEART. Whoredome and wine and new wine take away tlie heart. Hosea iy. 11 . Epige. II. Base lust and luxury, the scumme and drosse Of hell-borne pleasures, please thee, to the losse Of thy soul's precious eyesight, reason ; so Mindlesse thy mind, heartlesse thine heart doth grow. Ode II. 1. Laid downe already, and so fast asleepe'! Thy precious heart left loosly on thine hand. Which with all diligence thou shouldest keep, And guard against those enemies that stand Eeady prepar'd to plunge it in the deep 5 Of all distresse ? Eouse 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 slothful idlenesse. 114 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 2. Whilst thou liesf soaking in security, i o Thou drownst thy selfe in sensuall delight, And wallowst in debauched luxurie ; "Which, when thou art awake and seest, will fright Thine heart with horror. When thou shalt descry By the daylight the danger of the night, 1 5 Then, then, if not too late, thou wUt 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, =paunch 20 Thou dost hut 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 25 At last, that misery and wretchednesse Is aU the fruit that springs from lustfuU wantonnesse. 4. Whilst thou dost feed effeminate desires With spumyi" pleasures ; whilst fruition The coals of lust fannes into flaming fires, 30 And spurious delights thou doatest on, — Thy mind through cold remissnesse ev'n expires, And all the active vigour oft is gone. Take heed in time, or else thou shalt confesse At last that misery and wretchednesse 35 Is all thefruitthatspringsfromcarelesse-mindednesse. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 115 5. Whilst thy regardlesse sense-dissolved mind Lies by unhent, that should have been thy spring Of motion, all thy headstrong passions find Themselves let loose, and follow their own swing, 40 Forgetful of the great account behind ■j'^ As though there never would be such a thing. But when it comes indeed, thou wilt confesse That misery alone and wretchednesse 44 Is aU the fruit that springs from soule-forgetfukiesse. 6. WhUst thou remembrest not thy later end, Nor what a reck'ning one day thou must make, Putting no difference betwixt foe and friend, Thou sufferst hellish fiends thine heart to take. Who, all the while thou triflest, doe attend, 50 Eeady to bring it to the burning lake Offire and brimstone; where thou shalt confesse That endlesse misery and wretchednesse Is aU the fruit that springs from stupid heartlessnesse. 3. THE DAEKENESSE OP THE HEART. Their foolish heart was darkened. RomanB i. 21. Epigr. III. Svch cloudy shadowes have eclips'd thine heart As Nature cannot parallel, nor Art : Vnlesse thou take My light of truth to guide thee, Blacknesse of darknesse will at last betide thee. 116 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Ode III. 1. Tarry, tarry, lest thine heedlesse hast Hurry thee headlong unto heU at last ; See, see, thine heart's already half-way there ; Those gloomy shadowes that encompasse it Are the vast confines of th' infernaU pit. 5 stay, and if thou lov'st not light, yet feare That fataU darkenesse, where Such danger doth appeare. 2. A night of ignorance hath overspread Thy mind and understanding ; thou art led 10 Blindfolded by unbridled passion ; Thou wandrest in the crooked ways of errour. Leading directly to the King of Terrour : The course thou takest, if thou boldest on, WUl bury thee anon j 5 In deep destruction. 3. Whilst thou art thus deprived of thy sight. Thou knowst no difference betweene noone and night; Though the sun shine, yet thou regardst it not ; My love-alluring beauty cannot draw thee, 20 Kor 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, 25 Observest not thine own desert or danger ; THE SCHOOL OF THE UBART. 117 Thou knowst not what thou dost, nor canst thou Whither thou goest : shooting in the darke, [tel How canst thou ever hope to hit the marke f What expectation hast thou to doe well ? 30 Thou art content to dwell Within the verge of hell. Alas, thou hast not so much knowledge left As to consider that thou art bereft [though Of thiue owne eyesight. But thou runnst as Thou sawest all before thee; whilst thy minde 36 To neerest necessary things is blind. Thou knowest nothing as thou oughtst to know. Whilst thou esteemest so The things that are below. 40 Would ever any that had eyes mistake As thou art wont to doe ? no difference make Betwixt the way to heaven and to hell ? But, desperatly devoted to destruction, EebeU against the light, abhorre instruction ? 45 As though thou didst desire with death to dwell. Thou hatest to heare tell How yet thou maist doe well. that thou didst but see how blind thou art. And feel the dismall darknesse of thine heart ! 50 Then wouldst 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; 118 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. Then shouldst thou know whither those by-wayes And that death in the end [bend, On darkenesse doth attend. 56 4. THE ABSENCE OF THE HEAET. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a foole to get wlsdome, seeing he hath no heart to it ? Proverbs xrii. 16. Epigr. IV. Hadst thou an heart, thou fickle fugitive, How would thine heart hate and disdaine to live Mindfull of such vaine trifles as these be, Eesting forgetfuU of itselfe and me ! Ode IV. 1. The Soule. Brave, dainty, curious, rare, rich, precious things, Able to make fate-blasted mortals blest; Peculiar treasures and delights for kings, That haviag pow'r of all would choose the best. How doe I hugge mine happiaesse, that have s Present possession of what others crave ! 2. Christ. Poore, sLUy, simple, sense-besotted soule. Why dost thou hugge thy self-procured woes 1 Eelease thy freebome thoughts ; at least controul Those passions that enslave thee to thy foes. i o Howwouldst thou hate thy self, if thou didst know The basenesse of those things thou prizest so ! THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 119 3. The Soule. They talk of goodnesse, vertue, piety, Eeligion, honesty, I know not what ; So let them talk for me : so long as I 15 Have goods, and lands, and gold, and Jewells, that Both equaU and excell all other treasure, [sure? Why should I strive to make their paine my plea- 4. Christ. So swine neglect the pearles that lie before them. Trample them under foote, and feed on draffe : 20 So fooles gild rotten idols, and adore them ; Cast all the come away, and keep the chaffe. That ever reason should be blinded so, To graspe the shadow, let the substance goe ! 5. The Soule. All's but opinion that the world accounts 25 Matter of worth ; as this or that man sets A value on it, so the price amounts ; The sound of strings is varied by the frets. My mind's my kingdome; why should I withstand Or question that which I myselfe command t 30 6. Christ. 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 ; 120 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEABT. Thy rules are crooked, and thou writ'st awry; 35 Thy wayes are wand'ring, and thine end to die. 7. The Soule. This table summes me myriads of pleasure ; That booke enroules mine honour's inventory ; These bags are stuft with millions of treasure ; Those writings evidence my state of glory ; 40 These bells ring heav'nly musicke in mine eares, To drown the noise of cumbrous cares and feares. 8, 9. Christ. Those pleasures one day wQl procure thy paine ; That which thou glori'st in. wiU be thy shame ; Thou'lt finde thy losse in what thou thoughtst thy gaine; Thine honour will put on another name ; 46 That musicke in the close wiU ring thy knell, Instead of heaven toll thee into hell. But why doe I thus wast My words in vaine On one that's wholly taken up with toyes ; 50 That will not loose one dramme of earth to gaine =iose A full etemaU weight of heav'nly joyes 1 All's to no purpose ; 'tis as good forbeare As speak to one that hath no heart to heare. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 121 5. THE VANITY OF THE HEART. Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity ; for vanity sliall be his recompence. Job xv, 31. Epigr. V. Ambition's beUowes, 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 V. The bane of kingdomes, world's disquieter, HeU's heire-apparent, Satan's eldest sonne, Abstract of ills, refinfed elixir, And quintessence of sinne — Ambition, Sprung from th' infemall shades, inhabits here, 5 Making man's heart its horrid mansion ; Which, though it were of vast content before. Is now puft up, and swells still more and more. Whole armies of vaine thoughts it entertaines ; Is stuft with dreames of kingdomes and of crownes; Presumes of profit without care or paines ; 1 1 Threatens to baffle all its foes with frownes ; In ev'ry bargaine makes account of gaines ; Fancies such frolicke mirth as choakes and drownes 122 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. The voyce of conscience ; whose loud alarmes Cannot be heard for Pleasure's counter-charmes. 3. Wer't not for anger and for pity, who Could choose but smile to see vain-glorious men Racking their wits, straining their sinewes so, That thorow their transparent thinnesse, when 20 They mete 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 weak- nesse bare. =wriiikied, 1. 22 4. See how hell's fueller his bellowes pUes, 25 Blowing the fire that burnt too fast before ; See how the furnace flames, the sparkles rise. And spread themselves abroad stUl more and more ; See how the doating soule hath fixt her eyes On her deare fooleries, and doth adore 30 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'riag crowne On which thou gazest is not gold, but grief; That scepter, sorrow : if thou take them downe, 35 And try them, thou shalt find what poore relief They could afibrd 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 disturb thy peace. THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 123 6. Those pearles so thorow pierc'd, and strung together, 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, 44 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 shrUl trumpet's sound shall strike thee dead. 7. Were aU those balls which thou in sport dosttosse Whole worlds, and in thy power to command, 50 The gaine would never couutervaile all 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 follies, then, if thou wilt live : 55 Timely repentance may thy death reprive. 6. THE OPPRESSION OF THE HEART. Take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and dnmkennesse. Lvke xxi. 34. Epigr. VI. Two massy weights — surfeiting, 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. 124 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Ode VII. 1 . Monster of sins ! see how th' inchanted soule O'rcharg'd already calls for more ; See how the hellish skinkeri* plies his howle, And's ready furnished with store ; Whilst cups, on every side 5 Planted, attend the tide. 2. See how the pilfed dishes mounted stand, Like hills advanced upon hills ; And the abundance both of sea and land Doth not suffice ev'n what it fills — 10 Man's dropsy appetite, And cormorant delight.i^ 3. See how the poysou'd body's puft and swell'd ; The face enflamfed glowes with heat ; The limbs unable are themselves to welld ;is 1 5 The pulses Death's alarme doe beat ; Yet man sits still and laughs, Whilst his owne bane he quaffes. 4. But wbere's thine heart the while, thou senselesse sot? Looke how it lieth crusht and quell'd ; 20 Flat beaten to the board, that it cannot Move from the place where it is held ; Nor upward once aspire With heavenly desire. THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 125 5. Thy belly is tliy god, thy shame thy glory ; 25 Thou mindest only earthly things ; And all thy pleasure is but transitory, Which grief at last and sorrow brings : The courses thou dost take WiU make thine heart to ake. 30 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 35 An age within an houre 'i 7. That which thou swallowst is not lost alone. But quickly will revengM be By seasing on thine heart ; which, like a stone. Lyes buri'd in the middst of thee, 40 Both void of common sense And reason's excellence. 8. Thy body is disease's rendevouze ; Thy mind the market-place^^ of vice ; The devill in thy wiU keeps open house ; 45 Thou liv'st as though thou wouldst intice Hell torments unto thee. And thine owne devill be. 9. 0, what a dirty dunghill art thou growne, 50 A nasty stinking kennell foule ! 126 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 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 55 Have some compassion on thy self, Before thou art transformed all to heast -^^ At last strike saile, avoid the shelf ^^ Which in that gulfe doth lie, Where all that enter die. 60 7. THE COVETOUSNESSE OF THE HEAET. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matt. vi. 21. Epigr. VII. Dost thou enquire, thou heartlesse wanderer, Where thine heart is 1 Behold, thine heart is here. Here thine heart is where that is which above Thine own deare heart thou dost esteem and love. Ode VII. 1 . See the deceitfulnesse of sinne. And how the deviU 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. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 127 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 confidence is cast away ; i o He hangs the head. As he were dead. 3. The pedlar cryes, ' What doe you lack t What will you buy ?' and boasts his wares the best : But offers you the refuse of the rest, 1 5 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 ; 20 Which, both alike earth-borne, on earth doe feed. And prosper or are at a stand ; L=born He and his field Like fruit doe yeeld. 5. The broker and the scrivner have 25 The us'rer's heart in keeping with his bands : =boncis His soul's deare sustenance lyes in their hands, And if they break, their shop's his grave : His int'rest is His only blisse. 30 6. The money-border in his bags Binds up his heart, and locks it in his chest ; 128 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. The same key serves to that and to his brest, Which of no other heaven brags, Nor can concert 35 A joy so great. 7. So for the greedy landmunger fi^ The purchases he makes in ev'ry part Take livery and seisin^^ of his heart ; Yet his insatiate hunger, 40 For aU his store. Gapes after more. 8. Poore wretched muckwormes, wipe your eyes ; Uncase those trifles that besot you so ; Your rich-appearing wealth is reall woe ; 45 Your death in your desires lyes; Your hearts are where You love and feare. 9. Oh, think not then the world deserves Either to be belov'd-or fear'd by you : 50 Give heaven these afieetions as its due, Which alwayes what it hath preserves In perfect blisse, That endlesse is. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 129 8. THE HAEDNESSE OP THE HEART. They made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should heare the the Lord. Zcoh. vil. 12. Epigr. VIII. Words move thee not, nor works, nor gifts, nor strokes; Thy sturdy adamantine heart provokes My justice, sleights My mercies : anvile-like, =siights Thou standst unmoved, though My hammer strike. Ode VIII. 1. What have we here ? An heart? It lookes like one ; The shape and colour speaks it such : But having brought it to the touch,-' I find it is no better then a stone : Adamants are 5 Softer by farre. 2. Long hath it steepfed been in mercie's milke, And soakfed in salvation ; Meet for the alteration Of anvills, to have made them soft as silke ; i o Yet it is still Hard'ned in ill. 3. Oft have I rain'd My word upon it, oft The dew of heaven hath distill'd, With promises of mercy fill'd, 1 5 Able to make mountaines of marble soft ; Yet it is not Changed a jot. 130 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 4. ]\ry beames of love shine on it every day, Able to thaw the thickest ice, 20 And where they enter, in a trice To make congealed crystaU melt away ; Yet warme they not This frozen clot. 5. Nay more ; this hammer, that is wont to grind 25 Eocks into dust and powder small. Makes no impression at aU, Nor dint, nor crack, nor flaw that I can find ; But leaves it as Before it was. 30 G. Is jNIine 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 slight, 1. 33 35 Ev'n heav'n to shake ? 7. No ; I am stiU the same, I alter not. And when I please. My workes of wonder Shall bring the stoutest spirits under, And make them to confesse it is their lot 40 To bow or break When I but speak. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 131 8. But I would have men know 'tis not My Word Or works alone can change their hearts ; These instruments performe their parts, 45 But 'tis My Spirit doth this fruit afford. 'Tis I, not art, Can melt man's heart. 9. Yet would they leave their customary sinning, And so unclench the devill's clawes, 50 That keepes them captive in his pawes, My bounty soone should second their beginning ; Ev'n hearts of steel My force should feel. 9. THE DIVISION OF THE HEART. Their heart is divided ; now shall they be foimd faulty. Hosea x. 2 Epigr. IX. Vaine trifling virgin ! I Myselfe have given Wholly to thee j and shall I now be driven To rest contented with a petty part. That have deserved more then a whole heart 1 Ode IX. 1 . More mischiefe yet ! Was 't not enough before To robbe Me wholly of thine heart, Which I alone Should call Mine owne, But thou must mock Me with a part 1 5 Crowne injury with scorne to make it more 1 1 32 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 2. What's a whole heart ? Scarce flesh enough to serve A kite one breakfast. How much lesse, If it should be Ofifer'd to Me, lo Could it suES.oieiitly expresse What I for making it at first deserve ! 3. I gave 't thee whole, and fuUy furnished With all its faculties entire ; There wanted not i s The smallest jot That strictest justice could require To render it conipleatly perfected. 4. And is it reason, what I gave in grossed* Should be return'd but by retails ? 20 To take so small A part for all, I reckon of no more avails Then where I scatter gold to gather drosse. 5. Give Me thine heart but^^ as I gave it thee : 2 s 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 Myself wholly to set thee free. 30 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 133 G. 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, 3 5 And live entirely perfect, not in part. 7. But whilst thine heart's divided it is dead — Dead unto Me, unlesse it live To Me alone ; It is all one 40 To keepe all and a part to give ; For what's a body worth without an head 1 8. Yet this is worse, that what thou keepst from Me Thou dost bestow upon My foes ; And those not Mine 45 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 Myself, and shall The devill and the world intrude 50 Upon My right Ev'n in My sight 1 Think not thou canst Me so delude ; I will have none unlesso I may have all. 134 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 10. I made it all, I gave it aU to thee, 55 I gave aU tliat I had for it ; If I must loose, I'll rather choose Mine interest in all to quit : Or keep it vrhole, or give it whole to Me. 6o 10. THE INSATIABLENESSE OF THE HEART. Who iulargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied. Habakuk ii. 5. Epigr. X. The whole round world is not enough to fill The heart's three corners ; hut it craveth stiU. Onely the Trinity, that made it, can Suffice the vast-triangled heart of man. OdeX. 1 . The thirsty earth and barren wombe cry. Give ; The grave devoureth all that live ; The fire still hurneth on, and never saith. It is enough ; the horseleech hath Many more daughters. But the heart of man 5 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 sicke surfeit have ; i o THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 135 When all the fnell is consum'd, the fire Will quench itselfe, and of itself expire. 3. But the vast heart of man's, insatiate : His boundlesse appetites dilate Themselves beyond all limits ; his desires 1 5 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 satisfied, Nor's eare with hearing : he hath triM 20 At once to furnish ev'ry sev'rall sense With choise of curious objects, whence He might extract, and into one unite A perfect quintessence of all delight. 5. Yet having all that he can fancy, still 25 There wanteth something more to fill His empty appetite. His mind is vext. And he is inwardly perplext. He knowes not why ; whereas the truth is this, He would find something there where nothing is. 6. He rambles over all the faculties ; 31 Eansacks the secret treasuries Of art and nature ; spells the universe Letter by letter ; can reherse All the records of time ; pretends to know 3 5 Eeasons of all things, why they must be so. 136 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 7. Yet is not so contented, but would faine Prie in God's cabinet,^^ and gaine Intelligence from heav'n of things to come ; Anticipate tlie day of doome ; 40 And read the issues of all actions so, As if God's secret counsells he did know. 8. Let him have all the wealth, all the renowne And glory that the world can crowne Her dearest darlings with ; yet his desire 45 Win not rest there, but still aspire : Earth cannot hold him, nor the whole creation Containe his wishes or his expectation. 9. The heart of man's but little, yet this AU^' Compared thereunto 's but small ; 50 Of such a large unparaUel'd extense Is the short-lin'd circumference^^ Of that three-corner'd figure, which to fill With the round world is to leave empty stiU. 1 0. Go, greedy soule, addresse thyselfe to heav'n, 5 5 And leave the world as 'tis, bereav'n Of all true happinesse, or any thing That to thine heart content can bring ; But there a trine-une God in glory sits, Who all grace-trusting hearts both fills and fits. 60 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 137 11. THE RETURNING OF THE HEART. Bemember this, and sliew yourselves men: bring it again to heart, ye transgressors. Isay. xlvi. 8. Epiqr. XL Oft have I call'd thee ; returne at last, Eeturne unto thine heart ; let the time past Suffice thy wanderings ; know, that to cherish Revolting still is a meer wiU to perish. Ode XI. 1. Christ. Eeturne, 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? 2. The Soule. What's this that checks my course ? Methinks I feel 5 A cold remissnesse seising on my mind ; My stagger'd resolutions seem to reel, As though they had in hast forgot mine heart behind. 3. Christ. Eeturne, wanderer, returne, returne. Thou art already gone too farre away : 10 It is enough ; unlesse thou meane to burne In hell for ever, stop thy course at last, and stay. T 138 THE SCHOOL OV THE HEART. 4. The Soule. There's something holds me back ; I caimot move Forward one foot ; methinks the more I strive The lesse I stirre. Is there a poVr above 1 5 My will in me, that can my purposes reprive ?^' 5. Christ. No power of thine own ; 'tis I that lay Mine hand upon thine haste; Whose wOl can make The restlesse motions of the heavens stay, Stand still, tume back againe, or new-found courses take. 20 6. The Soule. 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, whatever me betide. 7. Christ. And back again thou shalt ; I'U have it so. 25 Though thou hast hitherto My voyce neglected, Now I have handed thee, I'U have thee know, That what I vriU have done shall not be uneffected. 8-14. The Soule. Thou wilt prevaile, then, and I must returne ; But how? or whither? when a world of shame 30 And sorrow lies before me, and I bume With horror in myself to think upon the same. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 139 Shall I returne to Thee 1 Alas, I have No hope to he receiv'd ; a runne-away, A rehell to returne ! mad-men may rave 35 Of mercy-miracles, but what vpill Justice say 1 Shall I returne to mine owne heart 1 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. 40 Shall I forsake my pleasures and delights, My profits, honours, comforts, and contents, Por that the thought whereof my mind affrights, Eepentant sorrow, that the soule asunder rents ? Shall I returne, that cannot though I would ] 45 I, that had strength enough to go astray, Find myself faint and feeble now I should Eeturne ; I cannot runne, I cannot creep this way. What shall I doe ? Forward I must not goe, Backward I cannot ; if I tarry here 50 I shall be drowned iu a world of woe. And antidate mine own damnation by despairs.^" But is 't not better hold that which I have. Then unto future expectation trust 1 no, to reason thus is but to rave ; 55 Therefore returne I will, because returne I must. 1 40 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. " 15. Christ. Eeturne, and welcome ; if thou wilt thou shalt : Although thou canst not of thyselfe, yet I That call, can make thee ahle. Let the fault Be Mine, if when thou wUt retume I let thee Ue. 6o 12. THE POWRING OUT OF THE HEART. Powre out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lam. ii. 19. Epigr. XII. Why dost thou hide thy wounds ? why dost thou hide In thy close breast thy wishes, and so side With thine owne soares and sonowes ? Like a spout Of water let thiae heart to God break out. Ode XIL 1. The Soule. Can death or hell be worse then this estate 1 Anguish, amazement, horror, and confusion Drowne my distracted mind in deep distresses.'^ My grief's grown so transcendent, that I hate To heare of comfort, as a false conclusion 5 Vainly inferr'd from feignfed premises. What shall I do ? what strange course shall I try. That, though I loath to live, yet dare not die 1 [=1 that (1. 8) 2. Christ. Be rul'd by Me ; I'll teach thee such a way As that thou shalt not onely draiae thy mind lo THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 141 From that destructive deluge of distresse That overwhelmes thy thoughts, but clear the day, And soone recover light, and strength to find And to regaine thy long-lost happiness. Confesse, and pray. Say what it is doth aile thee, 1 5 What thou wouldst have, and that shall soon avail thee.^2 3-7. The Soule. ' Confesse, and pray' ? K 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 aU goodnesse. Lord ; and I all Ul. 20 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. A wretched miscreant I am, compos'd 25 Of sinne and misery ; 'tis hard to say Which of the two aUyes me most to heU : Native corruption makes me indispos'd To aU that's good, but apt to go astray ; Prone to doe Ul, unable to doe well. 30 My light is darkenesse, and my liberty Bondage ; my beauty foule deformity. A plague of leprosie o'rspreadeth all My pow'rs and faculties ; I am uncleane, I am uncleane : my Uver broyles with lust; 35 Eancor and malice overflow my gaU ; 142 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEAET. Envy my bones doth rot and keep me leane ; Eevengefull wrath makes me forget what's just : Mine eare's uncircumcis'd, mine eye is evi]l ; And hating goodnesse makes me parcell-devill.'* 40 My callous conscience is cauteriz'd ; My trembling heart shakes with continuall feare ; My feantick passions fill my mind with madnesse; My windy thoughts with pride are tympaniz'd; =swoiien My poys'nous tongue spits venome ev'ry where ; 45 My wounded spirit's swallow'd up with sadnesse ; Impatient discontentment plagues me so, I neither can stand still nor forward goe. Lord, I am all diseases : hospitalls And bills of mountebanks have not so many, 50 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 aU my heart to Thee : 55 Vouchsafe one drop of mercy unto me. 13. THE CIECUMCISION OF THE HEABT. Circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffineclsed. DeTt. X. 16. Epigr. XIIL Here, take thy Saviour's crosse, the nailes, and speare, That for thy sake His holy flesh did teare ; THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 143 Use them as knives thine heart to circumcise, And dresse'^ thy God a pleasing sacrifice. Ode XIII. 1. Heale thee? I wiU. But first I'll let thee know What it comes to. The plaister was prepared long agoe : But thou must doe Something thyselfe, that it may bee 5 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'dj 10 My side was piercfed with a speare, And nailes My hands and feet did teare. 3. Doe thou then to thyselfe as they to Mee : Make haste, and try The old man that is yet alive in thee 1 5 To crucifie; TUl 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 killiag sinne. 20 So then thine own corruptions to controule Thou must beginne j 144 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Untill thine heart be circumcis'd, My death will not he duly priz'd. 5. Consider then My crosse, My nailes and speare, 25 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. 30 6. Cut out the iron sinew of thy neck, That it may be Supple and pliant to obey My beck f^ And leame of Me. Meeknesse alone, and yeelding, hath 35 A power to appease My wrath. 7. Shave off thine hairy scalpe, those curled locks Powd'red with pride ; Wherewith thy scorniull heart My judgements mocks, And thinks to hide 40 Its thunder-threatned head, which bared^' Alone is likely to be spared. 8. Eippe off those seeming robes, but reall rags, Which earth admires As honourable ornaments, and brags'^ 45 That it attires, — Cumbers thee with indeed. Thy sores Fester with what the world adores. THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 145 9. Clip thine Ambition's wings, let downe thy plumes ; And learne to stoops 50 Whilst thou hast time to stand. Who stiU 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 55 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. 60 14. THE CONTRITION OF THE HEABT. A broken and contrite heart, God, Thou wilt not despise. Psalm li. 17. Epigr. XIV. How gladly would I bruise and breake this heart Into a thousand pieces, till the smart Make it oonfesse that of its owne accord It wilfully rebell'd against the Lord ! Ode XIV. 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, 146 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. And twisted stand s With Thy command. Thou shouldst no sooner bid, but I would goe ; Thou shouldst not will the thing I would not doe. 2. But I am weake, Lord, and corruption strong : When I would faine doe what I should, lo Then I cannot doe what I would — Mine action's short, when mine intention's long ; Though my desire Be quick as fire, Yet my performance is as dull as earth, 1 5 And stifles 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 20 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, 25 ril 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'll breake it all In pieces small ; 30 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 147 Sinne shall not flnde a sheard^i •without a flaw Wherein to lodge one lust against Thy law. Remember then, mine heart, what thou hast done, What thou hast left undone ; the ill Of all my thoughts, words, deeds, is stiE 35 Thy cursfed issue onely ; thou art growne To such a passe, That never was, jS'^or is, nor will there be a siane so bad. But thou some way therein an hand hast had. 40 Thou hast not been content alone to sinne, But hast made others sinne with thee : Yea, made their sinnes thine owne to be. By liking and allowing them therein : Who first beginnes, 45 Or followes, sinnes — • Not his owne sinnes alone, but sinneth o're All the same sinnes, both after and before. What boundlesse sorrow can suffice a guilt Growne so transcendent ? Should thine eye 50 Weepe seas of blood, thy sighes outvie The winds when with the waves they run at tilt. Yet they could not Cancel one blot ; The least of all thy sinnes against thy God 55 Deserves a thunderbolt should be thy rod. 148 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 8. Break then, mine heart ; and since thou cannot grieve Enough at once whUe thou art whole, Shiver thyself to dust, and dole*^ Thy sorrow to thy sev'rall atomes ; give 60 All to each part. And by that art Strive thy dissever'd self to multiply. And want of weight with number to supply. 15. THE HUMILIATION OF THE HEART. Tli*i patient in spirit is better then the proud in spirit. Eccl. vii. 9. Epigr. XV. Mine heart, alas, exalts itself 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 XV. 1 . So let it be. Lord, I am well content ; And Thou shalt see The time is not mis-spent [quell Which Thou dost then bestow, when Thou dost And crush the heart that pride before did swell. 6 2. Lord, I perceive As soone as Thou dost send, And I receive The blessings Thou dost lend, lo THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 149 Mine heait begins to mount,*' and doth, forget The groimd whereon it goes, where it is set. 3. In health I grew Wanton ; hegan to kick. As though I knew r 5 I never should he 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 20 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 25 Of undeserved praise Blowes up my mind ;** And my swoll'n thoughts doth raise Above themselves, untiU the sense of shame Makes me contemne my self-dishonour'd name. 30 6. One moment's mirth Would make me run starke mad ; And the whole earth, Could it at once be had. Would not suffice my greedy appetite, 35 Didst Thou not paino instead of pleasure write. 150 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 7. Lord, it is well I was ia time brought downe, Else Thou canst tell Mine heart would soone have flown 40 Full ia 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, 45 Mine heart may chance slip out. O quest*^ it unto nothing, rather then It should forget itselfe, and swell again. 9. Or if Thou art Dispos'd to let it goe ; 50 Lord, teach mine heart To lay itselfe as low As Thou canst cast it, that prosperity May still be temper'd with humility. 10. Thy way to rise 55 Was to descend : let me Myselfe despise. And so ascend with Thee. [liighj Thou throwst them down that Uft themselves on And raisest them that on the ground doe lie. 60 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEABT. 151 16. THE SOFTENING OP THE HEAET. God maketh my heart soft. lob xxiii, 16. Epigr. XVI. Mine heart is of itself a marble ice, Both cold and hard. But Thou canst in a trice Melt it like waxe, great God, if from above Thou kindle in it once Thy fire of love. Ode XVI. 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 : 5 The bargaine is but hard at most ; And such are all those Thou dost make with me, Thou knowst Thou canst not but a loser be. 2. When the sun shines with glitt'ring beames. His cold-dispeUing gleames 10 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,*^ 1 5 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 : 152 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. There's the same matter in it still, 20 Though new-inform'd with ill, Yet can it not resist 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 Righteousnesse ! 2 5 And though I must confesse 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 : 30 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, 35 Yet if Thy fire Thy Spirit accord, And working with Thy Word A blessing unto it afibrd, It will grow liquid, and not drop alone, But melt itself away before Thy throne. 40 6. Yea, though my flinty heart be such That the sun cannot touch, Nor fire sometimes affect it much. Yet Thy warme-reeking seK-shed bloud,. Lamb of God, 's so good 45 It cannot alwayes be withstood. THE SCHOOL OF THE HRABT. 153 That aqua-regia*8 of Thy love prevailes, Ev'n where Thy power's aqua-fortis*' failes. 7. Then leave rae not so soon, dear Lord, Though I neglect Thy Word, go And what Thy power doth afford ; Yet try Thy mercy and Thy love. The force thereof may move When all things else successlesse prove : Soakt in Thy bloud, mine heart will soone surrender Its native hardness, and grow soft and tender. 56 17. THE CLEANSING OF THE HEART. O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickednesse, that thou maist be saved. ler. v. 14. Epigr. XVII. Ovt of thy wounded husband's Saviour's side, Espoused soul, there flowes with a full tide A fountaine for uncleannesse : wash thee there. Wash there thine heart, and then thou needst not feare. Ode XVII. 1. endlesse misery ! I labour still, but still in vaine : The staines of sinne I see Are vaded^" all, or di'd in graine ; There's not a blot 5 Will stirre a jot 154 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. For all that I can doe ; There is no hope In fuller's sope, Though I adds nitre too. lo 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, 1 5 And scrapt and scrub'd, And turn'd it up and downe : Yet can I not Wash out one spot ; It's rather fouler growne. 20 3. 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 25 Be cleaner got, 'Twere better I had none ; Yet how should we Divided be, That are not two, but one ! 30 4. But am I not starke-wilde,^^ That go about to wash mine heart THE SCHOOL OF THE HEABT. 155 With hands that are defil'd As much as any other part 1 Whilst all thy teares, 35 Thme hopes and feares, Both ev'ry word and deed And thought is foule, Poore silly soule, How canst thou looks to speed ? 40 5 . Can there no helpe be had 1 Lord, Thou art holy, Thou art pure : Mine heart is not so bad, So foule, but Thou canst cleanse it sure. Speak, blessed Lord, 45 Wilt Thou afford Me meanes to make it cleane 1 I know Thou wUt ; Thy blovd were spilt Should it runne still in vaine. 50 6. Then to that blessed spring. Which from my Saviour's sacred side Doth flow, mine heart I'U bring ; And there it will be purifi'd : Although the dye 55 Wherein I lie, Crimson or scarlet were. This bloud, I luiow, 156 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. WDl make 't, as snow Or wooll, both cleane and cleerc. 60 18 THE GIVING OF THE HEART. My Sonne, give Me thine lieart. Prov. Kxiii, 21. Epigr. XVIII. The onely love, the onely feare, Thou art, Dear and dread Saviour, of my sin-sick heart : Thine heart Thou gavest that it might be mine ; Take Thou mine heart, then, tha,t it may be Thine. Ode XVIII. 1. Give Thee mine heart? 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 Tliy bloud, 5 And thought it worth the craving. 2. Give Thee mine heart 1 Lord, so I will. If Thou wUt first impart the skill Of bringing it to Thee ; But should I trust myself to give 10 Mine heart, as sure as I doe live I should deceived be. 3. As all the value of mine heart Proceeds from favour, not desert, Acceptance is its worth j 1 5 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 157 So neither know I how to bring A present to my heav'nly King, Unlesse He set it forth. 4. Lord of my life, methiakes I hears Thee say that Thee alone to feare, 20 And Thee alone to love. Is to hestow mine heart' on Thee ; . That other giving none can he Whereof Thou wilt approve. 5. And well Thou dost deserve to he 25 Both loved, Lord, and fear'd hy me. So good, so great Thou art ; Greatnesse so good, goodnesse so great, As passeth all finite conceit, And ravisheth mine heart. 30 6. Should I not love Thee, blessed Lord, Who freely of Thine own accord Laidst downe Thy life for me ? For me, that was not dead alone, But desp'ratly transcendent grown 35 In enmitie to Thee. 7. Should I not feare before Thee, Lord, Whose hand spannes heaven ; at Whose word DevUls themselves doe quake ? Whose eyes out-shine the sunne, Whose beck 40 Can the whole course of nature check, And its foundations shake 1 158 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEAET. 8. Should I with-hold mine heart from Thee, The fountaine of feUoity ; Before Whose presence is 45 Fulnesse of joy ; at Whose right hand All pleasures in perfection stand, And everlasting hUsse 1 9. Lord, had I hearts a million, And myriads in ev'ry one 50 Of choicest loves and feares, They were too little to bestow On Thee, to Whom all things I owe ; I should he in arreares. 10. Yet since mine heart 's the most I have, 55 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. 60 19. THE SACRIFICE OF THE HEART. The sacrifices of Qod are a broken heai*t. Psal. li. 17. Epigb. XIX. Nor calves nor bulls are sacrifices good Enough for Thee, Who gav'st for me Thy bloud. And more then that. Thy life : take Thine own part ; Great God, that gavest aU, here, take mine heart. THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 159 Ode XIX. 1. Thy former covenant of old, Thy law of ordinances, did require Fat sacrifices from the fold, And many other oflf'rings made by fire ; Whilst Thy first Tahemacle stood, 5 All things were consecrate with bloud. 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 1 10 No, no ; Thy GospeU doth require Choyse off'rings, too, and made by fire. 3. A sacrifice for sinne indeed, Lord, Thou didst make Thyself, and once for all ; So that there never will be need 1 5 Of any more sin-off'rings, great or smaU ; The life-bloud Thou didst shed for me Hath set my soule for ever free. 4. Yea, the same sacrifice Thou dost Still offer in behalf e of Thine elect ; 20 And to improve^^ it to the most. Thy Word and Sacraments doe in effect Offer Thee oft, and sacrifice Thee daily in our eares and eyes. 160 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 5. Yea, eacli beleeving soule may take 25 Thy sacrificed flesli and bloud by faith And therewith an atonement make For all its trespasses, Thy Gospell saith ; Such infinite transcendent price Is there in Thy sweet sacrifice. 30 6. But is this all 1 Must there not be Peace-oiferings and sacrifices of Thanksgiving tendered unto Thee 1 Yes, Lord, I know I should but mock and scoffe Thy sacrifice for sinne, should I 35 My sacrifice of praise deny. 7. But I have nothing of mine owne Worthy to be presented in Thy sight ; Yea, the whole world afibrds not one Ox, ramme, or lambe wherein Thou canst delight : Lesse then myself it must not be ; 41 For thou didst give Thyself for me. 8. Myself then I must sacrifice ; And so I will — mine heart, the onely thing Thou dost above all other prize 45 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 • sanctifie Mine heart. Thy sacrifice j and let Thy Spirit 50 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 161 Kindle Thy fire of love, that I, Burning with zeale to magnifie Thy merit, May both consume my sinnes, and raise Eternall trophies to Thy praise. 20. THE ■WEIGHING OF THE HEART. The Lord pondereth the heart. Prov. xxi. 2. Epige. XX. The heart Thou giv'st as a great gift, my love, Brought to the triaU, nothing such will prove. If Justice' equall ballance tell thy sight That, weighed with My Law, it is too light. Ode XX. 1. 'Tie true, indeed, an heart Such as it ought to be. Entire and sound in ev'ry part, Is always welcome unto Me ; He that would please Me with an offering 5 Cannot a better have, although he were a king. 2. And there is none so poore, But if he will he may Bring Me an heart, although no more ; And on Mine altar may it lay. 10 The sacrifice which I like best is such As rich men cannot boast, and poore men need not grutch. = grudge Y 162 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 3. Yet ev'ry heart is not A gift sufficient ; It must be purg'd from ev'ry spot, 1 5 And all to pieces must be rent ; Though thou hast sought to circumcise and bruise 't, It must be weigh'd too, or else I shall refuse 't. 4. My ballances are just. My Law's an equaU weight ; 20 The beame is strong, and thou maist trust My steady hand to hold it straight : Were thine heart equall to the world in sight. Yet it were nothing worth if it should prove too light. 5. And so thou seest it doth ; 25 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 buike better proportion hold. 6. Search it, and thou shalt find 3 1 It wants integrity. And is not yet so thorow lin'd With single-ey'd sincerity As it should be ; some more humility 35 There wants to make it weight, and some more constancy ; THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 163 7. Whilst •windy vanity Doth puffe it up with pride, And douhle-fac'd hypocrisie Doth many empty hoUowes hide ; 40 It is but good in part, and that but little : Wav'ring unstaidnesse makes its resolutions brittle. 8. The heart that in My sight As currant coyne would passe Must not be the least graine too light, 45 But as it stamped was : Keep then thine heaft 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, 50 And art afraid thou shalt be blam'd, I'U 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. 21. THE TEYING OP THE HBABT. The fining pot for silver and the furnace for gold ; but the Lord trieth the hearts. Prov. 3cvii. 3. Epigb. XXI. Thine heart. My deer, more precious is then gold, Or the most precious things that can be told ; Provided fiist that My pure fire have tri'd^^ Out all the drosse, and passe it purifi'd. 16-1: THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. Ode XXI. 1. ' What 1 Take it at adventure, and not try What metall it is made of f ' No, not I. Should I now lightly let it passe, Take sullen^* lead for silver, sounding brasse Instead of solid gold, alas, 5 What would become of it 1 In the great Day Of making Jewells 'twould 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 wiU abide the fire. i o 'Tis not a glitt'ring outside I desire. Whose seeming shewes doe soone expire ; But reall worth within, which neither drosse Nor base allayes^^ make subject unto losse. 3. If in the composition of thine heart 15 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 20 As the first blush of the sun-gUded aire. 4. The heart that in My furnace will not melt When it the glowing heat thereof hath felt, Turne liquid, and dissolve in teares Of true repentance for its faults — that heares 25 My threatning voyce, and never feares — THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 165 Is not an heart worth, having : if it be An heart of stone, 'tis not an heart for Me. 5. The heart that, cast into My fornace, spits And sparkles in My face, falls into fits 30 Of discontented grudging, whines When it is broken of its wiU, repines At the least suffering, declines My fatherly correction, — is an heart On which I care not to bestow Mine art. 35 6. The heart that in My flames asunder flies ; Scatters itselfe at random, and so lies In heapes of ashes here and there ; Whose dry dispersed parts will not draw neer To one another, and adhere 40 In a firme union, hath no metall in't Fit to be stamp'd and coynfed in My mint. 7. The heart that vapours out itselfe in smoak, And with those cloudy shadows thinkes to cloak Its empty nakednesse, how much 45 So ever thou esteemest it, is such As never wUl endure My touch :^6 Before I tak't for Mine, then, I wiU trie What kind of metall in thine heart doth lie. 8. I'll bring it to My furnace, and there see 50 What it will prove, what it is like to be. 166 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 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, 5 5 That heart wherein My love is fixed fast. 22. THE SOUNDING OF THE HEART. The heart is deceitful! above all things, and desperately wicked ; who can know it ? I the Lord. Jer. xvii. 9. Epigr. XXII. I, that alone am infinite, can try How deep within itselfe thine heart doth lie : The sea-man's plummet can but reach the ground ; 1 find that which thine heart itself ne'er found. Ode XXII. 1. A goodly heart to see to, faire and fat? It may be so ; and what of that 1 Is it not hollow 1 Hath it not within A bottomlesse whirlpoole of sinne ? Are there not secret creeks and cranies there, 5 Turning and winding comers, where The heart itseK ev'n from itself may hide. And lurk in secret unespi'd 1 I'U none of it, if such a one it prove ; Truth in the inward parts is that I love. 10 2. But who can tell what is within thine heart? 'Tis not a worke of nature ; art THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 167 Cannot perforine that taske ; 'tis I alone, Not man, to Whom man's heart is knowne. Sound it thou maist, and must ; but then the line 1 5 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 'tis fiU'd. 20 Lest then thou shouldst deceive thyself — 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, 25 Errour and ignorance I find ; Quick-sands of rotten superstition. Spied over with misprision :^' Some things thou knowest not, misknowest others ; And oft thy conscience its owne knowledge smothers. . Thy crooked will, that seemingly enclines 3 1 To follow reason's dictates, twines Another way in secret ; leaves its guide And laggs behind, or swarves aside; = swerves Crab-like creeps backward; when it should have made Progresse in good, is retrograde ; 36 Whilst it pretends a priviledge above Eeason's prerogative, to move 168 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. As of itself unmov'd, rude passions leame To leave the care, and take in hand the sterne.'' 5. The tides of thine affections ebbe and flow, 41 Rise np 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, 45 Eamble 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 thiags, but only for My sake. 50 6. Such strange prodigious impostures lurke In thy prestigious^" heart, 'tis worke Enough for thee all thy life- time to learne How thou mayst truly it discerne ; That when upon Mine altar thou dost lay 5 5 Thine off'ring, thou mayst safely 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. 60 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 169 23. THE LEVELLING OP THE HEART. Gladnesse to the upright in heart. Psal. xovii. 11. EPIGR. XXIII. Set thine heart upright if thou wouldst rejoyce, And please thyself in thine heart's pleasing choise ; But then be sure thy plumme and levell lie Rightly appli'd to that which pleaseth Me. Ode XXIII. 1. Nay, yet I have not done ; one trial! more Thine heart must undergo before I will accept of it, Unlesse I see It upright be, 5 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 ; 10 What I would have is just. Thou must desire What I require. And take it upon trust ; If thou preferre thy will to Mine, 15 The levell's lost, and thou go'st out of line. 3. Dost thou not see how thine heart turnes aside, And leanes toward thyself? How wide 170 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEABT. A distance there is here ! Untill I see 20 Both sides agree Alike with Mine, 'tis 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, 25 Would have thy portion poverty. Lest wealth should make thee proud, And Me forget ; But thou hast set Thy voyce to cry aloiid 30 For riches, and unlesse I grant AU that thou wishest thou complainst of want. 5. I, to preserve thine health, would have thee fast From Nature's dainties, lest at last Thy senses' sweet delight 35 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. 40 6. I, to prevent tliine hurt by climing high. Would have thee be content to lie Quiet and safe below, Where peace doth d well ; But thou dost swell 45 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 171 With vast desires, as though A little Mast of vulgar breath "Were tetter then deliverance from death. 7. I, to procure thine happinesse, would have Thee mercy at Mine hands to crave ; 50 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, 55 And all thy crooked paths go crosse to Mine. 24. THE EENEWING OF THE HEART. A new heart will I give yoa, and a new spirit will I put within you. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. Epigr. XXIV. Art thou delighted with strange novelties. Which often prove hut old fresh-garnisht lies 1 Leave then thine old, take the new heart I give thee, Condemne thyself, that so I may reprieve thee. Ode XXIV. 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, 5 Is onely fit to be cast forth ; 172 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Nor to be given Me, Nor kept by thee. 2. Then let it goe ; And if thou wilt bestow i o 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 consumM be, Nor with a scomfull eye 1 5 Blast standers by. 3. The heart that I Will give thee, though it lie Buri'd in seas of sorrowes, yet WUl not be drown'd with doubt or discontent, 20 Though sad complaints sometimes may give a vent To grief, and teares the cheeks may wet ; Yet it exceeds their art To hurt this heart. 4. The heart I give, 2 5 Though it desire to live And bath itssK in aU content. Yet will not toyle or taint itself with any ; Although it take a view and tast of many. It feeds on few, as though it meant 30 To breakfast only here. And dine elsewhere. THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 173 5. This heart is fresh And new ; an heart of flesh, Not as thine old one was, of stone : 3 5 A lively sp'ritly heart, and moving still. Active to what is good, but slow to iU ; An heart that with a sigh and grone Can blast all worldly joyes As trifling toyes. 40 6. This heart is sound, And solid'''^ will be found ; 'Tis not an emptie ayrie flash That baites^^ at butterflies, and with full cry Opens at ev'ry flirting vanity : 45 It sleights and scornes such paltry trash ; =siights But for eternity Dares live or die. 7. I know thy mind ; Thou seekst content to find 50 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 thyself of the exchange. And say that a new heart 5 5 Exceeds all art. 174 TI-IB SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 25. THE ENLIGHTENING OF THE HEART. They looked unto Him, and were lightened. Paalm xxxiv. 5. Epigr. XXV. 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 deep as Hell's eternall shade. Ode XXV. 1. Alas, that I Could not before espie The soule-confounding misery Of this more then Egyptian-dreadfuU night ! To be deprived of the light, 5 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 10 My God and me between Like an opacous^^ doubled skreen, Through which nor light nor heat could passage find. Grosse ignorance hath made my mind And understanding not bleer-ey'd, but blind ; 1 5 My will to all that's good is cold, ISTor can I, though I would. Doe what I should. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 175 3. No, now I see There is no remedy 20 Left in myself ; it cannot be That Mind men in the darke should find the way To blessednesse, although they may Imagine that high mid-night is noone-day, As I have done till now ; they'll know 25 At last, unto their woe, 'Twas nothing so. 4. Now I perceive Presumption doth bereave Men of all hope of helpe, and leave 30 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 35 Turne it to day. 5. Then unto Thee, Great Lord of light, let me Direct my prayer that I may see. Thou, that didst make mine eyes, canst soone restore That pow'r of sight they had before ; 4 1 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. 45 17G THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 6. I must confesse, And I can doe no lesse, Thou art the Sun of Righteousnesse ; There's healing in Thy wings ; Thy light is life, My darknesse death. To end all strife 50 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. 26. THE TABLE OF THE HEAET. I win put My law in their inward parts, and write it in tlieir heiii-ts. ler. xxxl. 33. EPIGE. XXVI. In the soft table of thine heart I'll write A new law, which I newly wiU indite. Hard stony tables did containe the old. But tender leaves of flesh shall this infold. Ode XXVI. 1. What will thy sight Availe thee, or My light. If there be nothing in thine heart to see Acceptable to Me 1 A self-writ heart will not 5 Please Me, or doe thee any good, I wot ; The paper must be thine, The writing Mine. THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 177 What I indite 'Tis I alone can write, lo And write in books that I Myself have made. 'Tis not an easie trade To read or write in hearts : They that are skiKuU in all other arts, When they take this in hand, 1 5 Are at a stand. My Law of old Tables of stone did hold, Wherein I writ what I before had spoken ; Yet were they quickly broken : 30 A signe the Covenant Contain'd in them would due observance want ; JSTor did they long remained* Coppy'd again. But now I'U try 25 What force in flesh doth lie ; Whether thine heart renew'd afibrd a place Fit for My law of grace. This Covenant is better Then that, though glorious, of the killing letter : 30 This gives life — not by merit. But by My Spirit. When in men's hearts And their most inward parts 178 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. I by My Spirit write My law of love, 35 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. 40 6. When I have writ My Covenant in it. View thine heart by My light, and thou shalt see A present fit for Me. The worth for which I look 45 Lies in the lines, not in the leaves, of th' book : Course paper may be lin'd coarse With words refin'd. 7. And such are Mine : No furnace can refine. 50 The choicest silver, so to make it pure. As My law put in ure, use Purgeth the hearts of men ; Which being rul'd and written with My pen — My Spirit — ev'ry letter 55 WiU make them better. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEABT. 179 27. THE TILLING OF THE HEART. I will tume imto you, and yee shall be tilled and sowne. Ezek. xxxvi. D. Epigr. XXVII. Mine heart 's a field ; Thy crosse a plow ; he pleas'd, Dear Spouse, to till it, tiU the mould be rais'd Fit for the seeding of Thy Word ; then sow, And if Thou shine upon it, it will grow. Ode XXVII. 1. So now methinks I find Some better vigour in my mind ; My will begins to move. And mine afiections stirre tow'rds things above ; Mine heart grow^es bigge with hope; it is a field 5 That some good fruit may yeeld. If it were till'd as it should be, Not by myself, but Thee. 2. Great Husbandman, Whose pow'r All difficulties can devour, 10 And doe what likes Thee best, Let not Thy field, mine heart, lie lay"^ and rest, let Lest it be over-runne with noysome weeds, That spring of their own seeds : Unlesse Thy grace the growth should stoppe, 1 5 Sinne would be all my croppe. 3. Break up my fallow-ground, That there may not a clod be found 180 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. To hide one root of sinne : Apply Thy plow be-time ; now, now beginne 20 To furrow up my stiffe and starvy"^ heart ; No matter for the smart, Although it roare when it is rent. Let not Thine hand relent. 4. Corruptions rooted deep, 25 Showers of repentant 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 seasons ; 0, impart The best of all Thine art ; 30 For of itself it is so tough, All will be but enough. 5. Or, if it be Thy will To teach me, let me learne the skill Myself to plow mine heart ; 35 The profit will be mine, and 'tis my part To take the paines and labour, though th' encrease Without Thy blessing cease ; If fit for nothing else, yet Thou Mayst make me draw Thy plow. 40 6. "Which of Thy plowes Thou wilt; For Thou hast more then one. My guilt, Thy wrath. Thy rods, are all Plowes fit to teare mine heart to pieces small ; THE SCHOOL OP THE HEAET. 181 And when in these it apprehends Thee neer, 45 'Tis furrowM with fear ; Each weed turn'd under hides its head, And showes as it were dead. 7. But, Lord, Thy blessed Passion Is a plow of another fashion, 50 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 sinne ; The vertue of Thy death can make 55 Sinne its fast hold forsake. 28. THE SEEDING OF THE HEART. That on the good ground are they which,, with an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth ft-uit with patience. Lvke viii. 15, Epigb. XXVIII. Lest the field of mine heart should unto Thee, Great Husband-man that mad'st it, barren be. Manure the ground, then come Thyself and seed it. And let Thy servants water it and weed it. Ode XXVIII. 1. Nay, blessed Lord, Unlesse Thou wilt afford Manure as well as tillage to Thy field, It will not yeeld 182 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. That fruit which Thou expectest it should beare : 5 The ground I feare Will still remaiae Barren of what is good ; and aU the graiae It will bring forth, As of its owne accord, will not be worth 10 The paines of gathering So poore a thing. 2. Some faint desire, That quickly wiU expire. Wither, and die, is all Thou canst expect ; 1 5 If Thou neglect To sow it now 'tis ready, Thou shalt find That it will blind And harder grow Then at the first it was. Thou must bestow 20 Some further cost, Else all Thy former labour will be lost ; Mine heart no come will breed Without Thy seed. 3. Thy word is seed, 25 And manure^^ too ; wUl feed As well as fill mine heart. If once it were Well-rooted there. It would come on apace ; 0, then neglect No time, expect 30 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 183 No better season. Now, now Thy field, mine heart, is ready ; reason Surrenders now ; Now my rebellious wiU begins to bow. And mine affections are 35 Tamer by farre. 4. Lord, I have lairie Barren too long, and faine I would redeem the time, that I may be Fruitfull to Thee— 40 Fruitful! in knowledge, faith, obedience, Ere I goe hence ; That when I come At harvest to be reaped, and brought home, Thine angels may 45 My soule ia Thy celestiaU garner lay, "Where perfect joy and blisse Etemall is. 5. If to intreat A crop of purest wheat, 50 A blessing too transcendent should appeare For me to beare, Lord, make me what Thou wilt, so Thou wilt take What Thou dost make. And not disdaine 55 To house me, though amongst Thy coursest graine ; 184 THE SCHOOL 0¥ THE HEART. So I may be Laid with, the gleanings gathered by Thee, When the full sheaves are spent, I am content. 60 29. THE WATEEING OF THE HEART. I the Lord doe keep it. I will water it every moment. lea. xxvii. 3. Epigr. XXIX. Clo.se downwards tow'rds the earth, open above Tow'rds heaven, mine heart is. 0, let Thy love Distill in fructifying dewes of grace. And then mine heart will be a pleasant place. Ode XXIX. 1 . See how this dry and thirsty land, Mine heart, doth gapiag, gasping stand. And, close below, opens towards heav'n and Thee. Thou Fountaine of felicity, [=ciosed Great Lord of living waters, water me ; 5 Let not my breath that pants with paine Waste and consume itselfe in vaine. 2. The mists that from the earth doe rise An heav'n-borne heart will not suffice ; =born Coole it without they may, but cannot quench i o The scalding heat within, nor drench Its dusty dry desires, or fiU one trench : Nothing but what comes from on high Can heav'n-bred longings satisfie. THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 185 3. See how the seed which Thou didst sow 1 5 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 itself more hard then stone f^ TJnlesse Thou water 't, it will lie 20 Drowned in dust, and still he 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, 25 That seasonable show'rs of grace may fall. And water them : Thy Word will do 't, If Thou vouchsafe Thy blessing to 't. 5. 0, then be pleased to unseal Thy fountaine, blessed Saviour ; deal 30 Some drops at least, wherewith my drooping spirits May be revived. Lord, Thy merits Yield more refreshing then the world inherits ; Rivers, yea seas, but ditches are, If with Thy springs one them compare. 3 5 6. If not whole show'rs of raine, yet. Lord, A little pearly dew afford, Begot by Thy celestial! influence On some chast vapour, raised hence To be partaker of Thine excellence ; 40 186 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. A little, if it come from Thee, Will be of groat availe to me. 7. Thou boundlesse Ocean^^ of grace. Let Thy free Spirit have a place Within mine heart ; full rivers then I know 45 Of living waters forth wUl flow, And aU Thy plants, Thy fruits and flow'rs will grow ; Whilst Thy springs their roots doe nourish, They must needs he fat, and flourish. 30. THE FLOWERS OF THE HEART. My Beloved ia gone downe into His garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens and to gather lillies. Cant. vi. 2. Epigr. XXX. Those lillies I doe consecrate to Thee, Beloved Spouse ; which spring, as Thou maist see, Out of the seed Thou sowedst ; and the ground Is hetter'd by Thy flow'rs when they abound. Ode XXX. 1. Is there a joy like this 1 What can augment my blisse ? If my Beloved wUl accept A posie of these flowers, kept And consecrated unto His content, 5 I hope hereafter He will not repent The cost and paines He hath bestow'd So freely upon me, that ow'd THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 187 Him all I had before, And infinitly more. lo Nay, try them, blessed Lord ; Take them not on my word ; But let the colour, tast, and smell The truth of their perfections tell. Thou that art infinite in wisdome, see 1 5 If they be not the same that came from Thee j If any difference be found, It is occasion'd by the ground ; Which yet I cannot see So good as it should be. 20 What sayst Thou to that rose. That queen of flowers, whose Maidenly blushes fresh and faire Out-brave the dainty morning aire t Dost Thou not in those lovely leaves espy 25 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 ? 30 Is not this liUy pure ? What fuller can procure A white so perfect, spotlesse, clear. As in this flower doth appear 1 188 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Dost Thou not in this milky colour see 35 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 ? 40 5. Or wilt Thou have beside Violets purple-di'd 1 The sun-observing™ marigold, Or orpin'''^ never waxing old ; The primrose, cowslip, gilliflow'r, or pinke, 45 Or any flow'r or herbe that I can think Thou hast a mind unto 1 I shaU Quickly be furnisht with them all. If once I doe but know That Thou wilt have it so. 50 6. Faith is a fruitful! grace ; WeU-planted, stores the place ; Fills all the borders, beds, and bow'rs With wholsome herbs and pleasant flow'rs. Great Gard'ner, Thousaist, and I beleeve, 55 What Thou dost 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 Thy store. 60 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 189 31. THE KEEPING OF THE HEART. Keepe thy heart with all diligence. Prov. iv. 23. Epigr. XXXI. Like to a garden that is closed round, That lieart is safely kept which stUl is found Compast with care, and guarded with the feare Of God, as with a flaming sword and speare. Ode XXXI. 1. The Soule. Lord, wUt Thou suffer this ? Shall vermine spoUe The fruit of aH Thy toyle ;— Thy trees, Thine herhs, Thy plants, Thy flowers thus ; And for an overplus Of spite and malice overthrow Thy mounds, 5 Lay common all Thy grounds ? Canst Thou endure Thy pleasant garden should Be thus turn'd up as ordinary mould 1 2. Christ. What is the matter ? Why dost thou complaitie 1 Must I as well maintaine 10 And keep as make thy fences 1 WUt thou take No paines for thine own sake t Or doth thy self-confounding fancy feare thee, When there's no dangef neer thee ? Speak out thy doubts and thy desires, and tell Me 15 What enemy or can or dares to quell thee ? 190 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEAET. 3-6. The Soule. Many and mighty and malicious, Lord, That seek with one accord To work my speedy ruine ; and make haste To lay Thy garden waste : 20 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. The world's a wildernesse, wherein I find 25 Wild beasts of er'ry kind — Foxes and wolves and dogs and hoares and beares ; And which augments my feares, Eagles and vultures and such birds of prey Will not be kept away ; 30 Besides the light-abhorring owles and bats, And secret corner-creeping mice and rats. But these, and many more, would not dismay Me much, unlesse there lay One worse then all within ; myseK I meane — 35 My false, unjust, unclean, Faithlesse, disloyaU self, that both entice And entertaine each vice : This homebred traiterous partaking's worse Then all the violence of forain force. 40 Lord, Thou maist see my feares are grounded, rise Not from a bare surmise THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 191 Or doubt of danger only ; my desires Are but what need requires Of Thy divine protection and defence 45 To keep these vermine hence ; Which, if they should not be restrain'd by Thee, Would grow too strong to be kept out by me. 7. Christ. Thy feare is just, and I approve thy care ; But yet thy comforts are 50 Provided for ev'n in that care and feare ; Whereby it doth appeare Thou hast what thou desirest. My protection, To keep thee from defection : The heart that cares and feares is kept by Me ; 55 I watch thee whilst thy foes are watch'd by thee. 32. THE WATCHING OP THE HEART. I sleep, but my heart waketh. Cant. v. 2. Epxgr. XXXII. Whilst the soft bands of sleep tie up my sences. My watchfull heart, free from all such pretences, Searches for Thee, enquires of all about Thee ; Nor day nor night able to be without Thee. Ode XXXII. 1. It must be so ; that God that gave Me senses and a mind would have 192 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Me use them both, but in their severall kinds. Sleep must refresh my senses, but my mind's A sparke of heav'nly fire, that feeds 5 On action and employment, needs No time of rest ; for when it thinks to please Itself with idlenesse, 'tis least at ease ; Though quiet rest refresh the head. The heart that stirres not sure is dead. 10 2. Whilst then my body ease doth take, My rest-refusing heart shall wake ; And that mine heart the better watch may keep, I'll lay my senses for a time to sleep. Wanton desires shall not entice, 1 5 Nor lust enveigle them to vice ; No fading colours shall allure my sight, Nor sounds enchant mine eares with their delight ; I'll bind my smell, my touch, my tast. To keep a strict religious fast. 20 3. My worldly bus'nesse shall be still, That heav'nly thoughts my mind may fidl ; My Marthae's cumb'ring cares shall cease their noise, That Mary may attend her better choise ; That meditation may advance 25 Mine heart on purpose, not by chance. My body shall keep holy day, that so My mind with better liberty may goe THE SCHOOL OF THE HEABT. 193 About her bus'nesse, and ingrosse That gaine which ■worldly men count losse. 30 4. And though my senses sleep the while, My mind my senses shall heguUe "With dreams of Thee, dear Lord, Whose rare perfections Of excellence are such that bare inspections Cannot suffice my greedy soule, 35 Nor her iierce appetite controule ; But 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. 40 5. Oh could I lay aside this flesh. And follow after Thee with fresh And free desires, my disentangled soule, Eavisht with admiration,'^ should roule Itself and all its thoughts on Thee ; 45 And by beleeving strive to see. What is invisible to flesh and blood, And only by fruition understood. The beauty of each sev'raU grace That shines in Thy sunne-shaming face. 50 6. But what I can doe that I will. Waking and sleeping, seek Thee still ; rU leave no place unpri'd into behind me Where I can but imagine I may find Thee ; CO 194 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. I'le aske of all I meet, if they 55 Can tell me where Thou art : which way Thou go'st, that I may foUow after Thee ; [me. Which way Thou com'st, that Thou maist meet with If not Thy face, Lord, let mine heart Behold with Moses Thy hack-part. . 60 33. THE WOUNDING OF THE HEART. He hath bent His bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. Lam. iii. 12. Epigr. XXXIII. A thousand of Thy strongest shafts, my Light, Draw up against this heart with aU Thy might. And strike it through : they that in need doe stand Of cure are healM hy Thy wounding hand. Ode XXXIII. 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. AU hearts by nature are both sick and sore, 5 And mine as much as any else, or more ; There is no place that's free from sinne, Neither without it nor within ; And universaU maladies doe crave Variety of medicines to have. i o 2. First let the arrow of Thy piercing eye. Whose light outvieth the star-spangled skie. THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 195 Strike through the darknesse of my mind, And leave no cloudy mist behiad ; Let Thy resplendent rayes of knowledge dart 1 5 Bright beames of understanding to mine heart, To my sinne-shadowed heart ; wherein Black ignorance did first begin To blurre Thy beauteous image, and deface The glory of Thy self-suf&cing grace. 20 3. Next let the shaft of Thy sharp-pointed pow'r, Discharged by that strength that can devour All difficulties, and encUne Stout opposition to resigne Its steely stubbomesse, subdue my will, 25 Make it hereafter ready to fulfill Thy royaU law of righteousnesse As gladly as I must confesse It hath fulfilled heretofore th' unjust, Prophane, and cruell lawes of its owne lust. 30 4. Then let that love of Thine, which made Thco leave The bosome of Thy Father, and bereave ' ThyseK of Thy trancendent glory, — Matter for an eternaU story, — Strike through miae affections aU. together; 35 And let that sun-shine cleer the cloudy weather, Whereiu they wander without guide Or order, as the wind and tide 196 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEiRT. Of floting vanities transport and tosse them, Till self-begotten troubles curbe and crosse them. 40 5. Lord, empty all Thy quivers ; let there be No corner of my spacious heart left free, TUl all be but one wound, wherein No subtile sight-abhorring sinne May lurk in secret unespi'd by me, 45 Or reigne in power unsubdu'd by Thee ; Perfect Thy purchas'd victory. That Thou maist ride triumphantly, And, leading captive all captivity, Maist put an end to enmity in me. 50 6. Then, blessed Archer, in requitall, I To shoote Thine arrowcs back again will try ; By pray'rs and praises, sighs and sobs. By vowes and teares, by groans and throbs, I'll see if I can pierce and wound Thine heart, 55 And vanquish Thee againe by Thine own art ; Or, that we may at once provide For all mishaps that may betide, Shoot Thou Thyself, Thou polisht shaft, to me. And I will shoot my broken heart to Thee. 60 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEAET. 197 34 THE INHABITING OP THE HEART. God hath sent forth the Spirit o£ His Son into your hearts. Gal, iv. 6. Epige. XXXIV. Mine heart's an house, my Light ; and Thou canst teU There's roome enough. O, let Thy Spirit dwell For ever there, that so Thou maist love me, And, being lov'd, I may againe love Thee. Ode XXXIV. 1 . Welcome, great Guest ; this house, mine heart. Shall aU be Thine : I will resigne Mine interest in ev'ry part j Only be pleas'd to use it as Thine own 5 For ever, and inhabite it alone : There's roome enough ; and if the furniture Were answerably fitted, I am sure Thou wouldst be well content to stay. And by Thy light 10 Possesse my sight With sense of an eternaU day. 2. It is Thy building. Lord ; 'twas made At Thy command, And still doth stand 1 5 Upheld and shelter'd by the shade 198 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 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, 20 It hath heen 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 25 Pram'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 ; 30 When in the presence-chamber of my mind The bright sun-beames of perfect knowledge shin'd ; When my wUl was Thy bed-chamber, And ev'ry pow'r A stately tow'r 35 Sweetned with Thy Spirit's amber. ''^ 4. But whilst Thou dost Thyself absent. It is not grown Noysome alone, But all to pieces torn and rentj 40 The windowes aU are stopt or broken so That no light, without wind, can thorow goe ; THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 199 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 ; 45 And every where It doth appeare AU that remaines is farre amisse. 5. But if Thou wilt returne againe And dwell in me, S° Lord, Thou shalt see What care I'll take to intertaine Thee ; though not like Thyself, yet in such sort As Thou wilt like, and I shall thank Thee for 't. Lord, let Thy blessed Spirit keep possession, 5 5 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. 60 35. THE ENLARGING OF THE HEART. I will runne the way of Thy commandments, when Thou.shalt enlarge my heart. Psalm oxix. 32. Epigb. XXXV. How pleasant is that now which heretofore Mine heart held bitter — sacred learning's lore ! Enlarged hearts enter with greatest ease The straitest paths, and runne the narrowest wayes. 200 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Ode XXXV. 1 . What a blessed change I find Since I intertam'd this Guest ! Now methinks another mind Moves and rules within my brest. Surely I am not the same 5 That I was before He came ; But I then was much to blame. 2. When before my God commanded Anything He would have done, I was close and gripple-handed,^* 10 Made an end ere I begunne ; If He thought it fit to lay Judgements on me, I coiild say, ' They are good,' — but shrinke away. 3. All the wayes of righteousnesse 1 5 I did think were full of trouble ; I complain'd of tediousnesse. And each duty seemed double : Whilst I serv'd Him but of feare, Ev'ry minute did appeare 20 Longer farre then a whole yeare. 4. Strictnesse in religion seem'd Like a pined pinion'd thing ; Bolts and fetters I esteem'd More beseeming for a king, 25 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 201 Then for me to bow my neck, And be at another's beck When I felt my conscience check/^ But the case is alter'd now ; He no sooner turnes His eye, 30 But I quickly bend and bow, Eeady at His feet to lie ; Love hath taught me to obey All His precepts, and to say, ' Not to-morrow, but to-day.' 35 What He wUls, I say, ' I must ;' What I must, I say, ' I will ;' He commanding, it is just, What He would, I should fulfil; Whilst He biddeth, I beleeve ; 40 What He calls for, He will give ; To obey Him is — to live. His commandments grievous are not Longer then men think them so ; Though He send me forth, I care not, 45 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. If I be compleat in Him, — 50 And in Him aU fulnesse dweUeth, — DD 202 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. I am sure aloft to swim Whilst that ocean overswelleth ; Having Him that's AU in All, I am confident I shall 55 Nothing want for which I call. 36. THE INFLAMING OF THE HEART. My heart was hot within me ; while I was musing the fire burned. Psalm xxxix. 3. Epige. XXXVI. Spare not, my Love, to kindle and enflame Mine heart within throughout, untill the same Breake forth and burne ; that so Thy salamander — Mine heart — may never from Thy fomace wander. Ode XXXVI. 1. Welcome, holy heavenly fire. Kindled by immortall Love ; Which, descending from above, Makes all earthly thoughts retire, And give place 5 To that grace Which with gentle violence Conquers all corrupt affections, Rebell nature's insurrections, Bidding them be packiag hence. i o 2. Lord, Thy fire doth heat within, Warmeth not without alone : THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 203 Though it be an heart of stone, Of itself congeal'd in sinne, Hard as steel, 15 If it feel Thy dissolving pow'r, it groweth Soft as waxe ; and quickly takes Any print Thy Spirit makes. Paying'^® what Thou saist it oweth. 20 3. Of itself mine heart is dark j But Thy fire, by shining bright, FUls it full of saving light : Though 't be but a little spark Lent by Thee, 25 I shall see More by it then all the light Which in fullest measures streames From corrupted Nature's beanies Can discover to my sight. 30 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 35 When it turnes Tow'rds the things which Thou dost hate. Yet Thy blessed warmth no doubt 204 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Will that wild-fire soone draw out, And the heat thereof ahate. 40 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, 45 Gathers more, Never ceasing till it make All things like itselfe, and longing To see others come with thronging Of Thy goodnesse to partake. 50 6. Lord, then let Thy fire enfiame My cold heart so thoroughly. That the heat may never die. But continue still the same ; That I may, 55 Ev'ry day More and more consuming sinno, Kindling others, and attending All occasions of ascending, Heaven upon earth begin. 60 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. ^UO 37. THE LADDER OF THE HEART. In whose heart are the wayes of them. Psalm Ixxxiv. 6. Epige. XXXVII. Wouldst thou, My love, a ladder have, whereby Thou maist cUmbe heaven, to sit downe on high 1 In thine owne heart, then, frame thee steps, and bend Thy mind to muse how thou maist there ascend. Ode XXXVII. 1. The Soule. What! Shall I Alwayes lie Grov'ling on earth, "Where there is no mirth 1 5 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. lo 2. Christ. True, There is ; Perfect blisse. The fruit of love. May be had above : 1 5 206 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. But he that ■will obtaine Such a gold-exceeding gaine Must never think to reach the same, And scale heav'n's walls, untiU he frame A ladder in his heart as near, as new. 20 3. The Soule. Lord, IwiU; But the skill Is not mine owne ; Such an art's not knowne, 25 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. 30 4-6. Chriat. Well, Then, see That thou be As ready prest'^' To performe the rest 35 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. 40 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 207 First, Thou must Take on trust All that I say ; Eeason must not sway 45 Thy judgement crosse to Mine, But her scepter quite resigne ; Faith must be hoth thy ladder sides, Which will stay thy steps whate'er betides. And satisfie thine hunger and thy thirst. 50 Then The round Next the ground, "Which I must see, Is hunulitie ; 5 S From which thou must ascend, And with perseverance end; Vertue to verture, grace to grace. Must each orderly succeed in 'ts place, And when thou hast done all heginne againe. 60 38. THE FLYING OF THE HEART. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windowes ? Isaiah Ix, 5, Epigr. XXXVIII. Oh that mine heart had wings like to a dove, That I might quickly hasten hence, and move With speedy flight tow'rds the celestiall spheres, As weary of this world, its faults and feares ! 208 the school of the hbaet. Ode XXXVIIIJ" 1. This way, though pleasant, yet methinks is long ; Step after step makes little haste, And I am not so strong As still to last Among 5 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. lo 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. IS 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. 20 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 25 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 209 Obtaine That favour which Excells all worldly gaine, And maketh the possessour rich III happinesse of a transcendent straine. 30 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? 35 I know The sunne exhales^" Grosse vapours from below, Which, scorning as it were the vales. On mountaine-topping clouds themselves bestow. 40 5. But my fault-frozen heart is slow to move ; Makes poore proceedings at the best, As though it did not love Nor long for rest Above. 45 Mine eyes Can upward looke, As though they did despise All things on earth, and could not brooke Their presence; but mine heart is slow to rise. 50 EB 210 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 6. Oh that it were once winffed like the dove, That in a moment mounts on high ! Then should it soone remove, Where it may ly In love : 5 5 And loe. This one desire Methinks hath imp'd it so, That it already flies like fire. And ev'n my verses into wings doe grow. 60 39. THE UNION OF THE HEART. I will give them one heart, Ezek. xi. 19. Epigr. XXXIX. Like-minded minds, hearts alike heartily Affected, will together live and die; Many things meete and part, but Love's great cable Tying two hearts makes them inseparable. Ode XXXIX. I. The Soule. All this is not enough ; methinks 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 5 My pray'rs for more. Lord, if Thou wUt not still encrease my store, Why didst Thou anything at all bestow? THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 211 2. Christ. Aud is 't the fruit of having still to crave ? Then let thine heart united be to Mine, lo 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 i S Thou canst not want what thou dost wish to have. =iack 3. Tlie Soule. 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 20 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. 4-7. Christ. 'Tis true, and so I will ; but yet thou must 2 5 Doe something tow'rds it too. Pirst, thou must lay All sinne away j And separate from that which would Our meeting intercept, and hold Us distant still : 30 I am all goodnesse, and can close with ill No more then richest diamonds with dust. 212 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Then thou must not count any eartUy thing, However gay and gloriously set forth, Of any worth, 35 Compar'd with Me, that am alone Th' etemarll, high, and Holy One : But place thy love • Onely on Me and on the things above ; Which true content and endlesse comfort bring. 40 Love is the loadstone of the heart, the glew. The cement, and the soder, which alone =soider Unites in one Things that before were not the same, But only like ; imparts the name 45 And nature too Of each to th' other ; nothing can undoe The knot that's knit by love, if it be true. But if in deed and truth thou lovest Me, And not in word alone, then I shaU find 50 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 ; 55 And I iu thee Myself shall alwayes see. THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 213 40. THE REST OF THE HEART. Efitume unto thy rest, my soule. Psalm cxvi. 7. Epigr. XL. My busie stirring heart, that seekes the best, Can find no place on earth wherein to rest ; For God alone, the Author of its blisse, Its only rest, its onely center is. Ode XL. 1. Move me no more, mad world, it is in vaine ; Experience teUs me plaine I should deceived be, If ever I againe should trust in thee : My weary heart hath ransackt aU 5 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 aU the best. 10 2. Thy profits brought me losse instead 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 aU the learning that thy school 16 Afforded me was not enough to make Me know myself, and take 21 i THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Care of my better part, Which shoiald have perished for all mine^^ heart. 3. Not that there is not place of rest in thee 2 1 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 2 5 Give rest unto my thoughts, and fill Them full of all content and quietnesse ; That so I may possesse My soul in patience UntUl He find it time to call me hence. 30 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 35 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. 40 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, THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 215 Thy glorious Face shall satis fie 45 The longing of my looking eye ; I'll roule myself on Thee as on my rock, And threatning dangers mock ; Of Thee, as of my treasure, I'll toast, and bragge my comforts know no measure. 6. Lord, Thou shalt be mine All ; I will not know 5 1 A profit here below But what reflects on Thee ; Thou shalt be all the pleasure I will see In anything the earth affords ; 5 S 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. 60 41. THE BATHING OF THE HEAET. I will cleanse their bloud that I have not cleansed, "Joel iii. 21. Epigb. XLI. 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, if thou wilt be well. Ode XLI. 1. All this thy God hath done for thee ; And now, mine heart. 21G THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. It is high time that thou shouldst be Acting thy part, And meditating on His blessed Passion, 5 Till thou hast made it thine by imitation. 2. That exercise will be the best And surest meanes To keepe thee evermore at rest, And free from paines ; i o To suffer with thy Saviour is the way To make thy present comforts last for aye. 3. Trace then the steps wherein He trode ; And first begin To sweat with Him. The heavy loade 15 Which for thy sinne 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 ; 20 But gather ev'ry drop. 'Tis good To purge the staine Of guUt, that hath defil'd and overspred Thee from the sole of th' foot to th' crown of th' head. 5. Poison possesseth every veine j 26 The fountaine is Corrupt, and all the streames uncleane ; All is amisse ; THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 217 Thy bloud's impure; yea, thou thyself, mine heart, In all thine inward pow'rs polluted art. 30 6. When thy first father first did ill, Man's doome was read — That in the sweat of 's face he still Should eat his bread : What the first Adam in the Garden caught, 35 The second Adam in a Garden taught. 7. Taught by His owne example how To sweat for sinne ; Under the heavy weight to bow, And never linne = cease 40 Begging release ; till with strong cries and teares The soule be drain'd of all its faults and feares. 8. If sin's imputed guilt opprest Th' Almighty so, That His sad soule could find no rest 45 Under that woe, But that the bitter agony He felt Made His pure blood, if not to sweat, to melt, — 9. Then let that huge inherent masse Of sinne that lies 50 In heapes on thee, make thee surpasse In teares and cries ; Striving with all thy strength, untill tbou sweat Such drops as His, though not as good, as great. 218 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEAET. 10. And if He thinke it fit to lay S S Upon thy back Or paines or duties, as He may, TJntill it crack, Shrinks not away, but straine thine utmost force To beare them cheerfully without remorse. 60 42. THE BINDING OF THE HBAKT. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love. Hosea xi, 4. Epigr. XLir. My sinnes, I doe confesse, 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 XLII. 1 . What ! could those hands That made the world be subject unto bands ? Could there a cord be found Wherewith Omnipotence itself was bound 1 Wonder, mine heait, and stand amaz'd to see 5 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. 10 2. Thy sinnes had ti'd [di'd; Those bands for thee, wherein thou shouldst have THE SOHOOL OP THE HEART. 219 And thou didst daily knit Knots upon knots, whereby thou mad'st them fit Closer and faster to thy faulty self. 1 5 So, like a cursed elfe, Helplesse and hopelesse, friendlesse and forlome. The sinke of scorne And kennell of contempt, thou shouldst have laine Eternally enthraU'd to endlesse paine, 20 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, 25 Tin till the time He di'd, And by His death vanquisht and conquer'd all That Adam's fall Had made victorious : Sinne, Death, and Hell, Thy fataU foes, under His footstool fell. 30 4. Yet He meant not That thou shouldst 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 : 35 He that hath loos'd those bands Whereby thou wast enslaved to the foes, Binds thee with those 220 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. Wherewith He bound Himself to doe thee good : The bands of love, love writ in lines of blood. 40 [=ljonds (II. 36, 40) 5. His love to thee Made Him to lay aside His majesty, And, cloathed in a vaile Of fraUe though faultlesse flesh, become thy baile. But Love^^ requireth love ; and since thou art 45 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. 50 6. Come, then, mine heart. And freely follow the prevailing art Of thy Redeemer's love : That strong magnetique tie hath pow'r to move The steelyist^* stubbomesse. If thou but twine 55 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, tied 60 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEAUT. 231 43. THE PBOP OF THE HEART. HiB heart is fixed, tnistdng in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be a^'aid. Psalm cii. 7, 8. Epigb. XLIII. My weak and feeMe heart a prop must use, But pleasant fruits and flow'rs doth refuse; My Christ my pillar is ; on Him rely, Eepose, and rest myself alone will I. Ode XLIII. 1 . Suppose it true that, whilst thy Saviour's side Was furrowed with scourges, 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 5 Have shrunk away at last : Such weaknesse suits not with Omnipotence, .Nor could man's malice match His patience. 2. But if so done, 'twas done to tutor thee, Whose frailty and impatience He doth see 10 Such that thou hast nor strength Nor wUl, as of thyself, to undergo The least degree of duty or of woe ; But wouldst be sure at length To flinch or faint, or not to stand at all, 1 5 Or in the end more fearfully to fall. 222 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 3. Thy very frame and figure, broad above, Narrow beneath, apparently doth prove =evidentiy Thou canst not stand alone Without a prop to boulster and to stay thee; 20 To trust to thine own strength would soone betray Alas, thou now art growne [thee. So weak and feeble, wav'ring and unstaid. Thou shrinkst at the least weight that's on thee laid. 4. The easiest commandments thou declinest, 25 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 30 Makes not so many doubles as thou dost, Till thy crosse courses in themselves are lost. 5. Get thee some stay that may support thee, then, And stablish thee, lest thou shouldst start againe. But where may it be found? 35 WUl 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. 40 6. Betake thee to thy Christ, then, and repose Tliysolfo in all extremities on those THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 223 His everlasting armes, Wherewith He girds the heavens and upholds The piUars of the earth, and safely folds 45 His faithfull flocke from harmes ; Cleave close to' Him by faith, and let the hands Of love tie thee in thy Kedeemer's' hands. 7. Come life, come death, come devUls, come what will. Yet fast'ned so thou shalt stand stedfast still ; 50 And aU the pow'rs of HeU Shall not prevaile to shake thee with their shock, So long as thou art founded on that Rock ; Ifo duty shall thee quell, No danger shall disturbe thy quiet state, 55 ]!for soule-perplexing feares thy mind amate.^^ 44. THE SCOURGING OF THE HEAET. A rod ia for the backe of him that is void of understanding. Prov. x. 13. Epigr. XLIV. When Thou withholdst 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 unwiUing, to Thy Father. Ode XLIV. 1. What doe those scourges on that sacred flesh, Spotlesse and pure ? Must He, that doth sin-weari'd soules refresh, Himself endure 224: THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. Sucli tearing tortures 1 Must those sides be gasli'd, Those shoulders lash'd? 6 Is this the trimming^^ that the world hestowes Upon such rohes of majestie as those 1 2. Is 't not enough to die, unlesse hy paine Thou antidate lo Thy death beforehand, Lord? What! dost Thou To aggravate [meane The guilt of sinne ? or to enhance the price Thy sacrifice Amounts to ? Both are infinite, I know, 1 5 And can by no additions greater grow. 3. Yet dare I not imagine that in vaine Thou didst endure [gaine One stripe ; though not Thine owne thereby, my Thou didst procure ; 20 That when I shall be scourged for Thy sate. Thy stripes may make Mine acceptable, that I may not grutch =grudge When I remember Thou hast borne as much, 4. As much and more, for me. Come, then, mine heart, And willingly 26 Submit thyselfe to suffer ; smile at smart, And death defie ; Feare not to feel that hand correcting thee Which set thee free : 30 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 225 Stripes as the tokens of His love He leaves, Who scourgeth ev'ry sonne whom He receives. 5. There's foolishnesse hound up within thee fast ; But yet the rod Of fatherly correction at the last, 35 If blest by God, Will drive it farre away ; and wisdome give, That thou maist live, Not to thyselfe, but Him that first was slaine, And died for thee, and then rose againe. 40 6. Thou art not onely dull and slow of pace, But stubborne too, And refractory ; ready to outface Rather then doe Thy duty ; though thou knowst it must be so, 45 Thou wilt not go The way thou'shouldst, till some affliction First set thee right, then prick and spurre thee on. 7. Top-like^^ thy figure and condition is ; Neither to stand 50 Nor stirre thyself alone, whilst thou dost misse An helping hand To set thee up, and store of stripes bestow To make thee goe : Begge, then, thy blessed Saviour to transferre 5 5 His scourges unto thee, to make thee stirre. GG 226 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 45. THE HEDGING OF THE HEART. I will hedge up thy way with thomes. Hosea il. 6. Epigr. XLV. He that of themes would gather roses may In his own heart, if handled the right way : Hearts hedgfed with Christ's crowne of thornes, instead Of thorny cares, will sweetest roses hreed. Ode XLV. 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 Eejoyce to see Him. orown'd by men, By Whom kings rule and reigne ? Or shall I scorne And hate to see earth's curse, a thorne, 6 Prepost'rously preferr'd to crowne those browes From whence all blisse and glory flowes 1 Or shall I both be glad,^^ And also sad, lo To thinke 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 ? 15 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 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 227 Then He was made*" — sinne and a curse : Come then, mine heart, take downe 20 Thy Saviour's crowne Of themes, and see if thou canst make 't thine owne. 3. Eememher first thy Saviour's 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. 26 Think earthly honours such,"" if they redound Wot to His glory, th' are not sound ; Never beleeve they minde to dignifie Thee that thy Christ would crucifie ; 30 Think ev'ry crowne of thorne,"^ Unlesse 't adorne Thy Christ as well as him by whom 'tis worne. 4. Consider then, that as the thorny crowne Circled thy Saviour's head, thine owne 35 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 vouchsafe accesse 40 To what might make that care go lesse ; Let no such thing draw nigh Which shall not spie Thornes ready plac'd to prick it till it die. 228 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 5. Thus compass'd with tliy Saviour's thorny crowne, Thou maist securely sit thee downe, 46 And hope that He Who made of water wine Win turne each thorne intoS^ a vine ; Where thou maist gather grapes, and to delight thee Eoses, nor need the prickles fright thee : 50 Thy Saviour's sacred temples tooke away The curse that in their sharpnesse lay ; So thou maist crownfed be As well as He, And at the last light in His light shalt see. 55 46. THE FASTENING OF THE HEAET. I will put My feare in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me. Jer. xxxii. 40. Epior. XLVL Thou, that wast nailfed to the crosse for me Lest I should slip, and faU away from Thee, Drive home Thine''* holy feare into mine heart, And clench it so that it may ne' er depart. Ode XLVI. 1. What ! dost thou struggle to get loose againe 1 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 again to rove and ramble 5 Eogue-like, a vagrant through the world, and scramble THE SCHOOL OP THE HBAET. 229 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 lo That griefe to-day which thou must pay to-morrow? 2. No, self-deceiving hearty lest thou shouldst cast Thy cords away, and burst the bands at last Of thy Eedeemer's tender love, I'll try What further fastnesse in His feare doth lie. 1 5 The cords of love soaked in lust may rot, And bands of bounty are too oft forgot ; But holy filiale feare, Hke to a naUe Fast'ned in a sure place, will never faile : This driven home will take 20 Fast hold, and make Thee that thou darest not thy God forsake. 3. Remember how, besides thy Saviour's bands Wherewith they led Him bound, His holy hands And feet were pierced ; how they nail'd Him fast Unto His bitter crosse ; and how at last 26 His precious side was goared with a speare ; So hard sharp-pointed ir'n and steel did teare His tender flesh, that from those wounds might flow The sov'raigne salve for sin-procured woe. 30 Then that thou maist not faile Of that availe, Eefuse not to be fast'ned with His naUe.!*^ 230 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 4. Love in an heart of flesh is apt to taint, Or be fly-blowne Tvith folly; and its faint 35 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. 40 He that doth feare because he loves wiU never Adventure to offend. But alwayes bend His best endeavours to content his friend. 5. Though perfect love cast out all servile feare, 45 Because such feare hath torment, yet thy dear Eedeemer meant not so to set thee free, That fiUall feare and thou should strangers be ; Though as a sonne thou honour Him thy Father, Yet as a Master thou maist feare Him rather. 50 Feare's the soule's 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. 5 5 47. THE NEW WINE OF THE HEART. "Wine that maketh glad the heart of man. Psalm civ. 15. Epigr. XLVII. Christ the true Vine, Grape, Cluster, on the crosse Trod the winepresse alone, unto the losse THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 231 Of bloud and life. Draw, thankfuU heart, and spare not: Here's wine enough for all, save those that care not. Odf. XLVII. 1. Leave not thy Saviour now, whatev'r thou dost, Douhtfull distrustfull heart ; Thy former paines and lahours all are lost. If now thou shalt depart, And faithlesly fall off at last from Him 5 Who to redeeme thee spar'd nor life nor Hmme. 2. Shall He, that is thy Cluster and thy Vine, Tread the winepresse alone. Whilst thou standst looking on ] Shall both the And worke be all His owne 1 [wine See how He bends, crusht with the straitned screw Of that fierce wrath that to thy sinnes was due. 1 2 3. Although thou canst not helpe to beare it, yet Thrust thyselfe under too, That thou maist feel some of the weight, and get Although not strength to doe, 16 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 20 That wine that maketh glad the heart of man, And aU His foes confounds ; 232 THE SCHOOL OP THE HEART. 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 25 Their longing appetites. Or drowne those oumhrous cares that would abate The edge of their delights ; But when they toyle, and soile'" themselves with sinne, Both to refresh, to purge, and cleanse them in. 30 6. Thy Saviour hath begun^^ this cup to thee. And thou must not refuse 't ; Presse then thy sin-swoU'n sides, untUl they be Empty, and fit to use 't ; Doe not delay to come when He doth call, 35 Nor feare to want where there's enough for all. 7. Thy bounteous Eedeemer in His bloud Fills thee, not wine alone ; But likewise gives His flesh to be thy food. Which thou maist make thine owns, 40 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 weaknesse strength, that thou maist doe Thy duty, and not stick 46 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. 233 At anything that He requires of thee, How hard soever it may seeme to he. 9. Make all the haste then that thou canst to come, Before the day be past ; 50 And think not of returning to thy home "Whilst yet the light doth last ; The longer and the more thou drawst this wine, Still thou shalt find it more and more divine. 10. Or if thy Saviour think it meet to throw 55 Thee in the.presse againe, To suffer as He did, yet doe not grow Displeased at thy paine ; A summer season followes winter weather ; Suff'ring, you shall be glorifi'd together. 60 The Spirit and the Bride sny, 'Come.' And let him that heareth say, ' Come.' And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Eevel. xxli. 17. THE CONCLVSION. Is this my period "P^ Have I now no more To doe hereafter 1 Shall my mind give o're Its best imployment thus, and idle be. Or busi'd otherwise 1 Should I not see How to improve my thoughts more thriftily 5 Before I lay these Heart School-Lectures by ? Self-knowledge is an everlasting taske, An endlesse worke, that doth not onely aske 234 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. A whole man for the time, but challengeth To take up all his howers untiU death. to Yet as in other schooles they have a care To call for repetitions, and are Busi'd as well in seeking to retaine What they have learn' d already as to gaine Further degrees of knowledge, and lay by 15 Invention whilst they practise memory ; So must I likewise take some time to view What I have done, ere I proceed anew. Perhaps I may have cause to interline,'*' To alter, or to adde ; the worke is mine, 20 And I may manage it, as I see best, With my great Master's leave. Then here I rest From taking out new lessons, tiU I see How I retaine the old in memory. And if it be His pleasure, I shall say 2 5 These lessons 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 30 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 LEARlSriJSrG OF THE HEAET. THE PBEFACE. I AM a scholar. The great Lord of love And life my Tutor is j Who from above All that lack learning to His school invites ; My heart's my prayer-book, in which He writes Systemes of all the arts and faculties : 5 First reads to me, then makes me exercise, But all in paradoxes, such high strains As flow from none but love-inspirfed brains ; Yet bids me publish them abroad, and dare T' excelP"" His arts above aU other arts that are. 10 Why should I not ? methinks it cannot be But they should please others as well as me. Come, then, joyn'd hands, and let our hearts embrace, Whils't thus Love's labyrinth of arts we trace ; I mean the Sciences^"^ call'd liberal ; 1 5 Both Trivium and Quadrivium,^''^ sev'n in all ; With the higher faculties — phylosophy, And law, and physick, and theologie. 236 THE LEARNING OP THE HEABT. THE GRAMMAR OF THE HEART. That speaketh the truth in his heart. Psal. xv. 2. My grammar I define to be an art Which teaoheth me to write and speak mine heart, By which I learn that smooth-tongu'd flatt'ries are False language, and in love irregular. Amongst my letters, vow-wells I admit 5 Of none but consonant to sacred Writ ; And therefore when my soul in silence moans, HaK-vowel'd sighs and double deep-thong'd groans, Mute looks and liquid teares instead of words. Are of the language that mine heart affords. i o And since true love abhors all variations, My grammar hath no moods nor conjugations. Tenses, nor persons, nor declensions, Cases, nor genders, nor comparisons ; What-erei"^ my letters are, my word's but one, 1 5 And on the meaning of it love alone. Concord 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 stiU, hearts wiU be heard above. 20 THE LEARNING OF THE HEART. 237 THE KETHOEICK OP THE HEART. My healt is inditing a good matter. Psalm xlv. 1. My rethoriok 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 tongue's elixir, which doth change 5 The ordinafy sense of words, and range Them under other kinds ; dispose them so. That to the height of eloquence they grow Ev'n in their native plainness, and must he So understood as liketh Love and me. 10 When I say Christ, I mean my Saviour ; When His command'ment, my behaviour ; For to that end it was He hither came, And to this purpose 'tis I beare His name. When I say, ' Hallow'd be Thy name,' He knows 1 5 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, 20 To raign with Him in glory : so grace brings My love in me to be the King of Kings. He teacheth me to say, ' Thy will be done,' But meaneth He would have me do mine own, By making me to will the same He doth, 25 And so to rule myself and serve Him both. 238 THE LEARNING OF THE HEART. So -wlien 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 myself, And to be rich in Him from worldly peK. 30 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 past He undertakes. And when He says, ' Behold, I come,' I know 35 His purpose and intent is I should go, With aU the speed I can, to meet Him ; whence His coming is attractive, draws me hence. Thick-folded repetitions in love Are no tautologies, hut strongly move 40 And bind unto attention. Exclamations Are the heart's heaven-piercing exaltations. Epiphonemaes and apostrophes Love likes of well ; but no prosopepes ; Not doubtful but careful deliberations 45 Love holds as grounds of strongest resolutions. Thus Love and I a thousand ways can find To speak and understand each other's mind. And descant upon that which unto others Is but plain-song, and all their musick smothers ; 50 Nay that which worldly wit-worms call non-scnce Is many times Love's purest eloquence. THE LEARNING 01? THE HEAET. 239 THE LOGICK OF THE HEART. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of tlie hope that is in you. 1 Peter iii. 15. My logick is the faculty of faith, Wliere all things are resolv'd into ' He saith j' And ergoes drawn from trust and confidence Twist and tie truths with stronger consequence Then either sense or reason ; for the heart 5 And not the head is fountain of this art. And what the heart objects, none can resolve But God Himself, till death the frame dissolve ; 'N&j faith can after death dispute with dust, And argue ashes into stronger trust, i o And hetter hopes then brass and marble 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 promises to me ; how I inherit 1 5 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 orderM by Him ; What He disposeth, that I think most trim.!"* 20 Love's arguments are all ' I will, ' Thou must ;' What He says and commands are true and just. When to dispute and argue's out of season, Then to believe and to obey is reason. iPmts. JSrOTES AND ILLUSTKATIONS. ' p. 107, ' Here^s :' spelled ' hev's' in first and second ; ' Here's' accepted from third edition. ' p. 107, ' at home.' Cf. this and the whole poem with ' The Synagogue,' 50. TraveUs at Home. See our Memorial-Intro- duction. ' p. 107, ' sugard .' a favourite contemporary word. ' Sugar' had still the romance of its distant source about it, and so was not de trap. * p. 108, ' composMre'^composition. He means spirit added to body. Cf. Hekbekt's ' Church Porch,' Glossarial Index, vol. ii. s. V. ' p. 109, cf. ' The Synagogue,' 42.- A Paradox, last lines. " p. 110, ' viprous brood :' the allusion is to the belief that the birth of the viper's brood was the destruction of the parent. Cf . note in Southwell, &c. Milton works it into his conception of sin. ' p. 114, ' liest ;' printed ' list,' which is misleading. So elsewhere in other like words, tacitly. • p. 114, ' liver :' supposed to be the seat of sensual or fleshly love. Cf. onwards. " p. 114, 'frieth ;' see Cbashaw, Glossarial Index, s. v. '" p. 114, ' spumy''=hoihj. " p. 115, ' behind .' i. e. as a retributive Nemesis. " p. 116, ' mi?id-amaHn(;'^mind-subduiug, mind-stupefying or foolish-making — the latter the usual sense, as used in Eng- lish and Italian ; the first the primary sense, as in mate at chess. " p. 119, ' geason'=whsi,t is rare, scarce, uncommon. " p. 124, ' sJ;i)ifc«r'=pourer out of liquor, tapster, butler, &c. " p. 124, ' What itfilW .... viz. man's dropsy, &c.; ' cor- morant delight' may mean vast swelling, so as to fill with liquor or enormous thirst, thirst being often attendant on dropsy. NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 241 '" p. 124, 'welld:' if=weld, i. e. unite, it is a curious use of the woi-d : but query=wield or use ? " p. 125, ' idle complement :' of. Hereekt's Gtlossarial In- dex, vol. ii. s. V. " p. 125, ' market-place'=^ommon resort. " p. 126, 'beast:' of. Hekebrt's 'Church Porch,' 6; Glos- sarial Index, toI. ii. s. v. 2» p. 126, ' shelf =veef. Of. Herbert, ibid. *' p, 128, ' Land-munger'^iealer in or seeker after lands. '^ p. 128, ' livery and seisin :' law terms=delivery and hold- ing or possession (of land). See Gloaearial Index to our Works of Sir John Davies, vol. iii. s. v. " p. 129, ' ioj«;ft'=tried by touchstone. See note ™. " p. 132, ' in grosse'^in bulk. Cf. ' Synagogue,' 36. Trinity Sunday, 1. 30, and relative note. '^ p. 132, ' fittt'^only, no otherwise than. ^ p. 136, ' Cabinet .' of. p. 83, 1. 19, and Glossarial Index to Herbert, vol. ii. s. v. ^' p. 186, '4M'^=universe, as in Donne, &c. 2' p. 136, 'short-lin'd' = whose natural circumference is measured by but a short line. ^ p. 138, ' reprive :' law term from French reprehender, to take back a sentence or pi-isoner : hence, secondarily, to stay what is going to be done. '" p. 139, ' antidate' =mAke a hell on earth, despair being considered a chief torment of the damned. 2' p. 140, ' distresses :' misprinted ' distresse' in first, se- cond, and third. Cf . rhyme with ' premises.' '' p. 141, ' thee ;' in first edition ' aUe thee,' but in next line ' availe' only. Hence at first I felt disposed to read ' thee aile' and ' soon availe ;' but I accept second edition. '^ p. 141, ' reprieve :' see note ^'. 5* p. 142, ' pareell-devill :' cf. Glossarial Index to Herbert, vol. ii. s. V. 3' p. 143, ' dresse'= [for] thy God. So Shakespeare, ' look my twigs' (' All's Well,' iii. 6) ; and a similar omission of pre- positions was not uncommon. '» p. 144, ' 6ecfc'=nod : cf . p. 157, 1. 40. " p. 144, ' 6orcd'=which only when bared in submission and in Nazarite-like vow will be spared. " p. 144, =and [then] brags that it attires [thee] , though indeed it only cumbers thee. II 242 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. '' p. 145, ' writhen' =ma,die to writhe or twist. " p. 146, ' calm'd and tempered :' imagery from the forge. " p. 147, ' sheard' = fragment of a potsherd : Job ii. 8, &o. " p. 148, 'doZe'=give out, distribute. ■*= p. 149, 'mount:' cf. ' The Synagogue,' 52. Engines, line 71, ' to mount a soul,' and relative note. '* p. 149, ' undeserved praise :' cf . Herbert in Memorial-In- troduction to Harvey. " p. 150, ' quest.' Halliwell, as a North-country word, has this : ' Pies are said to be quested when their sides have been crushed by each other, or so joined to them as thence to be less baked.' He also gives qwaste as an old form of quashed, from Morte Arthure, Lincoln ms. Our word here is, perhaps, a form of quash; may be derived from Fr. casser, an early form of which was quasser (Cotgrave) ; Richardson, s. v., gives quassed as an old form of quashed. The use of this provincialism, and of lay for lea^ grass land, confirms Harvey's Cheshire or North-country birth. See Memorial-Introduction. '° p. 151, ' pearles :' an old eiTOr that increased and grew from Pliny's time onwards. See Sir Thomas Browne's ' Vulgar EiTors,' b. ii. 5. '' p. 151, ' aiama)iJs'= diamonds here. ■" p. 153, ' aqua regia :' see ' The Synagogue,' 8. The Church, and relative note — a proof that ' Spirit's aqua regia' is the true reading. " p. 153, ' aquafortis:' a chemical aUnsion. Aquafortis or nitric acid wiU not touch gold, but nitro-muriatic acid (aqua regia) does. " p. 153, ' vaded ,' see an important note on this word v. faded in our edition of Southwell, Glossarial Index, s. v. ' Di'd in grains :' see note on this in ibid. " p. 154, ' starke-wild :' see notes " and '". " p. 159, 'i7rep''ot)e'=daily bring about its virtues, as shown in stanza 5=bring them into play. " p. 163, ' tri'd :' see note in our edition of Sidney, Glos- sarial Index, s.v. " p. 164, ' sullen' = {1) dark, as Shakespeare, 'bright me- tal on a sullen ground' (' 1 Henry IV.,' i. 2), and ' eyes fixed to the sullen earth' (ibid.) ; (2) heavy, dull, as Shakespeare, ' the sullen presage of your own decay' (' K. John,'i. 1). " p. 164, ' rtHa?/cs' = alloys : see Heeeekt'b Glossarial Index, vol. ii. ■■>. V. NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 243 *' p. 165, ' toiich' =ton6h of trial as by touchstone. See note '''. " p. 167, ' misprision .' technical legal term = contempt : next to capital offence. "• p. 168, =whilst the will pretends to have a privilege above the prerogative of reason — namely, that of making other things to move, while it is itself unmoved — rude passions leave sei-ving the oai-, to which, as slaves, they should be chained, to take upon them the guidance of the whole vessel of man. "" p. 168, ' bear thee in ftand'=delude thee — a common contemporary phrase=delude thee, that they &o. ^ p. 168, ' prestigious' =tu]l of deceit : prestigate, to deceive as a juggler : Fr. prestidigitateur, Latin prsBstigise and -ator. The derivation unknown : perhaps from the frequent use of the word ' prajsto' in jugglers' tricks. " p. 173, ' solid :' cf. note in Hebbebt, Glossarial Index, vol. ii. s.v. °* p. 173, ' 6aiics'=bates : hawking technical term for at- tempting or preparing to fly at prey from the wrist or perch. " p. 174, ' opacous' :=JjaXia opacus, impervious to light. °* p. 177, ' long remaine .-' having been lost with Ark at destruction of first temple. "> p. 179, ' lay :' see note ". °" p. 180, 'staTOi/'=cold and poor— a phrase still in com- mon rustic use. It might have been ' starky,' which is applied to land. Cf. starkish Line and starky West, HaUiwell, s.v. " p. 182, ' manure :' cf. note in our Sobihwell, s.v. ; also Mr. Earle's note in ' Notes and Queries.' "' p. 185, ' then stone ;' I delete ' a' of first edition : in se- cond edition it reads, ' By nature of itself more tlien a stone.' The meaning of the latter is, ' no more moisture than a stone.' " p. 186, ' Ocean.' So in ' The Synagogue.' See note " below. " p. 188, ' sun-observing ;' because it opens and shuts with the sun. " p. 188, ' orpin :' a wound-herb. " p. 190, ' ramping ;' a heraldic term=rampant=rearing up as in attack. " p. 193, ' admiration :' ' tion' as dissyl. Cf . p. 186, ' Ocean,' for like syllabic things. 244 THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART. " p. 198, ' a?tt6c?-'=ambergi-is. See note in Herbebt, Glos- sarial Index, vol. ii. s.v. " p. 200, ' gripple-handed ;' aYaricious, griping, i.e. as to my efforts. " p. 201, ' check.' The meaning seems to be, I thought that if God would be obeyed as a King, it beseemed Him to imt bounds originally to our will and our ways, rather than to give us a will to desire and do that which conscience (His law in us) denied and forbad. " p. 203, ' paying ;' the previous line suggests the thought of coining ; hence paying, &c. '»" p. 206, ' ready -prest' and 'composure:' see Glossarial Index, s.v. " p. 208, Ode xxxviii. Cf. for the foi-m Heebebt's ' Eas- ter Wings' and the Memorial-Introduction. " p. 209, ' ca;ftaies'=draws up. See Glossarial Index, s.v. '' p. 213, ' Starke ;' stiff, unbending ; therefore that cannot be turned or bent to anything else, but is strongly itself. Hence stark-mad, &c. Perhaps more du-eotly drawn from a corpse that is stark or stiff — a certain sign that the person is irretreviably dead, dead without hope of recovery. " p. 214, ' mine ;' misprinted in all the editions ' thine.' It is^I should have lost my soul on account of my heart. See note on Ode xlv. st. 1. " p. 220, ' Love :' i.e. God (' God is love,' 1 John iv. 8). *' p. 220, ' steelyist :' I change the spelling from ' steelist.' " p. 223, ' amate ;' see Glossarial Index, s.v. " p. 224, ' trimming ;' the red stiipe of the scourging. »« p. 225, ' Top-like :' cf. Ode xliii. 3. " p. 226, ' glad :' misprinted in all the editions ' clad. ' ™ p. 226, ' made — sinne :' i.e. than He was made [being made] sin and a ciu'se. "' p. 227, ' s?ich'=suoh [that] if. "^ p. 227=think every crown to be one of thorn. '"' p. 228, ' into ;' 2d and 3d editions misprint ' unto ;' and in line 49 ' were' for ' where.' «< p. 228, ' Thine :' 3d is ' Thy.' »' p. 229, ' naile .' so in 2d and 3d editions, for ' nailes' of Ist edition. "^ p. 232, ' soile ;' misprinted ' foile' in the thi'ee editions. ' Refresh' answers to ' toyle,' and ' purge and cleanse' to ' soile.' See note on Ode xl. NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 245 "' p. 232, ' begun'=&cst pledged or first di-ank the cup in health-giving. See note on ' begun,' in Hebbebt, GloBBaiial Index, vol. ii. s.v. " p. 233, ' period'=endi. Ibid. " p. 234, ' irateriine'^including both that follow, viz. to alter and to add, '»» p. 235, ' excell'^extdl. '"' p. 235, ' science :' misprinted Sidemes. ""i p. 285, ' Trivium and Quadrivium .-' Trivium, in the schools of the middle ages, was the name given to the first three liberal arts — grammar, rhetoric, and logic ; the other four —arithmetic, music, geometry, and astronomy — were named Quadrivium. '»2. p. 236, ' What-ere:' 3d edition misprints ' what are.' '" p. 239, 'trim:' see Hekbebi, Glossarial Index, vol. ii. GLOSSAEIAL INDEX. As in the others, the most of the references give lesser or fuller explanations and illustrations of the several words. The various forms are placed under one word, as a rule. G. A. Account, 115. Admire, 56, 59. Adamants, 129, 151, 242. Admiration, 193, 243. Alchimy, 10, 90. Alone, 12, 73, 91, 96. All, 136, 241. Allayes, 164, 242. Amuse, 45, 93. Amate, amating, 116, 223, 240, 244. Amber, 198, 244. Antidate, antidated, 15, 43, 44, 48, 139, 241. Ape, 82. Apparently, 25, 222. Aqua-fortis, 153, 242. Aqua-regia, 11, 153, 242. Ascention, 54. Attending, 38. Attone, 39, 92. Avail, 141. B. Ballances, 16. Base-begot, 67. Balsom, 77. Bands, 127, 220. Bared, 144, 241. Baites, 173, 243. Bell, bears the, 18, 91. Beck, 27, 144, 157, 241. Beeaome, 29, 92. Bereaven, 55. Beshrew, 62, 94-5. Beautiful, seems, 70, 96. Behind, 79, 115, 240. Beast, 126, 241. Begun, 232, 245. Bear, thee in hand, 168, 243. Bishop, 40. Big-belly'd, 67. Bitter-sweets. 77, 96. Blazon, 44, 93. Bloud, water, 49, 93. Blabs, 69. Blowes up, 149. Bleer-ey'd, 174.- Bones, 12. Book, by this, 20, 91. Both, 226. Braue, 60, 119. Brine, 76. Brags, 144. But, we, but as, 49, 93, 132, 241. C. Carriages, 27. Cards, 80, 96. Cabinet, 83, 1.36, 241. Calm'd, 146, 242. Censures, 39, 92. Ohymiok, 35, 92. Check, 201, 244. Circumcise, 49. Circumvested, 87. Close, 25, 91, 184. 248 GLOSSARIAL IJTDBX. Clout, 36. Complement, 15, 90, 125, 241. Comlinpss, 15. Cook, 21, 91. Counter-charme, 34, 92, 122. Consort, 45, 93. Could, 47, 93. Copy, 48, 93. Cob-web tyes, 54. Corrasives, 68, 96. Combrous, 73. Course=coarse, 178. Course, last, 24, 91. Conscience, 107. Composure, 108, 206, 240, 244. Composition, 111. Colours, 123. Cormorant, 124, 240. Cold-dispelling, 151. Crost, 63. 80. Curse, 35. D. Dead, 26, 91. Death-deserving, 51. Diamonds, 211. Distresses, 140. 241. Do, not &o , 52, S3, 94. Dole, 148, 242. Dresser-bord, 21. Dresse, drest, 50. 143, 241. Draff, 65, 95, 119. Due, 96. Dugs, 15. B. Earnest, 57, 94. Bgyptian-dreadfuU, 174. EUxirs, 43. Elecson, xxy. Enlarge, 32. Exoell, 2.35, 245. Exhale, 50, 209, 244. Fast, 10, 90. Fats, 65. Fault-free, 108. Fate-blasted, 119. Fig, 13. Florilegia, 43, 92. Flagge, 145. Fondling, 112. Fcederal, 15, 90. Froth, painted. 11. Frieth, 114, 240. Frets, 119. Fueller, 122. C. Geason, 119, 240. GenrallT, 36, 92. Glad, 226, 244. God, of books, 21. Gold, graced, 26. Gold-exceeding, 206. Grutch, 33. 161, 224. Gross, in, 59. 94, 132, 241. Gravell'd, 64, 95. Grave, living. 70. Graine. in, 153, 242. Grace-thirsting, 232. Gripple-handed, 200, 243. Handed (=haudled or dealt with?), 138. Hand, in, 168. Hell-deep, 81. Hell-borne, 112. Here's, 107, 240. Hood-winckt, 10 90. Home, at, 107, 240. I. Improve, 159, 242. Intendest 7. Indentures, 7. Indifferently, 13, 32. Index, 20. Intreat, 49. Interline, 2.34. 245. Into, 228, 244. Jades, 82. Joyes, 76. Jordan, 88, 97. Judah's prince, 89, 97. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 249 K. Kite, 132. Knit, 12, 84, 211. Knot-snarled ruffs, 64, 95. Last, 11, 90. Lay, lie, 179, 243. Land-mnnger, 128, 241. Less, go, 15, 37. Legier, 57, 94. Level, 78. Livelihood, 49, 93. Lift, 59. 94. Lists, 64, 95. List, 65, 80, 95, Lin, 81. 217. Liest, 114, 240. Liver, 114, 240. Livery and seisin, 128, 241. Loose, 9. 120. Love, 220, 240. Love-drawne, 145. Love-allnring, 116, M. Many, 29, 92. Manure, 182, 243. Market- place, 125, 241. Made, 226, 227, 244. Match, 72, 96. Mete, 12. Mess, 23. Meer, 51. Mercy-miracles, 139. Meditation, 80. Mender, 103. Mine, 214, 244. Milky, 188. Middle-officer, 38. Middle-offerer, 38. Misprision, 167, 243. Minute-glasses, 80. Mortifi'd, 69, 96. Mount, 85, 97, 149, 242. Muck-wormes, 128. N. Naile, 229, 244. Neat, 80, 96. Not, 62. Noysome, 29, 69, 179, 198. O. Ocean, 186, 243. Opacous, 174, 243. Orders, holy, 37. Orpin, 188, 244. Ont-brave, 187. Panchrcston, 19, 91. Party, 71, 96. Packing, 73, 202. Paying, 203, 244: Pay, 79. Panoh, 114. PaicelldevUl, 142, 241. Period, 232, 245. Perspective, 19, 83, 91. Persons, 41, 92. Pearles, 151, 242. Plain-song, 238. Posie, 186. Powder, 77, 96. Poor, 32, 92. Provision, 24. Proceed, 37, 92. Presbyter, 38, 40. Presbyteries, 40. Prest, 38, 92. Preheminence, 47, Prestigious, 168, 243. Pue, reading-, 15, 90. Q. Quadrivium, 235, 245. Quest, 150, 242. Quintessential, 43. Quit, 49, 93. E. Ramping, 190, 243. Rammish, 65, 95. Eeady-prest, 206, 244. Eespit, 190. Kemaine, 177, 243. Beligion, 35. Eender'd, 60. Besent, 62. KK 250 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Belent, 72. Reprive, 138, 141, 241. Eiev'd, 51. EiT'led, 122. Kich-appearing, 128. Salration, 42. Sanctia d, 31, 92. Sauc'd, xxiv. Sciences, 235, 245. Score, 63, 67, 95. Sev'rall, 41. Sense-diBsoIred, 115. Seuae-besotted, 119. Sense-led, 119. Shine, 28, 46, 93. Shamefastnesse, 187. Shorfc-Iiu'd, 136, 241. Sheard, 147, 242. Shaken, 56. 62, 94. Shelf, 76, 96, 126, 241. Siocerity, 10, 11. Sin-so J I'd, 29. Sin-wearied, 223. Sin-seised, 54, 94. Sia-shaken, 84. Sin-incensed, 48. Sia-prooured, 229. Sin-shadowed, 195. Skinker, 124, 240. Slabbers, 81, 97. Sleight, 130. Smells, 92. Solid, 173, 243. Solidate. 12, 90. Soile, 232, 244. Sorry, 66, 95. Soder, 212. Spirits, 11, 90. Spumy, 114, 240. Stuff, household, 14. Steely, 164. Steelyest, 220, 244. Starry, 180, 243. Stone, 185, 243. Stupendious, 82, 97. Strout, 84. Starke, 149, 154, 242, 244. Sublimated, 43. Such, 227, 244. Sun-observing, 188, 243. San-shaming, 193. Subterlimlnare, 5, 90. Sugar'd, 107, 240. Sullen, 164, 242. Swarves, 167. Swelled, 208. Swill'd, 208. SweU, 110, 240. Tail, 9, 90. Take't, 109. Teem'd, 68, 1.S4. Tenancy, 70. Tempered, 146, 242. Thwart, 6, 25, 90. That, so, 9, 25, 91, 140. Thorow, 51, 52, 74, 122, 123. Third (=thread), 68, 95-6. Thrall, 78. Thyself, 80. Thine, 228, 244. Thunder-threatnd, 144. Thee, 141, 241. Tincture, 10, 90. Touch, touchstones, 16, 87, 129, 165, 241, 244. Top, 17, 91. Top-like, 225, 244. Toothsome, zxiii., 23, 91. Too-too, 26. Tour, 55, 94. Trivium, 235, 245. Trim, 239, 245. Trimming, 224, 244. Transcend, 59, 94. Transmigration, 83. Trine-une, 136. Tri'd, 242. Tuch, 24, 91. Turnings, 81. Tune, 30, 92. Twine, 220. Tympaniz'd, 142. V. Unhook'd, 9. Uncapable, 52. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 251 Uuthink, 64. XTnoase, 128. Unclench, 131. Ure, 16, 178. V. Vail, 27, 43, 91. Vast-triangled, 134. Vaded, 153, 242. Vesseld, 28, 92. Vicar, 38. Voided, 70. Voice-enveiglod, 110. Vow-wells, 236. W. Water, bloud, 49, 93. Wash, 65, 95. Wave, 75. Watme-reeking, 152. Weights, 16. Welld, 124, 241. Whatere, 236, 245. Wit, 6. Wind, 74, 96. World, Uttle, 80, 96. Written, 145, 242. iTinte, LONDON! R05S0S AND SONS, PRINTERS, PANCRAS ROAD, N.W,