Schola cordis, or, The heart of it selfe, gone away from God brought back againe to him & instructed by him in 47 emblems.
Harvey, Christopher, 1597-1663., Haeften, Benedictus van, 1588-1648. Schola cordis., Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644.
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ISA. 27.3.
The watering of the Heart.
ISA. 27.3.
I the Lord doe keep it. I will water it eve∣ry moment.
Epigr. 29.
CLose downwards tow'rds the earth, open above
Tow'rds heaven mine heart is. O let thy love
Distill in fructifying dewes of grace,
And then mine heart will be a pleasant place.
ODE. 29.
1.
See how this dry, and thirsty land,
Mine heart, doth gaping gasping stand,
And close below opens towards heav'n, and thee
Thou fountaine of felicity,
Great Lord of living waters, water me:
Let not my breath that pants with paine,
Waste, and consume it selfe in vaine.
2.
The mists, that from the earth doe rise,
An heav'n-borne heart will not suffice:
Coole it without they may, but cannot quench
The scalding heat within, nor drench
Its dusty dry desires, or fill one trench.
Nothing, but what comes from on high,
Can heav'n-bred longings satisfie.
3.
See how the seed, which thou did'st sow
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Lies parch'd, and wither'd, will not grow
Without some moisture, and mine heart hath none,
That it can truly call its owne,
By nature of it self, more then a stone:
Unlesse thou water't, it will lie
Drowned in dust, and still be dry.
4.
Thy tender plants can never thrive,
Whilst want of water doth deprive
Their roots of nourishment: which makes them call,
And cry to thee, great All in All,
That seasonable show'rs of grace may fall,
And water them: thy Word will do't,
If thou vouchsafe thy blessing to't.
5.
O then be pleased to unseal
Thy fountaine, blessed Saviour, deal
Some drops at least, wherewith my drooping spirits
May be revived. Lord, thy merits
Yeeld more refreshing then the world inherits:
Rivers, yea seas, but ditches are,
If with thy springs we them compare.
6.
If not whole show'rs of raine, yet Lord,
A little pearly dew afford,
Begot by thy celestiall influence
On some chast vapour, raised hence
To be partaker of thine excellence:
A little, if it come from thee,
Will be of great availe to me.
7.
Thou boundlesse Ocean of grace,
Let thy free spirit have a place
Within mine heart: full rivers then I know
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Of living waters forth will flow,
And all thy plants, thy fruits, and flow'rs will grow.
Whilst thy Springs their roots doe nourish,
They must needs be fat, and flourish.
