Schola Cordis or the Heart of it Selfe, gone away from God ::

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.
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.

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The world's a wildernesse, wherein I find
Wild beasts of ev'ry kind,
Foxes, and Wolves, and Dogs, and Boares, and Bears;
And which augments my feares,
Eagles and Vultures, and such birds of prey,
Will not be kept away:
Besides the light-abhorring Owles, and Bats,
And secret corner-creeping Mice and Rats.

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But these, and many more would not dismay
Me much, unlesse there lay
One worse then all within, my self I meane,
My false, unjust, unclean,
Faithlesse, disloyall self, that both entice,
And entertaine each vice.
This homebred traiterous partaking's worse,
Then all the violence of forain force.

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Lord, thou maist see my feares are grounded, rise
Not from a bare surmise,
Or doubt of danger only, my desires
Are but what need requires,
Of thy divine protection, and defence
To keep these vermine hence:

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Which, if they should not be restrain'd by thee,
Would grow too strong to be kept out by me.

Christ.
Thy feare is just, and I approve thy care.
But yet thy comforts are
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.
I watch thee, whilst thy foes are watch'd by thee.

University of Virginia Library

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