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

Dost thou enquire, thou heartlesse wanderer,
Where thine heart is? Behold, thine heart is here.
Here thine heart is, where that is, which above
Thine own deare heart thou dost esteem, and love.

Ode. 7.

1

See the deceitfulnesse of sinne,
And how the devill cheateth worldly men:
They heap up riches to themselves, and then
They think they cannot choose but winne,
Though for their parts
They stake their hearts.

2

The Merchant sends his heart to sea
And there together with his ship 'tis tost:
If this by chance miscarry, that is lost,
His confidence is cast away:
He hangs the head,
As he were dead.

3

The Pedlar cryes, What doe you lack?
What will you buy? and boasts his wares the best:
But offers you the refuse of the rest,
As though his heart lay in his pack,
Which greater gaine
Alone can draine.

4

The Plowman furrowes up his land,
And sowes his heart together with his seed,
Which both alike earth-borne on earth doe feed,
And prosper or are at a stand:
He and his field
Like fruit doe yeeld.

5

The Broker, and the Scriv'ner have
The Us'rers heart in keeping with his bands:
His souls deare sustenance lyes in their hands,
And if they break their shop's his grave.
His int'rest is
His only blisse.

6

The Money-horder in his bags
Binds up his heart, and locks it in his chest;
The same key serves to that, and to his brest,
Which of no other heaven brags:
Nor can conceit
A joy so great.

7

So for the greedy Landmunger:
The Purchases he makes in ev'ry part
Take livery and seisin of his heart:

Yet his insatiate hunger,
For all 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,
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:
Give heaven these affections as its due,
Which alwayes what it hath preserves
In perfect blisse
That endlesse is.

University of Virginia Library

The covetousnesse of the Heart.

Epigr. 7.

Ode. 7.

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