Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SCHOLA CORDIS: EMBLEM 35. THE ENLARGING OF THE HEART, by CHRISTOPHER HARVEY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SCHOLA CORDIS: EMBLEM 35. THE ENLARGING OF THE HEART, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How pleasant is that now which heretofore
Last Line: Nothing want for which I call.
Subject(s): Worship


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.

What a blessed change I find
Since I intertain'd this Guest!
Now methinks another mind
Moves and rules within my brest.
Surely I am not the same
That I was before He came;
But I then was much to blame.

When before my God commanded
Anything He would have done,
I was close and gripple-handed,
Made an end ere I begunne;
If He thought it fit to lay
Judgements on me, I could say,
"They are good," -- but shrinke away.

All the wayes of righteousnesse
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
Longer farre then a whole year.

Strictnesse in religion seem'd
Like a pined pinion'd thing;
Bolts and fetters I esteem'd
More beseeming for a king,
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,
But I quickly bend and bow,
Ready at His feet to lie;
Love hath taught me to obey
All His precepts, and to say,
"Not to-morrow, but to-day."

What He wills, 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;
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,
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, --
And in Him all fulnesse dwelleth, --
I am sure aloft to swim
Whilst that ocean overswelleth;
Having Him that's All in All,
I am confident I shall
Nothing want for which I call.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net