Ancilla pietatis: or, The hand-maid to priuate deuotion presenting a manuell to furnish her with necessary principles of faith. Forcible motiues to a holy life. Vsefull formes of hymnes and prayers. ... By Daniel Featly, D. in Diuinity.

The Prayer.

GRatious Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of God and Sa∣uiour of man, the ioy of An∣gels, and dread of diuels, the Iewes Messiah, the Gentiles starre, the hope of the liuing, and resurrection of the dead, the way to all that come vnto thee, the truth to all them that know thee, and the life to all them that belieue in thee: Make good all thy glorious & gratious titles to me. Lord pro∣tect me, Iesu saue me, Christ my anointed King rule me, my anoin∣ted Priest sanctifie me, my anoin∣ted Prophet reueale vnto mee the secrets of thy Kingdome. O Christ whose name is an oyntment pow∣red out, annoint me with the oyle of gladnesse, this day aboue others. This is the day which the Lord hath made, I wil reioyce and be glad in it; nay I dare take the note higher, This is the day in which the Lord

was made, I will exult and tri∣umph in it. Thou which madest all dayes, wert this day made of a woman, and made vnder the Law. From all eternity it was neuer heard, that eternity entred into the Kalender of time, supreame Maiesty descended into the wombe; immensity was compre∣hended; infinity bounded; vbiqui∣ty inclosed, and the Deity incarna∣ted: Yet this day it was seene; for this day the Word became flesh; God became man, and to effect this wonderfull mystery, a Virgin became a Mother. One deepe calleth vpon another; one miracle begetteth another: The Sunne bringeth forth all other dayes, but this day brought thee forth the Sonne of righteousnesse. If wee set our voices, and instru∣ments, and heart-strings to the highest straine of ioy at the birth of great Kings and Princes; What ought I to doe this day, on which thou the king of heauen wast born

vpon the earth. At the mariage of great Personages, men giue full scope to all manner of ex∣pressions of carnall ioy euen of∣tentimes to the very surfeit of the senses with pleasure: How then should I bee rauished with spiri∣tuall ioy at this time when hea∣uen and earth, the diuine nature and humane were married? The contract was in heauen before all times, but the marriage was this day consummated in the vndefi∣led bedde of the Virgin. Lord who this day cammest downe to me, draw me vp to thee, and giue me accesse with more con∣fidence and bouldnesse; for now thou art become my brother and ally by bloud. The rayes of thy diuine Maiesty will not dazle the eyes of my soule, they being now vailed with thy flesh. This day thou diddest vnite thy selfe to me naturally, and substantially and becamest truly flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bone. Vnite

me to thee this day spiritually, and make me a true member of thy mysticall body, that I may bee flesh of thy flesh, and bone of thy bone. Lord thou diddest this day parti∣cipate of my humane nature, make me this day participate by grace of thy diuine, as farre as I am capable thereof; and impart and communicate vnto mee the merrit of all thy actions, and be∣nefit of all thy sufferings in this thy nature. O my Lord & my God who by assuming flesh vnto thy diuine person, hast sanctified it, and highly aduanced it farre aboue all creatures, keepe me from de∣filing my flesh with sinfull pollutions, or abasing and in∣thralling it to Satan. O Sonne of God, who by thy incarnate na∣ture, becamest the Sonne of Man, make me the sinfull sonne of man, by grace and adoption to become the Sonne of God. And as thou this day according to the words of thine Angel wert borne

to me, bee borne also in mee that from hence forth I liue not, but thou in me. Let thy spirit quicken me, thy flesh nourish me, thy wis∣dome guide me, thy grace sancti∣fie me, and thy Word instruct me. Let the holy Ghost of whom thou wast conceiued beget thee in mee, by the immortall seede of thy Word. Let my faith conceiue thee, my profession bring thee forth, my loue embrace thee, and Deuotion entertaine and continu∣ally keepe thee with mee till thy second comming. So come vnto me Lord Iesus, come quickly.