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.

A Prayer for Twelfe-day.

FAther of lights, who didst guide the heathen Sages by a starre to seeke after, and find thy sonne, the true light which enlighteneth euery man that com∣meth into the world; giue mee grace to giue eare to the more sure Word of Prophecie in the Scrip∣tures til the day dawne, and the day starre arise in my heart. As thou calledst the wise men obseruers of the starres by a star, the sheep∣heards lying abroad by an ap∣parition in the fields, Zachary the Priest by a Vision in the Temple, Peter the fisher by a draught of fishes, Mathew the Publican at the receipt of custome, and Saint Au∣stin enamourd with eloquence by the lustre of Saint Ambroses stile and enticing eloquence. I be∣seech thee take the aduantage of such seasons, and apply such meanes for my vnfeigned conuersi∣on vnto thee as are most agreea∣ble

to my inclination, dispositi∣on, and condition. So will I come vnto thee and fall downe before thee, and present vnto thee gold, frankinsence and mirrh; gold in acknowledgement of thy king∣dome, frankinsence of thy Priest∣hood; and mirrh of thy death. I will offer willingly & freely vnto thee incense of praise & thanksgiuing for thy benefits; the mirrh of bitter teares for▪ my sinnes; and gold (ac∣cording to my ability) for the maintenance of thy seruice, and adorning thy Temple. Lord who by this rich present prouidedst for the virgins wants to supply them in her iourney to Aegypt, extend thy goodnesse to mee in al neces∣sities; and establish my faith and confidence in thee in al dan∣gers and difficulties whatsoeuer, For thou hast promised neuer to leaue nor forsake them that trust in thee. The stony rocke shall yeeld a fountaine of water; and a dry cr••re a spring of oyle: the loaues

shall multiply by spending; nay, the Clouds shall be Store-houses of Bread, and the winde serue in Fowle, and the Rauens bring in prouision; the Fishes pay tribute of money, and Heathen Sages from the East, (by the conduct of a Starre) bring in costly presents and New yeeres-gifts before thy children shall want their neces∣sary maintenance or sustenance.

Blessed Babe, who at thy birth didst presage thy death, and as∣sayedst the Crosse in thy Cratch, and being excluded (as it were) from all men, wast constrained to take vp thy lodging with beasts in a Stable, teach me what I am to looke for in this world: If it giue me course, and base, and beastly entertainment, it gaue thee worse; and the seruant is not to expect better respect then the Master. O King of glory, who hadst no Palace in this world, but an Inne; no Chamber of Presence, but a Stable; no Ta∣pestry,

but Straw; no Chaire of estate, but a Cratch; no Scepter, but a Reede; and no Crowne, but a wreath of thornes; worke in me an holy high-mindednesse to de∣spise this world which so despised thee. Make the worldly great∣nesse seeme small, honour base, estimation vile, and pompe vaine vnto me. Let not the glittering shew of gold, siluer, or precious stones, or the luster of eminent conditions dazell the eyes of my minde, but let the beames of this starre, light and guide me rather to honour thee in a Stable, then leaue thee to follow Herod in his Palace vpon any hopes whatso∣euer. The wise men, after they had seene thee, neuer returned backe to Herod, but went another way to their owne home: so let me, after thou hast called me to the knowledge of the truth, and re∣deemed mee from my vaine conuer∣sations, neuer returne backe to my worldly courses, but take another

way to my true home in heauen. The wise men when they saw thy starre in the aire were exceeding glad; I see thy starre in the Scrip∣tures, nay I see the bright morning starre in my heart; O let my ioy exceede theirs as my knowledge doth. The starre still lighted them till they came to the place where thou layest, and entered into thy bed-chamber: So ô Lord let the light of faith guide me all the way of this life euen till I come to see thee, not in a stable on earth strawed with litter and dung, but in a pallace in heauen built with Saphyrs, and founded vpon pearles; not receiuing a pre∣sent of gold from men, but wea∣ring a crowne of gold put vpon thee by thy Father; not hauing a quantity of frankinsence or mirrh in thy hand, but a golden censor full of sweete odours which are the prayers of Saints. Among which I beseech thee offer vp the prayers of mee a sinner, that I may bee

a Saint after thou hast purged mee from all my fil thy∣nesse in the royall bath of thy blood Amen.