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 Admonition for Munday, being an Ex∣hortation to humility or pouerty in Spirit, Wherunto our Sauiour ascribeth the first. BEATITVDE.

THE ANALYSIS.

The speci∣all motiues to humility set down in the Scrip∣tures are;

• 1 God's infinite Majestie, pu∣ritie, perfection.
• 2 Mans vilenesse, sinfulnesse, wretchednesse, wants; of vvhich before: See the Preparation to Prayer.
• 3 Diuine Precepts.
• 4 Holy pat∣terns of this vertue in
  • God the Father. Christ.
  • The Saints vn∣der the—
    • Lawe.
    • Gospell.
• 5 Gratious promises made to the humble, of
  • 1 Neerenesse & societie with God.
  • 2 Sauing know∣ledge.
  • 3 Sanctifying grace.
  • 4 Honour and preferment.
  • 5 Eternal bles∣sednes in hea∣uen.

THE TEXTS.

TAke my Yoake vpon you,* 1.1 and learne of me, that I am meeke and lowly in heart, and you shall finde rest to your soules, Mat. 11. 29.

Vnlesse yee become as one of these little ones yee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God, Mat. 18. 23.

Cast downe your selues before the Lord, and he will lift you vp, Iam. 4. 10.

Decke your selues inwardly with lowlinesse of minde, 1. Pet. 5. 5.

Humble your selues vnder the mighty hand of God, that he may raise you in due time, verse 6.

Who is like to the Lord our God that hath his dwelling,* 1.2 on high, and yet, humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in heauen and in earth, Psal. 113. 5.

I am among you as hee that

ministreth,* 1.3 Luke 22. 17.

And he began to wash his Dis∣ciples feet, and to wipe them with the towell wherewith hee was girded, Iohn 13. 5.

He emptied himselfe, or made himselfe of no reputation, Phil. 2. 7.

He humbled himselfe, and be∣came obedient to death, euen the death of the Crosse, Phil. 2. 8.

I will speake vnto the Lord who am but dust and ashes,* 1.4 Gen. 18. 17.

I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of all thy truth which thou hast shewed to thy seruant, Gen. 32. 10.

And he said,* 1.5 wherewith shall I saue Israel? Behold my Father is poore in Manasseth, and I am the least in my fathers house, Iude 6. 15.

Lord I am not high-minded, &c. Psal. 131. 1.

And Dauid said vnto Saul,* 1.6 who am I, and what is my life, and my

father's family in Israel that I shall bee sonne in Law to a King, 1. Sam. 18. 18.

And now,* 1.7 O Lord my God, thou hast made thy seruant King, in stead of Dauid my father; and I am but a little child, I know not how to goe in and out, 1. King. 3. 7.

Notwithstanding,* 1.8 Ezekiah humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart, both hee and the inha∣bitants of Ierusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not vp them, 2. Chron. 32. 20.

Then Iob arose and rent his Mantle,* 1.9 and shaued his head, and fell downe vpon the ground, and worshipped, Iob 1. 20.

O Lord God,* 1.10 righteousnesse belongeth to thee, but to vs con∣fusion of face at this day, Dan. 9. 7.

He that commeth after me is greater then I,* 1.11 whose shoo-latchet I am not worthy to vnloose, Math. 3. 11.

When hee was not farre from

the house, the Centurian sent vnto him,* 1.12 saying; Master trouble not thy selfe, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder the roofe of my house, Luke 7. 6.

When Simon Peter saw it,* 1.13 hee fell downe on his knees, saying; Goe from me, Lord for I am a sin∣full man, Luke 5. 8.

The Publicane standing a farre off would not lift vp his eyes to heauen,* 1.14 but striking his breast said; Lord be mercifull to mee a sinner, Luke ••8. 15.

I am the least of the Apostles not worthy to be called an Apostle,* 1.15 &c. 1. Cor. 11. 9.

Iesus Christ came to saue sin∣ners, whereof I am chiefe, 1. Tim. 1. 15.

I am the Rose of the field,* 1.16 and the Lilly of the valleys, Cant. 2. 1.

I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble & contrite heart, to reuiue the spirit of the humble, Is. 57. 15

To this man will I look, euen

to him that is poore, and of a con∣trite spirit, and trembleth at my word, Isa. 66. 2.

When pride commeth,* 1.17 then commeth shame: but with the lowly is wisedome, Prou. 11. 2.

Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and reuealed them vnto babes, Math. 11. 21.

Hee giueth more grace,* 1.18 where∣fore hee saith, God resisteth the proud, but giueth grace to the hum∣ble, Iam. 4. 6.

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;* 1.19 but before honour is humilitie Pro. 18. 1••.

Hee that humbleth, himselfe shall be exalted, Luke 14. 11.

He raiseth the poore out of the mire, and lifteth the needie out of the dunghill, Psal. 113. 7.

That he may set him with Prin∣ces, euen with the Princes of his people, verse 8.

Blessed are the poore in spirit▪ for theirs is the Kingdome of Heauen,* 1.20 Mat. 5. 3.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Diuine pre∣cepts.
• * 1.2

  Holy exam∣ples.
• * 1.3

  Christ
• * 1.4

  Abraham.
• * 1.5

  Gedcon.
• * 1.6

  Dauid.
• * 1.7

  Salomon.
• * 1.8

  Ezekiah.
• * 1.9

  Iob.
• * 1.10

  Daniel.
• * 1.11

  Iohn Baptist
• * 1.12

  The Centu∣rian.
• * 1.13

  Peter.
• * 1.14

  The Publi∣cane.
• * 1.15

  Paul.
• * 1.16

  Promises to the humble of the fa∣uour with God.
• * 1.17

  Wisedome.
• * 1.18

  Sanctifying grace.
• * 1.19

  Preferment
• * 1.20

  Blessedness▪