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 TEXTS.

ENter not into iudgement with thy seruants,* 1.1 O Lord, for in thy sight shall no man li∣uing be iustified, Psal. 143. 2.

The Lord grant vnto him that he may finde mercy of the Lord in that day, 2 Tim. 1. 18.

That he might make knowne the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, Rom. 9. 23.

For God hath concluded all vnder vnbeliefe, that hee might haue mercy vpon all, Rom. 10. 31.

And the Lord passed by before him,* 1.2 and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, mercifull and gra∣cious, long suffering, and abun∣dant in goodnesse and in truth, Exod. 34. 6.

Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiuing iniquity, transgression and sinne, ver. 7.

God is rich in mercy, Ephesians 2. 4.

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the Heauens, and thy faithfulnesse reacheth to the Clouds, Psalme 36. 5.

For thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgiue, and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vpon thee, Psal. 86. 5.

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy, Psal. 145. 8.

The Lord is good vnto all, and his tender mercies are ouer all his workes, ver. 9.

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, the Fa∣ther of mercy, and God of all comfort, 2 Cor. 1. 3.

He hath shewed thee,* 1.3 O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to doe iustly, and loue mercy, &c. Micah 6. 8.

Thus speaketh the Lord, Ex∣ecute true iudgement, and shew mercy and compassion euery man to his brother, Zach. 7 9.

Be ye mercifull as your father also is mercifull, Luke 6. 36.

Giue Almes of those things which are within, and behold all things shall bee cleane to you, Luke 11. 41.

Sell that yee haue, and giue Almes, Luk. 12. 13.

Be yee kinde one to another; tender-hearted, forgiuing one a∣nother, euen as God, for Christs sake, hath forgiuen you, Ephes. 4. 32.

I will haue mercy, and not sa∣crifice, Hos. 6. 6 Mat. 9. 13.

Put on therefore, as the Elect of God, bowels of mercy, &c. Col. 3. 12.

To doe good and communicate forget not, for with such sacrifi∣ces God is well pleased, Hebr. 3. 16.

Finally, be ye all of one minde, hauing compassion one of another, loue as brethren; be pittifull, be courteous, 1 Pet. 3. 8.

Remember those that are in

bonds, as though yee were bound with them, Heb. 13. 3.

Come ye blessed of my Father;* 1.4 inherit the Kingdome prepared for you, from the foundations of the world, Mat. 25. 34.

For I was hungry, and ye gaue me meat, ver. 35.

I was thirsty, and ye gaue mee drinke, &c.

In that ye did it to the least of my brethren, ye did it vnto me, ver. 40.

But the fruits of the Spirit are ioy,* 1.5 peace, long-suffering, gentle∣nesse, goodnesse, &c. Gal. 5. 22.

The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodnesse, and righteousnesse, and truth Eph. 5. 9.

If I haue with-held the poore from their desire;* 1.6 if I haue cau∣sed the eye of the widdow to faile; if I haue eaten my morsell alone, and the fatherlesse hath not eaten thereof, Iob. 31. 17.

If I haue seene any perish for want of cloathing,* 1.7 or any poore

without couering, ver. 19.

If his bones haue not blessed me, and if hee were not warmed with the fleece of my sheepe, ver. 20.

Now there was in Ioppa a cer∣taine woman, a Disciple called Tabitha,* 1.8 which by interpretati∣on is called Dorcas; this woman was full of good workes and almes∣deeds which she did, Act 9. 36.

There was a certaine man in Cesaria called Cornelius,* 1.9 of the band, called the Italian band, Act. 10. 1.

A deuout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gaue much almes to the people, ver. 2.

There came a certaine Sama∣ritane also that way,* 1.10 and when he saw him, hee had compassion on him, Luke 10. 33.

And went to him, and bound vp his wounds, powring in Oyle and Wine, &c. ver. 34.

He said, Hee was his Neigh∣bour that shewed mercy on him;

then said Iesus to him, Goe thou, and doe likewise, ver. 37.

Now I haue all:* 1.11 I abound, I am full, hauing receiued from Epaphroditus the things that were sent from you, an ointment of a sweet smelling sacrifice accepta∣ble and pleasing to God, Phil. 4. 18.

The Lord giue mercy to One∣siphorus his house,* 1.12 for hee oft re∣freshed me, and was not ashamed of my chaines, 2 Tim. 1. 16.

We haue great ioy and conso∣lation in thy loue,* 1.13 because the bowels of the Saints are refreshed by thee, brother, Phil. 7.

Pure Religion,* 1.14 and vndefiled before God, euen the Father, is this; to to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their aduersities, and to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world, Iam. 1. 27.

There shall be iudgement mer∣cilesse to him that sheweth no mer∣cy;* 1.15 and mercy reioyceth against iustice, Iam. 2. 13.

Blessed are the mercifull, for

they shall obtaine mercy, Mat 5. 7.

The liberall soule shall be made fat, and hee that watereth shall bee watred also himselfe, Prou. 11. 25.

Giue, and it shall be giuen vn∣to you good measure, pressed downe, and running ouer, Luke 6. 38.

Whosoeuer shall giue to drink vnto one of these little ones, a cup of cold water, only in the name of a Disciple, verily he shall not lose his reward.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Saluation by Mercy.
• * 1.2

  It is the most emi∣nent attri∣bute to God.
• * 1.3

  Precepts of mercy.
• * 1.4

  The last iudgement proceeds vpon works of mercy.
• * 1.5

  Mercy, the fruit of the Spirit.
• * 1.6

  The Saints practise.
• * 1.7

  Iobs.
• * 1.8

  Tabithas.
• * 1.9

  Cornelius.
• * 1.10

  The good Samaritans
• * 1.11

  Philippi∣ans.
• * 1.12

  Onesiphorus
• * 1.13

  Philemons.
• * 1.14

  Workes of mercy, a certaine note of pure Religion.
• * 1.15

  In assu∣rance of saluation, and meanes of obtaining mercy▪ at Gods hand.