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 for Friday Mor∣ning, being the sixt day from the Creation.

Composed of

• Petitions sutable to the worke of the day
• Motiues to 〈…〉〈…〉 agreeable to the prece∣dent exhortation.

GLOrious Creator and gra∣tious Sauiour of mankind, I lift vp mine eyes & hands to thee, whose hands this day made and fashioned me. I lift vp my heart vnto thee, who••e heart was this day pierced for my trans∣gressions. I lift vp my bodie and soule to thee, who this day wast lifted vpon the Crosse to offer an infinite sacrifice for the expiati∣on of the sinnes of the whole world. Let thy hands which fashioned and formed me, sustaine and support me: let thine armes which thou stretchedst on the Crosse embrace

me and hold me fast to thee that nothing may seuer me frō thee, Almightie and most wise Crea∣tor who hast made me of nothing, suffer me not to make my selfe worse then nothing. Gracious Redeemer, who hast saued that which was lost, loose not that which thou hast saued. Though the malice of Sathan be great, yet thy goodnesse is greater. Though my sinnes be exceeding many, yet thy mercies exceede them, though my corruptions be strong, yet thy grace is stron∣ger. Let it not be in my power or the power of any creature, ei∣ther in heauen or in earth to marre thy best worke; to deface thine Image which first thou stampedst in me; and after I had slurried and almost raced it out, thou hast by grace renewed it, ac∣cording to the first patterne, in holinesse and righteousnesse. When thou madest me light, I made my selfe darkenesse, but thou hast

turned my darkenesse into light. When I was freed, I enthralled my selfe, but thou hast freed me: when I was straight, I crooked my will, but thou hast rectified it: when I was whole I maimed my selfe, but thou hast healed me: when I was happie I made my selfe miserable, but thou hast re∣st••red me to my former blisse. Nay I haue gained by my losses, and am raised higher by my fall, through thy infinite mercie, which hath not onely ransomed me from death, but purchased me an eternall inheritance, and crowne of life in thi••e heauenly king∣dome. Sith thou hast done so great things for me whereat I re∣ioyce; sith thou hast prepared such things for me as neither eye hath seene, nor eare hath heard, nor e∣uer entred into the heart of man to conceiue; what manner of man ought I to be in all holy conuersation? How cleare ought those eyes to be which shall see God? How

cleane those eares, which shall heare words that cannot be vtte∣red How pure that heart which shall be filled with those ioyes whi••h neuer entred into the heart of man? Thou, ô Father, which hast created me art the holy one of Israel. Thou ô Sonne, who redee∣medst me art the Holy one of God. Thou, ô Spirit, which sanctifiest me art the holy Ghost. Thou, ô Fa∣ther, hast created me according to thine Image in holinesse and righ∣teousnes: thou, ô Sonne, hast redee∣med me to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life: thou, ô Spirit, hast freed me from sinne and made me ser∣uant to God that I might haue my fruite in holinesse, and the end euer∣lasting life. Our vocation is a holy calling, our societies a holy com∣munion, our stile a holy Priesthood, our assemblies holy congregations, our Coūtrie the holy land of Pro∣mise, our Citie the holy Ierusalem, our Charter the holy Scriptures,

our immunities holy priuiledges, our seales, which confirme them, holy Sacraments. All our hap∣pinesse here is holinesse, and ho∣linesse hereafter shall bee our happinesse. Lord make mee therefore to be so happy heere, as to be holy, and so holy here, that I may be hereafter happy, Amen.

The close out of Scripture.

The God of Peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Ie∣sus, the great Shepheard of the Sheepe, through the blood of the e∣uerlasting Couenant, Heb. 2. 20.

Make mee perfect in all good workes to doe his will, working in mee that which is pleasant in his sight, through Iesus Christ. ver. 21.