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 man that is breathing out his last gaspe nee∣deth••

• 1 MEeke patience to en∣dure God's good plea∣sure: Of which see the Admo∣nitions for Good-Fridaie; for Thursday Euening, and for the sicke before.
• 2 Godly sorrow for all the sinnes of his life, wherby he hath grieuously displeased his heauen∣ly Father: Of which see the Ad∣monition for Tuesday morning.
• 3 Assured confidence to com∣mit his Soule to God as a faithfull Creator. Of which, see the Ad∣monition for the Child-bearing woman after her deliuery.
• 4 Constant perseuerance to hold on to the end. Of which, see the Admonition for Saturday morning.
• 5 Liuely apprehension of the

• ioyes of heauen, and powers of the world to come. Of which, see the Meditation for the Sab∣bath Euening.
• 6 Christian resolution, cheer∣fully to lay downe his Tabernacle, and go willingly to the Father of spirits. Of which, see the Admo∣nition for Saturday Euening.
• 7 A peaceable disposition to forgiue all his enemies, and de∣part in peace, as with God, so also with all men. Of which, see the Admonition for Thursday Mor∣ning.
• 8 A charitable, and compas∣sionate aflection to consider the poore and destitute, according to his estate and wealth to help and succour them, that so by their prayers he may be receiued into euerlasting habitations. Of which, see the Exhortation for Wednes∣day morning.

In the extremity of bitter pangs consider ô deuout Christian:

• 1 Thy sins deserue a sharper scourge yet.
• 2 All thou sufferest is nothing to what Christ endured for thee.
• 3 Other Saints and holy Martyrs haue abided a harder tryall, and more grieuous afflictions, & ma∣ny more terrible conflicts, and yet haue been more then Conquerours through Christ.
• 4 It is a thousand times better to be corrected here (though neuer so se∣uerely) then eternally tormented in hell.
• 5 God wil not lay more vpō thee thē he will giue thee ability to beare, & therfore will vndoubtedly asswage thy paine or increase thy patience.
• 6 The extremity of thy paines wil be but a short time; for God wil either take them from thee, by recouering thee; or thee from them, by deliue∣ring thee out of the body.
• 7 The more grieuous thy paines are, the greater thy reward shall be, if thou patiently endure them.

THE TEXTS.

IT is the Lords mercy that wee are not vtterly consumed,* 1.1 be∣cause his compassion fails not, Lam. 3. 20.

If thou Lord shalt marke ini∣quities,* 1.2 O Lord, who shall stand, (or who may abide it?) Psalm. 130. 3.

He hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes, nor rewarded vs after our iniquities, Psal. 103. 10.

Like as a Father pittieth his children: so the Lord pittieth them that feare him, ver. 13.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembreth that we are but dust ver. 14.

The sinners in Sion are afraid;* 1.3 fearfulnes hath surprized the hy∣pocrites, who shall dwell with the deuouring fire; who among vs shall dwel with euerlasting bur∣ning? I••. 33.

Topheth is ordained of old; yea

for the King it is prepared. Hee hath made it deep and large; the pile therof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a streame of Brimstone doth kindle it, Isa. 30. 33.

A fire is kindled in mine an∣ger, and it shall burne to the low∣est hell, Deut. 32. 22.

The Sonne of man shall send his Angells, and they shall ga∣ther out of his Kingdome all things that offend, and them w^ch doe iniquity, Mat. 13. 41.

And shall cast them into a fur∣nace of fire; there shall be weeping, and gnashing of teeth, verse 42.

Whose fan is in his hand, and hee will throughly purge his floore, and gather his wheat into his garner, but burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire, Mat. 3. 12.

Suffering the vengeance of e∣ternall fire, Iud. 7.

Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and coole my tongue, for I am tor∣mented

in this flame, Luk. 16. 24.

Where the worme dyeth not, and the fire is not quenched, Mar. 9. 44. 46.

In flaming fire, taking ven∣geance of them that knowe not God, 2. Thes. 1. 8.

Binde him hand and foot, cast him into vtter darknes, there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth, Mat. 22. 13.

To whom the mist of darknes, is reserued for euer, 2. Pet. 2.

He hath reserued in euerlasting chaines of darknes vnto the iudge∣ment of the great day, Iud. 6.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels, and in the pre∣sence of the Lambe, Reu. 14. 10.

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp for euer, and euer, ver. 12.

These both were cast aliue in∣to a lake of fire burning with brim∣stone, R••u. 19. 20.

Depart from me ye cursed in∣to euerlasting fire prepared for the diuel and his angels, Mat. 25 41.

And they haue no rest day nor night, Reu. 14 12.

And the diuel that deceiued them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone,* 1.4 where the beast and false Prophets are, and shall be tormented day and night for e∣uer and euer, Reu. 20. 10.

How much she hath glorified her selfe, and liued deliciously, so much torment & sorrow giue her, Reu. 18. 7.

He began to be sorrowfull, and very heauy, Mat, 26. 37.

Then sayd he vnto them, My soule is exceeding sorrowfull, euen vnto death, Mat. 26. 38.

And being in an agony he prai∣ed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great droppes of bloud falling downe to the

ground, Luke 22. 44.

There stood by the Crosse of Iesus his Mother, and his Mo∣ther's sister, &c, Ioh. 19. 25.

And Iesus cryed with a loud voice, saying; My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee! Mar. 15. v. 34.

Pilate released Barabbas; and deliuered Iesus vnto them, when he had scourged him, to be cruci∣fied, Mar. 15. 15.

The Souldiers plotted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, Ioh. 19. 2.

And hee bearing his crosse, went forth into a place called, The place of a skull, ver. 17.

Where they crucified him, &c. ver. 18.

One of the Souldiers with a speare pierced his side, and forth∣with came there out water and bloud, ver. 34.

In the daies of his flesh when he had offered vp prayers & sup∣plications, with strong crying

and teares, vnto him that was a∣ble to saue him from death, and was heard in that he feared, Heb. 5. 7.

Though he were a sonne, yet learned hee obedience by the things which he suffered, v. 8.

Christ also suffered for vs, lea∣uing vs an example that wee should follow his steps, 1. Pet. 2. 21.

There hath no such tentation taken you, but such as is com∣mon to men, 1. Cor. 10. 13.

The same afflictions are accom∣plished in your brethren that are in the world,* 1.5 1. Pet, 5. 9.

Satan smote Iob with sore biles from the sole of his foote to the crowne of his head, Iob. 2. 7.

And he took him a potsheard to scrape him withall; and hee sate downe in the ashes, ver. 8.

I haue sinned, what shall I do vnto thee, ô thou Preseruer of men? why hast thou set mee as a mark against thee, so that I am

a burden to my selfe? Iob. 7. 20.

Let the day perish wherein I was borne, and the night in w^ch it was sayd: There is a man-child conceiued, Iob. 3. 3.

Let that day be darknesse, let not God regard it from aboue, neither let the light shine vpon it, ver. 4. & seq.

I am troubled,* 1.6 I am bowed downe greatly, I goe mourning all the day long, Psal. 38. 6.

My loynes are filled with a loathsome disease, and there is no soundnesse in my bones, v. 7.

I am feeble and sore-smitten; I haue roared by reason of the dis∣quietnes of my heart, v. 8.

Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee, ver. 9. See Psal. 6. Psal. 22. Psal. 102. Ps. 30. ps. 142. psal. 143.

I am the man that haue seene affliction by the rod of his wrath,* 1.7 Lam. 3. 1.

He hath filled me with bitter∣nesse,

and made me drunke with wormwood, ver. 15.

I think God hath set forth the last Apostles as it were appoin∣ted to death;* 1.8 for wee are made a spectacle to the world, and to An∣gels, and to men, 1. Cor. 4. 9.

In iournying often,* 1.9 in perils of Waters, in perils of Robbers, in perils by mine owne Countri∣men, in perils by the Heathen, in perils in the Citie, in perils in the Wildernesse, in perils in the Sea, in perils among false bre∣thren, 2. Cor. 11. 26.

In wearinesse and painfulnes, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakednesse, 2. Cor. 11. 27.

For thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheepe for the slaughter, Rom. 8. 36.

If in this life onely wee haue hope in Christ, then are we of all men most miserable, 1. Cor. 15. 19.

Others were tryed with mock∣ings and scourgings, yea moreouer with bonds & imprisonment, Heb. 11. 36.

They were stoned, they were sawed asunder, they were slaine with the sword, they wandred about in sheep-skins and goate∣skins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented, v. 37.

Of whom the world was not worthy. They wandred in deserts, and mountaines, and in dennes, and in Caues of the earth, verse 38.

These are they that came out of great tribulation, and haue wa∣shed their robes, and made them white in the bloud of the Lamb, Reu. 7 14.

I saw as it were a sea of glasse mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victorie ouer the Beast, and ouer his image, and ouer his name, &c. Reu. 15. 2.

And they sang the Song of Moses and of the Lambe, v. 3.

God is faithfull,* 1.10 who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able, but will with the tentation also make a way to e∣scape, that we may be able to e∣scape, 1. Cor. 10. 14.

The God of all grace, who hath called vs to his eternall glorie by Christ Iesus, will (after that you haue suffered a while) make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you, 1. Pet. 5. 10.

For a small moment haue I for∣saken thee,* 1.11 but with great mer∣cie will I gather thee, Isa. 54. 7.

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercy on thee, sayth the Lord, thy Redeemer, ver. 8.

His anger endureth but a mo∣ment, in his fauour is life; weep∣ing may endure for a night, but ioy commeth in the morning, ps. 30. 5.

The diuell shall cast some of you in prison that ye may be tri∣ed,

and ye shall haue tribulation tenne dayes, Reu. 2. 10.

And it was sayd vnto them, that they should rest yet a little season, vntil their fellow seruants also, and their brethren which should be killed (as they were) should be fulfilled, Reu. 6. 11.

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be com∣pared with the glory which shall be reuealed in vs,* 1.12 Rom. 8. 18.

The light affliction which is but for a moment,* 1.13 worketh for vs a far more exceeding and eter∣nall weight of glorie, 2 Cor. 4. 17.

No chastening for the time see∣meth to be ioyous, but grieuous; neuerthelesse, afterward it yeel∣deth the peaceable fruit of righte∣ousnesse, vnto them which are ex∣ercised thereby, Heb. 12. 11.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In thy ex∣tremest fit, meditate vpon,
• * 1.2

  1 The hei∣nousnes of thy sin de∣seruing a sharper scourge.
• * 1.3

  2 The vn∣sufferable torments of hel, which by these tē∣porall cha∣stisements ••re preuen∣••ed.
• * 1.4

  3 The vn∣conceiua∣ble paines and sor∣rowes which Christ endured for thee.
• * 1.5

  4 The af∣flictions of Gods Saints equalizing & farre sur∣passing thine Iob.
• * 1.6

  Dauid.
• * 1.7

  Ieremiah.
• * 1.8

  The Apo∣stles and first Dis∣ciples.
• * 1.9

  Paul.
• * 1.10

  5 The faith∣fulnesse & goodnesse of God, who will not tempt vs aboue our strength.
• * 1.11

  6 The short continuance of these paines and sorrowes.
• * 1.12

  7 The incō∣parable re∣ward of our patience
• * 1.13

  See the Ad∣moni••ion for good-Fryday.