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 Euening's Deuotion for Munday.

THE HYMNE.

Heare me, O Lord, in the multitude of thy mer∣cies; euen in the truth of thy saluation, Psal. 69. 14.

Let not the water floods drowne mee, nor the deepe swallow me vp: and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon mee, verse 16.

Thou diddest diuide the sea through thy power, and brakest the heads of the Dragons in the waters, Psal. 74. 14.

Thou smoest the heads of Le∣uiathan in pieces, and gauest him to be meate for the people in the wildernesse, verse 15.

Thou broughtest out foun∣taines

and waters out of the hard Rocks; thou driedst vp mighty waters, verse 16.

Thou art the God that doth wonders, and hast declared thy power among the people, Psal. 77. 14.

The waters saw thee O God, the waters saw thee and were afraid, the depths also were troubled, verse 16.

The clouds powred out water; the aire thundered, and thine arrowes went abroad, verse 17.

The voice of thy thunder was heard round about; the lightnings shone vpon the ground; the earth was moued, verse 18.

Thou bringest forth clouds from the ends of the world, and sendest forth Lightnings with the raine, bringing the windes

out of his treasures, Psal. 135.

The springs of water were seene, and the foundations of the round world were discoue∣red at thy chiding, O Lord; at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure, Psal. 18. 15.

Thy way is in the Sea, and thy pathes in the great wa∣ters, and thy footsteps are not knowne, Psal. 77. 19.

THE ADMONITION for Munday's Euening, being an exhortation to meeknes.

THE ANALYSIS.

The speci∣all Argu∣ments to perswade meeknes, set downe in Scrip∣ture, are drawne from

• 1. The causes
  • Impulsiue
    • 1 Diuine precepts.
    • 2 humane frailty.
  • Exem∣plary:
    • God the
      • Father.
      • Sonne.
      • H. Ghost.
    • The Saints.
    • The creatures in W^ch nature hath patern'd this ver∣tue.
• 2 The effects
  • 1 Peace
    • With God.
    • With men.
  • 2 Wealth.
  • 3 Wisedome and spiritual vnderstanding.
  • 4 Sanctifying graces, the fruits of the Spirit.
  • 5 Blessednesse.

THE TEXTS.

PVt them in minde,* 1.1 &c. Tit. 3. 1.

That they be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekenesse to all men, verse 2.

If any man bee ouertaken in a fault, ye which are spirituall re∣store such a one in the spirit of meeknesse, Gal. 6. 1.

I beseech you that yee walke worthy of the vocation where∣with ye are called, with lowlinesse, and meeknesse, with long suffe∣ring, forbearing one another in loue, Ephes. 4. 2.

Put on therefore, as the Elect of God, holy and beloued, the bowels of mercy, kindnesse, hum∣blenesse of minde, meeknesse, long-suffering, Col. 3. 12.

Forbearing one another, for∣giuing one another; if any man haue a quarrell against any, euen as Christ forgaue you, so also doe ye, verse 13.

But thou, O man of God, flye these things, and follow after righteousnesse, godlinesse, faith, patience, meekenesse, 1. Tim. 6. 11.

Dearely beloued auenge not your selues, but rather giue place vnto wrath; For it is written, Ven∣geance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord, Rom. 12. 19.

Wherefore, my beloued Bre∣thren, let euery man bee swift to heare, slow to speake, and slow to wrath, Iam. 1. 19.

For the wrath of man wor∣keth not the righteousnesse of God, verse 20.

Look diligently, least any man faile of the grace of God; least a∣ny root of bitternesse spring vp and trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Heb 12. 15.

Consider thy selfe,* 1.2 least thou also be tempted, Gal. 6. 1.

Let him among you that is without sinne, cast the first stone, Ioh. 8. 7.

Hee shall haue iudgement

without mercy that hath shewed no mercy;* 1.3 and mercy reioyceth a∣gainst iudgement, Iam. 3. 13.

And they heard the voice of the Lord in the coole of the day,* 1.4 walking in the garden, &c. Gen. 3. 8.

And after the earthquake there was a fire, but God was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice, verse 12. (in which voice God was)▪ And it was so when Eliah heard it. &c. verse 13.

Neuerthelesse, for thy great mercies sake, thou diddest not vtterly consume them, nor for∣sake them, for thou art a gracious and mercifull God, Nehem. 9. 31.

God said to Ionah, Doest thou well to be angry for thy Gourd? Ion. 4. 9.

Thou hast pitie on the Gourd for which thou hast not laboured, which came in a night, and peri∣shed in a night, verse 10.

And should not I spare Nine∣ueh that great Citie, wherein are

more then sixscore thousand per∣sons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left; and also much cattell, verse 11.

Tell the daughter of Soon Be∣hold the King commeth vnto thee,* 1.5 meeke, Mat. 21. 5.

He shall not striue nor crie; nei∣ther shall any man heare his voice in the streets, Mat. 1••. 19.

A bruised reede shall hee not breake, nor smoking flaxe shall hee not quench, verse 20.

I beseech you by the meeknesse and gentlenesse of Christ, 2. Cor. 10. 1.

The said,* 1.6 Lord wilt thou com∣mand that wee call for fire from heauen, &c. Luk. 9. 54.

But hee turned and rebuked them, and said, yee know not of what spirit yee are made, verse 55.

Loe the heauens were opened vnto him, and hee saw the Spirit descending like a Doue, and lighte∣ning vpon him, Math. 3. 16.

* 1.7 Now Moses was a very meeke

man aboue all the men that were vpon the face of the earth, Num. 12. 3.

Let him curse,* 1.8 seeing the Lord hath said vnto mee, Curse Dauid: who shall then say; wherefore hast thou done so? 2. Sam. 16. 10.

My soule is euen as a weaned child, Psal. 131. 3.

But I was like a Lambe,* 1.9 or an Oxe that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had deuised deuises against me, Ier. 11. 19.

Iesus said, it is not meet to take the childrens bread, and cast it to Dogs, Mar. 7. 27.

And shee said vnto him,* 1.10 Yes Lord; yet the dogges vnder the ta∣ble eate of the childrens crums, verse 28.

But wee were gentle among you;* 1.11 euen as a nurse cherisheth her children, 1. Thes. 2. 7.

Thy name is as an ointment powred out,* 1.12 Cant. 1.

The anointment which ye haue

receiued of him abideth in you, 1. Ioh. 2. 27.

I will giue them hearts of flesh. Ezek. 11. 19.

I send you as Lambes among wolues, Luke 10. 3.

Behold the Lambe of God, &c. Ioh. 1. 29.

Hee was led as a sheepe to the slaughter, and like a Lambe dumb before the shearer, so opened hee not his mouth, Acts 8. 32.

Be wise as Serpents, and inno∣cent as Doues, Mat 10. 16.

Learne that I am meeke,* 1.13 and ye shall finde rest vnto your soules, Math 11. 29.

The meeke shall prosper in the earth,* 1.14 and shall delight them∣selues in the aboundance of peace, Psal. 37. 11.

The Lord lifteth vp the meeke,* 1.15 Psal. 147. 6.

The meeke shall hee guide in iudgement,* 1.16 and the meeke will he teach his way, Psal. 25. 9.

Who is a wise man and indued

with knowledge among you, let him shew out of a good con∣uersation his workes in meekenesse of wisedome, Iam. 3. 13.

Receiue with meekenesse the word ingraffed in you, which is able to saue your soules, Iam. 1. 21.

The wisedome which is from aboue, is first pure, then peaceable, Iam. 3. 17.

And the fruits of righteous∣nesse are sowne in peace of them that make peace,* 1.17 verse 18.

Blessed are the meeke,* 1.18 for they shall inherit the earth, Mat. 5. 5.

The Prayer for Munday-Euening. Composed of

• 1 Petitions sutable to the worke of the day.
• 2 Motiues to meek∣nesse, agreeable to the precedent ex∣hortation.

O Lambe of God which takest a∣way the sinnes of the world, who as vpon this day wert led as a sheepe to the slaughter, and as a Lambe before thy Shearers, ope∣nedst not thy mouth; who gauest thy back to the smiters, and thy cheeks to the nippers, and thine armes to the binders, and thy face to the spitters; apply, I beseech thee, vnto mee these thy meeke suffe∣rings. Make that profitable to mee which thou enduredst for me. Let thy bonds, O meeke Re∣deemer

set me free; let thy si∣lence pleade for me, let thy spittle cure my blindnesse, let thy stripes heale me, let thy nakednesse cloth me, and let thy meekenesse in all discipline me. If thou who in the forme of God thoughtest it no rob∣bery to be equall with God, yet hum∣bledst thy selfe, & didst become obe∣dient to death, euen the death of the Crosse, shall not I meekely submit my necke to the yoke? If thou who art God didst empty thy selfe and become of no reputa∣tion, shall I that am but a worme of the earth fill my selfe, and swell with pride? If thou suff••∣redst blowes, shall not I an affront? If thou, the Beauty of Heauen, enduredst spitting vpon, shall not I endure the fome of a loose tongue? Shall I for a word of disgrace venter my owne life and assault the life of my brother? Doe I value the life of my body and soule so low, that I will pawne it for a toy, a triflle, a mocke, a

word? God forbid. Thy Law, O God, commandeth meekenesse; thine example (my Lord) per∣swades meekenesse; my condition requires meekenesse; my frame and temper (after a sort) prea∣cheth meekenesse. Why hast thou giuen me a soft skinne, but to pat∣terne in my body this vertue of the minde? Why hast thou gi∣uen me a tender heart, but to re¦ceiue deepe the impression of compassionate griefe? Why hast thou giuen me melting eyes but to weepe for mine owne infirmities, and my brethrens calamities? Why am I brought into the world disarmed, without any of∣fensiue Weapon, but to teach me that I should not fight with, nor hurt any? Thou, O Lord, hast created me a Lambe, shall I by rage and cruelty make my selfe a Tyger? Thou madest me as a soft rose of Sharon▪ and Lillie of the Vallie, shall I turne my selfe into a thorne and thistle? I

know Anger dis-figureth the bo∣dy, much more the soule. It hur∣teth and endangereth others, much more my selfe. It is very offensiue to man, much more to thee. Wherefore I beseech thee, let thy peace alwaies rule in my heart, and quell and subdue all my rebellious affections, especi∣ally this of wrath, the most vio∣lent and impetuous of all the rest. Weede out of my heart all accursed Thornes and Thistles, that the seedes of thy Word may bring forth the fruits of righ∣teousnesse, which are sowne in peace of them that loue peace. O let not the Sunne goe downe on thy wrath against me, or my wrath against my brethren, but grant that ha∣uing made my peace with thee, by faith in thy bloud, with my brethren by forgiuing them from my heart, and reconciling my selfe to them, I may lay me downe in peace and take my rest. And let thy hand, O Sauiour, which shall

protect mee this night from all perills and dangers, raise me the next morning to serue thee in my calling, and magnifie thy goodnesse for all thy mercies and fauours vouchsafed vnto me. So be it. Amen. I

The close out of Scripture.

BLessing, honour, glory, and power bee vnto him that sit∣teth vpon the Throne, and vn∣to the Lambe for euer and ouer, Amen. Reuel. 5. vlt.

Notes

• * 1.1

  God com∣mandeth meekenesse.
• * 1.2

  Our condi∣tion re∣quires it.
• * 1.3

  Examples of mecknes.
• * 1.4

  God the Father.
• * 1.5

  The Sonne.
• * 1.6

  The Spirit.
• * 1.7

  The Saints. Moses.
• * 1.8

  Dauid.
• * 1.9

  Ieremiah.
• * 1.10

  The woman of Canaan.
• * 1.11

  Saint Paul.
• * 1.12

  Resemblan∣ces in the creatures.
• * 1.13

  Meekenesse bringeth peace.
• * 1.14

  Wealth.
• * 1.15

  Honour.
• * 1.16

  Wisedome.
• * 1.17

  The fruits of the spirit.
• * 1.18

  Blessednesse