The Handmaid to Private Devotion, Feast 15
THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY OR, TWELFE-DAYE'S DEVOTION.
The ground of this feast
Prophecie in the old
History in the new
Testament of our Lords manifestation to the gentiles.
PARALELL.
Prophecie.
There shall come a starre out of Iacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. Num. 24. 17.
History.
Lo the starre which they saw in the east went before them, till it came to the place where the childe was. Mat. 2. 9. When they saw the starre, they were exceeding glad, and went into the house, and found the childe with Mary his mother. verse 10.
The daughter of Tyre shall bee there with a gift, like as the rich also among the people shall doe homage before thy face with presents. Psal. 45. 12.
They fel down and worshipped him. Mat. 2. 11.
Kings shall bring presents vntounto thee. Psal. 68 29.
The kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts. Psal. 72. 10.
And opened their treasures, and presented to him &c. Mat. 2. 11.
All thy garments smel of Mirrh, Aloes, and Cassia. Psal. 45. 9.
To him shall be giuen of the gould of Arabia, &c. Psal. 72. 15.
Gold, and incense, & Mirrh. Mat. 2. 11.
For thy instruction meditate on the
Prophecy
Historie
of Christ's manifestatiō.
For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefits thereof.
For thy correction reprooue thy backwardnesse in comming to Christ, and honouring him with thy substance.
Quicken
Thy Charitie by the admonition.
Thy FAITH by the Psalme.
Thy Zeale and deuotion by the prayer.
THE ADMONITION for Twelfe-day.
THE ANALYSIS.
We ought freely and liberally to offer to God and his Church; because we hauehave in ScripturesPrecepts in the old.
Commandements for it.
Examples of it.
Promises vntounto it.
Threats to the cōtrary.
THE TEXTS.
TAke from among you an offering to the Lord: Whosoeuer is of a willing heart let him bring it, an offering of the Lord, &c. Exod. 35. 5.
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase. Prou. 3. 9.
Be reconciled to thy brother,In the new. and then come and offer thy gift. Mat. 5. 24.
Yea tithe Mint and Rue, &c. These things yee ought to hauehave done, and not left the other vndone. Luke 11. 42.
Let him that is taught in the word, make him that taught him partaker of all his goods. Gal. 6. 6.
If we hauehave sowed to you spirituall things, is it much if wee reape of you carnal things. 2 Cor. 9. 11.
Abraham gaue him Tithe of all that he had.Examples Abraham Gen. 14. 10.
Of all that thou shalt giuegive me will I giuegive the tenth vntounto thee.Iacob. Gen, 28. 2.
Then Dauid said behold I dwell in Cedar trees,Dauid. but the Arke of the Lord remaineth vnderunder the curtaines. 2 Sam. 7. 2.
Then eueryevery one whose spirit made him willing,Israelites. came and brought an offering to the Lord for the worke of the Tabernacle. Exod. 35. 21.
I will not come within the Tabernacle of mine house, nor climbe vp into my bed. Psal. 132 3.
I will not suffer mine eyes to sleepe, nor mine eye lidds to slumber, nor the Temples of my head to take any rest. verse 4.
Till I hauehave found out a place for the Temple of the Lord; an habitation for the mighty God of Iacob. verse 5.
I giuegive Tithe of all that I possesse.Pharisee. Luke 18. 12.
So should thy barnes bee filled with abundance,Promises and thy presses shall burst with new wine. Prou. 3. 10.
Bring all the tithes into the store-house, that there may bee meate in mine house, and proue me heerewith sayeth the Lord. Mal. 3. 10.
He will,Threats & curses to the contrary. multiply your seede, and increase the fruits of your beneuolence. 2 Cor. 9. 10.
You looked for much, and loe it came to little; and when yee brought it home, I did blow vponupon it: Why, saith the Lord of Hosts? Because of mine house that is waste, and yee runne eueryevery man to his owne house. Hag. 1. 9.
Therefore the heauen ouer you is staied from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. verse 10.
Yee say wherein hauehave wee robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Mal. 3. 8.
Ye are cursed with a curse: for yee hauehave robbed mee, euen this whole nation. verse 9.
He that soweth sparingly, shall reape sparingly. 2 Cor. 9. 6.
Be not deceiued, God is not mocked; Whatsoeuer a man soweth, that shall he reape. Gal. 6. 7.
A Psalme for Twelfe-day.
O Praise the Lord of heauen; praise him in the height. Psal. 148 1.
Praise him all yee his Angels; praise him all his host. verse 2.
Praise him Sunne and Moone; praise him all yee starres and light. verse 3.
Thy seate ô God endureth for euer; the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter. Psal 45. 7.
The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion: bee thou ruler euen in the middest among thine enemies. Psal. 110. 2.
In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free will offerings with an holy worship: the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the morning. verse 3.
Thy dominion shall bee from one sea to the other; and from the floods vntounto the worlds end. Psal. 72. 8.
They that dwell in the wildernesse shall kneele before thee: thine enemies shall lick the dust. verse 9.
All Kings shall fall downe before thee, all nations shall doe thee seruice. verse 11.
Thy name shall endure for euer; thy name shall remaine vnderunder the sun among all posterities, which shall bee blessed through thee, and all the heathen shall praise thee. verse 17.
Blessed bee the name of thy Maiesty for euer; and all the earth shall bee filled with his Maiesty. Amen. Amen.
A Prayer for Twelfe-day.
FAther of lights, who didst guide the heathen Sages by a starre to seeke after, and find thy sonne, the true light which enlighteneth eueryevery man that commeth into the world; giuegive mee grace to giuegive eare to the more sure Word of Prophecie in the Scriptures til the day dawne, and the day starre arise in my heart. As thou calledst the wise men obseruers of the starres by a star, the sheepheards lying abroad by an apparition in the fields, Zachary the Priest by a Vision in the Temple, Peter the fisher by a draught of fishes, Mathew the Publican at the receipt of custome, and Saint Austin enamourd with eloquence by the lustre of Saint Ambroses stile and enticing eloquence. I beseech thee take the aduantage of such seasons, and apply such meanes for my vnfeigned conuersion vntounto thee as are most agreeable to my inclination, disposition, and condition. So will I come vntounto thee and fall downe before thee, and present vntounto thee gold, frankinsence and mirrh; gold in acknowledgement of thy kingdome, frankinsence of thy Priesthood; and mirrh of thy death. I will offer willingly & freely vntounto thee incense of praise & thanksgiuing for thy benefits; the mirrh of bitter teares for▪ my sinnes; and gold (according to my ability) for the maintenance of thy seruice, and adorning thy Temple. Lord who by this rich present prouidedst for the virgins wants to supply them in her iourney to Aegypt, extend thy goodnesse to mee in al necessities; and establish my faith and confidence in thee in al dangers and difficulties whatsoeuer, For thou hast promised neuer to leaue nor forsake them that trust in thee. The stony rocke shall yeeld a fountaine of water; and a dry cr…re a spring of oyle: the loaues shall multiply by spending; nay, the Clouds shall be Store-houses of Bread, and the winde serue in Fowle, and the Rauens bring in prouision; the Fishes pay tribute of money, and Heathen Sages from the East, (by the conduct of a Starre) bring in costly presents and New yeeres-gifts before thy children shall want their necessary maintenance or sustenance.
Blessed Babe, who at thy birth didst presage thy death, and assayedst the Crosse in thy Cratch, and being excluded (as it were) from all men, wast constrained to take vp thy lodging with beasts in a Stable, teach me what I am to looke for in this world: If it giuegive me course, and base, and beastly entertainment, it gaue thee worse; and the seruant is not to expect better respect then the Master. O King of glory, who hadst no Palace in this world, but an Inne; no Chamber of Presence, but a Stable; no Tapestry, but Straw; no Chaire of estate, but a Cratch; no Scepter, but a Reede; and no Crowne, but a wreath of thornes; worke in me an holy high-mindednesse to despise this world which so despised thee. Make the worldly greatnesse seeme small, honour base, estimation vile, and pompe vaine vntounto me. Let not the glittering shew of gold, siluer, or precious stones, or the luster of eminent conditions dazell the eyes of my minde, but let the beames of this starre, light and guide me rather to honour thee in a Stable, then leaue thee to follow Herod in his Palace vponupon any hopes whatsoeuer. The wise men, after they had seene thee, neuer returned backe to Herod, but went another way to their owne home: so let me, after thou hast called me to the knowledge of the truth, and redeemed mee from my vaine conuersations, neuer returne backe to my worldly courses, but take another way to my true home in heauen. The wise men when they saw thy starre in the aire were exceeding glad; I see thy starre in the Scriptures, nay I see the bright morning starre in my heart; O let my ioy exceede theirs as my knowledge doth. The starre still lighted them till they came to the place where thou layest, and entered into thy bed-chamber: So ô Lord let the light of faith guide me all the way of this life euen till I come to see thee, not in a stable on earth strawed with litter and dung, but in a pallace in heauen built with Saphyrs, and founded vponupon pearles; not receiuing a present of gold from men, but wearing a crowne of gold put vponupon thee by thy Father; not hauing a quantity of frankinsence or mirrh in thy hand, but a golden censor full of sweete odours which are the prayers of Saints. Among which I beseech thee offer vp the prayers of mee a sinner, that I may bee a Saint after thou hast purged mee from all my fil thynesse in the royall bath of thy blood Amen.