Sabbath must fast the next day after to do Penance After Dinner the Rabbies have thought fit to study or read sacred Writ because say they the Sabbath once complained to God for lack of a Meet Companion and God answered Israel shall be thy Companion for on the Sabbath they shall learn the Law c. Dr. Addison Esseans The Esseans are more severe than any other in observing the Sabbath for they do not only abstain from dressing of meat which they dress the Evening before that day but also they may not remove any Vessel out of its place nor satisfie the necessities of nature Josephus de Bell. Jud. l. 2. c. 7. The Talmud expresly speaks for no other Reason was the Temple at Jerusalem destroyed but because the Jews observed not the Sabbath aright Though a Man have an hundred Maids or the command of a Thousand Servants yet he himself ought with his own hands to do something in honour of the Sabbath and so we read in the Talmud that Rabbi Casdam cut the Pot-herbs R. Joseph clave the Wood R. Sira kindled the fire R. Nachman swept the House and covered the Table Dr. Addison Present State of the Jews in Barb. Christians The first Observation of the Christian Sabbath was more by the Providence and Design of God than the Apostles own Inclination Joh. 20.19 The second was performed volutarily Joh. 20.26 So afterwards upon the Day of Pentecost being the first day Act. 2.1 Act. 20.7 Rev. 1.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Just. Mart. Apol. 2. Countrey work about Husbandry Vintage Sowing Mowing Threshing c. is prohibited by the Council of Arles Conc. 3. Can. 21. Fasting is forbid Conc. Caesar August Vid. Carrauz Sum. p. 119. S. Augustine declares himself frequently against Dancing on the Lord's Day Hearing or pleading of Causes on the Lord's Day is prohibited apud Gratian. Adrian p. c. 15. q. 4. item Conc. Eph. Conc. Tarracon c. Judges Riding to Assizes is reproved very gravely by Gattaker in his Sermon called God's Parley with Princes p. 13. Concerning God's Judgments upon Sabbath-Breakers see Mr. Mayer on the Church-Catechism also the Practice of Piety and my Book called The Christian's Companion The whole Week is Sanctified by this Day and according to my care of this is my Blessing on the Rest Dr. Hall To the same purpose Judge Hale remark'd upon himself That according to his Devotion on the Lord's Day he prospered in his Affairs the Week following Modern Heathens I came to the place where my Company Encamped they waited only for a Billet from the Customer to be gone but it could not be had that Day because it was Friday and the Customer who was a Mahometan observed that Day with great exactness M. de Thev Travels into the Indies l. 3. p. 77. In Guinea The Heathens forbear on their Sabbath which is Thursday Fishing and Husbandry and the Palm-Wine that is got that day must not be sold but offered to the King who bestows it on the Courtiers to drink at Night View of the Engl. Acqu in Guin and the E. Ind. On this Day in the Market-place on a Table three yards high whose flat cover is made of straw and reeds interwoven they place many Rings which they call Festiloes or Gods and within them set Wheat Water and Oil for their Gods whom they imagine devour it Ibid. Discipline Jews THe Jews still enjoyn Circumcision under its old Penalty Gen. 17. viz. Cutting off Yet they are not peremptory about the precise time viz. Eight days after the birth I knew one Jacob Israel Belgara born in Spain coming afterwards to Barbary 1667 Circumcised in the 40th year of his Age. Dr. Addison Christians I called to mind a passage of a Letter of Cornelius that was Bishop of Rome after the middle of the Third Century preserved by Eusebius in his 6th Book ch 43. There were 46 Presbyters 7 Deacons 7 Subdeacons 94 of the inferiour Orders of the Clergy among them also 1500 Widows and other Poor maintained out of the publick Charities Dr. Burnet's Letters When Philip the Emperor would have gone into Church on Easter-Eve to Prayers the Bishop of the place would by no means suffer it till he had made Confession of his Sins and passed thro' the Order of Penitents being guilty of great sins and the Emperor very willingly submitted to it Euseb l. 6. Some think this was rather Philip Governor in Egypt Theodosius the Great for his barbarous Slaughter of the Thessalonians was by S. Ambrose suspended brought to publick Confession forced a severe Penance for eight Months together Prostrations in the Church tearing off his Hair beating his Forehead watering his Cheeks with Tears c. crying out as David My Soul cleaveth unto the dust quicken thou me according to thy word After which he was Absolved and restored to Communion Theodor. H. Eccl. l. 5. c. 15. A Publick Penitentiary an Holy grave Presbyter was appointed to take Confessions of those sins which persons had committed after Baptism and by Prayers Fastings Mortifications to prepare them for Absolution This continued some hundreds of years till Abrogated by Nectarius S. Chrysostom's Predecessor in Constantinople upon occasion of a Woman complaining that during her time of Penitent Exercises in the Church she was tempted to Folly by a Deacon This was done by the Advice of Eudemon most Bishops following his Example Dr. Cave The Clergy of Venice have a very extraordinary sort of Exemption and are a sort of a Body like a Presbytery independent of the Bishop The Curates are chosen by the Inhabitants of every Parish and no Noble Venetian is suffered to pretend to any Curacy thinking it below their Dignity There is a sort of Association among the Curates for Judging of their common concerns and some of the Laity of the several Parishes assist in those Courts so that here is a real Presbytery Dr. Burnet's Letters I wondred at two Discourses that I heard at one Church in Milan at the same time in the Afternoon for there were two Bodies of Men set down in different places of the Church all covered and two Lay-Men in ordinary Habits were entertaining them with Discourses of Religion in a Catechistical Stile These were Confrairies and those were some of the more Devout that instructed the rest This as I never saw any where else so I do not know whether it is peculiar to Milan or not Idem Cathay The Tartars here punish the breach of their Traditions with Death or a Penal Sum of Mony tho in Trifling matters as touching the Fire with a Knife medling with young Birds c. which are forbid Packet broke open vol. 2. Presbyterians Amongst the Presbyterians the Minister or Presbytery may not Excommunicate without the consent of the Church nor for any faults but sins of Perversness and after admonition nor for private sins but those which are publick and scandalous nor for the Sins of others as Bishop Auxilius Excommunicated a whole family
Bishop who together with the Congregation falling down and making Confession on their behalf raised them up and laid his hands upon them and they departed with the Catechumens 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such as stayed with the Congregation and joined in Prayer and Singing but not in the Sacrament Yet they were afterward Advanced to be 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faithful Communicants who had been Baptized Confirmed and admitted to the Lord's Supper having approved themselves by the long train of a stricct and pious Life Mahometan Only Men for they permit not Women to enter the Mosques lest they should distract Men from their Devotion And besides They do not believe that Women go to Heaven and hardly account them rational Creatures Yet in some Mosques they have Apartments by themselves with a kind of Pannels of Plaister as high as the Cieling with holes through M. de Thevenot Every Busurman is bound to resort to Prayers five times daily except he have some lawful impediment and if not yet at one to be well washed to which purpose they have innumerable Bathes in Turkey Purchas Only the chief sort on the Week-days the Poor being excused not so on Fridays Id. The Women enter not the Mosques but on Fridays at Nine a Clock or at Easter and then in a Terass apart where they may see and not be seen except the Wives and Mothers of the Chief of the place They abide there 'till Mid-night continually Praying with strange Motions and strong Cries Idem Ancient Heathen Let not a Woman enter into the publick Temples who hath been caught with an Adulterer Demosth Orat. contra Neeram Hither likewise may be referred the Remark made before viz. That all Irreligious and Prophane Persons were driven away with a Procul este profani c. Modern Heathen Among the Modern Heathens though it be difficult to give a particular Account because of their multitude and variety yet it is easie to conclude That their Assemblies are made up of their respective Priests and Officers and People In Mexico and Peru are Priests Officers Boys and Virgins trained up for the Service of the Temple and living upon the Revenues of the Temple and these in some places many in number together with the common People Purchas out of Acosta c. Amongst these some are under Instruction some Penitents some Confessors Men and Women Confessors c. Idem Diabolical The Witches Tried at Salem in New-England 1692. affirmed That they form themselves into Assemblies much after the manner of the Congregational Churches consisting of Officers and People c. Cotton Mather 12. Times of Worship 1. Weekly or Monthly Jewish 1. THE Sabbath or Seventh-Day It began at Six a Clock the Night before Observe 1. The Preparation which began at Three a Clock in the Afternoon called the Sabbath-Eve by the Evangelists 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Ancient Fathers Coena pura It was proclaimed formerly by Trumpets of late by Sextons On this Day it was unlawful 1. To go above a quarter of a Days Journey three Parsath whereof Ten make a Days Journey 2. For Judges to sit on Causes upon Life and Death 3. For Tradesmen to work Except Shoomaker Except Taylers Except Scribes And they only half the Day The Wealthiest did help to forward Business 2. The Sanctification Herein they were so Superstitious that 1. Some Jews at Tiberias began the Sabbath sooner because dwelling in a Valley the Sun appeared not so soon to them as to others Others at Tsepphore a City upon a Mount kept the Sabbath longer because the Sun continued longer 2. They would dress no Meat on this Day 3. Nor Kindle any Fire 4. Nor roast an Apple chop an Herb climbe a Tree resist an Enemy and on this account became a Prey to their Enemies in the times of Antiochus and Pompey 2. Mondays in remembrance of Moses's returning from Mount Sinai Thursdays in remembrance of his going up to the Mount for the Law 3. New Moons the first Day of every Month commonly On this Day they 1. Heard the Word 2 Kings 4 23. 2. Abstained from Merchandise 3. Offered Sacrifices Numb 28.11 Christian 1. Saturday the Jewish Sabbath was in great Veneration especially in the Eastern parts honoured with all the publick Solemnity of Religion out of compliance with the Jews who were loath to part with it On this Day were publick Prayers reading the Scriptures celebration of the Sacraments Vid. Athan Hom. de Sement Idem Hist. Eccle. l. 6. c. 8. Fasts were prohibited on this Day Ordinary Works allowed yet so as might consist with their publick Worship for the Lord's Day was still preferred before it V. Athan. Hom. de Sem. Synod Laod. can 29. But in the West it was kept as a Fast yet at Milan as a Festival for St. Ambrose dined on no other Days in the Week but Saturday and Sunday Yet at Rome out of compliance with the Custom there Fasted as they did Aug. ad Janu. Ep. 118. Probably the reason of keeping this Day East was the Opinion which the Ancients had viz. That the Apostles Fasted on Friday and Saturday The Council of Illiberis Ordained That the Saturday-Festival was an Error Can. 39. which ought to be corrected and kept as a Fast 2. Sunday so called by Justin Martyr and Tertullian and in the Imperial Edicts of the first Christian Emperors Afterwards the LORD's Day 1. On this Day they stood at Prayers to put them in mind of Christ's Resurrection from the Grave and their own from Sin V. Justin M. Tertul. ex Ireneo The Council of Nice required a constant Uniformity in it 2. They deposited somewhat for the use of the Poor 3. All of us that live in City or Country meet together in one place Just M. Three Days absence from Church was punished with Suspension from Communion Con. Ill. Separate Assemblies Anathematized V. Conc. Gang. can 4.5 Conc. Antioch c. 5. 4. In times of Persecution they met before Day Plin. Ep. ad Traj They had Nocturnal Convocations Tertul. ad Vx Christians therefore called in scorn a Skulking Generation Min. F. 5. Kept in with great Expressions of Joy Fasting accounted unlawful Tertul. de Coron Constantine and Theodosius M. Jun. c. Forbad Courts of Judicature Suits at Law demanding Debts all publick Shews pleasures of all Sights opening of the Theatres his own Birth-Day or Inauguration on the Lord's Day 2. Wednesday and Friday Vid. postea Mahometan Friday the Mahometan-Sabbath because on that Day Mahomet was Proclaimed King or Emperor and solemnly so Created and withal to distinguish his Fellowers from the Jews and Christians They call this Sabbath of theirs Glumaagun Others say Mahomet was born on this Day Ancient Heathen The Ancient Heathens Greeks and Romans had no Weeks but divided their Months into 3 parts the Greeks into so many Decads the Romans into Kalends Nones and Ides The Kalends of every Month were dedicated to Juno On the Kalends of every
there are above 2000 for no Lord but hath his private Chappel nor any Street but hath many of them though most of Wood and very small ones but fifteen foot square D. of Holstein 's Embass Indian Christians The Indian Christians though heir Churches are low and ill furnished yet they are neat and sweetly kept matted and without painted which the Greek Churches abound with They assemble chearfully and at their entring shut their Eyes the better to contemplate the Exercise they come about with their own Unworthiness Kneeling they look towards the Altar near which the Priest is seated him they salute with humble Reverence who returns his Blessing with the uplifting of his Hands and Eyes Sir Thomas Herbert Mexicans In Mexico were thirteen Temples Purchas Mahometans In Fez are 700 Mosquits some garnished with many Pillars and Fountains of Marble each Temple hath a Priest to say Service and look to the Churches Revenue Rosse Tunquinese In Tunquin the great Cities have several Pagods and hardly a Town or Village but hath one and for every Pagod at least two Bonzes and two Says but some Pagods maintain forty Bonzes and as many Says Tavernier's Collect. Pegu. In Pegu they are magnificent in their Pagods having some of beaten Gold in the Varella or Temple of their King there are three of Silver and one of Massy Gold in the shape and proportion of a Man c. Pacquet broke open Vol. 2. Circassia They have one thing remarkable that they never enter their Churches till they resolve to have off Vice that is till after forty years of Age after which time they rob no more Ibid. German Protestants Those of the Palsgrave's Country had each Sunday two Sermons the absent first admonished by the Clergy the next time the Civil Magistrate was called to help Those of Geneva in the Churches of their Cities every Sunday four Sermons Those of Breme three of which one was Catechetical Mr. Hale 's Letter from the Synod of Dort to Sir D. Carleton L. Embass Papists What meant sundry Ancient Councils as the Eleventh of Tolet in Spain yea even of Trent it self to enjoyn frequent Preaching calling for more than any Man almost is able to perform Anonym Catechising Jews COncerning the care which the Jews now take in Catechising their Children see afterwards under the Title of Good Children Christians 8. Clemens praiseth the Corinthians that they took care to admonish their young Men to follow things modest and comely and exhorts them to instruct the Younger to make their Children Partakers of the Discipline of Christ Dr. Cave Constantine's first and greatest care towards his Sons was to secure the Happiness of their Souls by sowing the Seeds of Piety in their Minds which he did partly himself by appointing Religious Tutors for them and when he had taken them into a Partnership of the Government by private Admonitions or by Letters giving them Counsel c. This was always the first and chief Point That they should prefer the Knowledge and Worship of GOD the Great King of the World before all other advantages yea the Empire it self Idem Nazianzen commends his Mother that not only she her self was brought up under a Pious Education but conveyed it down as a necessary Inheritance to her Children Gorgonia being well seasoned with her Instructions and Example for she reclaimed her Husband educated her Children and Nephews in the ways of Religion while she lived and left this as her last Charge and Request when she died Idem The Order of Catechising in the Primitive Times is thus delivered by Mr. Gabriel Towerson c. 1. When any desired to become a Proselyte inquiry was made not only into the Life of the Catechumen but of those who brought him 2. Upon Admonition and a promise of Reformation he was admitted into the Rank of Catechumens by Prayer and Imposition of Hands and so passed over to his Instructor in a private School or Auditory 3. The Catechist entertain'd him with a long Narration of the Story of the Bible from the Creation to the Birth Life Death and Resurrection of our Saviour c. closing with the last Jugment and an Admonition to beware of False Teachers and of being scandalized at the ill Lives of some Christians The Catechist all this while standing though S. Austin would have had it changed into a sitting Posture to prevent weariness 4. After this they were taught particular Points as of Faith c. Then admitted to the Lessons and the Expositions of them in publick and lastly to the Prayers of the Catechumens 5. After two or more Years they gave up their Names and Petitions to be Baptized usually before Easter and then plied with earnest Exhortations to Repentance Fasting and Prayer 6. The Apostles and next the Bishops were Catechists afterwards the Office was devolved on others as Cyprian appointed one Optatus one not of the Clergy Augustine one Deo-gratias a Deacon Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria made Origen at eighteen Years a Catechist of that Famous School In a Synod held at Clovershow or Clyff under Cuthbert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury A. C. 〈◊〉 it was ordained That those Priests who did not as yet understand the Creed and the Lords Prayer should both learn themselves and teach them to others in the English-Tongue Speâ—m Concil p. 242. Can. 10. By Canons given under King Edgar A. C. 967. care was taken That Children should be taught their Pater-noster and Credo by their Parents else when dead not to be buried in Consecrated Ground or thought worthy to receive the Eucharist Ibid. p. 447. Can. 17.22 Much the same thing and in the same words is enjoyned amongst the Ecclesiastick Laws of K. Knute a. 1032. A. C. 1548. Arch-Bishop Cranmer compiled a Catechism dedicates it to the King and in his Epistle complains of the great neglect that had been in former times of Catechising Dr. Burnet's Hist of the Reformation It was the Observation of the Learned'st King that ever sate on the English Throne That the Cause of the Miscarriage of our People into Popery and other Errors was their ungroundedness in the Points of Catechism Therefore his said Late Majesty gave publick Order for bestowing the latter part of the LORD's Day in Familiar Catechism For my part I have spent the greater half of my Life in this station of Holy Service I thank GOD not unpainfully not unprofitably But there is no one thing whereof I repent so much as not to have bestowed more Hours in this Publick Exercise of Catechism in regard whereof I could quarrel with my very Sermons c. Bp. Jos Hall Ep. Ded. to the Old Relig. Geldria One of the Deputies of Geldria to shew the Force of Catechising told That amongst them a Minister who at his first coming to his Living found all his Parishioners Papists so that he must Preach to the Walls c. But by going to their Houses and expounding the Grounds of Religion within a Year he gained them all
Seignior's Palace or Seraglio where the Visior Basha and other Basha's sit in Council with Beglerbegs c. 'T is held four Days a Week Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday At the Rising of the Court the Grand Visier informs the Sultan of all their Proceedings who seldom impugnes what they have Decreed Ancient Heathen At Rome the Assemblies for Publick Affairs were 1. Concilia when there was a Select Number met together 2. Comitia when all the People were called to the Meeting and these were either 1. Curiata sc Parish-Meetings Rome being at first divided into 30 Curiae or Parishes where all met all the Comitium or Hall of Justice for Election of Magistrates Confirmation of VVills c. All gave their Votes as private Men. 2. Conturiata where the people met together in Centuries to give their Votes according to their Estates The City being divided into six Classes by Servius Tullius the first of those who were worth above 800 Crowns the second above 100 c. In these Assemblies the plurality of Votes carried the choice The Chief of each Century was called Centurio who had his Vitis or Rod of Command Here were chosen the first Consuls Censors Pretors Proconsuls Tribunes c. Crimes also against the Publick Weal as Treason c. were tried here 3. Tribuata viz. Assemblies of the Wards or Quarters of the City kept in the Field of Mars or Capitol or Circus Flaminius when the other Courts were not permitted to assemble either by reason of unlawful Days or Ominous Signs c. Galtruch But the highest Court of all was the Roman Senate first elected by Romulus to assist in affairs of State in number at first 100 then 200 at last 1000 all above 20 years old they always met in some Temple twice a month to consult about publick concerns Idem Modern Heathen In Bantam the Magistrate of the Town sits in Judicature in the Court of the Paceham from 4 or 5 in the Evening till Night the Plaintiff and Defendant appearing both in person and pleading their own Cause Mandelslo In Japan there is no Lord nor indeed any Citizen nor Merchant but may put his Vastals and Domesticks to Death he himself being the Judge but to others Justice is administred in the Emperor's Name Idem In Fermosa there is no Lord that hath a Superiority over the rest yet in every Village is a kind of Senate of 12 men aged about 40 who invite all the Heads of Families to meet in one of their Pagods to confer about business where the Magistrate proceeds not by Authority or Force but Reason and Eloquence and when one speaks all the rest are deeply and strictly silent not a Cough to be heard Idem In China to discover Criminals the Judge takes a List of all the Houses and divides them into Tens setting a Bill on every tenth house enjoyning them to discover such of their Decad as have committed such Crimes upon pain of being respousible for the same Crimes c. Idem Diabolical In Amboyna the way for deciding of Disserences or other matters of importance is this 1. They put water into a Dish 2. They cast in Gold Earth and a Leaden Bullet 3. They dip in it the end of a Musquet-Barrel the point of an Halbert Sword Knife c. 4. They give of the Water to him who is suspected guilty 5. They give him his Oath Mandelslo Schisms ond Sects Jews 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Karrei Sadduces who adhered only to the Writings of Moses and the Prophets so called from Sedek Justice as Beda Epiphanius and Lyra think or from one Sadock the first Author as Burgensis who lived under Antigonus Sochens Successor to Simeon the Just 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hasidei such as Voluntarily performed some things which the Law required not I suppose the same with the Essei or Esseni a kind of Monks Lovers of Solitude others Rechabites without any woman any money Plin. Nat. Hist l. 5. c. 17. they lived in common went in White 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pharisees who were equally zealous of H. Scripture and Talmud or Traditions or rather preferred these before the other These were the Issue of the Hasidei Hemerobaptistae Ceremoniarum Magistri Dr. Littleton The Pharisees were so called from their daily washing Ross Tho Scaliger saith Daily washing was used by all the Jews and at this time in Palestine many do it not once a day but often as do also the Mahometans Purchas 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Samaritans who acknowledged only the Pentateuch of Moses and to it added several Pagan Rites using Mount Gerizim for the place of worship Herodiani so called either because Soldiers of Herod's Court or because they boasted Herod for the Messiah Gaulonites the Disciples of Judas the Galilean Hotting Nazarites Rechabites c. Christian 1. Eastern or Greek 1. Greek strictly so call'd 2. Muscovites and Russians 3. Melchites or Syrians 4. Georgians or Iberians 5. Nestorians or followers of Nestorius 6. Indians or Christians of S. Thomas 7. Jacobites from Jacob Disciple of Eutyches 8. Copties or Egyptian Christians 9. Armenians so called from their Country 10. Abassins or Ethiopians 11. Maronites 12. Some add Sabaeans or Christians of S. John owning his Baptism only 13. Circassians or Sarcashes much the fame with Armenians and Georgians 2. Western or Latin 1. PAPIST Dominicans Jesuits or Franciscans Thomists Scotists Jansenists Molinists or Quietists 2. PROTESTANTS 1. Lutheran 2. Calvinist 3. Independent 4. Anabaptist 5. Quakers c. Mahometan Are divided into 1. Turks whereof some follow 1. Abuhanifé 2. Chasibié 3. Maliké 4. Dudzahimé 5. Ahmed c. All which agree in Fundamentals but differ in Morals and Ceremonies Hottinger names other Sects as Horrineans Kavamites Habibean Habaecideans c. 2. Persian who are for Mortis Hale as the Turki are for Mahomet They interpret the Law more perfectly and divinely Their Grand Festival is the Feast of Hocen and Hussein Morden Mr. Grimstone in his Addition to Knolles makes mention of 4 Orders of Religious men among the Turks differing in Habit and Ceremonies 1. Dervises the strictest Order living in contemplation but Hypocrites 2. Terlaques 3. Kalenders 4. Huquiemales which last are very vicious and wicked Impostors deceiving of the common people Mr. Ricaut tells of several Sects of Mahometans As. 1. Haictates 2. Cuph-Messahites 3. Eshrakites c. Heathens In respect of Religion were as divers as the Countries which they inhabited Every Nation having peculiar Deities and Rites of worship e.g. 1. Aigyptians Of which already up and down in the Book 2. Persians Of which already up and down in the Book 3. Grecians Of which already up and down in the Book 4. Romans Of which already up and down in the Book 5. Gauls Of which already up and down in the Book 6. Brittains Of which already up and down in the Book 7. Saxons c. Of which already up and down in the Book Especially the Philosophers were divided into
Gold Coins Pictures and Statues to be represented as a Person Praying with Hands spread abroad and Eyes lift up to Heaven Dr. Cave Mr. Ignatius Jurdaine Merchant was wont for many years even to old Age Winter and Summer to rise between two and three a clock to his private Devotions continuing there till six and then proceeded to Family-Duties Clark Myconius sending in a Letter to Luther that he was Sick not unto Death but unto Life Luther wrote to him again that he prayed that he and others his Friends might survive him and that he might not be left alone with his dry exhausted and wearied Body to combat with Devils here below Hoc peto hoc volo fiat voluntas mea Amen which accordingly came to pass for Myconius recovered of his Consumption and lived six years after Insomuch that Justus Jonas saith of Luther Potuit quod voluit Fuller 's Lives Persians The Persians never undertake any thing but they pronounce the Bismilla in the name of God and sometimes say Behnam ohuki namesch herez Tzanehafr i. e. in his Name who is the Refuge and Protection of Souls They express a great Attention and Devotion in their Prayers I have seen them in their Metschid at Ispahan when they had their Eyes so fastened on the Ground or lift up to Heaven that they would not take any notice of one D. of Holst Emb. Trav. p. 279. Mahometans The Mahometans or Infidels of Indostan or East-India whatever Impediments they have at home or abroad they constantly Pray five times every day viz. at six nine and twelve in the Morning and three and six in the Afternoon The Mogul the Prince himself does so and the meanest Shepherd that waits on his Flock in the Field and if they can they perform their Devotions in their Moschits or Churches Most go to Prayers every day at least to those of Noon Quindy and Akscham A Mahometan told a Reverend Divine of England Resident of the Great Mogul's Court There was said he a most Devout Mussel-man who had his Habitation in a great City where Mahomet was zealously professed who for many years together spent his whole days in the Mosquit not minding the World at all so that this Family was become very Poor ready to Famish He leaves them one morning in this low Condition takes a solemn Leave of his Wife and Children resolving for his part to go and Pray and Dye in the Mosquit if no Relief came and leaving his Family to Famish at home But that very day there came to his House a beautiful young Man as he appeared who gave to his Wife a considerable quantity of Gold bound up in a white Napkin telling her that God had now remembred her Husband and sent him his Pay for his Constant Pains in Devotions c. Her Husband at his return at night brought nothing but a little Grit or Sand which he opened to shew and it was all turned into precious Stones c. the seventh part of which he gave to the Poor for said he a Musselman is very Charitable Adding If we do not forget God he will not forget us This Story seems Incredible but 't is related by the nameless Author of Indost and E. Ind. The Moors about Fesse in the beginning of any Labour or Journey looking up to Heaven with a low Voice say Bismillah i. e. in the Name of God Morden In passing by one another they say Salem alleque Peace be with thee at the hearing of one Sneeze God be your Keeper Idem The Moors Pray five times a day first about Noon second about three a clock third at Sun-set fourth a little within Night fifth a little before day in Winter Idem When the Mahometans mount on Horse-back Play or Eat they say Bismillah M. de Thev In some parts of Cathay the Monks Pray on strings full of Nut-shells Rosse Chinese Papists Persians and Muscovites in Praying use Beads though not all nor always The more Puritanical sort of Turks have a Tesbuch a kind of Chaplet or String of Beads consisting of 99 Beads upon each of which they repeat certain words out of the Alcoran Tavern In Ceylon also they pray on Beads Rosse Gaurs The Gaurs when they pray tye a Handkerchief about their Mouths as if they were afraid their words should mix with the Air and receive any impurity M. Tavern l. 4. c. 8. Persians The Persians cannot say their Prayers when they have any Gold about them Idem l. 5. c. 10. and therefore they never wear Jewel or Ring of Gold because it would be troublesome to pull 'em off and lay them up so many times a day Muscovites They in their Prayers consider the Virgin Mary the Evangelists Apostles and an infinite number of other Saints not only as simple Intercessors as the most intelligent affirm but also as Causes and Co-operators of their Salvation There is no Muscovite but gives his Saints and their Images the honour due only to God D. of Holst Ambass Trav. Abyssines They pray for the dead e. g. Remember Lord the Souls of thy Servants and our Father Abba Matthew and the rest of our Fathers Abba Salama and Abba Jacob c. And again Remember Lord the Kings of Ethiopia Abreha Atzbeha Caleb and Gebrak Meschah c. Release O Lord our Fathers Abba Antony and Abba Macarius c. From whence it may be fairly Justified That they admit Purgatory which yet in words they constantly deny But through Simplicity and Ignorance they are not constant to themselves for at another time they implore the Intercession of the same Souls Job Ludolph Armenians The Armenians pray not for the dead imagining that 'till the general Day of Doom they are without either Joy or Torment Sir Tho. Herb. So soon as the Armenians discover the Mountain Ararat they kiss the Earth and lifting up their Eyes to Heaven say their Prayers M. Taver Book 1. c. 4. Calvinists Corderius taught his Scholars to pray twice or thrice every day besides their Prayers at rising in the Morning and lying down at Night and also constantly at Meat And moreover advised them sometime to retire by themselves to secret Prayer Corder Collo Papists Margaret of Valois not long since Queen of France built her a Chapel provided her Chaplains and large Endowments for them that so perpetually day and night every hour successively without intermission by some one or other there might intercession be made to God for her unto the World's end a thing which her self had little thought of in her life-time as having other business to think on Mr. John Hales Formosa After the Priesttesses Juibs have fed heartily on the Offerings they proceed to Prayer which is long joyned with several distracted motions of the Eyes 'till falling to the ground they make dreadful cries and shrieks then lye immoveable on the ground extended saying in this posture the Gods communicate their mind to them then they get up to the top of the
my Salvation I wholly offer up my Soul and Body I cast my self wholly upon his Mercy and Grace c. Ibid. Andrew Willet a little before his death repeated the 146th Psalm and said it was a most sweet Psalm by and by rising out of a Trance to his Wife crying out he said Let me alone I shall do well Lord Jesu and so departed Anonym Robert Bolton in a Quartane Ague after meditating on the Four last Things desiring to be dissolv'd in the pangs of death he breathed out I am now drawing on apace to my Dissolution hold out Faith and Patience your work will quickly be at an end he died aged 60. Anonym William Whately in Sickness comforted himself with Ps 41.1 2. whilst a Friend was praying with him lifting up his Eyes and one of his Hands in the Close of the Prayer he gave up the Ghost aged 56. Idem Ant. Walleus called his Family and exhorted them to the fear of God then took his leave and fell asleep never thoroughly awaking till on the Lord's day at 11 a Clock he expired aged 66. 1639. Hen. Alting the day before his death sang Psal 130. with great Fervency in the Evening blessed his Children and exhorted them to fear God and to persevere in the Truth of the Gospel and so died aged 57. A. 1644. Fred. Spanhemius having preach'd his last Sermon at Easter upon Phil. 3.24 Who shall change our vile Body c. he prayed for his Family and himself and in the Close of his Prayer died 1649 aged 49. Philip de Mornay Lord of Plessis Marley being sick of a continual Feaver often said I fly I fly to Heaven and the Angels are carrying me into the Bosom of my Saviour I know that my Redeemer liveth I shall see him with mine Eyes and I feel I feel what now I speak he died aged 74. Mr. John Bruen of Stapleford in Cheshire Esq the Morning before his Death said I will have no Blacks I love no Proud nor Pompous Funeral neither is there any cause of Mourning but of rejoycing rather in my particular Immediately before his Death Lifting up his Hands he said The Lord is my Portion my Help and my Trust his blessed Son Jesus Christ is my Saviour and Redeemer Amen Even so saith the Spirit unto my Spirit therefore come Lord Jesus and kiss me with the Kisses of thy Mouth and embrace me with the Arms of thy Love into thy Hands I commend my Spirit O come now and take me to thy self O come Lord Jesus come quickly O come O come O come and so died aged 65 A.C. 1625. Mr. Will. Perkins to a Friend praying for him said Pray not for the mitigation of my Torments but for the increase of my Patience he died aged 44. A.C. 1602. Edw. Deering As for my Death I bless God I feel so much inward Joy and Comfort in my Soul that if I were put to my choice whether to die or to live I would a thousand times rather chuse Death than Life if it may stand with the Will of God he died A.C. 1576. Melancthon to his Son-in-law Dr. Bucer asking what he would have answered Nothing but Heaven and therefore trouble me no more with speaking to me I have delivered more upon this subject in a former Book called The Christians Companion Mahometans and Heathens A great Solider in eminent favour with the Great Mogul a Mahometan Atheist upon a wound proving Mortal by the occasion of a Hair pluckt off his Breast about his Nipple in wantonness by one of his Women when a dying said Who would not have thought but that I who have been bred so long a Soldier should have died in the Face of my Enemy by a Sword or Lance or Arrow or Bullet or by some such instrument of Death but now am forc'd to confess That there is a great God above whose Majesty I ever despis'd that needs no bigger Lance than a Hair to kill an Atheist a Despiser of his Majesty and so desiring that those his last Words might be told unto the King his Master he died The Dervise that gave his sense of the Apparition at Medina mentioned in the Chapter of Miracles c. died with those Words in his Mouth if my Memory fail me not O thou Woman with the Book in thine Hand have Mercy upon me Heathen Antient. I am not haled to Death but am ascending up to Heaven The last Words of Socrates with the Mortal Cup in his Hand Socrates said Mr. H. Bullinger was glad when his death approached because he thought he should go to Hesiod Homer and other Learned Men whom he should meet with in the other World then how much more do I enjoy who am sure that I shall see my Saviour Christ the Saints Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and all Holy Men which have lived from the beginning of the World These I say I am sure to see and to partake with them in Joy The Words of Dying Bullinger See more in Erasmus ' s Conviv Religios Cicero in his Dialogue concerning Old Age introduceth Cato Major speaking thus If any God should grant me leave to grow young and cry like an Infant in my Cradle again I would utterly refuse it nor would I be willing as one that hath run his Race out to be called back from the Goal to the beginning again For what Profit hath Life or rather what toil hath it not But whether it hath or no certainly it gluts or satisfies for I am not minded to lament that I have lived which many and they Learned Men have often done nor do I repent my Life because I have so lived that I think I was not born in vain and I depart hence as out of an Inn not from my Home O famous day when I shall go to that Assembly and Council of Divine Souls and depart out of this Rout and Sink Occasions of Conversion Jews EVE Cohan was converted by ocasion of reading the New-Testament which she found in the Chamber of her Dancing-Master in Holland but being threatned and ill-treated by her Mother upon it married her Master came over into England and was baptized at London about half a score Years ago Discoursing once with an Italian Jew concerning the Conditions of Rome he began with great assurance to tell me That at Rome great Wonders were to be seen as a Man that could make his God make and unmake Sins at his pleasure c. closing up his Discourse with a deep Protestation That if he were a Christian the Vices and Doctrines of Italy would strongly tempt him to disown that Name Dr. Addison Christians Matthias Vessenbechius a Lawyer Student at Lovain converted by seeing the Sufferings of a poor Godly Man of that place Ex Melch. Ad. Francis Junius being at Lyons escaped an imminent Death upon which being somewhat awakened to a Sense of Divine Providence he desired to read over the New-Testament of which himself gives this Account When I opened