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
Nature they wash their Hands c. To this end they have commonly near the Mosques Baths for the Gousl and Fountains for the Abdest The manner thus 1. They look toward Mecha and wash the Hands three times 2. The Mouth and Teeth three times 3. The Nose three times 4. The Face three times 5. The Arms to the Elbow 6. The Head rub'd from the Brow to the Poll. 7. The Ears within and without 8. The Feet three times In washing they are to say Bismillah i. e. in the Name of the Great God and praise to God the God of the Mussulman Faith M. de Thevenot Ancient Heathen 1. Men were thus purged after they had touched a dead Body or entred into an unclean Place before admitted to the Altar They sprinkled their Head with a wet Olive or Laurel dipt in Water and Salt and made prayers to the God Spargit ipse suos Lauro rorante Capillos Incipit solita fundere voce preces Ovid. l. 5. Sometimes they used Sulphur and Fire made of Pine-wood to perfume the Person Place or Vessel c. When any sacrificed for his own purgation after a wickedness committed a Pig was slain and his Hands washed in the Blood In these Lustrations they used 1. A Trine Aspersion 2. Looking towards the East 2. Fields of Fruit when purged the Hostia was carried three times about the Field Terque novas circum foelix eat Hostia fruges Virg. l. 6. 3. Sacrifices were washed with Water and Salt Modern Heathen An incredible concourse of People come from all parts of the Indies in Pilgrimage to Chrysobacra in the Province of Halabras to visit the Pagods kept there very carefully but before they approach that place which they look upon to be holy they throw themselves stark naked into the River Ganges to be purified supposing that Adam and Eve were created there M. de Thevenot Trav. l. 3. c. 39. This in order to prepare themselves for some Feasts ibid. In the Province of Telinga the Idolaters use frequent washings Men Women and Children go to the river as soon as they are out of Bed the Rich have water brought to them When Women lose their Husbands they are brought thither by their Friends and they who are brought to Bed use the same custom as soon almost as they are delivered idem When they are come out of the water a Bramen dawbs their Forehead with a composition of Saffron and white Saunders They must never eat unless they be washed The Bannyans wash oft to purifie themselves from sin Sir Tho. Herbert At Tanasseri also sometimes 100000 Indians go naked into Ganges and bowing their Bodies with their Hands throw the water aloft as an offering to the Sun Sir Tho. Herbert Diabolical The Witches at their meetings use to anoint themselves with Oyl which the Devil brings them 5. Teaching Instruction c. Jewish MOSES hath of old such as preach him being read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day Act. 15.26 Esdras appointed that the people should meet three times in the Week to be taught the Law viz. the Sabbath Mondays and Thursdays and three days the rather say some because in the Desart of Sur the people wandred three days without water i. e. say they without the Law Ancient Christian Justin Martyr saith that the word was read and preached for the space of an hour every Sabbath day at one meeting Apolog. Tertullian saith there was not any holy meeting wherein they were not fed with Divine Sermons and if the Pastor were sick or necessarily hindred the Deacon read a Homily Mayer Ch. Cat. 1. The Primitive Christians at their Assemblies read the Scripture St. Clements's Epistle to the Corinthians Hermas's Pastor the Writings of St. Ephrem c. The Quantum Arbitrary according to their opportunity c. 2. Upon the Scripture read before the President of the Assembly with the Presbyters gave expositions and exhortations to the people Then after the Gospel read let the Presbyters one by one exhort the people not all at once and after all the Bishop as is fit for the Master to do Const App. Greg. Nyssen excuseth his brevity because of the discourses made before They had moreover Sermons in the Afternoon Chysostom in a Homily on this very subject 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. 10. ad Pop. Antioch commends them that came to Church after Dinner in greater numbers to hear the Divine Laws St. Basil St. Augustine c. frequently refer to those Sermons which they had preached in the Mornings In Antioch it was usual for a good part of the year to have Sermons every day Chrysost Origen every day and as it were extempore made Sermons to the People Casaubon His Sermons were lively but short seldom exceeding an hour J. H. in the Life of Orig. The Abyssins have neither Preaching nor Hymns but only Liturgies and Homilies and several Portions of Scripture read Ludolph Yet for the younger sort they have Catechizing Idem The Muscovites no not their Monks and Priests cannot give any reason of their belief because they have not the word of God preached unto them And therefore the Patriarch suffers them not to dispute of Religion nor enquire into that of Forreigners D. of Holstein's Emb. Trav. Those who are to profess the Muscovite Religion are sent for six weeks into a Monastery where the Monks Instruct them and teach them their Prayers the manner of Honouring the Saints of doing reverence to the Images and making the signs of the Cross Idem The Protopope of Morum with others were deposed and Banish'd for offering to preach Mahometan Mahometans when they teach publickly hold a drawn Sword in their hand Mutewakelus a Mahomet Emperour Prayed and Preached before the People Muhtadis Billa sate Preaching to the people every Monday and Thursday having a Book always before him Hotting ex Elmas On Friday nine a Clock the Imam preacheth in a pulpit two hours together either declaring the Miracles of Mahomet or exalting the Faith of the Mahomcians or rehearsing fabulous Tales to terrify the bad or inveighing against the Blasphemers of Mahomet Christ and the Saints exhorting to Alms saying over the Commandments of the Law Sa. Purchas Ancient Heathen A great number of youths assemble to the Druids for the Cause of Discipline who are in great honour with them Caes de bel Gal. being moved by such rewards viz. privileges of the Druids and of their own accord many come together into this Discipline and are sent by their Neighbours and Parents there they are said to learn a certain number of Verses Some stay twenty years in the Discipline Idem The Antient Theologues amongst the Egyptians instructed their Scholars in like manner Towerson Modern Heathen In Madagascar I saw one who was certainly their Priest getting up a Tree and speaking to the people for above half an hour but not one of us understanding their Language I know not what discourse he made to them nor yet what
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
Halters and Precipices enough to end your Lives with but you must come hither for an Execution Arrius Antonius Proconsul of Asia to the People c. Ignatius Oh! that I might come to those wild Beasts c. Origon when a youth could hardly be restrained from running into danger 3. They gave thanks to their Enemies for Condemning them A Christian takes it as a favour to dye for so good a cause Tertull. As for us they our Persecutors do us no harm Death doth but the sooner send us to God Clem. Alex. When Lucius one of the primitive Martyrs for speaking for one of the Christians that he had very hard measure was Condemned forthwith he heartily thanked his Judg for it that by this means he should be delivered from such unrighteous Governors and be sooner sent home to his Heavenly Father Just M. 4. They bore up with quietness and composure By reason of our strange and wonderful Courage and Strength new Additions are made to us for when the People see Men with infinite variety of Torments torn in pieces and yet maintain a Patience unconquerable and able to live out his Tormentors what the truth is that the consent of so many and the perseverance of dying persons cannot be in vain Nor that Patience it self were it not from God could hold out under such Racks and Tortures Thieves and men of a Robust Body are not able to bear such tearing in pieces they groan and cry out and are overcome with Pain because not endued with a Divine Patience But our very Children and Women to say nothing of our Men do with silence Conquer their Torments nor can the hottest fire force the least groan from them Lactan. By the force of such Arguments Justin Martyr turned Christian from being a Platonick Philosopher Ap. 1. p. 50. I thought saith he with my self that it was impossible such persons should wallow in Vice and Luxury c. Hence Porphyry calls the Christian Religion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Heathen in Min. Felix stiles the Christians men of an undone furious and desperate Party M. Fel. p. 7. M. Antoninus Emperor imputes this Courage to meer Stuborness l. 11. s. 3. Staupitius told Luther concerning his Behaviour that the first three years he did all things according to the utmost Rigor and that would not do The next three he did all according to the Laws and Councels of the Antients and that would not hit In the last three years he did all according to the Will of God and yet neither would that succeed and then he was fain to be content with what he could have Clar. in vit Capell Japon In Japon there have been Children from ten years old to a dozen who for sixty days together have endured to have their Bodies fastened to the Cross half Burnt half torn in pieces while the Executioners forced them to Eat on purpose to prolong their Lives in Misery and yet they would not renounce the Christian Faith which they had embraced Tavern Collect. c. p. 10. Domestick Worship Jews THey account themselves bound to say an hundred Benedictions of which see the particulars in the Chapter of Praying to God every day Christians Gaspar Colinius Admiral of France used to rise very early and then putting on his Night-gown and calling his Servants about him went to Prayer with them then he set time apart to hear the Deputies of the Churches and other businesses Each other day in the fore-noon he had a Sermon Preach'd before him after which he returned to his business till Dinner which being ready his Servants came in and there the Admiral standing by the Table and his Wife by his side one of David's Psalms was Sung and a Blessing craved upon the Meat which Course he did not only observe at his own House but every day in his Camp without intermission when the Cloth was taken away he presently rose and standing with his Wife by him either himself or Chaplain return'd thanks At Supper time the like was done both with Prayers and Psalms And because he found it hard to get his Servants together at Bed-time because of their various Employments he caused them all to come in presently after Supper where after a Psalm he went to Prayer with them Sam. Clark Bishop Ridley when at the Mannor of Fullham read daily a Lecture to his Family at the Common-Prayer beginning at the Acts of the Apostles and so going through the Epistles of S. Paul Giving to every Man that could read a New Testament hiring them besides with Mony to learn by Heart certain Principal Chapters but especially Acts 13. And often he read Psalm 101. Fox Martyrol Ere I can have sate at my Study to weariness my Family having now overcome all Houshold Distractions invites me to our Common Devotions not without some short preparation Dr. Jos Hall concerning himself Ancient Romans The Games called Ludi Compitales were Instituted among the Romans in honour of their Lares or Houshold Gods Galtruch Gilolo and Amboina The do no work but first they consult the Devil and are of opinion That no ill comes from any other Being and therefore that they ought to prevent it by Sacrifice to him which they are very observant of even in their Houses Paquet broke open vol. 2. Banda Banda is Mahometan and the People there are so Religious that they never do any thing till they have Prayed in the Morning Ibid. Formosa In Formosa each House hath its Oratory where all that is there spent is Offered to the Gods by the Women of the House Ibid. Iucatan In Iucatan they had in their Houses Images made like Bears which they Worshipp'd as their Houshold Gods with Singing and Incense Rosse Goa In Goa most of the Gentiles heads of Families dress their own Victuals themselves first they sweep the House then draw a Circle and confine themselves in it suffering none to enter for then all would be Profaned and the Cook would throw away what he had dressed the Victuals are divided into 3 parts the first for the Poor the second for the Cow of the House the third for the Family Thevenot In Goa they Pray to the first thing they meet with in a Morning tho a Goose or Ass and all day long they Pray to it Rosse Antient Tartars They Worshipp'd the Sun Stars Fire Earth and Water to whom they Offered the First-Fruits of their Meat and Drink every Morning before they eat and Drink themselves Rosse So do the Tartars of Cathay now Peguians In Pegu they feed the Devil every Morning with Baskets of Rice that he may not hurt them that Day Idem Indian Heathens In Fermosa every house hath a particular place appointed for the Devotions of the Family where they invocate the Gods and where the Women make their offerings of what is spent every day in the house But in case of Sickness or other misfortune they call the Inibs to do that Service Mandelslo's Travels p.
sometimes a whole day sometimes longer as the Crime is In that Posture he desires the Cazi to Purifie him The Priest answers the Dog must Purifie him not he After which he pours the Water seven times on his Head then gives him a Draught to drink and so he is absolved Afterwards he Feasts all his Friends at the Cazi's House But the Women and Maids are shrifted by the Cazi's Wife M. Tavernier l. 4. c. 8. Zeal Jews BRethren saith St. Paul my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be Saved for I bear them record that they have a Zeal of God but not according to Knowledge Rom. 10.2 And the Apostle himself was a Zealot of the same kind before his Conversion Concerning Zeal persecuting the Church of God And the Sect he belonged to was notoriously guilty that way none warmer in the blind Pursuit of Religion than the Pharisees And yet we may trace the same fiery Humour conveyed down to following Ages and Generations witness their perpetual Hatred and Persecution of the Christian Church their obstinate Adherence to their Devotions in the Siege of Jerusalem their Zealous Attempts to return to the Holy Land and re-build the Holy City c. and this all in spight of Miracles and Judgments enough to convince them of their Folly if they were not absolutely blind and hardened Scaliger tells us of an Order of Men among them called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mourners that once a year on the ninth day of Ab were allowed entrance into Jerusalem by Adrian's Edict which as Benjamin an Hebrew Author relates give Tithes of all which they possess to the Wise Men always sitting in the School and to the humbled Israelites which lament Sion and bewail Jerusalem These dwell in Caves or ruined Houses Fasting all the days of their Life except on the Sabbaths and Festivals beseeching Mercy continually at the Hands of God Christians The Martyrs at Thebais multitudes having been executed every day with all imaginable Cruelties Sentence was no sooner passed against one Party but others came presented themselves before the Tribunal confessing themselves Christians and received the Sentence with Joy Dr. Cave When Servetus condemned Zuinglius for his Rashness his answer was In aliis mansuetus ero in Blasphemiis in Christum non ita Samodies Here the Priest who is the eldest of the Family or Tribe in Divine Service instead of Singing Howls till he fall down as one dead rising again orders a Sacrifice of five Deer then thrusts a Sword half way into his Belly with several other Illusions and Tricks of Sorcery Pacquet broke open Vol. 2. Mexicans The Town of Mexico was great and had thirteen Temples in each of which were many Idols of Stone of diverse Fashions before whom they Sacrificed Men Doves Quails and other things with great Perfumes and Veneration Some years they Sacrificed as was thought fifty thousand Men. S. Purchas Mahometans The Turks are very Zealous for their Religion which they endeavour to propagate all over the World M. de Thevenot The Asian Turks are greater Zealots I knew at Smyrna a Reverend Preacher amongst them who had many Pupils who was so great a lover of his own Sect that he hated all Mankind beside and stuffed his Sermons with Invectives against Christians till at last chidden by the Officers of the City Yet his Pride hardly abated for when on his Mule's back with his Followers on foot he made all Western Christians whom he met with accidentally to alight and attend whilst so Holy a Man passed by P. Ricaut Esq in his Present State of the Greek Church Heathens In Mexico they burnt Incense before their Idols every Morning Noon-tide Evening and at Midnight and this with much Reverence and then they beat themselves and drew Blood with sharp Bodkins Rosse In Jucatan in their Idolatrous Processions they wound themselves and offer themselves cheerfully for Sacrifices Idem Tunquinese It is a thing almost incredible what a vast number of Sacrifices the King sends to the Temples of his false Gods at his Inauguration to be there offered to the Idols The number of Beasts is said to exceed an 100000 besides the value of a Million in Panes of Gold Tissues and Silks to adorn the Idols and Orange-coloured Calicuts for the Bonzes and those that attend the Service of the Pagods and a vast number of pieces of blue Calicuts for the Poor that are kept in the Pagods Tavernier 's Collection of several Relations c. Moderation Jews A Moderation in reference to the Ceremonial Law especially when the Moral came into Competition with it and sometimes even in reference to the Judicial seems frequently in Scripture permitted and practised Circumcision sometimes neglected and the Passover and Sacrifices c. the Shew-bread eaten by others than Priests and an immoderate Zeal for Oblations New Moons and Sabbaths sharply reproved when the weightier things of the Law were neglected Vid. Psal 50. Isa 1. Hos 6.6 I desired Mercy and not Sacrifice c. Mie 6.6 7 8. As if the Almighty were about to retract those very Ceremonies which himself had instituted when he saw the People dote so fondly upon them as to forget or not duly mind the more solid and substantial parts of Religion Christians When I come to Rome I Fast on the Sabbath when I am here I do not Fast So St. Ambrose at Milan tells St. Augustine which Judgment of Ambrose Austine saith he look'd on as a Heavenly Oracle viz. To whatever Church you come observe the Custom of that Church if you would avoid giving Offence to others and taking it from others Dr. Stillingfleet The Non-observance of indifferent things commanded when there is no apparent Contempt or Scandal does not involve a Man into the Guilt of Sin for the ground of the Magistrates Command is only in point of Contempt and Scandal and for preserving Order in the Church for to command or obey in reference to these things from any Opinion of the necessity of them and therefore the only ground of observing them is to shew that we are not guilty of the Power commanding or of Scandal to others Idem Tota igitur religio ect in fugiendo scandalo vitando contemptu Whitaker Contr. 4. qu. 7 c. 2. They do not bind if Contempt and Scandal be removed P. Martyr de leg Eccl. Hooper who had raised a Difference about Garments writ twice to Ridley about the time of his Persecution and Imprisonment who writ him an answer as soon as he could convey it in which he declared how intirely he was knit to him though in some Circumstances of Religion they had formerly jarr'd a little It was Hooper's Wisdom and his own Simplicity that had divided them every one following the abundance of his own Sense But now he assured him that in the Bowels of Christ he loved him in the Truth and for the Truth Dr. Burnet 's History of the Reform c. The Popish
for it Rosse Tho the Jews in Barbary are not forbid the reading of the Bible yet the Vulgar upon pain of Excommunication must acquiesce in the sense of the Masters this was told as a Secret by R. Aaron ben Netas Dr. Addison The Pentateuch is divided into 52 Sections that so it may be read over in a year See more in Mr. Rosse Swearing by God is a sussicient cause of Excommunication with the Modern Jews Dr. Addison Christians Nazianzen severely chides his dear Friend Greg. Nyssen that rejecting the Holy Scripture the most excellent Writing in the World which he was wont to read both privately and publickly he had given himself to the study of forreign and profane Authors Dr. Cave Augustine Conf. l. 3. c. 5. l. 7. c. 21. complains that at his first reading of the Sacred Scriptures he despised them for the simplicity of their stile not comparable to the Eloquence of Tully but afterwards being unsatisfied with Tully and Plato greedily set upon S. Paul's Epistles and thereupon became inflamed with a Love of Divine Studies yet in the reading of Cicero he was not pleased because he could not find the name of Christ there Blesilla a devout Widow weak and sickly was never found without a Bible in her hand Hieron Olympia Fulvia Morata born at Ferrara in a Letter to the young Princess of that place she saith after getting out from the Idolatry of her own Countrey c. It may seem incredible to you what a change the Lord then made upon my Spirit that former aversion I had to read the Scripture was then turned to have it as my greatest delight and pleasure in the World c. Anonym Chrysostome having Preach'd many Sermons against Swearing at Antioch the people being weary ask'd him when he would leave Preaching To whom he Answered when you leave Swearing Would you have the Plaister taken away before the wound be Cured Ancient Heathens Pythagoras if he be the Author in his Golden Verses and Isocrates c. advise us to revere or be afraid of an Oath Mahometans Mahomet the great promising to his Soldiers the Spoil of Constantinople swore by the Turks great Oath By the Immortal God and by the 400 Probhets by Mahomet by his Father's Soul by his own Children and by the Sword wherewith he was girt Knolles Persians The Persians are mightily addicted to ill Language and Cursing but they never Blaspheme God for is they should hear one Swear or with themselves at the Devil they would cry out in astonishment is not that fellow a fool to give himself to the Devil and renounce Paradise All their Oaths are Ser-azire-sha by the King 's beloved Head or Erva Pigumbir by the Spirit of the Prophet I remember once at Galata walking with some of the French Embassadors Servants we saw two Turks at Cuffs In the end after 1000 curses on one side the other replied no more than this I wish thy Soul may have no more repose in Paradise than the Hat of a French-man hath in this world alluding to our putting them off so often M. Tavernier l. 5. c. 14. Armenians At Egmiasin the Arch-bishop took the Book wherein he had read the Gospel and gave it the Patriarch Bishops and all the people to kiss On the one side of the Cover of that Book are two Relicks Enchased which are cover'd with Crystal M. Tavernier l. 1. c. 3. Persians The Duke of Holstein's Embassador in his Persian Travels tells us Whilst I was viewing one of their Schools or Colleges one of the Regents who read publick Lectures perceiving that I had caused to be Engraven on a Cane which I had for a walking-staff in Arabick Bismi Alla rahman rachim i. e. In the Name of the Merciful God which shews Mercy he desired me to bestow it on him promising to give me a better but finding some difficulty he cut out the word Alla God and put it in a clean paper saying the name of God should not be on a staff thrust in the dirt Muscovites Tho in their quarrels they seldom break out into horrid Oaths and Imprecations yet upon Trivial occasions especially in their dealings they stick not to swear at every word and have incessantly in their mouths their Po Chrestum by Christ making the sign of the Cross at the same time Perjury is severely punish'd first cruelly whipt then banish'd D. of Holstein's Emb. Trav. Amonst the Tartars when a person is dangerously ill the Moullah comes with the Alcoran which he opens and shuts three times and lays it to his Face and upon recovery 't is attributed to the Alcoran M. Taver Mahometans The Mahometans never mention the Name of Christ but with high Reverence and Respect In naming the name of God they must bow and add Most high blessed mighty c. Of Mahomet they must add May God augment his Graces Of other Messengers God is satisfied with them Of Other Doctors May the mercy of God rest upon them The great Mogul himself would speak most respectfully of our Blessed Saviour Christ saith my Author If the Mahometans find a bit of Paper in the the way they take it up and put it in some place of a Wall because the Name of God is or may be written in it So that the holes of the walls are always to be seen stuck full of them for the same reason they use no Paper when they go to ease themselves Yet for all this Reverence they swear by the Name of God at every turn and speak not three words without an Vllah i. e. by God M. de Thevenot A sight it is no less strange than ridiculous to behold the Honour they do unto the Camel at his return unto Constantinople which carried their Alcoran amongst a Caravan of many thousand Pilgrims towards Mecha crowding about him as led through the streets some pulling off his Hairs and preserving them as Relicks some kissing others with his Sweat besmearing their Eyes and Faces and at last cutting him into little gobbets and giving thereof to eat to their Friends and Families Sandy's Trav. l. 2. Modern Heathens The Bramins forbear Swearing and Blasphemy Sir Th. Herb. The Japanese's hate Calumniators Swearers and Gamesters Mandelslo The Gaurs when they put any one to their Oaths Swear them before their Sacred Fire for which they have a very great Veneration M. Tavernier Reverence to God's Name Swearing c. Jews THE Jews permit not their Children to use the name of God till seven years old that they may retain a greater Veneration for that Holy and Reverend name and therefore the first Salutations of Children are plainly May you have a good day I wish you a good Sabbath c. Dr. Addison The Esseans account every word they speak of as much force as if they had bound it with an Oath and they shun Oaths worse than Perjury for they account him a Liar who needs to call God to Witness Joseph de Bell. Jud. l. 2.
c. 7. Christians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For how saith St. Chrysoston is it not Absurd that a Servant should not dare to call his Master by name or bluntly and ordinarily to mention him yet that we slightly and contemptuously should in our Mouth toss about the Lord of Angels How is it not Absurd if we have a Garment better than the rest that we forbear to use it continually but in the most slight and common way to wear the Name of God Dr. Barrow 's Sermon How grievous Indecency is it at every turn to Summon our Maker and call down Almighty God from Heaven to attend our Pleasure to vouch our idle Prattle to second our giddy Passions to concern his Truth Justice Power in our trivial Affairs Idem What Presumption is it with unhallowed Breath to vent and toss that Great and Glorious Holy and Reverend Fearful and terrible Name of the Lord our God the Great Creator the Mighty Sovereign the Dreadful Judge of all the Word what Name which all Heaven with profoundest Submission doth adore which the Angelical Powers the Brightest and Purest Seraphim without hiding their Faces and reverential Horrour cannot utter or hear the very thought whereof should strike an awe through our Hearts the mention whereof should make any Sober Man to tremble Idem A good Man should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and exhibit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Idem ex Clem. Al. Strom. 7. c. Chrysostom preach'd many Sermons to the People of Antioch against Swearing but they being weary of the Subject ask'd when he would leave off Preaching To whom he answered When you leave off Swearing Would you have the Plaister taken away before the Wound be cured Calamy a Fast-Sermon The best way to attest the Truth of what is spoken is to call God to Witness this is the Form of Swearing which we Christians use Athan. Apol. ad Constant. Imp. St. Chrysostom saith It was customary to come into the Church and to Swear upon the Communion-Table taking the Holy Gospels into their hands Dr. Cave St. Basil exhorts them that had Sworn rashly or in unlawful cases to Repentance appoints Perjured Persons Banishment from Communion eleven Years Idem Vegetius de Re Milit. l. 1. a Heathen Author living in the time of Valentinian Jun. sets down this as the Military Oath of the Christians By God Christ and the Holy Spirit and the Majesty of the Emperor Idem Novatus taking his Followers Hands wherein they held the Sacramental Elements caused them to Swear by the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that they would not desert him Euseb Pope Pius appointed forty days Penance with Bread and Water and seven Years following for a Perjured Person that was Free three Forties or Lents Penance and lawful Holy-days for him that was bound Carrauz Decr. Pii Pap. If any Swear by God's Hair or Head if in Orders let him be deposed if a Lay-man Excommunicated c. Idem ibid. Dr. Taylor to the Bishop of London degrading him When the Bishop according to the Formality should have struck him on the Breast with his Crozier and his Chaplains disswaded him from it because he would strike again Yes said he by St. Peter will I for it is the Cause of Christ And again to Mr. Bradford the same Doctor relating the Story told him I have fâ—ightned the Bishop of London for that his Chaplains thought I would have struck him and by my Troth quoth he rubbing his hands I made him believe I would do so indeed Fox's Martyrol Papists Bishop Bonner swore frequently by God by St. Mary by St. Augustine by the Blessed Sacrament Allhallows by my Faith Troth Ibid. Common Swearing among the Papists a venial Sin Aug. de Clavasio Mahometans Vallahi or Tallahi i. e. by God a usual Form of Swearing among the Mahomitans About ten years ago an Arabian well known to me Ahmed Ibn Ali a Suliensian was reproved by the Famous Golius for Swearing took it well and gave thanks for reducing him from that Pernicious and Damnable Custom Hottinger Ancient Heathens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An Oath is a most dreadful thing Arist Reverence an Oath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pythag. aur Carm. The best way of observing an Oath is if you neither use it frequently nor rashly nor in common matters nor for the amplification of Speech nor confirmation of a Relation but in things necessary and solemn and when there is no other way to procure Credit c. Hierocl in Curm Pyth. vid. Isocr ad Demonic Sect. 30. With the Scythians the Swearer's Punishment was loss of his Estate with the Persians Bondage with the Grecians cutting off the Ears with the Romans throwing down a steep Rock Anon. With the English now Payment of one Shilling Praying unto God Jews THE Jews in Barbary resort to Prayer thrice every day in their Oratories 1. At Sun-rising for two hours together which is called Tephillah Sabarit or Morning Prayer 2. About three a clock in the Afternoon which is called Tephillah Minscha or Evening Prayer 3. After Sun-set which is Tephillah arvit or Night Prayer These two last Services are not both of them above an hour long Dr. Addison They pray also to the Angels in their Retirements for the necessary Evacuations of their Body thus Most Holy and most Glorious Ministers of the most High I beseech you keep preserve and help me wait till I come in and go out for this is the Custom and way of all Men. Idem There is an Univesal Agreement among them that they ought every day to say over a hundred Benedictions viz. At washing in the Morning 23 at entrance into the Synagogue six at putting on the Zizith one at putting on the Tephillim one at every one of the three Offices in the Synagogue eighteen three after Dinner two before Night at going to sleep two and as many at Dinner and Supper Idem The Pharisees spent one quarter of the day in Prayer Dr. Hall Christians St. James the Just went daily to the Church and there kneeling on the Pavement prayed so that his Knees became hard and brawny as Camels Dr. Cave out of Euseb Nazianzen saith his Mother Gorgonia prayed so oft that her Knees were hard and did as it were stick to the Ground Idem The Barking of Dogs the Bellowing of Oxen the Grunting of Hogs pleaseth God better than the Canting of Luxuriant Clergy-men Hibernic ex August Thou didst afflict me with Pain of the Teeth and when it was so great that I could not speak it came into my Mind to admonish all my Friends present to Pray for me unto the God of all Health And I wrote this in Wax and gave it to them to be read As soon as we had kneeled down the Pain went away I was amazed I confess my Lord my God for I had never found any thing like it in all my Life August l. 9. Conf. c. 4. Constantine the Great caused his Image in all his