the Messengers but a dismal Spectacle Origen chose rather to commit Idolatry than Fornication though that too was his Enemy's Act rather than his own they hailing him up to the Altar and thrusting the Frankincense into his hand Dr. Cave 6. They accounted Uncleanness an heinous sin and amongst all the sins that were punished sharply in the Ancient Church Adultery was one of the chief Marcion being found guilty of lying with a Virgin and therefore thrown out of the Church betook himself to one Cerdon a Master-Heretick and espoused his Doctrines The Punishment for Adultery was perpetual Penance all a Man's Life and scarce admission to Communion at the Hour of Death 'till Pope Zephyrianus A. C. 216. ordered the Penance for a shorter space of time which offended the Afric Churches Tertullian inveighs bitterly against it as a thing unfit in it self and an Innovation in the Church The Council of Ancyra A. 315. set Adultery at 7 Years Penance Can. 20. The Council of Illiberis decreed for the second Fault perpetual penance not to be absolved at Death S. Basil in his Rules of Discipline for Amphilochius sets Fornication at 7 Years Penance Adultery at 15. His Brother Gregory Bishop of Nyssa sets Fornication at 9 Years Penance Adultery and all other kinds of Uncleanness at 18 yet giving liberty to Spiritual Guides to contract c. Justin M. gives an instance of a Woman that had lived lewdly with her Husband but Repenting and Reforming became strictly chaste and sober and would have persuaded her Husband to do the like but he obstinately refusing it begat a quarrel and that quarrel at last became the Matter of publick cognisance and was an occasion for Justin Martyr to write that excellent Apology for the Christians Apol. p. 41. Theodosius provided by a Law That no Woman should marry within a Year at least after her Husband's death and ratified it by a double Penalty Note of Infamy and loss of Dowry and whatever her Husband had bequeath'd to her Muscovites The postures of the Muscovites in Dancing and the insolence of their Women are infallible marks of their bad inclinations We have seen at Moscou both Men and Women come out of the publick Brothel-Houses stark naked and incite some young People of our Retinue to naughtiness by their filthy and lascivious expressions D. of H. Ambass Trav. p. 60. Yet Adultery is look'd upon as a Sin unpardonable A Polander turning Greek to marry a Muscovite Beauty being forced to take a Journey into Poland his Lady in his absence made a shift to be otherwise supplied and had a Child but fearing her Husband's displeasure retired into a Monastery and was shaved Her Husband would fain have got her out again and pardon'd the offence but it would not be permitted it being according to their Theology a Sin against the Holy Ghost not to be pardon'd in this nor the other World Ibid. Mahometans The Law of Mahomet allows four Wives to any and as many Concubines as they please The Great Mogul is said to have four Wives and a thousand Concubines yet had but six Children yet the Mahometan-Priests and some others content themselves with one Sultan Coob-Surroo one of the Mogul's Sons a Prince of a lovely Presence had but one which accompanied him in all his straits for in his younger Years he had been tempted to Rebellion Anon. The Turks in their Bagnio's separate Men from Women The strict Votaries of that Religion marry not at all 'T is observed those Mahometans who have most Concubines and Wives are most jealous and will not suffer their Wive's Brothers or Fathers to come to them except in their presence Honest Women of reputed Chastity will not at any time be seen but by their Husbands but if they are found Incontinent their own Brother's Hands shall be first against them to take away their Lives rather than they shall not be punished In Indolstan is notwithstanding a free Toleration for Whores who are inrolled before they can have liberty to keep such a House Some of them appear before the Mogul singing wanton Songs playing on Timbrals c. Heathens The Hindoes take but one Wife and are not jealous as the Mahometans who have many suffering their Wives to go whither they please Their Widows cut their Hair and live as Creatures neglected by themselves and others some are ambitious to dye with honour in their Husband's Funeral pile and she that is thus resolved never starts back but goes singing to her Death and altho ' not bound yet never offers to stir out of the Flames The Persees in Indostan have but one Wife who likewise is permitted to go abroad The Mogul one day found one of his Eunuchs kissing one of his Women Put her in a hole in the Ground up to her Head there she died in torment parch'd with the Sun after she had lain a Day and a Night crying out Ah! my Head c. The Eunuch in the same place in her sight was cut in pieces The Women of Deyly are handsome and the Gentiles very chaste insomuch that if the Mahometan Women did not by their wantonness dishonour the rest the Chastity of the Indians might be proposed as an Example to the Women of the East M. de Thevenot Trav. l. 3. c. 25. The Persian Women when they go abroad veil their Faces Sir Th. Herb. The Persees severely punish Adultery and Fornication Mandelslo's Travels Haron Wathic Billak a Turkish Chalif kill'd himself with immoderate Venery Hottinger Armenians One Mariage a Deputy from the King and French Company for Trade with Persia at Zulpha by the means of an old Woman Mother of one of his Lacqueys having debauch'd an Armenian Girl whom he kept privately to himself so soon as it was noised abroad all the Armenians were scandaliz'd at it and sent to seize the Bawd to punish her by their Laws as she deserv'd Mariage fled out of his Lodgings to her Assistance but seeing the People in an Uproar and finding the Stones to fly too thick about his Ears he was forc'd to seek his own safety was threatened by the Armenians to be complained of to the King of France and ever after lookt upon with Scorn and Contempt Tavernier's Collection of several Relations c. p. 36. Japonites In Japon Adultery is only punished in the Women Deflouring and Ravishing of Virgins in the Persons of the Criminals and the next of Kin too Idem p. 4. Here the Women live retir'd and are very faithful to their Husbands Ibid. p. 4. The Emperor having put to death one of the Lords of his Court out of hopes to enjoy his Wife she fearing Violence besought the Emperor to give her time to consider which was granted for some few days at the end whereof she shut her self up in a Room with her Children and after she had delivered a Paper to one of her Servants to carry to the Emperor she set the Chamber on fire and burnt both her self and her Children
to say any thing of a People whose Superstitions are so well known to the Protestants notwithstanding take these few Stories from Dr. Burnet I heard saith he a Copuchin preach here at Milan it was the first Sermon I heard in Italy and I was much surprized at many Comical Expressions and Gestures but most of all with the Conclusion for there being in all the Pulpits of Italy a Crucifix on the side towards the Altar He after a long Address to it at last in a forced Transport took it in his Arms and hugged it and kissed it but I observed that before he kissed it he seeing some Dust on it blew it off very carefully for I was just under the Pulpit He entertained it with a long and tender Caress and held it out to the People and would have forced Tears both from himself and them yet I saw none shed Dr. Burnet 's Letters In Lausanne and Bern one sees a Heat and Bigottry beyond what appears either in France or Italy Long before they come within the Church-Doors they kneel down in the Streets when Mass is a Saying in it The Images also are extreme gross in the Chief Church of Solotoura there is an Image of God the Father as an old Man with a great black Beard having our Saviour on his Knees and a Pigeon on his Head Here also begins a Devotion at the Ave-Mary Bell which is scarce known in France but is practis'd all Italy over At Noon and at Sun-set the Bell rings and all say the Ave-Mary and a short Prayer to the Virgin but whereas in Italy they content themselves with putting off their Hats in Switzerland they do for the most part kneel down in the Streets which I saw no where practis'd in Italy except at Venice and there it is not commonly done Idem The Devotion that is paid to this Saint Antony all Lombary over is surprizing He is called by way of Excellence Il Santo and the Beggars generally ask Alms for his sake but among the little Vows that hang without the Holy Chapel there is one that is the highest pitch of Blaspemy that can be imagined Exaudit speaking of the Saint quos non audit ipse Deus he hears those whom God himself doth not hear Idem Guinea In Guinea they hold it a Sin to spit on the Ground Anonym Mexico In Mexico they held it for an Ominous Token That some Religious Man or Woman had committed a Fault when they saw a Rat or a Mouse pass or a Bat in the Idol-Chapel or that they had gnawed any of the Veils and then began to make inquisition and discovering the Offender put him to Death Purchas Within this great Circuit of the Principal Temple were two Houses like Cloysters the one opposite to the other one of Men the other of Women In that of Women they were Virgins only of 12 or 13 Years of Age which they called the Maids of Penance they were as many as the Men and lived chastly and regularly as Virgins dedicated to the Service of their God Their charge was to sweep and make clean the Temple and every Morning to prepare Meat for the Idol and his Ministers of the Alms the Religious gathered The Food they prepared for the Idol was of small Loaves in the form of Hands and Feet as of March-pane c. These Virgins had their Hair cut and then let it grow for a certain time they rose at Midnight to the Idol's Mattins which they daily celebrated performing the same Exercises which the Religious did They had their Abbesses who employed them to make Cloth of divers fashions for the Ornaments of their Gods and Temples Their ordinary Habit was all white without any work or colour They did their Penance at Midnight sacrificing and wounding themselves and piercing the tops of their Ears laying the Blood which issued forth on their Cheeks and after bathed themselves in a Pool which was in the Monastery None were received into this Monastery but the Daughters of one of the six Quarters named for that purpose and this Procession continued a Year during which time their Fathers and they had Vowed thus to serve the Idol and then they might Marry The other Cloyster was of Young Men of 18 or 20 Years old with Crowns shaven living poorly and chastly ministring to the Priests Incense Lights and Garments sweeping the Holy Place bringing Wood for a continual Fire that still burned before the Altar Besides these there were other little Boys that decked the Temple with Boughs Roses and Reeds gave the Priests Water to wash Razours for Sacrificing and went with such as begged Alms to carry it When they came where Women were they carried their eyes to the ground not daring to behold them They had linnen Garments and went into the City 4 or 6 together to beg Alms and if they got none they might go into the Corn-fields and gather what they needed There might not above 50 live thus together they arose at Midnight and sounded the Trumpet to awaken the People They watched by turn that the Fire might not go out At Midnight Morning Noon and Night they gave the Censer to the Priest and after Midnight-Service they retired into a secret place where they sacrificed and drew blood with Bodkins from the Calves of their Legs with which they rub'd their Temples and under their Ears and afterwards washed in a Pool appointed for that end Purchas Ancient Heathens The Tartars have their Religious Votaries and Monasteries amongst which there is an Order called Senscin which eat nothing but Bran steep'd in Water Rosse Modern Heathens The Chinese have many Monasteries Monks who are shaven wear Beads are present at Funerals are bound to Celebacy whilst Monks and to Pray two hours together before Day Of these are four sorts distinguished by four Colours black white yellow russet They have also their Priors Provincials and General who is carried on Mons Shoulders in an Ivory Chair and is cloathed in Silk Their maintenance partly allowed by the King partly got by begging c. They have also Nuns Hermits Consecrated Hills c. Rosse The Religious Orders in Siam are so strict that it's Death among them to speak to a Woman they feed on Rice only and Herbs which they beg from Door to Door They must not buy nor sell nor take Rents They are tied to rise at Midnight to Prayers they go bare-footed and in bare clothes Idem In Japan They have multitudes of Cloysters and Colleges Idem In Ceylon are many Monasteries of yellow Monks shaven and still praying on Beads who have their Processions in great Solemnity with Dancing and Musick Idem Mahometans In Natolia near the Sepulcher of a certain Saint is a Convent of these Monks viz. Dervises being above 500 where once a Year is kept a general Meeting of this Order about 8000 over whom their Superior called Assambaba is President Idem Christians The Original of Monachism is attributed to S.
and was helpful to others in repeating them c. Though his Father often and earnestly endeavoured to divert him yet when a Boy he was unmoveable in his desires to be a Minister Clark's Lives Arch-Bishop Vsher at ten Years old found himself wrought upon by a Sermon on Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God c. About the same time he was moved to a more conscientious observation of the Lord's Day by reading some Notes taken from Mr. Perkins's Works then also he read Augustine's Meditations with frequent weeping Idem D. Bern. King Edw. VI took Notes of such things he heard in Sermons which more nearly related to himself Hist of Reform Queen Elizabeth wrote a good hand before she was four Years old and understood Italian Dr. Burnet Ibid. Mrs. Marg. Corbet Daughter of Sir Nathanael Brent Warden of Merton College when about 14 Years of Age wrote Sermons with dexterity and left many Volumes of such Notes writ with her own hand Clark Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson was from her Childhood very docile took much pains in writing Sermons and collecting special Notes out of Practical Divines When I was about 12 Years old saith she in a Narrative written with her own hand upon reading in the Practice of Piety concerning the happy Estate of the Godly and the miserable condition of the wicked in their Death and so for ever unto all Eternity it pleased the Lord so to affect my heart as from that time I was wrought over to a desire to walk in the ways of God Sir Tho. More never offended his Father nor was ever offended by him Olympia Fulvia Morata an Italian born at Ferrara bred at Court there with the Young Princess the Duke's Daughter of a singular Spirit for Learning could both Write and speak Elegant Latine and Greek in her very young years c. Anon. Mahometans The poor Hindoes though they have not above five Shillings a Moon for their Labour yet will impart at least half that little to their Parents when in want Anon. The Great Mogul though he esteemed the whole World as his Vassals would sometimes be one to help to carry his Mother in a Palankee upon his Shoulders Idem Persians Parentes non honorantes brevis aevi sunt Sir Tho. Herb. out of Homer Amongst the Ancient Persians Children from the fifth Year of their Age to the twentieth used little other exercise saith Herodotus than to ride the Horse Shoot and speak Truth Sir Thomas Herbert Chinese The Chinese marry not without their Parents consent leave their Childrens Names to them honour them be they never so mean relieve them be they never so poor at their death express all symptoms possible of Duty in white Linnen mourn seldom less than two or three Years Mahometans It is observed That the Children of Mahometans have a particular Tenderness to them that brought them into the World nay it is sometimes so great that they will rather starve themselves than suffer their Parents to want Mandel Trav. p. 61. Persia In Persia the Children go to School betimes Persons of Quality have Tutors at home so that they stir not abroad till 18 unless a Hunting c. And therefore are very modest Tavern Good Husbands Jews AMongst the Ancient Hebrews we find Abraham to Sarah Isaac to Rebecca Jacob to Rachel discharging well the Duties of Husbands to their respective Wives that which looks most like a blemish in these Examples and of others that lived after them in the Jewish Oeconomy is their marrying of many Wives a Point very obscure yet connived at and seemingly permitted for the time and continued still in use among the Jews and accounted as one of their chief Privileges For they believe That a Man may take as many Wives as he can find with Meat Drink Cloaths and the right of the Bed But because Polygamy is clog'd with inconveniencies which an ordinary Eye may fore-see consequent upon it they are not now a-days very fond of the Practice Christians In Venice the Wives are bred to so much Ignorance and they converse so little that they know nothing but the dull Superstition on Holy-days in which they stay in the Churches as long as they can and so prolong the little liberty they have of going abroad on those days as Children do their Hours of Play They are not employed in their Domestick Affairs and generally they understand no sort of Work so that I was told that they were they insipidest Creatures imaginable they are perhaps as vicious as in other places but it is in them down-right lewdness without any preamble or preparative down-right heastliness The Italians by their excessive caution want the true delights of a Married State Dr. Burnet's Letters Ancient Heathens Socrates is recorded to hear with much Patience not only other cross accidents in his Life Affronts Reproaches Injuries but also the perverseness of his Wife Xantippe her railing Words abusive Behaviour throwing the Chamber-pot upon his Head over-throwing the Table when he had invited his Philosophical Guests to Feast with him insomuch that she herself gave this Testimony of him That she never saw him change Countenance for any thing that befel him but used still codem incedere vultu to go out and return home with the same evenness of Spirit and pleasantness of Face Heathens In the Moluccaes they have Officers who at break of Day go about the Town and with the beat of a Drum awake the People and exhort the Masters of Families to remember their Matrimonial Duties Mandel Trav. p. 130. Moluques What is mention'd before about the Office of beating a Drum every Morning at break of Day I find observed by another Traveller with only this addition That they account it their publick Interest that the Inhabitants should multiply Pac. broke open Vol. 2. Good Wives Jews THE Rabbins have taught the Jews in Barbary against the time of Child-birth to draw Circles in the Chamber of the Woman with Child and on the Doors within and without and Walls and about the Bed inscribing every Circle with Adam Chava Chutz Lilis i. e. Adam Eve Begone Lilis Lilis was as they say Adam's first Wife but disobedient and undutiful and therefore was upon her speaking the Most Holy Name rapt up out of his sight into the Air and tho afterwards pursued by three Angels who overtook her at the Red Sea she refused to return pleading That she was created in the same manner as Adam was and therefore she would not be Subject but that she was to destroy the Male-Children for eight Days after the Birth and Females for Twenty The Angels finding in her a shrewd resistance dismiss'd her on this condition That she should spare those Infants where she saw their Names written And to this Time the Jews use to write the three Angels Names in a Table or Parchment Senei Sanfenoi Saumangeloph and to hang them for Amulets about the Children's Necks The meaning of Adam Eve
Chutz Lilis is That if the Mother bring a Boy God would not give him a scolding undutiful Wife as Lilis was but one like Eve Doctor Addison Christians My Mother being given to my Father of GOD became not only his Helper but also his Leader and Captain both by Word and by Deed drawing him to the best things and albeit in other things it were best for her to be subject to her Husand for the right of Marriage yet in Religion and Godliness she was not afraid to shew her self his Mistress She being a Christian Woman and he an Infidel watched fasted sung Psalms and prayed for her Husband and was careful for him She converted her Husband she converted others she brought up her Children in the Fear of GOD her Husband entrusted her with the disposal of his Money to the Poor Greg. Nazianz. of his Mother's help to his F. Bp. of Nazianz. S. Augustine speaking of his Mother Monica saith That she served her Husband as her Lord and that she endeavour'd what she could for the winning of him to the Faith That she patiently sustained the Injuries of the Bed and though Patricius was of a hot and cholerick Temper yet she never made resistance to him in his Anger neither in Word or Deed but sometimes when she had an opportunity in his calm Humours she would give him an account of what she had done and the reasons for it She would often gravely admonish other Women for laying open the Faults of their Husbands in Familiar Discourses with one another and let them know that she had a Faculty beyond them in escaping scratch'd Faces and Quarrels under a Husband of a much rougher Spirit than theirs that it was never heard or known by any sign that Patricius had ever beaten his Wife or Monica ever quarrel'd with her Husband Aug. Conf. l. 9. c. 9. At last she begat him to the Faith Queen Katherine Henry the Eighth's Wife used to work with her own hands and kept her Women to work with her Dr. Burnet Queen Anne Boleyn work'd with her own hands the last time Months of her Life gave 1400 l. to the Poor Idem Bern. About Bern the Wives even of the chief Magistrates look into all the concerns of the House and Kitchin as much as the Wives of the meanest Peasants Idem Japoners The Women live retired and are very faithful to their Husbands the Emperor having put to death one of his Lords in hopes to enjoy his Wife who desiring time to consider upon it shut her self up in a Room with her Children and sending her Servant with a Paper to the Emperor set the Chamber on Fire and burnt her self c. Persians The Persian-Women are seen by none but their own Husbands are very idle in their own Houses not so much as looking after any thing of Housewifry spend their time in taking Tobacco going to the Baths wearing the best Cloaths bringing Collations have many Slaves whom they use to rub their Arms Legs Thighs 'till they fall asleep in their voluptuous Prison M. Tavern l. 5. c. 14. Opposita juxta se posita magis clucescunt Muscovites As soon as the Wedding is over the Woman must resolve to live a retired life seldom giving visits and because they are much given to Wine and have lewd Tongues and sometimes pleasure a Friend no wonder if sometimes they are soundly cudgelled by their Husbands But I can't say as Barclay in his Icon animorum that they take unkindness if not beaten D. of Holst Ambass Trav. Madagascar In Madagascar the Fidelity of Wives to their Husbands is remarkable and exemplary and the Men think it no disparagement to take their Advice and because they have two Wives commonly or more he hath most compliance for the more Aged Mandelslo Armenians The Armenian Wives never speak to their Husbands but only nod never dine with them are seldom seen by them always rise before day See Chapter of Marriage Indians The Husband dying among the Indians the Wife can never Marry again so that as soon as the Man is dead the Wife retires to bewail her Husband shaves off her Hair lays aside her Ornaments of Apparel and all the rest of her Life after lives slighted and despised and in a worse condition than a Slave in the same House where she was Mistress before For this reason and because the Bramins flatter them with a hope that whilst they are in the midst of the Flames Ram will appear and reveal wonderful Visions to them and that they shall revive again with their Husbands in another World with more honour and advantages they choose to be buried alive with their Husbands Those who cannot get leave of their Governours to be burnt spend the rest of their lives in doing Penance and in works of Charity sitting upon the Road to boyl certain Pulse in Water and give the Liquor for the use of Travellers others sit with Fire always ready to light their Tobacco others vow to eat nothing but the undigested Grains in Cow-dung When the Governour finds no Porsuasions alter the Woman's resolution his Secretary making sign that he hath received the Coin in a surly manner gives the VVoman leave bidding the Devil take her and all her Kindred Having got this leave their Musick begins to strike up and away they ding to the House of the deceased with Drums beating and Flutes playing before them and Women following with loud Congratulations and Songs in honour of the miserable Creature that is going to dye I have seen Women burnt three several ways in Guzerat and Bengala c. Tavern Trav. p. 2. l. 3. c. 9. Good Masters Jews ABraham the Father of the Faithful and the Glory of the Jewish Nation as he performed the part of a good Master having that excellent Elogium bestowed upon him by GOD himself That he would command his Children and Family after him and instruct them in the Fear of the Lord. So he had a Servant both Pious and Faithful that discharged the Trust put in him delivers his Message prays for a Blessing upon his Undertaking gave thanks for his Success and this all in a Momentous Affair the procuring a Wife for his young Master Isaac Gen. 24. Muscovites The Muscovites are generally very severe to their Servants and use the Cudgel upon a small cause but especially the Great Dukes have been wont to lash their Physicians looking on that Art as infallible formerly c. A German Physician that had one time disappointed the Czar's expectation in the cure of the D. of Holstein his Kinsman came with a tatter'd Garment his Hair hanging over his Eyes and Face to the Duke's Chamber creeping on all four to his Bed-side told him That he was not worthy to live c. A Kuez being present kick'd him on the head and drew Blood The Physician perceiving favour in the Great Duke's Countenance said confidently to him Great Prince I know I am your Slave but be pleased to give
The Emperor met with nothing else in the Paper but Reproaches of his Tyranny and Attestations of Joy from the Lady that she had the opportunity to sacrifice her self to the memory of her Husband Ibid. Lutherans At Bern the third Adultery is punished with Death which is also the punishment of the fifth Act of Fornication of which I saw an instance while I was at Bern for a Woman who confessed her self guilty of many Whoredoms and designed to be reveng'd on some Men that did not furnish her liberally with Money was upon that account condemned and executed the manner was solemn for the Advoyer comes into an open Bench in the middle of the Street and for the satisfaction of the People the whole Process was read and sentence was pronounced in the hearing of all the Counsellors both of the great and lesser Council standing about the Advoyer who after Sentence took the Criminal gently by the Hand and prayed for her Soul and after Execution there was a Sermon for the instruction of the People Dr. Burnet's Letters Papists in Florence I was much scandalized to see Statues with Nudities here which I do not remember to have seen any where else in Churches Dr. Burnet's Letters Bengal In Bengal Adultery is punished by cutting the Nose yet is very common Pacquet broke open Vol. 2. Siam 'T is burning alive for the Clergy in Siam to have to do with Women but those that cannot contain may quit the Priesthood and be absolved from their Vow of Chastity There are also Nunneries of old Religious Women situate near the Temple that they may be present at the Offices and Prayers there Ibid. Patana The Mahometans in Patana judge Fornication no Sin but Adultery is capital yet the Delinquent may chuse the manner of Death and a near Relation must be Executioner Ibid Moluques Polygamy among the Moluques is lawful and Adultery unpunished Ibid. Japanese The Ecclesiasticks in Japan make a vow of Chastity so strictly to be observed that the least breach of it is punished with the most cruel Death imaginable fixing them in the Earth up to the middle in a Road and all the vulgar Passengers are to strike him in the Neck with a wooden Saw which makes him three or four Days expiring But think them not Chaste for all this for they are allowed the use of Men and Boys Ibid. Yet one Sect of the Ecclesiastics are allowed to marry Ibid. Fermosa Adultery Theft and Murder here are accounted no Crimes the only Sins being their covering their secret Parts at set-times to wear Silk when they should wear Cotton not to have destroyed Children in their Mothers Womb who cannot lawfully bear a Child at 30 or 35 Years of age Ibid. Chinese In China Polygamy is lawful Ibid. Candin In Candin they prostitute their Wives Sisters and Daughters to Strangers in honour of their Idols Ibid. Circassia They seem to adore a Goats-Skin which at the Funeral of the Chief Lords of each Village is set up at its entrance The Privities they cut off and cast against the Wall and if they stick there they worship them Ibid. Madagascar c. In Madagascar the Lower-Ethiopia c. they allow Polygamy Ibid. Mexico Some of the Priests in Mexico to preserve their Chastity slit their Members in the midst and do an hundred things to make themselves Impotent lest they should offend their Gods Purchas Paria In Paria each Man is allowed as many Wives as he lists at least as he can maintain tho they never have the Maiden-heads of any Prostituting them the first Night to the Piaco's Priests or to their appointment who for small matters turn over that drudgery to Strangers Nor do they at any time think their Guests welcome unless they will do the Office of Men to their Wives Sisters c. S. Clark Patience in Sufferings Christians There were Six Methods of Execution Ordinary in the Primitive Times 1. THE Cross ✚ Upon this the Christians Hung till starved with Hunger or dispatched by Birds or wild Beasts S. Andrew continued two whole Days on the Cross Preaching the Gospel all the while Timotheus and his Wife Maura after many other Torments hung nine Days before they compleated their Martyrdom It was the peculiar Punishment of Slaves Traitors and the vilest Malefactors S. Peter and some Egyptian Martyrs were hung with their Heads downwards Constantine took away the use of the Cross 2. The Rack Equuleus because the Man was Horsed upon the Engine by Ropes and Skrews and Pullies a long board was on the Top of it Besides which there was Catasta a Piece of wood like a little Scaffold that the Torments might be more conspicuous In both of them were ungulae pinchers of Iron with sharp Teeth to pull the Flesh by Piece-meal 3. The Wheel sometimes with Iron Pricks on which the person bound was whirled about with a Violent Distortion Thus suffered Felix Presb Fortunatus c. 4. Burning designed for Villains c. 5. Throwing to wild Beasts Bears Leopards Lions c. 6. Condemning to the Mines where was toyling beating with Clubs binding with Chains lying on the Ground Nakedness the Heads half shaved like Slaves a mark in the Face the right Eye pulled out the left foot disabled by cutting of Nerves the Estate forfeited c. To which add 1. Scourging with Rods Plumbate having Leaden Plummets at the ends 2. Beheading c Marcus Bishop of Arethusa being first dawbed with Honey was exposed to Wasps on a Pole in the Sun Some were put into old Ships and turned out to Sea the Vessels being first set on fire Thus an Orthodox Presbyter under Valens the Arrian Emperor was served Concerning the Patience of the Primitive Christians Observe 1. When sought for by Persecutors they cared not to escape So Polycarp refused to Fly tho into the next House Cyprian Commends some Confessors whom he wrote to in Prison that when oft desired to go out of Prison they would not Himself did with-draw from Carthage when sent for to Suffer at Vtica that when he did suffer he might Suffer at Carthage where he was Bishop a thing which he earnestly wished for and it was granted him 2. They Offered themselves The miscrable Creatures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do verily perswade themselves that they shall surely be Immortal and Live for ever on which account they despise Death and many of them voluntarily Offer themselves to it Lucian de Mort. Peregr Tom. 2. I am quite tired out in Punishing and Destroying the Galileans called here by the Name of Christians according to your Commands and yet they cease not to offer themselves to be slain Nay tho I have laboured both by fair means and threatenings to make them conceal themselves from being known to be Christians yet can I not stave them off from Persecution Tiberianus President of Palestine to the Emperor Trajan Apud Vsser Append. Ignat. O unhappy People if you have a mind to dye have you not
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
Trees in great Veneration and consult with them as with Oracles Rosse In Angola and Congo they are much addicted to Divination by Birds Rosse In Jucatan they caused Boys in hollow Images to answer the Peoples Petitions as if God had spoke to them Idem The Priests in South-America learn Physick and Magick when young being shut up two Years in Woods all which time they keeep their Cells see no Women nor eat Flesh they are taught by their Masters in the Night Idem Some West Indians at this day by fuming their Heads over the smoak of Tobacco will fall into a Trance for four or five Hours and fore-see what Ships are making to their Ports tho' several days of and report where the Vessels then are when they awake Pacquet broke open Vol. 2. In Gilolo and Amboina they bring their Daemon or Nito to conference with a Tabor VVax-Candles and words of Conjuration he appears to them in the shape of a Man all their actions are preceded by consulting the Devil Ibid. Rewards and Punishments future according to the Jews Jews I Need not here declare what the Sentiments of the ancient Jews before our Saviour's time were it shall suâ—fice to tell what their Opinion is in the present Age as Dr. Addison hath informed us in his Present State of the Jews in Barbary 1. They say that all Souls were created together and placed in a certain Region whence the several Bodies in their proper times are furnished as they are ready to receive them and if the Souls offend in this State they are sent into infirm Bodies for a Punishment and this Pre-existence they found on Eccles 4.3 2. Souls are conjoyned with Bodies which is an Imprisonment like Birds in Cages 3. Afterwards they are separated from the Body to a Temporal State of Happiness or Unhappiness wherein they continue till the final Sentence 4. At last they are disposed of into a State of Eternal Duration yet 5. They hold a Purgatory to be in Hell from whence they can never be delivered but by the vertue of the Kaddish a Prayer repeated once a day for the space of a year by some surviving Relation 6. They generally hold that none stays there above a Twelve-month 7. If any one's Sins are too great or many to be purged the Soul by Transmigration is to finish its Penance in another Body and so on in a Third Fourth Fifth Sixth till it come to a Seventh where it finds rest Heaven eternal 1. The State of Pre-existent Souls 2. Of Souls conjoyned with Bodies 3. The Temporal State of Souls Separated from Bodies by death till the day of Judgment 4. A years Purgatory 5. The Soul not purged in transmigration to other Bodâ—â—â— 1. Body 2 Body 3 Body 4 Body 5 Body 6 Body 7 Body Rest. They hold That they which are not of their Religion if found disobedient to the Law of Nature I suppose my Author means shall suffer a total Perdition of their Being themselves are liable only to a lesser Happiness Both Jews and Moors are of Opinion That the Infernal Torments shall have an end and that the fallen Angels shall be then restored to Mercy They place the Consummation of the World in a Restoration of it to that Beauty and Order it was at first designed They say the Resurrection shall be only out of the Holy Land whither all that are buried in other Countries must uncessantly rowl thro' the dark Caverns of the Earth and to avoid this trouble they endeavour when old to return to Palestine Four Privileges of the Jews 1. The Land of Canaan 2. The Law of Moses 3. The Gift of Prophecy 4. And the Resurrection Mahometans An Account of them as communicated to us By F. Simon out of a Book of Mahometanism written by a Modern Doctor of that Religion according to the Doctrine generally received and approved by most good Men in and about Constantinople 1. After Death and Burial two of the greatest Angels Munzir and Nekir come and ask the Person what Belief he hath concerning God and the Prophet and the Law and the Kible what side one is to turn to in praying to God The Just are to answer Our God is he that hath created all things Our Faith is the Mussulman and Orthodox Faith and the true direction of our Prayers is the Kible Unbelievers not knowing what to answer are condemned to suffer great Pains 2. At the general Resurrection the Good before their entring into Paradise shall drink of certain Fountains so that they shall never thirst again Mahomet's Fountain for him and his Sect shall contain as much space of Ground as one can travel in a Month On the brinks of this Fountain shall be as many lavers as Stars in the Firmament the Water sweeter than Honey and whiter than Milk 3. Their Paradise is thus described 1. 'T is all full of Musk. 2. The Buildings of Gold and Silver Bricks 3. All sorts of Delicious Meats are there 4. Their Cloaths never wear out 5. What any one desires comes ready dress'd to their Hand 6. None subject there to sleep or other Necessities of the Body 7. Divine and Celestial Women and Virgins free from all Incommodities 8. They who once enter never come out again 4. Their Hell-thus 1. Unbelievers shall be Eternally with Devils 2. They shall be Tormented with Serpents bigger than Camels and Scorpions bigger then Mules With Fire also and scalding water 3. When burnt and turn'd to a Coal God shall raise them again for fresh Torments and so never to end 5. Believers dying without Repentance are to be disposed of by God according to his good pleasure some of them are pardon'd others to expiate by their sufferings till released and admitted to Paradise Mahomets Paradise A River of Water Honey Wine Milk God appearing on Fridays Fruits Delicious Dgennet Zlar i.e. Virgins of Paradise with black Eyes white Bodies always young never exceeding 15 red Cheeks Young Boyes to attend with Vials of Liquors Fruits and Fowles Cloaths of Green or Scarlet Silk and Gold Araf i.e. A Place for them who have done neither good nor evil The 6th Gate thro' which they that fear shall enter Paradise 5. Gate 6. Gate 7. Gate Gate of Hell 2. Gate Selzaboul a River of which when they have drunk after their sins are consumed they go to Heaven Zacon a Tree of whose frut they eat which shal burn in their Bellies like fire Chains of 70 〈◊〉 A Well of scalding water of which they drink * Purchas tells out of Bellonius That there is in Paradise a Tree which shadows it all over and spreads her Boughs upon the Walls the Leaves of pure Gold and Silver the Name of God and Mohomet writ on each Leaf That if one of those Virgins of Paradise should come forth at Midnight she would enlighten the World as much as the Sun If she should spit into the Sea all the Water would become sweet That Gabriel keeps the Keys of
Paradise 70000 in Number each 7000 Miles long That there is a Table of Admant 700000 days Journey long and broad with Seats of Gold and Silver about it to Feast on Ancient Heathens Socrates held That the Souls of Men were Divine and had two ways to go when separated from the Body the wicked Excluded from the Communion of the Gods the Good and Chast went again to the Gods from whence they came Cic. 1. Tusc de Acad. Heathens Ancient Greeks Romans 1. For Punshment They assigned a place called Tartarus concerning which consider 1. It s Name Tartarus quia Multae ibi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive perturbationes Nat. Com. l. 3. Erebus ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tenebrae 2. It s Antiquity Most Antient Coetaneous with the Night and the confused matter of the World Aristoph in Avibus 3. It s Scituation viz. As far distant from the Earth as Earth from Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hesiod A piece of Iron would be ten days in falling to it 4. It s Description 1. Walls of Brass a Gate of Iron with many Bars 2. Rivers four in Number which Styx runs round Hell nine times Dict. qu. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Odiosus Styx Acheron Phlegethon Cocytus 3. Officers of several kinds 1. The God Plutus 2. The Judges three Aeacus Minos Rhadamanthus 3. The Ferriman Charon 4. The Porter Cerberus 5. The Destinies Parcae Clotho Lachesis Atropos 6. The Furies Eumenides 4. Punishments various rolling a Stone up a Hill drawing Water with a Sieve c. 2. For reward of Vertue They assign'd a place in the Elysian Fields or among the Stars or in the Retirements of Heaven among the Gods Many of those who suspected their Souls to be Eternal as if they were to pass streight to Heaven laid violent hands on themselves as Cleanthes and Chrysippus Zeno and Empedocles Of the Romans Cato Vticensis who taking it ill that Pompey was vanquish'd by Caesar stabbed himself with his own Sword having first read Plato's Phaedon concerning the Souls immortality Textor ex Lactant. CAMPI-ELYS II. Lethe Fluvius de quo bibebant animae ante discessum viz. Metempsychosin Huc ad omnimodam voluptatem transferebantur animae post Purgationem in Tartaro Tartarus Ixion Sisyphus Tantalus Orcus Aello Ocypete Celaeno Belides Dice Nomia Eyrene â—ora Harpyae Morpheus Nox Judices Pluto Proserpina Parcae Minos Rhadamanthâ—s AEacus Eumenides Dirae Clotho Lachesis Artropos Alâ—â—â—o Megaeâ— Tisiphone Chimaera Cerberus Cocytus Phiegethon Styx Acheron Charon Mors Modern Heathens The Persees believe the Metempsychosis or passage of Souls into Beasts e.g. the Souls of Drunkards or Epicures into Swine the Lustful and Incestuous into Goats and Dogs the Dissemblers into Apes Crocodiles and Foxes the Lazy into Bears the Wrathful into Tygers the Proud into Lions the Blood-thirsty into Wolves Ounces and Snakes the Perjured into Toads c. But the Souls of Good Men Abstemious Pitiful and Courteous into Kine Buffaloes Sheep Storks Doves Turtles c. Touching the last Judgment they hold it shall be more dreadful than the other the Moon will look as Red as Blood the Sun will shed his light like purling Brimstone after which will follow an universal flashing with Fire and loud Thunders then a flaming Redness will over-spread the Heavens and the four Elements shall maintain a dreadful Fight so long and so fiercely one against another that at last all will be resolved into a dreadful confusion the Souls of such as were good Men Ruddery one of their Prophets is to transport into Heaven the wicked must Perish but the Bodies of both rise no more being too incredulous of the Resurrection Sir Tho. Herbert's Travel into Persia Siam In Siam they believe that the Good are rewarded and Wicked punished That the World shall stand 8000 years and then be burn'd to Ashes whence shall come forth two Egs and out of them one Man and one Woman who shall replenish the Earth again Rosse Pegu. In Pegu they believe Transanimation that some Souls shall live in Carnal Pleasure after Death some in Torment some Annihilated Also multitudes of Worlds succeeding each other that this World hath been Govern'd by Four Gods already who are gone the fifth not yet come after whose Death the World shall be burn'd Idem Magor They also hold Transanimation of Souls Idem As do also the Tartars in Cathay Cambaia Here also they are so Superstitiously Pythagoreans that some of their Religious Orders are afraid to Kill a Gnat or Worm Idem They will not drink their Water cold left they should slay the Soul of the Water which they think is quicken'd by boyling Idem They are afraid to tread upon Ants and will eat no Egs lest there should be Blood in them Malabar These People also are Pythagoreans and hold not only the Immortality and Transanimation of the Souls of Men and Beasts but a kind of Divinity in Elephants Kine c. Idem Japan In Japan they believe diverse Paradises to which every peculiar God carrieth his own Worshippers to obtain which many drown themselves some cut their own throats or break their Necks some in narrow Holes receive breath only by a Cane and so continue Fasting and Praying till they die Idem They have a Feast in which they burn a multitude of Candles at their Doors and walk all night up and down the streets to meet the Souls of their Friends lately departed before whom they set Meat and Drink and invite them to their Houses that in their three years Journey to Paradise they may not faint for want of Provision Idem Some say they hold a Transmigration as do also the Chinese c. In Canada in America they believe that their Souls shall ascend into the Stars and go down with them into a Paradise of Pleasure Rosse Christians of St. John They believe there is no other future World but where Angels and Devils the Souls of Good and Bad reside That in that World are Cities Houses and Churches and that the Evil Spirits have also Churches where they Pray Singing and Rejoycing upon Instruments and Feasting as in this World That when any one lies at the point of Death 360 Demons come and carry his Soul to a place full of Serpents Dogs Lions Tigers and Devils The Soul of a wicked Man is torn in pieces of a just Man creeps under the Bellies of these Beasts into the Presence of God who sits in the seat of Majesty to Judg the World That there are Angels also that weigh the Souls of Men in a Ballance who being thought worthy are admitted immediately into Glory M. Tavernier l. 2. c. 8. p. 92. Gaurs The Priests of the Gaurs have several Books full of small Pictures in Water-colours ill done representing how the several sins of Men shall be Punished in Hell especially Sodomy which they abominate Idem l. 4. c. 8. If any of them fall sick they hire poor People to go and find out Adders Serpents Lizards Toads Frogs