confession and upon a heinous crime riseth up and after a sharp rebuke cries out Hast thou done this Dost thou not fear God Go to let him be scourged 30 or 40 times Tellez One to avoid a sharp and open Absolution desired to be heard in private to whom the Metropolitan How shall not thy sins be made manifest at the last days before all the world Tell therefore what it is Confession being made that it was stealing Oxen the Offender being present he was constrained to restore the Oxen and undergo a severe penalty beside Ludolph Armenians When an Armenian confesseth e. g. Robbery Murder c. the Confessor tells him God is merciful c. But if eating Butter on a Friday or day of fasting Oh! a grievous Crime and severe Penances enjoyn'd for it as fasting several months refraining six months from his Wife M. de Thevenot The Priests give Absolution indifferently for all sins F. Sim. Extream Unction is not administred till after Death and commonly given only to Priests Georgians If they have no Children by their Wives they divorce from them by permission of the Priests and marry others So also in case of Adultery and Quarrelling Muscovites They forbid Polygamy as also Fourth Marriages by Succession as also marriage of two brothers to two sisters and of Godfathers and Godmothers Young men and maids may not see one another nor speak together before marriage or make any promise by word or writing D. of Holstein 's Embaessad Travels See more in the second book Indians They were married by the first Priest they found Abissines Polygamy is tolerated by the Civil Magistrate but not allowed by the Church and such as marry more than one are prohibited from the Holy Sacrament Alvarez tells of his own knowledge that his Host at Dobarra had 3 Wives and by them 37 Children for which he was not admitted to Church Communion till he had put two of them away Their Kings have many Wives and Concubines the Laws of their Church and Nation not agreeing well together Marriages of Kindred forbidden even to distant degrees for the Ethiopians wanting Terms of Distinction call all one another Sisters and Brothers Thus a Church-man may not marry his brother's Wife but a Lay-person may No Marriages but such as are approved by Divine Authority are honour'd with Sacerdotal Benediction nor those publickly in the Church unless they be such Clergy-men to whom the Hallelujah is sung Other people are married at home or before the Church-doors All secular persons may throw off the Yoke when they please and do often upon light causes by determination of the King's Judges Job Ludolph l. 3. Armenians They marry their Children very young sometimes promise them as soon as born and often marry them at 7 or 8 years old bur tho the Priest perform the Ceremonies then yet they defer the consummation till the usual time M. de Thev The Priest brings them near the Altar reads several Prayers blesses the marriage by holding a Wooden Cross over them joyning their hands and heads together yet so that the Bride's Head touches the Bridegroom's Breast then they communicate afterward the Priest casts Rose-water upon them and ties a Scarf about the Bride 's Right Hand by which the Bridegroom leads her D. of Holst Emb. Maronites They make no publication in Church of marriages before the solemnity They go to any Priest to marry them They marry sometimes under the age of 12 or 14. They suffer not two brothers to marry two sisters nor the Father and Son to marry Mother and Daughter F. Simon out of Daudini the Jesuit Mengrelians Young maids out of the Nunneries are allowed to confess baptize marry and perform all other Ecclesiastical Functions which I never knew practis'd in any other part of the World beside Tavernier l. 3. c. 10. The Bishop dissolves marriages when they please and then marry again after they have sold the first if they are not married to their fancy they take another for a time and pay her as the Turks do Idem Faith and Vsages Greeks 2. Of their Faith and Vsages c. Divine Service Prayer THey have 4 Liturgies viz. One of S. James 5 hours long used once every year of S. Chrysostom to be read almost every day in the year of S. Basil and of S. Gregory They use Pictures and burn Lamps before them Perfume them with Incense begin and end their Prayers with Bowings and Crossing before them But abhor all Carved Images They Pray to Saints and thus teach their Children and privately Pray themselves morning and evening All Holy Lady Mother of God Pray for us sinners All Coelestial Powers of Angels and Arch-Angels Pray for us sinners Holy John Ptophet and Fore-runner and Baptist of our Lord Jesus Christ pray c. Holy Orthodox Apostles Prophets and Martyrs and all Saints pray c. O Sacred Ministers of God our Fathers Shepherds and Teachers of the World pray c. O Invincible and Indissoluble and Divine Powers of the Reverend and Life-giving Cross forsake us not sinners The precepts of their Church require them to pray at the times of the Liturgy morning and evening on the Lord's day and other Festivals Also to pray for Kings Patriarchs Bishops and all Souls departed in the Catholick Church and for all Hereticks c. That they may return before their passage from this Life Indians of S. Thomas They go daily to Church to read the Liturgy aloud in the Chaldaick Tongue But they do not think themselves obliged to rehearse it elsewhere nor have they any Breviaries for saying it in private In some places Mass is said but once a year in others scarce once in six or seven or ten years F. Simon out of Menes's Memoirs They have no Images only the Cross they Honour much Georgians The Church-men do not daily say their Breviary but one or two only say and the rest listen Abyssins Their whole Divine Service is compleared by the Sole Administration of the Sacrament and reading some few broken parcels of the New Testament for they neither use Sacred Hymns nor Preaching Ludolph Cophties They have a Book of Homilies taken out of the chief Fathers They Worship Images yet have no Statues by Kissing Burning Lamps before them with the Oyl of which they anoint the Sick 1. On Saturday-Even after Sun-set the Priest attended by his Ministers goes to Church to sing Vespers about an Hour those who are present sleep afterward in Church or smoke Tobacco or drink Coffee c. 2. Two hours after Midnight they say Matins and afterwards Mass to which many resort 3. When they enter the Church they take off their Shoes kiss the ground near the door then draw near the Arch-priest kiss his Hand to receive his blessing 4. If the Patriarch be present and do not Officiate he sits on a Throne with a Copper Cross in his hand which the People kiss 3. After the Gospel they read somewhat out of the Book
4. Conc. Trid. A second Head of Cardinal Pool's Reformation was For the putting away of all FeAsting in the Festivities of the Dedication of Churches Dr. Burnet's Hist of the Reformation Mahometan Persian-Techrion el-avel 31. days 10th day of Rebiulewel is kept the Feast of Omar Reschdgiade in honour of an Illustrious Miller M. de Thev 12th day of this Moon Mahomet's Birth-day is celebrated by lighting Lamps round the Minarets Turkish-Rebiulewel ai 30. Days In the morning the Grand Seignior goes to the New Mosque where he causeth Sweet Meats and Sherbet to be brought from the Seraglio and after Prayers all eat and drink of them M. de Thev On this day the Poets make Sonnets in the praise of Mahomet which they rehearse publickly and are rewarded accordingly and Boys in Fez carry Wax Torches to School which they light before day and let them burn till Sun-rising all this while singing Mahomet's Praise Candles are on this day presented to the King of incredible height and bigness who that night hears all the Law read Ross Ancient Heathen Oct. 28. Mysteria minora 29. Libero Sacr. Nov. 1. Jovis Epulum Anthesteria seu Bacchanalia Sr. Thomas Herbert in his Travels in the E. Indies thought he found some remainders of this Festival in Casta as he guess'd by the dress mimic frisks and nightly pastimes the women practice There they covered themselves with skins adorn'd their heads had tresses with Ivy in one hand holding a leav'd Javelin and Cymbals of brass or Timbrels in the other attended by many boys and girls rambling like distracted people up and down and striving to rend the air with their continual clamours Sr. Tho. Herbert Modern Heathen Homespet amadum a feast on the 30 of Spindumu'd or Octob. Jewish 9. In Chisleu November December Chisleu 25. The feast of Dedication 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in remembrance of the Dedication of the Altar appointed by Judas Macchabeus as also of their deliverance from Antiochus and his Idolatry Vid. 1. Macc. 4.59 Joh. 10.22 It lasted seven days 28. A fast Jehojakim burnt the Roll which Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremy Scal. Ancient Christian Nov. 21. Vedenia priziste bogorodice or the oblation of the Blessed mother of God A Festival of the Muscovites Mr. Hales of Eaton in one of his Sermons complains we bring the Church and Kitchin together for when we celebrate the memorial of any Saint Apostle Martyr do we not call this solemnity their Feast and accordingly solemnize it with excess of cheer Stultum est nimia Saturitate honorare velle Martyrem Hierom. The Ancient Ethnics were wont to celebrate their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 feasts of Sobriety and fasting in the honour of their Drunken God Bacchus upon the like fancy Christians appoint Feasts in the honour of Temperate Saints The Church of Rome to this lap the relicks and ashes of Saints in silk and costly stuff and shrine them in silver and gold whereas when the Saints themselves were on Earth and their bodies living Temples of the Holy Ghost they would have thought themselves much wronged if any such costly ornaments should have been employed about them We think that God and the Saints are like us and taken with such things as please us Machiavel in the life of Castruccio Castracano a Gentleman of Luca tells that he delighted much in often feasting and being reproved answered If feasting were not a good thing men would not honour God and the Saints so much with it Lo here the natural consequences of Church-Feasts It is an Apology for Luxury It was a Custom in the Church in sundry places for all young and old upon the Vigils of the Martyrs to come together by Night and meet in Church-yards and Eat and Drink on the Tombs of the Martyrs Vigilantius reproved it and justly for nox vinum Mulier c. Night Wine and Women c. This put S. Hierom into a fit of Choler by common consent this Custom was laid down Mahometan Persian Techrion-el ilani 30 Days 26 of this Moon at Night Mahomet's Ascension to Heaven from the Alboraoh is celebrated as a great Festival Turkish Rebiul ahhir ai 29 Days Ancient Heathen Nov. 15. Ludi Plebei 24. Brumalia Dec. 1. Fortunae muliebris fest 3. Posidonia 5. Faunalia 11. Alcyonii dies 14. Brumalia Ambrosia Modern Heathen Medusan a Festival of the Persees kept on the 11th of Adebese or December This as all the other is kept in memory of the Creation or monthly benefits Sir Tho. Herb. 10. In Tebeth December January Jewish 8. A Fast The Law was written in Greek in the days of K. Ptolomy Darkness for 3 days over the world Scal. 4. Fast for turning the Bible out of holy Hebrew into profane Greek Dr. Addison 9. Our Masters have not written the Cause why this Day was marked for a Fast Scal. 10. A Fast Jerusalem was besieged by the King of Babylon Idem and Dr. Addison Ancient Christian Dec. 25. Rosostua Christoua the Nativity of Christ a Feast of the Muscovites Epiphany Christmas-day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. Orat. 38 Observe 1. The Time In January on Epiphany-day probably in the East Clem. Alex. saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Lydiat in Emend Temp. Upon Advice from the West-Churches they changed it to Dec. 25. S. Chrysostome Serm. 31. Tom. 5. saith it was not above 10 years since in that Ghurch Antioch it began to be kept on that day and offers several reasons to prove that to be the day S. Ambrose Serm. 13. Length of nights had possessed the whole day had not the coming of Christ shined gloriously in the very shortness of days c. S. August Our Lord was born on the eighth of the Calends of January when the days begin to lengthen Aug. in Psal 132. et de Trin. l. 3. c. 5. So Orosius on the 8th of the Kal. of Jan. Oros l. 7. c. 2. S. Bernard Christ was born in the winter Bern. in Nat. Dom. Ser. 3. So Nicephorus Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 12. Chemnitius Genebrard So the Arabian Persian and Syriac Churches Mr. Greg. Notes and Obs Soaliger H. Broughton Jacob Capella Alsted say Sept. or Octob. 2. The Antiquity In the 2d Century 't is mentioned by Theophilus Bishop of Caesarca Next by the Decretal Epistles but those suspected Next by Nicephorus H. Eccl. l. 7. c. 6. Who tells of Dioclesian burning a whole Church of Christians assembled to celebrate that Festival Dr. Brown in his Travels saith the Festivity of Christmas is observed at Vienna much after the same manner ceremonies and solemnity as in Italy p. 152. Jan. 6. Epiphany properly so called from the appearance 1. Of the star 2. The Trinity at Christ's baptism 3. The Divinity at Cana. Jan. 6. Bose Jaulenia or Chreschenia Epiphany A Festival of the Muscovites At Vienna the old Custom of chusing K. and Qu. was observed Count Lesly happened to be King the Emperor laid the Cloth and the Empress filled out
of Homilies for Explication of the Gospel and that is instead of Preaching F. Simon out of Vansleb Most of these Ceremonies are common to other Orientals Maronites 1. They go to Church at midnight to sing their Matins 2. At break of day they say their Lauds 3. Before Mass they say their Teiree after their Sixth 4. Their Nones they sing after Dinner 5. Vespers at Sun-set 6. Their Compline after Supper before bed Every Office is composed of a Preface of two three or more Prayers with a like number of Hymns betwixt them They have proper Offices for Holidays Lent Moveable Feasts c. F. Simon Melchites They have Translated their Greek Euchology or Ritual into Arabic They Paraphrase in their Translations Hence their supposititious Canons of the Council of Nice Muscovites On Sundays and their Festivals they go 3 times to Church Morning Noon and Night and are standing and uncovered at the time of Divine Service They hold no Adultery but Marrying another man's Wife Armenians Their Office is performed in the Armenian Tongue a rough Language and but little known The People have much ado to understand their Liturgy They have the whole Bible Translated into Armenian from the Septuagint since the time of S. John Chrysost F. Simon They have a Service-Book and besides that the chief books amongst them are of Gregorio of Stat used instead of Homilies P. Ric. Esq Christians of S. John Hold Women to be unclean that it is not available for them to go to Church Tavernier Cophties An Appendix When they sing the Passion and come to the mention of Judas all the People cry Arsat i. e. Horned Beast Cuckold When they read of Peter cutting off Malchus's Ear they say Asia boutros i. e. well fare Peter as applauding him for the Act M. de Thev Greeks 2. Fasting THo Greeks have Four Fasts stated and solemn 1. Forty days before Christmas 2. The great Lent before Easter 3. The week after Pentecost grounded on Acts. 13.3 4. The fourth begins Aug. 1. and is a preparatory to the Grand Festival the Assumption of our Lady Besides which Lesser Fasts in keeping of which with distinction of Diets they are very strict and are much offended at the English and others because they neither use Fasting nor reverence the sign of the Cross If a person be sick to Death who with Broth or an Egg might recover they say 't is better to Die than eat and Sin P. Ricaut Esq They abstain from Flesh Butter Cheese Fish eating only Fruits Pulse with a little Wine and Oyl The Monks never taste Wine or Oyl unless on Saturdays or Sundays Wednesdays and Fridays they abstain from Flesh Butter Cheese but eat Flesh I say nothing of their Private Fasts or Lent F. Simon Muscovites They differ little from the Greeks herein having four Lents Yearly during which they eat no Butter Eggs or Milk only the first week serves as Carnaval afterward they eat no Fish but on Sundays Armenians They have many Fasts published on Sundays kept most strictly Account it a sin to eat Hare's Flesh as being an unwholsom unlucky and melancholick creature and the Female Monthly unclean and menstruous P. Ric. Esq They abstain from Blood and the Strangled So scrupulously addicted to Fasts that to hear them speak one would think their whole Religion consisted in Fasting F. Simon They end their Lent on Holy Saturday by eating Butter Cheese Eggs but eat on Flesh till Easter-day M. de Thev Abissins Fasting Days are by none more exactly observ'd Not that they abstain from some meats and gluttonize upon others for that they look upon that as a mockery of Fasting They keep themselves whole days together without either Food or Drink even till Sun-set of the third Evening Others abstain the two Holy-days of the Passion-week The Monks use greater extremities by which means they not only mortify but destroy Besides they Fast twice a Week on the fourth and sixth day Ludolph l. 3. They make their Lent fifty days long Maronites Their Fasts differ much from ours 1. In Lent they eat not till two or three hours before Sun-set 2. Fast not in Ember-week nor Vigils of Saints 3. Eat no Flesh Eggs or Milk on Wednesdays Fridays till Noon Afterward they eat freely 4. Fast 20 days before Christmass Monks longer 5. At the Feast of S. Peter and Paul and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin they Fast a Fortnight F. Simon Cophties They have four great Fasts 24 Days at Christmass 60 at Lent 31 at Pentecost 15 in August F. Simon Christians of S. Thomas They eat Flesh on Saturdays and if they failed one Day in Lent and Advent they Fasted no more F. Simon Christians of S. John They neither Fast nor do any Penance Taver Greeks 3. Feasting and Rejoycing c. THey begin their Year in September with great Jollity Take a chearful Spirit for a good Omen 1. Easter which is their grand Feast at which time if they meet with their Acquaintance within three days of the Feast they Salute them with these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ is risen The Answer is made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is risen indeed And so they kiss three times once on each Cheek and on the Mouth and so depart P. Ricaut Upon Easter-Eve the Abyssins Jacobites Georgians Maronites and Greeks at Jerusalem all except the Latines conjoyn in the Celebration of that Imposture of fetching Fire from the Sepulchre the Turks deride yet throng to behold it All the Lamps in Church are extinguish'd when they often compassing the Sepulchre in a joint Procession are fore-run and followed with Savage clamours of the People the Women whistling and frantick behaviours fitter for the Feasts of Bacchus extending their bare Arms with unlighted Tapers At length the chief Bishops approach the Door of the Sepulchre but the Ethiopian Priest first enters without whom they say the Miracle will not fadge who after a long stay returns with the Sacred Fire supposed at his Prayers to burst out of the Sepulchre At this confusedly they fire their Lights and snatching them one from another strive who should convey it into their particular Chapels thrusting the Flame into their Cloaths and Bosoms kindling therewith all their Lamps unlighted with other Fire 'till that Day Twelve-month G. Sandys's Trav. l. 3. The Holy Fire of the Greeks Armenians c. is performed with so much confusion that you would think certainly you were in Hell with a Legion of Devils M. de Thev 2. Of S. John the Abstemious kept only by the Kaloirs and Religious 3. Of S. John the Evangelist's Translation into Heaven grounded upon that Text If I will that he stay c. They tell very fond Stories of their Saints especially Cosma Damianus and S. George For Canonizing of Saints they have testification by 1000 Witnesses and Examination in a full Synod They are very excessive in their Feasts P. Ricaut Armenians The Eve of Holy Cross they go to the
chest full of Priests Vestments to say Mass in Books and Money belonging to the Saints and that afterwards he built a Chappel there in which they say he lies interr'd and that his Body is there to be seen as intire as when he departed this world Travels of the D. of Holstein 's Embass p. 38. They have an infinite number of Saints besides The Priest at Baptism assigns every Child a particular Saint whose Image he delivers to the God-fathers and charges them to oblige the Child when he is come to years of discretion to have a particular Devotion for his Patron Idem Those who commit Sins deserving Excommunication are oblig'd to have their Saint taken away even out of their Churches as well as their Persons Great Persons and rich Merchants adorn their Images with Pearls and other precious Stones Idem All Muscovites look upon them as things so necessary that without Images they cannot say their Prayers which when-ever they do they always set Wax-Candles before their Saint and look stedfastly upon him Idem At first coming into a House the Guest always looks for the Saint with a Jest le Boch i. e. Where is the God And then he makes a very low reverence to it with a Gospodi Pommilui i. e. Lord have mercy upon me and then turns to the Guests Idem Armenians 1. S. Gregory 2. A Princess That came with 40 Virgins of Quality to visit S. Gregory whom afterwards an Armenian King caused to be thrown into a Well of Serpents where she lived 14 Years and received no harm and from that time to this they say that Serpents that breed thereabouts are not hurtful Monsieur Tavernier l. 1. c. 4. There is a Church dedicated to her in Egmiasin Idem Abissinians The Abissines reckon up nine Monks or Religious Persons more famous than others that came out of the Roman or Greek Empire probably out of the Neighbouring parts of Egypt who seated themselves in Tygra and there erected their Chappels but their Names were all changed except that of Pentaleontes they are number'd in this Order 1. Abba Aragawi otherwise called Michael of whom one of their Poets thus Peace be to Michael Aragawi nam'd Wisdom his Life his Death true Prudence fam'd With him was God the Holy Three in One To all those Saints an Everlasting Crown Why by their Prayers true Concord did enjoy That they might Arwe 's Kingdom quite destroy i.e. The Serpents for the Ethiopians worshipp'd a Serpent as supream 2. Abba Pantaleon 3. Abba Garima 4. Abba Alef 5. Abba Saham 6. Abba Afe 7. Abba Likanos 8. Abba Adimata 9. Abba or otherwise called Abba Guba There are to be seen still the Cells where these Holy Men sequestred themselves by the names of Beta Pentaleon Saint Pentaleon's House c. Besides these there are several other Great Doctors who have higly merited for propagating the Christian Religion as also many Martyrs frequently celebrated by the Ethiopians and Copticks in their relgious Panegyricks But as to their Saints they relate of them several things extraordinary and incredible as The removing Mountains Appeasing the rage of tempestuous Seas Raising the Dead Causing Water to spring out of Rocks Walking over Rivers Riding upon Dragons and Lyons as on Horses Giving their whole Raiment to the distressed Living three whole days on three little Dates or one little dry Bisket But none more Renowned for his Sanctity then Gabra-Menfus-Keddus or the Servant of the Holy Ghost in honour of whom they keep a Holy-day every Month. Next to him is Tecla Haimonot or the Plant of Faith who restored the Monastical way of living in Ethiopia about A. C. 600. Job Ludolph's Hist of Ethiopia Concerning this Man mention is made in their Church Registers thus Remember Lord the Soul of thy Servant Tecla Haimonot and all his Companions No less esteem'd is Eustathius another Abbot of theirs c. Idem Mahometans The Mahometans especially the Persians have many Religious or rather Superstitious Santoes amongst them 1. Some who go stark naked Vid. Sorrow for Sin 2. Some who eat Serpents 3. Some who wear great Turbans c. 4. Some who spend whole Nights in Praying and Singing v. Praise 5. The most noted are the Dervises who live in Common and have their Superiors as our Religious mean in their Apparel wearing on their Heads a Cap of white Felt like our Night-Caps Every Tuesday and Friday they make a Dance pretty pleasant to see in a great Hall which is their Mosque the middle whereof is railed in square leaving a space all round for them that are without within the Enclosure is the Keble where are two Pulpits joyned together on a Foot-stool into the one goes the Superiour turning his Back to the South and his Vicar into the other over against them at the other end of the Hall without the Rails are the other Dervises playing on Flutes and Drums after some Prayers sung together the Superior reads a little of the Alcoran explained in Turkish then the Vicar a few words of the Alcoran in Arabic which serve as a subject for the Superior to make a Discourse upon afterwards in Turkish after Sermon the Superior and Vicar and the rest of the Dervises take two turns about the Hall while one sings some Verses of the Alcoran in a pleasant tone after that all their Instruments play in consort and then the Dervises begin their Dance they pass before their Superior salute him humbly then making a Leap fall a turning round with their naked Feet their Left Foot serving for a spindle they turn without weariness tho' sometimes old Men this is done to the sound of Drums and Flutes The Author of this Dance was one Hezreti Mewlana a Derviso reckon'd a Saint among them M. de Thev Many other sorts of Santoes they have Enough in Egypt to man out several Gallies Idem Formerly a Turkish Basha sent several of these lazy Lubbards to the Gallies for the Turks have no such great Esteem for them Dead Santoes are interr'd upon the High-ways and on Bridges and when the Moors find any of their Sepulchres they ask leave of the Saints within to go that way The chief of the dead Santoes in Egypt is Sidi Ahmet el Bedoni buried at Meniteganir in the Isle of Delta in Egypt near Rosetto where People that come to the Fair on July one 9th pray at his Grave and perform his Devotion This Saint they say never knew Woman only lay with his own She-Ass They say also that a certain Basha offering to take away his Privileges the Saint entreated him but not prevailing he turn'd up his Cap a little that the point might encline to one side Thou wilt not then said he to the Basha let me enjoy my Priviledge the Basha answer'd No This was done three times his Cap and the Basha's Castle turning still side-ways till at last the Basha in a great fright assured him that he would preserve his Priviledges Idem At the Fair
yearly they say he delivers three Slaves out of Malta M. de Thev Certain Mahometan Saints Sheh Mahomet a mad Man of Aleppo Vid. Oracles c. Sheh Boubae another mad Man Vid. Ibid. Scidibattal a Saint in Natolia Chederles another S. George according to the Legends one who killed a Dragon delivered a Virgin c. He hath a Temple at Theke Thoi the chief City of Capadocia c. for Travellers An old Woman having a Dog with her in her Pilgrimage to Mecha ready to die for thirst made Water in her Hand and gave it to the Dog whereupon she heard a Voice This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise and at the same time was caught up Body and Soul into Heaven Sedichasi in signification a Holy Conqueror Hetsempettesh The Pilgrim's Help Asclik Passa A Saint for Love-matters and in case of Barrenness Van Passa For Concord Scheyk Pasia For Trouble and Affliction Goi or Muschin or Bartsckin Passa For Cattle Any one that hath extraordinarily lived is accounted a Saint after death Purchas But above all the Mahometans Honour Mahomet among the Turks and Hanite a Commentator Mort is Haly Among the Persians their great Prophet and Patron also Hussan and Hossein his two Sons and more of Haly's first Successors to the number of twelve in all as also Schich Sofi the Institutor of their Sect and Tsafur Saduk Bannyans The Bannyans invocate holy Men fam'd for Vertue each Sect hath its peculiar Saint In Wars the Cutteries or Radicaes only call upon Bemohem The rich upon Mycasser he Poor upon Syer the Labourers upon Gunner the Married upon Hurmount c. Sir Tho. Herb. Persees in the East-Indies Zertoost is their chief Saint or Prophet who is said to be taken up into Heaven from whence he brought the Zundavastaw or the Book of their Law in his Left Hand and Coelestial Fire in the other Sir Th. Herb. Persians and Muscovians also devote their Children newly born to some Saint Chinese The Chinese have several Pausaos or Saints especially three Sichia Founder of all the Religious Orders Quanina a Female Saint third Daughter of K. Tzonton who having made a Vow of Chastity and being pressed by her Father to Marriage was shut up in a place and employed in carrying Wood and Water and weeding a great Garden Neoma a third She-Saint also who retired into an Island to avoid Matrimony c. Mandelsto Some account Confusius the chief Indians The Idolatrous Indians worship Ram Permissar Peremael Westnon c. whether as Gods or great Saints it is hard to say They have also an infinite number of Faquirs or Volunteer Penitents who are reputed Saints Tavernier They are quite naked Summer and Winter lodge on the Ground have Ashes spread under them as a Carpet or Mattress See more in Tavernier's Travels par 2. l. 2. c. 6. See Self denial Pilgrimage Jews I Do not know that the Jews use any Pilgrimage but certainly they have a great respect to Jerusalem and the Holy Land and contrive as well as they can to approach near it in their Old Age that they may have the less Journey to go at the resurrection being of Opinion That there will be the general Rendezvouse of all mankind Papists I need not say much of the Pilgrimages of the Papists it being sufficiently known to be much used as a point of Penance or Voluntary Worship among them Meritorious and Expiatory of sin Gaurs The Gaurs the Relicks of the Antient Persians have their principal Temple four days Journey from Kerman where their Chief Priest Resides whither they are once in their Lives obliged to go in Pilgrimage M. Taver l. 4. c. 8. Indians The Crews of Faquirs many times joyn together to go in Pilgrimage to the principal Pagods and publick Washings on certain days used in the River Ganges Idem Par. 2. l. 2. The most Celebrated Pagods in India are Jagrenate Banarous Matura and Tripati To the first of which on one of the Mouths of Ganges resort daily an incredible number of Pilgrims who bestow vast Alms upon it the Priest Taxing them according to their Ability before he suffers them to Shave or wash in Ganges The Pilgrims have Victuals distributed there to them every day Idem Par. 2. l. 3. c. 9. All the Idolaters under the Dominion of the Great Mogul and other Princes both on this side and beyond Ganges at least once in their Lives go on Pilgrimage to one of the Pagods afore-named Not one by one but whole Towns together the Poor that go a great way are supplied by the Rich who spend very freely in such Acts of Charity The Rich in Pallekies or Chariots the Poor on Foot or upon Oxen Carrying their Idols in respect to the Great Ram-Ram in a rich Palleky cover'd with Tissue of Gold and Silver c. the Bramins also distribute flabels to the most considerable the handles whereof are 8 foot long plated with Gold and Silver the flabel it self being 3 foot in diameter of Tissue likewise adorned round about with Peacock feathers to gather more wind and sometimes with bells to make a tinkling Six of these are usually employed to keep off the flies from their God the better sort taking it by turns Idem par 2. l. 3. c. 13. Mahometans The Turks to Mecha in whole Caravans from several parts of the world but most numerous from Cairo go in Pilgrimage and when devotion is to begin the H. Priest assisted by all the people belonging to the Law spends night and day in saying of prayers and performing the necessary ceremonies On the seventh day all the Pilgrims are assembled before the Sheck's Text who appears at the Entrance of it and standing on a low stool that may be seen by those that are distance puts a period to their Devotion by praying and blessing them with these words That God would enable them to return in peace as they came thither The Grand Senior sends a Tent and Carpet yearly and all Mahometan Princes some present Idem Mexico Mexico was a City of most Devotion in all India whither they Travelled from many places far distant in Pilgrimage Purchas Angels Jews I Have said already that the ancient Sadducees denyed the Existence of Angels The Pharisees did not The Modern Jews allow of them asserting some to be good some bad that there attend on particular Persons a good Angel on the Right-hand a bad one on the Left which take and give Account of their Actions to God Dr. Addison Besides they hold a distinct Order of Angels entrusted with the care of the whole Jewish Nation and that every Governor hath an Assisting Angel Idem Christians Angels are acknowledged by Greeks Muscovites Papists Protestants c. It is wont to be said The strange presages of Mind and warnings in Dreams wonderful effects in Men snatch'd away and Mountains and Buildings removed and demolished by Power Invisible real Apparitions to many Men at once Predictions of Oracles
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.
services be accursed always without effect or success and blown away like Dust May they have the Curses of the Holy and Righteous Patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Jacob of the 318 Saints who were the Divine Fathers of the Synod of Nice and of all other Holy Synods And being out of the Church of Christ let no man administer unto them the things of the Church or bless them or offer sacrifice for them or give them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the blessed bread or Eat or Drink or Work with them And after Death let no man bury them in penalty of being under the same state of Excommunication For so let them remain until they have performed what is here written Paul Ricaut Esq Abissine A Form of Excommunication among the Abissines And let him be accursed by Addirion and Actariel by Sandalpkon and Hadarmel by Ansiciel and Patchiel by Seraphiel and Zeganzael by Michael and Gabriel and by Raphael and Meschartiel and let him be interdicted by Trantzeviv and Haweheviv He is the great God and by the seventy names of that great King and on the behalf of Tzortak the great Ensign-bearer c. Job Ludolph l. 3. c. 5. They as the Jews think to tertify with uncouth and harsh words Idem Mr. Ross saith that in answer to the Degrees of Excommunication among the Jews the Greeks had their 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Latins had their 1. Abstenti 2. Excommunicati 3. Anathemata N. B. Mr. Ricaut tells us that among the Greeks Excommunication is granted upon light occasions and is either expressive of the party with his name and condition or indenfinite of any person guilty of such crime Yet it is of high esteem and dread among them For they relate as sad and various stories of Judgments befallen the Excommunicated dying so as if they were still nourished in the Coffins and haunted the Countries as we do of witches Apostates are not received into the Church among the Greeks unless they have first sought it earnestly with tears and signifyed their desire by forty days fasting with bread and water and continual prayer night and day Those few Christians that after Apostasy to Turcism return do confess with extream danger of dying for it P. Ricaut Esq Western Christians In England we have several degrees or kinds of Censures as 1. Minor Excommunicatio exclusion from the Lord's Supper 2. Major Excommunicatio exclusion from the Society of Christians not only in spiritual duties but in temporal affairs and this if it continue 40 days is pursued with the King 's writ de excommunicato capiendo and then to prison without bail 3. Anathematismus for obstinate Heresy done by the Bishop Dean and Chapter 4. Interdictum a prohibition of all Divine offices Christian burial sacraments c. 5. Publick Penance the delinquent standing in the Church-Porch with bare head bare feet in a white sheet and a white rod in his hand c. See more in the present state of England part 2d Creeds Modern Jews Art 1. I Believe with a true perfect faith that God is the Creator whose name be blessed Governor and Maker of all Creatures and that he hath wrought all things and shall work for ever Art 2. I believe with a perfect faith that the Creator whose name be blessed is one and that such an unity as is in him can be found in no other and that he alone hath been our God is and for ever shall be Art 3. That the Creator is not Corporeal nor to be comprehended with any bodily properties and that no bodily essence can be likened to him Art 4. That the Creator is the first and last and that nothing was before him and that he shall last for ever Art 5. That the Creator is to be worshipt and none else Art 6. That all the words of the prophets are true Art 7. I believe with a perfect faith that the prophecies of Moses our master may he rest in peace were true that he was the Father and Chief of all the wise men that liv'd before him and shall live after him Art 8. That all the law which at this day is found in our hands was delivered by God himself to our master Moses God's peace be with him Art 9. The same law is never to be chang'd nor any other to be given us of God whose name be Blessed Art 10. That God whose Name be Blessed understands all the Thoughts and Works of Men As it is Written in the Prophets He fashions their Hearts alike he understands all their Works Art 11. That God will recompence good to those that keep his Commandments and will Punish those who transgress them Art 12. That Messiah is yet to come and although he retard his coming yet I will wait for him till he come Art 13. That the Dead shall be restored to Life when it shall seem fit to God the Creator whose Name be Blessed and Memory Celebrated world without end Amen The Creed Dr. Addison presents us with out of Sepher Ikkarim or Book of Fundamentals put in writing by Moses Ben Maimon a Corduba Jew A. D. 1104. And tho not set down in their Service-Book yet they begin their Mattins with it and utter it with a hollow tone different from the other Service Christians I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord Who was Conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary Suffered under Pontius Pilate Was Crucified Dead and Buried he Descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the Dead He ascended into Heaven And sits on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty From thence He shall come to Judg the Quick and the Dead I Believe in the Holy Ghost The Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints The Forgiveness of Sins The Resurrection of the Body And the Life Everlasting Amen This is commonly ascribed to the Apostles as the first Compilers but by general Confession and Testimony of Ecclesiastical Writers is very Antient Saving that those words He Descended into Hell are not of so old a Date the first place it being found in being the Church of Aquileia in the Fourth Century Dr. Pearson Gaurs 1. I Believe in God maker of the World 2. That he sent Ebrahim zer-ateucht his Prophet Son of Azer a Carver by Trade and Doghdon who upon the appearance of an Angel overspreading her Face with a Celestial Light Conceived the Prophet aforesaid 3. That the Birth of this Child was known by Astrologers and told to the King Nebrout who thereupon caused all the Women with Child through all his Domininions to be slain 4. That this Child laugh'd so soon as he was Born because he was to Triumph in the Hearts of the People 5. That the Father in fear confessed to the King the King going about to slay the Child with a Sword his