High Creator of all things That the Bishop reads Prayers over the Child in Church before the Baptism and in the River at Baptism while the Godfather plunges the Child three times all over and then to Feasting Papists 1. Doctrines according to the Council of Trent I N. do with a stedfast Faith believe and profess all and every Point contained in the Symbol of the Faith that the Holy Roman Church doth use viz. To believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth of all things visible and invisible And in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God and born of the Father before all Worlds God of God Light of Light True God of True God begotten not made of the same Substance with the Father by whom all things were made who for us Men and for our Salvation came down from Heaven was Incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made Man was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate suffered and was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and ascended up into Heaven sitteth at the right Hand of the Father and he shall come again with Glory to judge both the Quick and the Dead of whose Kingdom there shall be no end and in the Holy Ghost the Lord and Giver of Life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets and one Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church I confess one Baptism for the Remission of Sins and I expect the Resurrection of the Dead and the Life of the World to come Amen I do most stedfastly admit and embrace the Traditions of the Apostles and of the Church and all other Observances and Constitutions of the same Church I do likewise admit the Holy Scripture according to that Sense which our Holy Mother the Catholick Church hath holden and doth hold unto whom it doth appertain to judge of the True Sense and Interpretation of the Holy Scriptures neither will I ever understand nor interpret the same otherwise than according to the uniform consent of the Fathers I do also profess that there be truly and properly Seven Sacraments of the New Law and necessary for the Salvation of Mankind although they be not necessary for all Men viz. Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Pennance Extream Unction Orders and Matrimony and that these Sacraments do give Grace and that of them Baptism Confirmation and Orders cannot be reiterated without Sacrilege I do also receive and admit all the received and approved Ceremonies of the Catholick Church in the Solemn Administration of all the aforesaid Sacraments I do embrace and receive all and every of those things which in the Holy Council of Trent have been defined and declared touching Original Sin and Justification I do profess also that in the Mass is offered unto God a true proper and propitiatory Sacrifice for the Quick and Dead and that in the most Holy Sacrifice of the Altar there is truly really and substantially the Body and Blood together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and that there is made a Conversion of the whole Substance of Wine into the Blood which Conversion the Catholick Church doth call Transubstantiation I do also confess that under either kind only is received Christ whole intire and the True Sacrament I do constantly hold that there it Purgatory and that the Souls which be there detained are holpen by the Prayers of the Faithful Also that the Saints who reign together with Christ are to be worshipped and called upon and that they offer up Prayers to God for us and that their Relicks are to be worshipped I do most stedfastly affirm that the Images of Christ of the Mother of God always Virgin and of other Saints are to be had and received and that due Honour and Reverence is to be given to them I do affirm that the Authority of Indulgencies was left by Christ in the Church and that the use of them is very behooveful to Christian People I do acknowledge the Holy Catholick and Apostolick Roman Church to be the Mother and Mistress of all Churches and do promise and swear true Obedience to the Bishop of Rome who is the Successor of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles and the Vicar of Jesus Christ All other things defined and declared by the Holy Canons and Oecumenical Councils and chiefly by the Holy Council of Trent I do undoubtedly receive and profess And also all contrary things and whatsoever Heresies condemned rejected and accursed by the Church I likewise do condemn reject and accurse This True Catholick Faith without which no Man can be Saved which now I do willingly profess and hold I the same I. N. do Promise Vow and Swear to hold and confess most constantly by God's help intire and uncorrupted even to the last end of my Life and to procure as much as shall lye in me that my Subjects or those of whom I shall have care in my Office shall accordingly teach and preach the same So God help me and these Holy Gospels of God Dr. James Library-keeper of Oxford out of Lewis de Grenado 's Sp. Doctrine 2. Vsages and Ceremonies and Traditions 1. In publick Prayers they use the Latine-Tongue 2. In the Commandments they make the First and Second One and divide the Tenth into Two 3. They distinguish Sins into 1. Mortal by which only they say the Commandments are broken which are 1. Pride 2. Covetousness 3. Leachery 4. Anger 5. Gluttony 6. Envy 7. Sloth 2. Venial Not contrary to the end of the Commandments i. e. to Charity e. g. an idle Word an officious or jesting Lie stealing of a Pin or Apple c. not killing but disposing to mortal Sin 4. They say 't is possible necessary and easie by the assistance of God's Grace to keep all the Commandments 5. That mortal sin is remitted by 1. Hearty Penance 2. Contrition 6. That venial sin is remitted by 1. All the Sacraments 2. Holy-water 3. Devout Prayer c. 7. The punishment Of mortal sin is Hell for ever 7. The punishment Of venial sin is Purgatory 8. That there are six Sins against the Holy Ghost 1. Despair of Salvation 2. Presumption of God's Mercy 3. Impugning the known Truth 4. Envy at others known good 5. Obstinacy in Sin 6. Final Impenitence 9. That there are four crying Sins 1. Wilful Murder 2. The Sin of Sodom 3. Oppression of the Poor 4. Defrauding VVork-men of their VVages 10. There be three principal Counsels of Christ to his Church 1. Voluntary Poverty 2. Perpetual Chastity 3. Obedience to another's will in all that is not Sin 11. There be six Commandments of the Church principally 1. To hear Mass on all Sundays and Holy-Days if opportunity serve 2. To Fast 1. Lent 2. Vigils commanded 3. Ember-Days and Fridays by custom of England 4. To abstain from Flesh on Saturdays 3. To confess
Embassies and Arts Threats and Promises of the Church of Rome their Pastors were prevailed with to make Retractations and submit themselves for a while to the Papal Yoke But they soon started back again and the whole body of the people were never entirely reduced to this day Yet bitterly reproached and spitefully represented to the World and confounded with the Manichees Cathari and the worst of Hereticks on purpose to derive the greater Odium and stroke of Persecution upon them 2. Their Names At first they were called Patarines from a place called Patria or Pataria where upon a difference with their Neighbours they were feign to say Mass by themselves afterwards Subalpini from the Countrey Waldenses from Valles Waldenses from Waldo being an Eminent Man and one that had translated the Scriptures into a Known Tongue and probably many of his disciples joyning themselves to this Church Lions the place of their abode gave them the Name of Poor People of Lions c. Albigenses 3. Their Countrey First Italy and the Countrey of Piedmont Lombardy France and Bohemia whither they fled for shelter in the times of persecution about A. C. 1200. England c. 4. Their Doctrines 1. The Church of Rome is an Assembly of ungodly men not the Church of Christ but the Whore in the Revelation 2. All sins reign in that Church 3. That themselves are the true poor in Spirit who suffer for the Faith c. The True Church of Christ 4. That the Eastern Church doth not value the Church of Rome 5. They despise all Ordinances and Statutes of the Church as being too many and burdensom 6. The Prelates are the Scribes and Pharisees 7. None in the Church ought to be greater than other 8. None ought to kneel to a Priest See thou do it not Rev. 9. Tythes are not to be given to Priests nor the Clergy ought not to enjoy any Temporal Possessions Prebends Regalia c. 10. Neither Land nor People ought to be divided into Parishes 11. They condemn Monasteries all the Sacraments of the Church of Rome 12. They were against Swearing c. But these are accounted to us by Authors of the Roman Church with so much malice and confusion that 't is not easie to believe any of their Reports They had indeed a mixture of Error with their substantial Truths which is capable of Apology 5. Their Conduct of Life They were orderly and modest in their manners and behaviour avoiding all Pride in their Habits wearing neither very rich Cloaths nor over mean and ragged ones they kept up no Trade to avoid Lies Swearing and Deceit but only lived by the Labour of their hands as Handy-crafts men and Day-labourers and their Teachers were Weavers and Tailors they did not heap up Riches but were content with Necessaries they were also very Chast sparing and very temperate in Eating and Drinking not frequenting Taverns or Ale-houses nor going to Balls or other Vanities abstaining from Anger when they workt they either Learned or Taught and therefore Prayed but little They Hypocritically went to Church Offered Confessed Communicated and heard Sermons to catch the Preacher in his Words Observe this Character is given them by an Adversary an Inquisitor who wrote in the 14th Century In like manner their Women were very modest avoiding Back-biting Foolish Jesting and levity of Words and abstaining especially from lies and swearing not so much as making use of the common Asseverations In truth for certain c. 6. Their Worship and Behaviour from the afore-said Anthor They kneel down upon the ground before a bench or the like and continue thus in all their Prayers in silence as long as one might repeat a Pater-Noster 30 or 40 times and conclude their Prayers by repeating the word Amen several times and this they do every day very Reverently amongst those of their own Perswasion without the company of any Strangers before noon after noon and at night when they go to bed besides some other times as well in the day morning and at night they say teach nor have any other Prayer besides Our Father They do not look on the Salutation of the Angel to be a Prayer nor the Apostle's Creed and say that these were introduced by the Church of Rome not by Christ However they have drawn up a short draught of the seven Articles concerning the Godhead and as many concerning the Human Nature the Ten Commandmants and the seven Works of Mercy which they say and teach and boast much of them and readily offer themselves to Answer to any one that demands of them a reason of their Faith Before they set themselves down to Table they bless it saying Bless the Lord. Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father c. After which the Eldest of the Company saith in the Vulgar Tongue God who blessed the 5 barley Loaves and 2 Fishes in the Desart before his Disciples bless this Table and that which is upon it and then make the sign of the Cross in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Amen And when they rise from Table after Dinner or Supper they give Thanks thus the Eldest in the Vulgar Tongue repeating the Doxology set down in the Revelation Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and Thanksgiving Honour Power and Might be ascribed to God alone for ever and ever Amen And then adds God render a good reward and a plentiful return to all those who are our Benefactors and the God who hath given us Corporal food vouchsafe us also the Life of his Spirit and God be with us and we with him always Amen Also when they bless the Table and when they return Thanks they fold their Hands together and lift them up towards Heaven And after Dinner and they have returned Thanks and Prayed as before they Preach Teach and Exhort according to their way and Doctrine They who would know more may read Archbishop Vsher Morland Dr. Allix out of whom I have in great hast Extracted this short Account rather to give an edg than satisfy the Appetite of my Readers Place these Two Leaves before the 2d Part. THE HISTORY OF ALL RELIGIONS In the World c. PART II. 1. Knowledge of God Jewish MAimonides acknowledges God to be incorporeal and incomprehensible Dr. Tenison Esdras appointed the People to meet three times a week to be taught the Law because in the desart of Sur they wandered three days without water i. e. the Law Ross Christians S. Augustine was inflamed with a desire of Wisdom by reading Ciccro's Hortensius That Book saith he changed my Affections and turned my Prayers to thy self O Lord and made an alteration in my wishes and desires All vain hope grew low in my esteem on a suddain and I long'd for the Immortality of Wisdom with an incredible heat of mind How did I burn my God how did I burn with a desire to fly from Earthly things to thee and I knew
Page 205 2. Persians Page 206 25. Heathen 1. Pythagoreans Page 303 2. Platonicks Page 304 3. Peripateticks Page 305 4. Cynicks Page 306 5. Stoicks Page 307 6. Epicureans Page 308 PART II. Note That under Each of the following Heads is inserted in distinct Paragraphs the PRACTICES of Every Religion KNowledg of God Page 309 Love of God Page 313 Affiance in God Page 315 Obedience to his Laws Page 317 Love and Reverence to his Name Word c. Page 319 Praying unto God Page 328 Praising of him Psalms c. Page 334 Fear of God alone Page 341 Heavenly mindedness Page 343 Frequency and Diligence at Church Page 346 Catechising Page 351 Frequency and Devotion at Sacraments Page 356 Confession Mortification Absolution Page 366 Zeal Page 370 Moderation Page 373 Purity Sincerity Page 377 Perseverance Page 380 Observation of the Sabbath Page 383 Discipline Page 387 Self-Denial Page 389 Justice Honesty Page 393 Love to the Brethren Page 397 Love to Enemies Page 402 Love to the Souls of others Page 406 Care of their bodies Hospitals Page 408 Vnity and Peaceableness Page 415 Obedience to Civil Governors Page 419 Good Parents Page 422 Good Children Page 427 Good Husbands Page 432 Good Wives Page 434 Good Masters Page 439 Good Servants Page 440 Good Ministers Pastors Page 443 Good Parishioners People Page 447 Laboriousness Page 450 Humility Page 459 Contempt of Wealth Page 458 Government of the Tongue Page 461 Sobriety of Apparel Page 464 Temperance in meats Page 468 Temperance in Drink Page 472 Chastity Page 475 Patience in suffering Page 488 Domestick Worship Page 492 Toleration of all Religions Page 497 Last words of dying men Page 500 Occasions of Conversion Page 504 Miraculous Testim to Christianity Page 508 Ceremonies in Greeting Page 512 Fidelity in Trusts Page 516 Marriage and Divorce Page 519 Frugality Page 529 Dancing Page 533 Games Page 537 Saints Page 541 Pilgrimage Page 552 Angels Page 554 Atheism Irreligion Page 557 Superstition Page 559 Monks Monasteries Page 567 Colleges Schools Page 571 Premonitions of Death Page 575 Charms Spells Page 579 Apparitions Obsessions Page 581 Oracles Divination c. Page 585 Rewards and Punishments future Page 590 In what Countries each Religion is practised Page 604 Mother Tongues of Europe Page 608 Graces at meat Page 610 Forms of Excommunication Page 615 Creeds Page 621 Commands Page 631 Burials Page 656 An Appendix containing a Table of Errours Heresies c. Page 655 THE HISTORY OF ALL RELIGIONS In the World c. PART I. 1. Object of Worship and Religious Veneration or Esteem Jewish THE Jews worship only one God Jehovah Eloim without any distinction of Persons yet acknowledging a Messiah although the Books of the Old Testament which they own for Canonical do in several Texts sufficiently evince a Trinity of Perons especially Gen. 1. verse 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h. e. Dii creavit and afterwards mention is made of God the VVord and Spirit of God And in the same Chapter Let us make Man in the plural number The Messiah they expect yet to come tho' 1. All the Promises of his coming are fulfilled 2. All the Prophecies accomplished 3. All the Types are answered 4. His Doctrine sealed with 1. Miracles 2. Holy Lives of its Professors 3. Patient Sufferings and Martyrdoms 4. The Accomplishment of his Prophecies or Predictions 5. Themselves are a living Evidence and Monument of his Indignation and their own unbelief as having lost their 1. Country 2. Kingdom 3. Temple 4. Sacrifices 5. Genealogies 6. They have been often deceived with meer Pretenders and disappointed 7. Sybills and Heathen Oracles have given Testimony hereto Next to God they highly reverenced the Prophet Moses R. Samuel Bar Nahman saith When Moses in writing the Law came to those words Let us make Man c. He cried out Lord of the World why dost thou give Men occsion of mistaking in thy most simple Unity And the Lord answered Write thou Moses and let him that desires to mistake mistake Menasse ben Israel Christian The Christians acknowledge One Only God Maker of Heaven and Earth but with distinction of Persons viz. Father Son and Holy Ghost Concerning which as a judicious and very Reverend Author of the Church of England is pleased to â—â—â—ress himself There are three distinctions in the Deity of which because the Scripture speaks in the same manner as we usually do of so many distinct Persons therefore since God is pleased so to accomodate the Mysteries to our Understanding as to speak of them in that manner it is both allowable and commendable in us to call them Persons But he would have us keep only to what the Scripture hath revealed about them without intermixing with them any of those unscriptural Notions which some Divines and School-men have added to them to explain them John Lord A. B. of Cantenbury in his Sermons concerning the Divinity c. of our Blessed Saviour God is One numerically One more One then any single Man is One If Unity could suscipere magis minus Yet God is so One that he admits of Distinction and so admits of it that he still retains Unity As He is One so we call him God the Deity the Divine Nature c. As He is distinguished so we call Him Trinity Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost In this Trinity there is One Essence Two Emanations Three Persons or Relations Four Properties innascibility or inemanibility to generate proper to the Father to be begotten proper to the Son to proceed proper to the Holy Ghost Five Notions innascibility to beget to be begotten to be breathed out to breath Mr. Hales Conf. of the Trinity Mahometan The Mahometans believe in and worship one God Eternal Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth And that Jesus Christ was conceived by the breath of God in the Womb of the Virgin Mary That Jesus is a great Prophet but not the Son of God That he wrought Miracles and foretold to the Jews the coming of Mahomet under the Name of the Comforter M. de Thevenot That Jesus would come and judge the World c. Idem They Invocate the Saints Idem Acknowledge Seventy Angels Guardians to every Musulman The Turks are for Mahomet Ancient Heathen The Ancient Heathens worship'd One Only God supream above the rest who was therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 frequently by Homer c. But they had many other Gods or Idols subordinate which they payed equal Worship and Adoration to making no distinction considerable between them in their Divine Honour There were 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greater Coelestial Gods Eternal of these the Greeks reckoned Twelve Jupiter Juno Saturn Apollo the Sun Diana the Moon Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Pluto Vulcan Venus The Romans added Vesta Coelus Ops Bacchus Hercules Ceres Janus 2. Deastri Dii Minores or Medloxumi Reporters and Transporters from Men to Gods from Gods to Men as Summanus President of the Manes Consus the God of Counsel Pan
Faithful or the Revenues of the Church one part was to be allowed to the Bishop two parts for Church Repairs and the Poor and one for the Clerks or Clergy according to their Merits Idem Sum. Decr. Simpl. Pa. 6. That the offerings of such as did not receive the Lord's Supper as did oppress the Poor as laid violent hands upon themselves were not to be accepted Idem c. So also of such as had delivered up their Children to be Baptized by Hereticks Idem 7. That Oblations were not to be made in Lent Idem Mahometan The Mahometan Pilgrims in commemoration of Abraham's Sacrifice offer upon the Plain near Medina 400000 Sheep on the Day of the little Bairam M. de Thev Ancient Heathen 1. Obs the kinds of Sacrifices 1. Humane Sacrifices were offered to Saturn in Carthage c. To Jupiter Apollo Mars Neptune Bacchus Juno Diana Pallas Mercury Moloch c. Amongst the Romans Scythians Cauls Aegyptians c. And some Indians now 2. Beasts and Birds c. 1. White to the Supernal Gods 2. Black to the Infernal 2. A Bull to Jupiter Mars Apollo Neptune Luna the Heroes A Ram to Mars and Jupiter A Horse to Sol and Mars A Doe to Minerva and Pan. A Lamb to Juno and Faunus A Dove to Venus A Sow to Ceres and Cybele A Hog to Sylvanus A Cock to the Lares A He-Goat to Bacchus The Women prostituted their own Bodies to Venus at her Temple for the use of Strangers They must all be 1. Of Fair Colour 2. Free from blemish 3. Not used to Labour 4. Such as they had received no profit from They chose proper Garlands to adorn the Men Sacrifices Altars Vessels e. g. In the Service of Bacchus Myrtle Ceres the Oak Hercules Poplar Apollo Lawrel They chose proper Fewel for the Altars Myrtle for Venus Ash for Mars Oak for Jove c. Natalis Comes tells of Vengeance inflicted for improper Fewel out of Pausanias c. They used proper Seasons of Service In the Morning to the Spernal In the Evening to the Infernal Proper Places On the Plain to the Terrestrial On Hills to the Supernal In Grots and Caves to the Infernal Modern Heathen The East-Indians offer Sacrifice some of them to the Sea and generally to the Idol in their Pagods M. de Thev In Guinea c. if the Fishermen have not a good draught they present a Piece of Gold to the Priest to reconcile them to the frowning Saint who with his Wives makes a kind of Procession through the Streets smiting his Breast clapping his hands with a mighty noise 'till he come to the shoar where they cut down Boughs from certain Trees and hang them on their Necks playing on Timbrels then the Priest turns to the Wives and expostulates with them and throws Wheat and other things into the Sea as an Offering to the Fetisso View of the Engl. Acqu in Guinea c. In Pegu and Bengala the Idols are honoured with Lights continually burning before them Rosse In Goa they wash in a Cistern near the Idol and offer Rice Eggs c. Idem The Gaurs Kids Hens Pigeons In Malabar they Sacrifice Flowers and Cocks to their Idol In Narsinga the Pilgrims offer Gold Silver and Jewels to their Idol Idem In Virginia they offered Tobacco c. In Mexico c. Men. Idem Diabolical Witches give their Soul and Body to the Devil And permit the Devil to suck their Blood once in 24 hours And destroy the lives of as many as they can in Devotion to the Devil Glanvil In Amboyna they offer him Meat and Drink and light a Wax-Candle in a certain place of their Houses and if he comes not they eat most of the Consecrated Meat themselves Mandelslo The like they do in Ceylon Capt. Knox. 4. Purifications Washings c. Jewish PUrification by Water was long in use with the Jews though not Sacramental therefore they expected it at the coming of the Messiah John 1.25 They question'd not his Baptism but his Authority Godw. Antiq. To make a Woman-Profelyte of the Covenant was required Purification by Water and Oblation viz. two Turtles or Pigeons to a Male-Profelyte Circumcision together with Purification and Oblation Idem Purification was used 1. To Males before Circumcision 2. To Women-Proselytes of the Covenant 3. To Women after Child-birth as the Law requires Lev. 12. but with this difference among the Modern Jews That after the birth of a Daughter the Wife retires for 66 or 70 Days her Husband not being permitted to touch her Finger or Clothes or cut in the same Dish or drink in the same Cup with her 'till she hath been washt c. Dr. Addison 4. To Churches Vessels c. Ancient Christian Hither may be referred the Baptism of Christiaus which is a kind of Purification though we have spoken of it before in the Chapter of Sacraments as may also the Lord's Supper in which the Souls of true Believing Communicants are purified in the Blood of Christ that Lamb of GOD which takes away the sins of the World This is that Fountain which was open'd on purpose for sin and for uncleanness which purifies more than the Refiners fire or the Fuller's Soap But ordinarily Repentance is the Christian's purification and that which disposeth and makes us meetly qualified for the Ordinances before-mentioned both which are but declarative of this and supposed in the Judgment of Christian Charity both in Baptism and the Lord's Supper Other Purifications have been added in succeeding Ages by the Papists especially as 1. Purification or Dedication of Churches by Praying Sprinkling the Walls with holy Water and a bundle of Hysop the Clergy and People going about and singing the Bishop knocking the Door with his Crosier saying Lift up your heads O ye gates c. Then entering in with three Servants wishing Peace three times to the House then on his knees to the Altar and praying whilest the Clergy without sing the Litany who afterwards carry in the Relicks of the Saint to which the Church is Dedicated The Walls are painted Salt Water Ashes and Wine are exercised and mixt into which the Bishop having dipt his Thumb makes the sign of the Cross on the Altar Walls Pavement offers Incense blesseth the Church Preacheth c. all enter the Church singing c. 2. Of Altars by going about them 7 times and sprinkling them with Water and Hysop 7 times having first made 4 Crosses on the 4 Horns of the Altars 3. The Putinae the Corporal Chalice Linnen Pix Fonts Crosses Images First-Fruits Holy-Water Salt Church-Yard Bells Easter-Tapers Chests wherein the Relicks of the Saints are kept c. And these Purified or Consecrated with Prayers Washing Crossing Ancinting Incense c. Mahometan The Turks have two kinds of Ablutions 1. Gousl viz. a general washing of the whole body after lying with their Wives Nocturnal Pollution Urine or any Unclean Thing touching them 2. Abdest viz. only of the Hands always before Prayers 3. After easing of
Him who hath fed us with His own and of whose Goodness we live All the Guests answer'd Blessed be He of whose Meat we have eaten and of whose goodness we live Then the Master proceeded Blessed be He and blessed be His Name c. annexing a long Prayer in which he gave thanks 1. For present Food 2. Deliverance out of Aegypt 3. Circumcision 4. The Law And Prayed 1. For the People Israel 2. The City Jerusalem 3. Sion the Tabernacle of His Glory 4. The Kingdom of David's House 5. The coming of Elias 6. That God would make them worthy of those Days and the Life of the World to come Then the Guests answer Fear the Lord all ye his Saints for there is no lack c. Afterward he blessed the Cup as before and then drunk round And lastly they sung a Hymn Their gesture was lying on Beds They sent Portions to the needy Ancient Christian The Christian-Feasts used in Primitive Times were called Agapae or Love-Feasts The manner thus 1. They prayed to God before they ventured upon His Creatures 2. Ate but what sufficed Hunger drank no more than consisted with sober and modest Men and fed so as remembring they were to rise at night to worship God 3. When they had done they sung Psalms either of their own Composure or out of the Holy Volumes 4. And as they began so they ended the Feast with Prayer 5. And then departed with the same care to preserve their Modesty and Chastity so that they appeared not so much to have Feasted at Supper as to have fed upon Discipline and Order So Tertullian Mahometan The Mahometans have a kind of Easter-Feast which they call Bayran which lasteth three days in which they enjoy all sorts of Pleasures They have also great Feasting at the Circumcision of their Males They observe divers Festivals Rosse Ancient Heathen The Romans after Sacrificing went to Feast upon the remaining part of the Beast singing the praises of their God After the Banquet they did return to the Altar and cast into the Flames the Morsels of Meat that were left with the Tongue and some Wine and then did return thanks to the God for the honour and advantage of sharing with him in the Victim This ended they concluded with Prayers D Assigny upon Galir p. 26. At their ordinary Feasts they had Libationes To retrench the Expences of their Feasts and oblige them to Frugality and Moderation there were several Laws enacted amongst the Romans called Leges Sumptuariae concerning which more may be seen in A. Gellius Macrobius c. The order and manner of their Feasts was thus 1. As to the time it was commonly at Supper 2. Water was brought to wash with Modern Heathen In Tanquin they keep I casts commonly all Day and Night their most esteem'd Meats are Colt's Flesh and Dog's Flesh most of their Dishes are relished with a kind of Birds-nest which gives them a tast of almost all sorts of Spices They conclude commonly with Comedies and Fire-works Tavernier Diabolical At the Entertainments which the Devil makes for Witches by night Glanvil mentions Wine Cake Roast-Meat Drink Dances Musick And the Devil at Meeting bids them welcome 9. Church-Discipline Excommunication Jewish Observe here 1. THE Causes of Excommunication 1. Among the old Jews were only 1. Leprosie 2. Touching the Dead 3. An Issue 2. Among the Modern Jews are added 1. Scandalizing a Master though dead 2. Reviling a publick Minister of Justice 3. Calling a Free-man a Slave 4. Not appearing at the Consistory c. 5. Undervaluing a single Precept 6. Not doing what is appointed 7. Keeping what may hurt another as a Hiring Dog broken Scales 8. Selling Land to a Gentile 9. Witnessing in a Heathen Court against a Hebrew 10. A Priest Sacrificing and not giving the rest of the Priests their due 11. Working on the Fore-noon before the Passeover 12. Pronouncing the Name of God carelesly or with an Oath or in lofty Hyperbolical Terms 13. Causing the Vulgar to profane it 14. Computing times out of otherwise than their Fore-fathers in the Holy Land 15. Causing the Vulgar to eat holy things out of holy places 16. Causing the Blind to stumble 17. Hindering the Vulgar in any Command 18. A Priest Sacrificing a torn Beast 19. Killing a Beast with a Knife not yet tried by a Rabbi c. 20. Moroseness and backwardness to learn 21. Associating with a Wife after himself hath Divorced her 22. A wise Man or Rabbi of ill Fame 23. Undeservedly Excommunicating another 24. Profaning the Festivals 2. The Kings or Degrees 1. Niddui the lowest 2. Schammatha 3. Cherem Concerning which see in the Second Book Ancient Christian Observe 1. What Crimes All publick in themselves or made known to the Church after private admonition The greatest Temptation was to Idolatry committed 1. By Exposing the Scriptures called Traditores 2. Actual Sacrificing called Thurificati 3. Purchasing a Warrant from the Magistrate to execute them called Libellatici 2. What Penalties viz. Spiritual Excommunication for 2 3 5 7 10 20 30 years sometimes for their whole Life according to the Offence Clergy-men forfeited their Ministry And tho upon repentance admitted to Communion yet but as Lay-men Abstineri 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Anathematizari 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anathematizari Are all Synonymous terms signifying Excommunication 3. What manner 1. Reproofs and Exhortations were used in the Assembly 2. The Censure was passed not always in a formal manner the Fact being notorious and the offender ipso facto excommunicate The Excommunicate appeared in a sordid habit with a sad Countenance a head hung down tears in their Eyes standing without at the Church-doors never suffered to enter in falling down to the Ministers as they went in and begging the Prayers of all good Christians making open Confession of their Faults This was to satisfy 1. The Church of their Repentance and for the Scandal 2. God by acknowledging the fault and beging pardon 4. The time of Penance ended they addressed themselves to the Governors of the Church for Absolution their repentance examined and found sincere they were openly readmitted by imposition of hands The party kneeling down between the Bishop's knees or the Presbyters in his Absence the Bishop laying his hands on him and blessing him The Penitent was now received with acclamations of joy sometimes weeping for his Recovery to the Lord's Supper c. The set time of Penance was remitted in case of Death Persecution many Offenders Dignity Age c. 4. The Persons Excommunicating 1. The publick Congregation the people Cyprian 2. The Elders President Tertull. 3. The Majores Natu presiding in the Church Firmilian in a letter to Cyprian 4. Only the Bishop Conc. Illiber can 32. or 5. The Presbyter or Deacon in necessity Ibid. Cypr. 6. In the Decian Persecution a publick Penitentiary Martyrs gave sometimes Libellos to mitigate the Penance Mahometan The Mahometans have none but punish by Civil Magistrates
and dismiss the People with the Blessing Numb 6.24 The Afternoon Service is the same except that instead of Reading the Commandments they Sing them 6. They receive the Lord's Supper standing during the Administration Chapters are Read and Psalms Sung till the Holy Ceremony is over and then instead of the 117th Psalm they sing the Song of Simeon kneeling 7. Baptism is administred in the Church and the People strictly forbid to depart till the Solemnity is over The Father promises to take care of his Child but the same is required of a Godfather and Godmother 8. No Marriage is solemnized without an antecedent Publication of the Banns 9. They say Prayers in their Families which they conclude with the Lord's Prayer Creed and Blessing morning and Evening 10. They bless their Meat in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost 11. They Excommunicate all scandalous and notorious Offenders and admit them not to the Sacrament till after a publick Confession Mr. Janmard Vic. of Arundel in Sussex 3. In England I need not to say what their Doctrine Discipline or way of Divine Worship is the Assemblies Catechism giving a sufficient Account of their Doctrine and the Directory of their Discipline and Worship And besides this Book being in the English Tongue primarily and chiefly for the use of English-men it will not be hard for any English-man to inform himself by a personal acquaintance and conversation with them 4. In Scotland 1. Their Doctrine is mostly agreeable to that of the English except that they hold the King inferiour to the Church and consequently may be Excommunicated which I think for I would slander no party is peculiar to them and Fathered upon their Politicks 2. Their Worship thus 1. A Psalm two or three Verses 2. A Prayer 3. A Text and Sermon 4. A short Prayer 5. A Psalm with Glory to the Father Son c. 5. In New-England 1. For morning 1. A Prayer 2. The Sermon 3. A Psalm 4. A conclusion with Prayers for the sick c. 2. Evening 1. A Psalm 2. A short Prayer 3. The Sermon 4. A Prayer pretty long 5. A Psalm again 6. A conclusion by way of Prayer and Benediction c. They have Sacraments every Month once APPENDIX COncerning Differences in the Church of Geneva Dr. Burnet tells us The middle way that Amirald Daille and some others in France took in the matters that were disputed in Holland concerning the Divine Decrees and the extent of the Death of Christ as it came to be generally followed in France so it had some Asserters both in Geneva and Switzerland who denied the imputation of Adam's sin and asserted the Universality of Christ's Death together with a sufficient Grace given to all Men asserting with this a particular and free Decree of Election with an Efficacious Grace for those included in it These came to be called Vniversalists and began to grow very considerable in Geneva Two of the Professors of Divinity there being known to favour those Opinions whereupon those who adhered strictly to the opposite Doctrine were inflamed and the Contention grew to that height that almost the whole Town came to be concerned and all were divided into Parties But tho the Party of Universalists was considerable in Geneva it was very small in Switzerland therefore some Divines there that adhered to the old received Doctrine drew up some Articles in which all these Doctrines were not only condemned together with some speculations that were asserted concerning Adam's immortality and other qualities belonging to the state of innocency But because Capel and some other Criticks had not only asserted the Novelty of the Points but had taken the liberty to correct the reading of the Hebrew c. They condemned all Corrections of the Hebrew Bible and asserted the Antiquity of the Points or at least of the Power and reading according to them obliging all such as should be admitted tot he Ministery to sign sic sentio so I think Thus at Bern Zurich and Geneva Dr. Burnet's Letters Independents The Tenets of the Independents are as follow 1. They hold That particular Churches associated for personal Communion are of Divine Institution 2. That particular Churches ought to have a proper Exercise of Discipline amongst themselves 3. That none but free Consenters should receive the Sacrament nor be related to the Pastor as his Flock 4. That the rest should live as Catechumens in peace 5. That the Church of England is no True Church 6. That parish-Parish-Churches are no True Churches 7. That Parish-Ministers are no True Ministers if Ordained by Diocesans and not chosen by the People 8. That Ministers and People must gather Churches that are purer and set up purer Discipline whatever Rulers say or do or themselves suffer by it 9. That no prohibition of the Magistrate will warrant a Minister to forbear his Office Mr. Rich. Baxter Mr. Rosse and others give a larger account of their Opinions but these being all that they have of late Years contended for and being of late at least in part reconciled to the Presbyterians I forbear to ascribe any more to them Anabaptists Their Doctrines are as follows 1. They condemn Infant-Baptism 2. They condemn Tithes and forced Maintenance of Ministers 3. They allow not as lawful Swearing before a Magistrate 4. They condemn Magistracy it self as unlawful among Christians 5. They say That humane Learning is unnecessary in a Minister These are commonly professed by them to this that They who would know more may read Mr. Rosse Paget c. I forbear at present to tax them with the Doctrine of Community of Goods and some other Doctrines which as the case now stands with them are laid asleep and not asserted or owned by them Quakers 1. Their Tenets 1. They deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but yet grant them to be an holy Declaration of the Word of God and of the Rule and Guide in Matters of Salvation 2. They hold That the Spirit which leads into all Truth is the great Evangelical Rule of Holy Living 3. That Christians ought now to expect inward Revelation from the Spirit of God 4. That Forms of Prayer are not to be perpetuated in the Church 5. That Baptism by Water is not Christ's Ordinance 6. That the Lord's Supper is unnecessary to the Regenerate because Christ is come to them viz. by his Spirit 7. That Swearing before Magistrates is unlawful 8. That all persons inspired may preach tho' Mechanicks 9. That Errors and Vices do un-minister Men. 10. That the Jewish-Sabbath being a Type of Spiritual Rest under the Gospel we are not now bound to any set Day yet to some time of Divine Worship W. Penn Esq See more in Mr. Rosse's View of all Religions c. 2. Their Divisions In England they are divided especially in two Parties such as follow Mr. Mead who is accounted the most rational and moderate and such as adhere to Mr. Penn. In Pennsilvania we have had