our Sins at least once a Year 4. To receive the blessed Sacrament at least once a Year and that at Easter or thereabouts 5. To pay Tithes to our Pastors 6. Not to celebrate Marriage on times prohibited viz. from the first Sunday of Advent 'till Twelfth-day be past nor from Ash-Wednesday 'till Low-Sunday de past N. B. 'T is a mortal Sin to break any of these Commandments 12. There be Seven Sacraments 1. Baptism in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost c. Observ 1. The Minister 1. The Priest ordinarily 2. A Lay-man or Woman in case of necessity 2. The Effects 1. Remission of Sin Original and Actual 2. A Spiritual Character in the Soul for ever 3. Sponsors One God-father and one God-mother since Trent C. 4. Ceremonies 1. The Priest breaths on the Child's face 2. Sign of the Cross on the Breast and Forehead 3. Putting Salt in the Child's mouth 4. Spittle laid on the Ears and Nostrils 5. Anointing on the Head Shoulders Breast 6. White Chrism given to the Child 7. A hallowed Light given to it 2. Confirmation Observe 1. The Form I sign thee with the sign of the Cross I confirm thee with the Chrism of Salvation in the Name of the Father c. 2. The Matter Oil mingled with Balsn blessed by a Bishop 3. It Seals or gives a Character 4. The Time at seven years old 5. The Ceremonies 1. A blow on the Cheek 2. One God-father or God-mother 3. Eucharist Cons 1. The Matter wheaten Bread and Wine of the Grape with a little Water 2. Disposition in the Receiver Confession of Sin being in a State of Grace 3. The Laity Communicate in one kind 4. Penance Consider 1. The Form I absolve thee from thy sins in the Name of the Father c. 2. The Parts 1. Contrition 2. Confession 3. Satisfaction 1. Contrition is a hearty sorrow for our Sins proceeding immediately from the Love of God and joyned with a firm purpose of Amendment 2. Attrition from the fear of Hell or punishment or filthiness of sin or spiritual damage from sin This with Sacramental Confession and Absolution will remit sin A dying Man in mortal sin if he cannot have a Priest must have Contrition 3. Confession must be Short Diligent Humble Confounding Sincere Entire 4. Satisfaction is the Sacramental Penance enjoyned by the Priest at Confession Also Voluntary Prayers Fasting Good Works Sufferings By which Satisfaction is made for temporal punishments due sometimes to sin after forgiveness Indulgencies viz. The superabundant Merits of Christ and his Saints applied to our Souls by the grant of the Church 5. Extream Vnction 1. The matter of it is Oil blessed by a Bishop 2. The Form By this anointing and his own most pious Mercy let our Lord pardon thee whatsoever thou hast sinned by thy seeing c. 3. The Effects 1. Spiritual Comfort 2. Remission of venial sin and the relicks of sin 3. Corporal Health if expedient 6. Holy Order Concerning which observe To whom it belongs viz. Bishops Priests Deacons Sub-Deacons Inferiour Orders are Acolyte Lector Exorcist and Porter 7. Matrimony Concerning which observe 1. Who may Marry 1. Only the Laity 2. Persons not a-kin by collateral Consanguinity or Affinity to the fourth degree or at all in the right Line but the Church can dispense with all except Brothers and Sisters 13. There are four Cardinal Vertues Prudence Justice Fortitude and Temperance 14. Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost Wisdom Understanding Counsel Fortitude Knowledge Piety and the Fear of our Lord. 15. Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost Charity Joy Peace Patience Longanimity Goodness Benignity Mildness Fidelity Modesty Continency Chastity 16. Seven works of Mercy To feed the Hungry give drink to the Thirsty cloath the Naked to harbour the Harbourless to visit the Sick to visit the Imprisoned 17. Seven works of Mercy spiritual To give Counsel to the Doubtful to Instruct the Ignorant to Admonish Sinners to Comfort the Afflicted to forgive Offences to bear patiently the Troublesome to pray for the Quick and Dead 18. Ceremonies of the Mass 1. Ornaments of the Priest 1. Amis or Linnen Veil representing the Veil on our Saviour's Face 2. The Albe signifying the white Garment which Herod put on 3. The Girdle signifying the Cord by which he was bound in the Garden 4. The Maniple the Cord which bound him to the Pillar 5. The Stole the Cord by which he was led to be Crucified 6. The Upper Vestment the seamless Coat of Christ and also the Purple Garment 2. The Altar representing the Cross with its Appurtenances 1. The Chalice the Sepulchre of Christ 2. The Patine the Stone rowled to the Door of the Sepulchre 3. The Altar-cloaths Corporal and Pall the Linnen in which the Body of Christ was shrowded 4. The Candles on the Altar the Light which Christ brought into the World 3. Gestures 1. Coming back three steps from the Altar and humbling himself before he begins again the prostration of Christ in the Garden 2. Bowing again at the Confiteor to provoke Humility and Contrition in the People 3. Beating his Breast at mea culpa to teach Humiliation 4. Ascending to the Altar the Priest kisseth the middle of it because the Altar signifies the Church kissing Peace and Unity 4. Parts 1. Introite the entrance into the Office after the Priest's coming to the Altar which is repeated twice 2. Gloria Patri added to it 3. Kyrie Eleison 4. Gloria in excebsis 5. Oremus 6. The Collect viz. a Sum of the Epistle and Gospel 7. The Gradual the holy degrees of Penance 8. The Tract viz. two or three Versicles betwixt the Epistle and Gospel sung with a slow long protracted Tone between Septuagesima and Easter in place of the Gradual because a time of penance and mourning 9. The Gospel read at the North-end of the Altar to signifie that Satan's Kingdom seated in the North Jer. 1.14 is destroyed 4. Gestures again 1. Signing the Book with the Sign of the Cross 2. Priest and People sign themselves with the Cross in three places viz. Fore-head Mouth and Breast 3. The first Offertory of Bread and Wine mingled with Water 4. The Priest washing the ends of his Fingers 5. Silence a while 6. Elevating the Voice in saying the Preface 7. The Canon the most sacred essential part of the Mass read with a low Voice signifying the sadness of Christ's Passion 8. Beginning the Canon with bowing of the Head 9. In the midst of it kissing the Altar and signing the Host and Chalice thrice with the sign of the Cross 10. Signing the Offerings again five times 11. After Consecration kneeling and adoring 12. Elevation of the Host and Chalice 13. Signing again the Offerings five times to signifie Christ's five Wounds 14. A nomination of the Dead to whom the Sacrifice is applied 15. Elevation of the Voice again in saying Nobis quoque peccatoribus 16. Signing the Host and Chalice three times again to signifie the
172. Indian Christians The Indian Christians read two chapters at home one out of each Testament Sr. Th. Herbert Malabar In Malabar the King of Calecut eats no meat till it be first offered by his Preist to his Idol Ross Mahometans There are but few who go not every day to Prayers epecially those of Noon Quinday and Aksham for many perform the other two at home Nor doth travelling excuse them for when they know that it is the Hour of Prayer they stop in the Fields near to some water they draw water in a tinn'd Copper-pot which they carry always purposely about them then do the Abdest spread a Carpet on the Ground without which they never Travel and say their Prayers upon it M. de Thevenot They have Chaplets also which they often say for the most part have them in their hand whether at home or abroad c. Idem Persians There are some amongst them who pray with such Violence at their own Houses that they put themselves out of Breath and many times fall down in a Swoon One of my Neighbours at Schamachie was so earnest in his Devotion that having said his Prayer very loud and pronounced with all his might above fifty times the word Hakka God he at length could not pronounce it without a great deal of difficulty and at last his Voice quite fail'd him D. of Holstein 's Emb. Trav. p. 279. Benjans They never go out of their Houses till they have said their Prayers Mandelslo's Trav. into the Indies p. 57. Persees The Persees of Guzurat have no Mosques but make use of some Room in their Houses to do their Devotion in which they do sitting without any Inclination of their Bodies Mandelslo's Trav. p. 60. In Amboina they take in hand no business be it never so mean nay not so much as piercing of a Tree to draw Terry till they have done their Devotions to the Devil Idem Toleration of all Religions Jews AMong the Jews we find in our Saviour's time Pharisees and Sadduces and Herodians and Pagan Romans all exercising their own Religion the Synagogues open to People of different Opinions and liberty of Prophesying seems to be allowed for some time even to the Christians themselves vid. Acts 13.15 c. I need not speak of the Nazarites and Rechabites tolerated among them in ancient times who yet were distinguished from the common Israelite by peculiar Ceremonies and Usages The case of the Gibeonites was extraordinary their Liberty procured by Craft and turned into Servitude being made Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water for the Congregation and for the Altar of the Lord. Christians The Muscovites give a Free Toleration to all Religions and live very quietly with the Lutherans and those of the Reformed Religion but they have so great an Aversion to the Roman Catholicks that they would never grant them liberty in Muscovy In the first War of Smolensko they would not entertain Catholick Soldiers A. C. 1627. The late King of France proposed a Treaty for Commerce between the French and Muscovite and for a Church where Mass might be said but it was denied nay in the Treaty they made with us for our passage into Persia it is an express Article That we should not take any Roman Catholicks into our Retinue D. of H. Ambass Trav. p. 108. They suffer all Nations to live amongst them as Calvinists Lutherans Armenians Tartars Turks and Persians excepting none but Jews and Roman-Catholicks Idem The King of Poland several Papists Ecclesiastical Soveraigns in Germany the Venecians in their Grecian Islands all give liberty of Conscience In Rome it self the Pope tolerates several Popish Churches differing in Ceremonies from one another and all abundantly from that called the Roman Church yet agreeing in doctrine having publick liberty without exceptions In Germany the Lutheran Churches scarce in any Two Cities have the same Ceremonies Nurimburg and Leipsig having almost as many as the Papists and yet they differ in them Hamburg hath fewer And Strasburg none at all Their differing in Circumstantials makes no breach of Charity At the same Communion some receive sitting some standing The Three Religions are tolerated at Frankfort Dr. Burnet The Three Religions have their exercises successively the same day in the Church of the Concord at Manheim the Calvinists first the Lutherans next and the Papists last Idem in his letters Dr. Edw. Brown in his Travels In two Cantons Appeuzel and Glaris both Religions are Tolerated and are capable of equal Priviledges and in some Bailiages belonging to Bern and Friburg both Religions are so equally Tolerated that in the same Church they have both Mass and Sermon On one Sunday Mass begins and Sermon follows the next Sunday Sermon begins and Mass follows c. Dr. Burnet 's Letters Mahometans The Mogul Tolerates all Religions and speaks well of all So doth the great Turkish Emperor Among Mahometans Liberty of Conscience is allowed agreeable to an Azoara in the Alcoran which declares that none are to be disswaded from the Religion they Suckt from their Cradle Sir Th. Herbert In Negapatan likewise any Religion is Tolerable and Virgil's Omnigenûmque Deûm Monstra seem to be Translated hither Idem In Goa are Christians Jews Mahometans and Heathens Rosse In the Philippin Islands are Christians Mahometans and Pagans Idem In Sumatra and Zeilan are Moors Christians and Pagans Idem In Egypt Christians have their Churches Jews their Synagogues and Mahometans their Mosques of which last there be four sorts differing in their Laws Liturgies and Ceremonies Idem The Coast of Coromandel is furnished with Various Religions Christian Mahometan and Idolatry of the first there are two sorts those of S. Thomas that are of the Greek Church and the Europian Christians The Last Words of Dying Men c. Christians LVther ended his Life with these words Lord I render up my Spirit into thy Hands and come unto thee And again Lord into thy Hands I commend my Spirit thou O God of Truth hast redeemed me being asked by Dr. Jones if he died in the constant Confession of that Doctrin which he had preach'd he answered Yea which was his last word Olympia Fulvia Morata to her Husband Tota sum laeta I am all joyful but now I know you no more Anonym once a little before her Death awaking out of Sleep with a chearful Countenance she said I have now got a sight in my Rest of a most excellent and pleasant place shining with an unexpressible Light and Brightness But thro' weakness could say no more D. Melch. Adam Mr. Carter ended his Life with this Doxology The Lord be thanked Clark's Lives Erasmus breathed out his Soul in these Ejaculations Mercy sweet Jesus Lord loose these bands how long Lord Jesus how long Jesus Fountain of Mercy have mercy upon me c. Fuller's Lives Leo Jude who died at Tigure 1542. concluded thus Huic Jesu Christo c. i. e. To this my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ my Hope and
to defraud 9. Not to oppress 2. The Persees in their book of Religion have these Precepts the book called Zundawastau 1. To have shame and fear ever with thâ—â— 2. To consider whether what they take in hand be good or bad commanded or forbidden 3. To keep their Eyes and hearts from coveting what is another's and their hands from hurting any one 4. To have a care always to speak the Truth 5. To be known only in their own businesses and not to enquire into and to busie themselves in other mens matters 6. Not to entertain any other Law besides what they have delivered to them from their Prophets M. de Thevenot 3. The Indian Bramins call the books of their Religion Bets which are four in number which they say God sent to them and that they are the Keepers M. de Thev The Gaurs have a large Book in three parts relating to Salvation Dreams and Physick in a language which themselves scarce understand but by the help of other Books M. Tavernier l. 4. Diabolical The Devil is very cunning a notable Politician S. Paul knew him so and therefore uses many words to set out his Frauds His Interest and Subtility are the only Rules he goes by And he Attacks all persons he hath to deal with according to their Genius Exempl g. Balaam a false Prophet by Apparitions Dr. Dee a Mathematician by Magical Devices our Saviour by sacred Scripture the obstinate Jews by a false Messiah a Barcocab Enthusiastical Persons by Revelations Dreams Fancies Learned Men by Curiosities the Religious by Superstitions c. 17. The manner of calling Assemblies Jewish THE Jews Sounded Trumpets formerly Also they rung the great Bell Migrepha Now about five in the Afternoon the Door-Keeper of the Synagogue knocks at their Doors with a Hammer warning them to repair to Evening Prayer Rosse Ancient Christian At first certainly the Christians by agreement among themselves appointed the Day and Hour before-hand and conveyed the notice thereof by word of Mouth Pancirollus refers the Invention of Bells to Paulinus Bishop of Nola about the Year of Christ 400. But he rather changed the use of them to religious purposes Dr. Holid on Juv. In Cyprus the Greeks are called to Church in the Morning by one or two a Clock by the striking on their Door with a Hammer the Clerk uttering these words Christians go to Church Taver l. 2. c. 2 p. 81. The Musccvites have no Bells in Steeples but in a certain Engine or Machine near the Church in the Church-Yard and are for the most part so small that few of them are 150 or 200 pound weight They toll them at beginning of Service and at the elevation of the Chalice The Rope being fasten'd not to the Bell but the Clapper they easily Chime many together The Abyssines have no Bells of Brass or mix'd Metal but a kind of hollow Vessels made of Wood Stone or Iron more for noise than delight to the Ear. Job Ludolph Salmuth c. They have two great Bells in the Convent of Niamoni in the Isle of Chio. The Turks allowing them to Christians no where else There are little ones in every Village M. de Thev I passed by a Church in Ispahan where hearing a great noise I went into it the noise was made by striking with a great Stick upon a Deal-Board that was hung up which the Armenians are forced to make use of instead of Bells the Persians not permitting them to make use of any D. of Holst Amb. Trav. p. 208. Mahometan The Mahometans are called to Church five times a day by a Cryer by a Cryer bauling aloud Alla Allah Allahu The Turks call Etchmeasin in Persia the Seat of one of the Armenian-Patriarchs the Church with Bells for they are used here and no where else in Turkey except in Moldavia Valachia Mount Athos The Muczim goes up to a Minaret at every Mosque and stopping his Ears with his Fingers he sings and cries these words with all his force Allah ekbar c. i. e. God is great God is great is great great shew that there is but one God shew that Mahomet is his Prophet come and present your selves to the Mercy of God and ask Forgiveness of your Sins God is great God is great God is great God is great There is no other God but God M. de Thev This they do five times a day and on Friday six The Faquirs or poor Mahometan-Voluntiers the have many Disciples call them together when they assemble by the Sound of a Horn or the Beat of a Drum M. Tavernier Par. 2. l. 2. c. 2. Ancient Heathen The Persians did call an Assembly before Day-light saith Strabo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the sound of a Bell. l. 15. The Priestesses of Bona-Dea at Rome were called to the Service by a Horn. Upon the Festival of Dame Flora the Rabble and idle Strumpets were called together by the sound of a Trumpet Modern Heathen In Pegu the Talapoi Summon the People to Church by sounding a brass Bason Pacquet broke open Vol. 2. In Mexico they awaked the People to Service with a Trumpet The Bannyans are called to their Idolatrous Devotions to their Pagods under their Trees with the sound of a little Bell. Sir Tho. Herb. In some parts of Java particularly Bantam they use Drums instead of Bells which they beat with a Bar as big as a Weaver's Beam and sometimes brass Basons Mandelslo In Siam their Pagods have Steeples and Bells Tavernier Upon tolling of the Bells they rise to Prayers about 4 it the Morning which they repeat again toward Evening Idem In Tunquin also they have Bells Idem In Gilolo and Amboyna they bring their Daemon or Nito to a conference by the sound of a little Tabor called Typha and with lighted Candles and Words of Conjuration Pacquet broke open Vol. 2. Diabolical In Amboyna to have conference with the Devil whom they call Nito they assemble to the number of 20 or 30 and call upon him with the beat of a little Drum consecrated to this use which they call Typha Mandelslo In New-England 1692. at Salem one G. B. was reported by some of the Witnesses for Summoning other Witches to a Sacrament with the sound of a Trumpet who failed not from all Quarters to go towards the appointed place of Meeting soon after the Sound Cotton Mather in his Wonders of the Invisible World 18. The Parts and Order of Divine or Religious Worship Domestical Jewish 1. PArts of Divine Worship Domestical Daily Daniel prayed thrice a day and praised GOD and it was his manner so to do Dan. 6.16 David prayed at Morning and Evening and Noon Night and Day even in his Bed making it swim with tears Anna served the Lord in the Temple with Fasting and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2.37 GOD appointed a Lamb to be offered for a daily Sacrifice Morning and Evening He that eats Bread with unwashen hands sins as grievously as he that lies with
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
sometimes a whole day sometimes longer as the Crime is In that Posture he desires the Cazi to Purifie him The Priest answers the Dog must Purifie him not he After which he pours the Water seven times on his Head then gives him a Draught to drink and so he is absolved Afterwards he Feasts all his Friends at the Cazi's House But the Women and Maids are shrifted by the Cazi's Wife M. Tavernier l. 4. c. 8. Zeal Jews BRethren saith St. Paul my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be Saved for I bear them record that they have a Zeal of God but not according to Knowledge Rom. 10.2 And the Apostle himself was a Zealot of the same kind before his Conversion Concerning Zeal persecuting the Church of God And the Sect he belonged to was notoriously guilty that way none warmer in the blind Pursuit of Religion than the Pharisees And yet we may trace the same fiery Humour conveyed down to following Ages and Generations witness their perpetual Hatred and Persecution of the Christian Church their obstinate Adherence to their Devotions in the Siege of Jerusalem their Zealous Attempts to return to the Holy Land and re-build the Holy City c. and this all in spight of Miracles and Judgments enough to convince them of their Folly if they were not absolutely blind and hardened Scaliger tells us of an Order of Men among them called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mourners that once a year on the ninth day of Ab were allowed entrance into Jerusalem by Adrian's Edict which as Benjamin an Hebrew Author relates give Tithes of all which they possess to the Wise Men always sitting in the School and to the humbled Israelites which lament Sion and bewail Jerusalem These dwell in Caves or ruined Houses Fasting all the days of their Life except on the Sabbaths and Festivals beseeching Mercy continually at the Hands of God Christians The Martyrs at Thebais multitudes having been executed every day with all imaginable Cruelties Sentence was no sooner passed against one Party but others came presented themselves before the Tribunal confessing themselves Christians and received the Sentence with Joy Dr. Cave When Servetus condemned Zuinglius for his Rashness his answer was In aliis mansuetus ero in Blasphemiis in Christum non ita Samodies Here the Priest who is the eldest of the Family or Tribe in Divine Service instead of Singing Howls till he fall down as one dead rising again orders a Sacrifice of five Deer then thrusts a Sword half way into his Belly with several other Illusions and Tricks of Sorcery Pacquet broke open Vol. 2. Mexicans The Town of Mexico was great and had thirteen Temples in each of which were many Idols of Stone of diverse Fashions before whom they Sacrificed Men Doves Quails and other things with great Perfumes and Veneration Some years they Sacrificed as was thought fifty thousand Men. S. Purchas Mahometans The Turks are very Zealous for their Religion which they endeavour to propagate all over the World M. de Thevenot The Asian Turks are greater Zealots I knew at Smyrna a Reverend Preacher amongst them who had many Pupils who was so great a lover of his own Sect that he hated all Mankind beside and stuffed his Sermons with Invectives against Christians till at last chidden by the Officers of the City Yet his Pride hardly abated for when on his Mule's back with his Followers on foot he made all Western Christians whom he met with accidentally to alight and attend whilst so Holy a Man passed by P. Ricaut Esq in his Present State of the Greek Church Heathens In Mexico they burnt Incense before their Idols every Morning Noon-tide Evening and at Midnight and this with much Reverence and then they beat themselves and drew Blood with sharp Bodkins Rosse In Jucatan in their Idolatrous Processions they wound themselves and offer themselves cheerfully for Sacrifices Idem Tunquinese It is a thing almost incredible what a vast number of Sacrifices the King sends to the Temples of his false Gods at his Inauguration to be there offered to the Idols The number of Beasts is said to exceed an 100000 besides the value of a Million in Panes of Gold Tissues and Silks to adorn the Idols and Orange-coloured Calicuts for the Bonzes and those that attend the Service of the Pagods and a vast number of pieces of blue Calicuts for the Poor that are kept in the Pagods Tavernier 's Collection of several Relations c. Moderation Jews A Moderation in reference to the Ceremonial Law especially when the Moral came into Competition with it and sometimes even in reference to the Judicial seems frequently in Scripture permitted and practised Circumcision sometimes neglected and the Passover and Sacrifices c. the Shew-bread eaten by others than Priests and an immoderate Zeal for Oblations New Moons and Sabbaths sharply reproved when the weightier things of the Law were neglected Vid. Psal 50. Isa 1. Hos 6.6 I desired Mercy and not Sacrifice c. Mie 6.6 7 8. As if the Almighty were about to retract those very Ceremonies which himself had instituted when he saw the People dote so fondly upon them as to forget or not duly mind the more solid and substantial parts of Religion Christians When I come to Rome I Fast on the Sabbath when I am here I do not Fast So St. Ambrose at Milan tells St. Augustine which Judgment of Ambrose Austine saith he look'd on as a Heavenly Oracle viz. To whatever Church you come observe the Custom of that Church if you would avoid giving Offence to others and taking it from others Dr. Stillingfleet The Non-observance of indifferent things commanded when there is no apparent Contempt or Scandal does not involve a Man into the Guilt of Sin for the ground of the Magistrates Command is only in point of Contempt and Scandal and for preserving Order in the Church for to command or obey in reference to these things from any Opinion of the necessity of them and therefore the only ground of observing them is to shew that we are not guilty of the Power commanding or of Scandal to others Idem Tota igitur religio ect in fugiendo scandalo vitando contemptu Whitaker Contr. 4. qu. 7 c. 2. They do not bind if Contempt and Scandal be removed P. Martyr de leg Eccl. Hooper who had raised a Difference about Garments writ twice to Ridley about the time of his Persecution and Imprisonment who writ him an answer as soon as he could convey it in which he declared how intirely he was knit to him though in some Circumstances of Religion they had formerly jarr'd a little It was Hooper's Wisdom and his own Simplicity that had divided them every one following the abundance of his own Sense But now he assured him that in the Bowels of Christ he loved him in the Truth and for the Truth Dr. Burnet 's History of the Reform c. The Popish
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
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