Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	faith_n	teach_v	4,044	5	6.3549	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30860	The late travels of S. Giacomo Baratti, an Italian gentleman, into the remote countries of the Abissins, or of Ethiopia interior wherein you shall find an exact account of the laws, government, religion, discipline, customs, &c. of the Christian people that do inhabit there with many observations which some may improve to the advantage and increase of Trade with them : together with a confirmation of this relation drawn from the writings of Damianus de Goes and Jo. Scaliger, who agree with the author in many particulars / translated by G.D.	Baratti, Giacomo.; G. D.; Góis, Damião de, 1502-1574.; Scaliger, Joseph Juste, 1540-1609.	1670 (1670)	Wing B677; ESTC R11736	63,785	282

nothing memorable in this Kingdom but some places where the Inhabitants do pick up golden sand which they refine and sell to the Merchants of Melinde that bring hither their Camels This Country hath no Barley nor Wheat but instead of those grains they have Tafo Daguza seed with which they make a bread very pleasant to the taste but much more sweet than ours It grows in any ground the worst as well as the best nature hath thus provided for all Countries and people a means to supply themselves by their industry if they will make use of it This Country is extream hot and the most unfit for dwelling of any one that I have seen in the Territories of the Neguz the beams of the Sun beat against the sandy ground and meeting there with an obstinate resistance they return back into the face and uncovered part of the body so that it is not possible to walk here abroad about noon by reason of the excessive heat therefore the inhabitants do keep themselves within their Houses from ten of the clock until two In the Houses that are all thatcht and supported with posts it is very cool the Sun-beams have not the power to enter in through the Reeds Of Amara ALthough this Kingdom is directly under the Line there is not a more pleasant place to dwell in all over the world It is full of Mountains and Valleys about twenty leagues in circumference adorned with high Woods and Forrests the ground is extream fruitful the people very civil the Clergy devout the Nobles gallant and brave In the mountains are many little Villages planted in the low ground and in the midst of them is a strong Castle that looks like a Town for the outmost wall contain about two miles in circumference Here the Kings Children are kept with the Emperours as Hostages of their fidelity They are all trained up in several exercises the only inconveniency is that they are here confined to live which it may be to them is no inconveniency for they never see any thing else but these mountains and think the world hath no other place for a dwelling but here The Bishop of Amara a very grave man introduced us into the Castle where the Emperours Children were kept they were then but young the eldest was not above four years of age His countenance was promising we had a sight of the Gardens and Walks full of pleasant Fountains and Rivulets artificially brought into these high places The Walks were covered with a Tree not usual in our Country the branches were twisted one with another in such a manner that no Sun could penetrate them they were entertained always green for at the root of the Trees on both sides of the Walk a little Current of fresh water doth always run that refresheth the roots and preserveth them from the droughth of Summer It is as delicious a place as any I have seen in Europe the Children have the liberty to hunt and divert themselves out of the Walls of this Castle but they are never to go out of the mountains while their Father lives for that purpose a strict guard is kept at the passage where no man can go or come without leave It is both narrow and steepy made with the hand a few persons are able to keep it from all the world in the castle are places appointed for the exercise of the youth and over them they have Masters learned and experienced in all those Sciences and Disciplines that they are to know Here are excellent Astrologers for that is a Science unto which this Country people is addicted They have some here learned in the Arabian and Indian Tongues others that give themselves over to the study of Philosophy and Nature but very few do trouble their brains with Divinity this makes them less notional but more practical for they know no niceties in Cases of Conscience to excuse their actions and inclinations The other Kingdoms are less remarkable only that of Damut and Goiame are full of Mines of Gold The Emperour keeps them with above 6000 men in Arms continually Tegrai and Vangue are mountainous and peopled with wild beasts trees more than with men Xoa is rich and fruitful but in it nothing else remarkable Of the Religion of the Abyssins and of the manner of their Discipline THey do all profess the Christian faith with much zeal the Church of the Queen Candaces whose name they say was Indich first brought this Religion into their Country that was for the most part possessed with the Jewish St. Thomas afterwards went into that Country and there did confirm them in the Christian Religion obliging all the inhabitants by the greatness and number of his Miracles to embrace it Some opposition he met with from the Grandees that had always retained the Pagan superstitions especially in the Kingdom of Damut where there is a mountain that bears yet his name The Heathens subject to the Emperour of Aethiopia had got him into their possession and were resolved to make him suffer for the destruction and neglect of their Idols they had often attempted upon his life but neither Sword nor Poison could injure his Person they sought therefore to drown him in a lake and when that could not procure his death they shut him up in a Tower built in the top of these unpleasant mountains where he remained prisoner until an Angel took him from thence leaving all his keepers dead on the ground and brought him again to the Imperial Court where he complained of the violence and unjustice that had been done unto him which the Emperor going about to revenge raised an Army to seize upon the King of Damut that had consented to the imprisonment of the Apostle He remained here many years until he departed into the Indies where he preached also the Gospel He left behind him many thousand Christians and as they say he brought unto them the two books Abelil and Menda and established here the Discipline that is used amongst them with all the Ceremonies practised They and the Capties of Egypt differ much in point of ceremony but in belief they are Eutycheans as for the most part Some there are that have true and Orthodox opinions of Christ Here is the form of their belief published in writing amongst them by which we may judge of them further WE believe in the Name of the Holy Trinity the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit who are but one Lord three names but one Divinity three faces but one similitude The conjunction of the persons is equal in the Divinity for there is but one Kingdom one Throne one Judge one Charity one Word and one Spirit The word of the Father of the Son and the word of the Holy Ghost and the Son is the same word The word with God and with the holy Spirit and with himself is the son of the Father and from the Father without the least deficiency or division without

〈…〉 y beginning he was the son of his Father without Mother no body can know the Mystery of his filiation unless it be the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit Now this Son was in the beginning the Word and this Word was the Word with God and the Word was God The spirit of the Father the holy Spirit the spirit of the Son is the ●ame divine Spirit the holy Spirit is without diminution or increase this Divine Spirit is called the Comforter a living God who proceeds from the Father and the Son he spake by the mouth of the Prophets he descended in a flame of fire upon the Apostles in Sion They published all over the world and preached the word of the Father and this word is the Son Besides the Father is not first because he is the Father nor the Son the last because he is Son so the Holy Ghost is neither the first nor the last They are three Persons and one God that sees all and is seen of no body he hath by his own counsel created all things afterwards the Son for our Salvation with the consent of the Father and of the divine Spirit descended from the highest Heavens ●● incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary who was adorned with a twofold Virginity with a spiritual and carnal He was born without an● corruption his Mother Mary remaining a Virgin after his Birth fo● by a great miracle she brought her Son Jesus Christ without effusion of bloud or pangs He was a just man without sin perfect God and perfect man having but one Person whe● he was a Child he grew up by degrees sucking the Milk of his Mother the Virgin Mary and when he came to be thirty years of age he was baptized in the River Jordan As other men he walked sweat hungred thirsted and was weary He suffered all things willingly and shewed many miracles By the power of his Divinity he restored sight to the blind he healed the lame cleansed the lepers raised the dead at last of his own accord he was taken prisoner whipt buffeted crucified he languished and dyed fo● our si●s by his death he did overcome death and the Devil by his sufferings he satisfied for our sins and bore our infirmities with the Baptism of his bloud which is that of his death he baptized the holy Patriarchs and Prophets he descended into Hell where were the Souls of Adam and of his Sons and of Christ himself which is of Adam This soul of Adam Christ did receive from the Holy Virgin Mary by the power and Authority of his Divinity and efficaciousness of his Cross he broke the strong gates of hell and of death he confined Satan to his chains and redeemed Adam and his Sons All this Christ did because he was filled with the Divinity and the Divinity itself was with his soul and with his most holy body which Divinity hath granted vertue to the Cross this Divinity he enjoys common with the Father as he ●● ways did At last he was buryed 〈…〉 the third day Jesus Christ the f 〈…〉 of the Resurrection our greatest delight the chief Priest Jesus Christ the great King of Israel rose ●● from the dead by his own strength and power And when all was accomplished that had been fore-told by the holy Prophets he ascended into Heaven with glory and is sate down at the right hand of the Father he shall come again with glory having before him a Cross and in his hand the Sword of Justice to judge both the quick and the dead of whose Kingdom there shall never be any end We believe one Catholick and Apostolick Church we believe one Baptism for the remission of sins we hope ●or the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the World to come Amen This is their Creed they often do repeat it in their Churches especially every new Moon with many gests which they have retained of their former Religions The Priest that officiates says it alone and three or four times the people do repeat these words This is our Faith Since they have had knowledge of the Roman Catholick Religion they have added something to their Creed by the consent of one of their general Assemblies for they were careful to hinder their people from receiving any other Opinions than those that they had formerly embraced for when they saw that our Priests and Jesuits were busie in drawing them to the faith of the Church of Rome they published a little addition to their Creed to inform every one of their judgments hinder them to receive any opinions which they do not approve of We believe that the Virgin Mary is a pure Virgin before and after the Birth of Christ as she is the Mother of God she ought to be loved and respected accordingly but we neither worship Her nor pray unto Her We believe that the Cross of Christ is a useful sign it was upon it that he suffered for our sins and purchased unto us Salvation with his own bloud His Cross is a scandal to the Jews and a folly to the Gentiles but to us Christians it is in much esteem and honour we believe that the Cross of Christ is sufficient to redeem us as S. Paul hath taught us but the outward sign and use of it we employ more for distinction than out of duty And that we may never think it a scorn to wear the badge of our Profession We believe that S. Peter was the first of the Apostles that the Stone that Christ mentions upon which his Church is built is his Law and Faith which Law is established upon the Prophets and Apostles unto them was granted the power of governing the Church of binding and loosing and to them was committed the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven But we do not acknowledge the Superiority that his Successors the Popes of Rome do derive from S. Peter nor do we believe that he ever had any priviledge which the others did not enjoy We believe that the holy Apostles Saints and Martyrs that are in glory did follow the foot-steps of our Saviour Christ and that they have received from him the pardon of their sins as we do We believe that we must honour them with the holy Angels but we do not approve of prayers made unto them nor of the sufficiency of their Merits to benefit us or the Church of Christ We believe that it is well done to confess our sins before the Ministers of the Church for by their prayers we may be assisted and comforted We receive all the books of the Old and New Testament as they were delivered unto us by S. Thomas without any addition or innovation We believe that our Clergy have liberty to Marry as the Apostles and Disciples of our Saviour were but that it is not lawful for a Priest to have two Wives or a Concubine We believe that we are bound to obey in Conscience cur Supream Lord ●iam Belul and under

fury of the Eagles and Vultures and other ravenous Birds without any harm These cruel fowl instead of feeding upon his naked body unable to defend it self did bring up to him of the choicest meat that they could steal in the lower Country and on the top of that hard Rock there burst forth a large stream of living water so near his head that he had the liberty to sup some up and refresh himself when he was dry The spring continues yet to run it falls down above sixty fatham high from a steep rock down a precipice They say that their fore-fathers when they saw this miracle and that at the end of two or three months he was in perfect health as formerly they embraced the Christian faith They shew besides the Tomb of this Saint that dyed amongst them in a very old age It is visited by several pilgrims that come from the other Kingdoms of the great Neguz The Inhabitants are excellent Marks-men they have been tryed in the wars against the King of Adel so that they have approved themselves the best Souldiers of the Emperours dominions They use Bows and Arrows a long lance much like to a Roman of late they have fire Arms and some few pieces of Artillery The Emperour chuseth out of this Kingdom his common guards because that they are not only good Souldiers but have a meen more manly than the ordinary sort of people of these Regions In this Kingdom that is the largest and the best belonging to the Neguz great numbers of Jews are dispersed The Christians treat them with much civility they suffer them to trade amongst them to reap the fruit of the earth to enjoy the liberty of their Religion by that means great numbers have embraced that profession that did teach love and kindness to strangers hoping to meet with greater advantages when they should become brothers for there is no invitation more powerful upon the spirits of a man to oblige him to initiate himself in Religion than a sincere affection expressed by the professors of it The advantages to be expected in Christianity are sufficient to perswade us violence better becomes a Mahomet than Christ he never made use of his whip but to drive men out of his Church The Jews have here their Synagogues but they are at present so little frequented that I think the name will be one day lost by reason of their great numbers that daily turn Christians It was in this Kingdom that I saw a Black-a-moor with two heads joyned one to another and two faces one behind and another before the rest of his body was very well proportioned It was a monster of about twenty years of age he was way strong in his Limbs he discoursed unto us with one Tongue sometimes with the other and sometimes both together he was obliged to feed● behind and before he eats as much as two men The heads were distinct and separated until they came to the neck bone there they joyned together This irregularity in nature happens more frequently amongst the beasts than amongst the men of this Country for the heat that commands their inclinations moves their bloud and carrys them to unlawful Copulations when they meet together as they often do at the Springs of fresh water Of the Kingdom of Angote IT is not so large as the former but no less populous Belequanze is on the South of it Tigremahon on the West and North and the Kingdom of Adel on the East it stretcheth it self about twenty leagues in length from Fatigar to Dangali it contains two fruitful Provinces Buguna and Guanamora they are full of all manner of Fruit-trees especially of Dates and Pomgranates for here the Inhabitants are far more industrious than their Neighbours in improving their ground to the best advantage Here are many Religious houses built as they say upon the Sepulchers of their Saints that were there interred several good towns do belong to it Demars Angote and Buguna are the chief near the latter which is not far distant from a large River that bursts forth of the lake Barceum scituate beyond the mountains of Ainora is a large Pool of water called the Pool of Pontius Pilate if any should cast into it a stone or any other thing the water would rise swell grumble and in an impatient manner run over the sides although that which is cast in be never so inconsiderable but if the water be let alone it remains without motion About 15 leagues from that place towards Adel is a little Town called Bachlar where in the Church at one end of it grows a Vine the Inhabitants name it the Holy Vine it grows within the walls of the Church in a room that is made a purpose for it It is planted upon the Sepulchre of one St. Maximin that was buryed here The people told me it was above a thousand years of age and would subsist until dooms-day that the Saint at his death commanded it to be planted there telling them that as often as any twig should wither they would receive a considerable loss from the enemies and that when it should dry up Christ would come to judge the world or the Infidels would over-power the Christians I was admitted to visit and pay my devotions to it the cluster of Grapes that it yields are very big I could not see whether they grew naturally upon the branches that curiosity was unseasonable amongst a people that would admit of no contradiction and that did find a great benefit from this belief for both Heathens and Christians are possessed with this vulgar errour that the story is true I that was not so apt to receive such unusual tales upon trust did desire to touch the Grapes and examine their reality but the Priest forbad me telling me that it was an impurity that never any had been yet guilty of and that he wondred how I that waited not upon the Altar did dare to handle such holy things I did not offer to examine further the business after this severe reprehension It discovered to me as much as I was desirous to know that piae fraudes are in use in that Climate as well as in ours a continual profit makes them nourish this opinion and cherish it in themselves and others The Priest sells the leaves and the Grapes he says that he keeps them for the Wine in the Sacrament the leaves are good for many sorts of diseases as Agues Feavers Consumptions c. Many cures are said to have been effected by them but I think that the fancy of the sick hath rather cured them than the vertue of the leaf Of Beleguanze THis Kingdom is more barren than the rest the Kingdoms of Fungi Amara Bagamidri Angote Tigremahon do shut it in on all sides It is a plain Country but full of sand only on that side where the River passeth is fruitful the most considerable Towns are Dahrab Shubi and Grochar all three in sight of the Current there is

a displeasure Victor Bishop of Rome with one thunderbolt of the Vatican was resolved to cast all the Eastern Churches from the hopes of arriving to Heaven The Bishops of Constantinople Excommunicated those of Alexandria and they excommunicated them of Constantinople and in the same City these thunder-bolts of Excommunication were heard against several factions meer scar-crows when ill applyed when Excommunication is abused to promote our secular interests it is like the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Heathens or the Canonisation of the Papists a Chimera a vain and frivolous action if that may be so named that profanes or disgraces one of the most sacred parts of Religion and misapply that divine power with which Christ hath intrusted the Rulers of his Church Let them take heed how and upon whom for the future they employ this holy weapon for they may by the abuse of it bring a contempt upon themselves and Religion that all their policy and severity will never be able to remove I pray God to grant unto those amongst us such Christian wisdom and moderation that piety may be cherished and the profaneness discouraged that peace and unity may Reign amongst us and that they may advance the interest of Christianity as well as of this or of that faction The Abyssins never burn an excommunicated person nor do they use any violence against his Person or Goods unless he offers to break the publick peace or to pronounce something to the prejudice of the Government then they lay hold of him and secure him in a convenient Prison They never make use of excommunication but in cases that concern the customs and manners of a man and never then unless he continues in his evil practises after admonition when they restore a man to his former privileges at his repentance they do not impose any pecuniary or corporal penalty as we do in Rome but he is admitted after the Bishop hath been acquainted with it only by declaring it unto the Congregation with the signs of his repentance for as much as I could learn they do not think that our purses or our bodily punishments can further our Reception into Gods favour unless the soul be really humbled and contrite The flagellations and macerations of the body usual in many of our Cities of Spain and Italy were never seen amongst them unless it be upon the borders of their Kingdoms amongst the Mahumetans and Gentiles whose Religions do recommend unto the Professors of them voluntary penances as high expressions of devotion but this kind of devotion is not in practice amongst these Christians of Abassia therefore they know nothing of indulgencies and pardons granted by the Rulers of the Church This trade was never introduced amongst them They have an excellen order amongst them in the Church The Abuna is the chief he is as the Pope in Rome or as the Archbishop his power is to command over all the Kingdoms subject to the Neguz in matters of Religion and to see that the Orders or Decrees of the assembly that meets every other year be obeyed under him Bishops are appointed in the several Kingdoms but they do not receive any into holy Orders That Office belongs to the Abuna but these Bishops have the power of excommunication and of reproving the Clergy 〈…〉 er them that behave themselves not well in their function every Bishop is usually seated in the most considerable place of the Kingdom where he hath so much Land belonging to him and his office as is able to maintain him in that degree of honour The rest of the Priests owe nothing to him out of their allowance he officiates as the rest and is no otherwise distinguished from them but by his habit that is not the same with theirs and by the respect that every one pays to his gravity for never any young men are admitted to that honourable place in the Church only merit assisted by the esteem the people and their Prince have for them when they come to such an age that all their youthful inclinations are past d 〈…〉 I se them to the Episcopal Chair The Abuna hath some dependency upon the Patriarch of Alexandria Resident at Grand Cairo When he is dead the Emperour sends to the Monks of Jerusalem of the Order of St. Anthony the Hermite they immediately proceed to the chusing of one fit for so great an employ when he is pitcht upon and sent away he passeth by Grand Cairo salutes the Patriarch in Egypt and then Marches on his journey to the Imperial Court where the Emperour and all the Nobles do welcome him with all expressions of respect and honour He seldom remains in one place but often Visits the Kingdoms of the Emperours dominions to see and provide to all disorders that do daily happen The rest of the Bishops are placed or displaced by him but with the Emperours consent and appointment unto whom they may appeal in case injury is done unto them When there is any vacancy the Emperour grants the Lands and the Office to whom he pleaseth the Abuna must afterwards approve of the choice all the degrees of the Clergy are distinguished from one another and from the people by some badge or habit which signifies the office that they have undertaken The Translator THis Relation is agreeable to the account that we have formerly received of the Abyssins written by Damianus Deo Ges a Portuguese and received from Zaga Zabo the Abyssin Embassadour sent from the Neguz into Portugal to King John about the year 1526. Damianus de Goes contracted a Friendship with this Embassadour and obliged him to discover unto him the customs and Religion of the Christians in Abassia both Relations do agree in many things I conceive that De Goes doth favour the interest of the Roman Religion in many particulars but in others he declares how the Abyssins are different from the Papists the Reader may consult the Author a piece of it is here translated for puklick satisfaction Zagazabo the Emperour of Abassias Ambassadour in Portugal AFter that I was come into Portugal I had often many disputes with certain Doctors especially Didacus Ortifius Bishop of the Isle of St. Thomas and Dean of the Kings Chappel and with Peter Margalho about the choice of Meats It will not therefore be amiss to speak now something about it First you must know that according to the Old Testament were observed the Rules for to chuse our Meats which was commanded by Gods Word that did afterwards take flesh of the Virgin Mary he did walk and converse amongst his Apostles This word of God is alwayes the fame and ever living never subject to change therefore what he commanded should not be eaten because of its uncleanness he never gave leave afterwards in his Gospel to eat it It is true he tells us that what enters in by the mouth doth not defile the man but that which proceeds from the mouth but he doth not say it that he might