Varieties: or, A surveigh of rare and excellent matters necessary and delectable for all sorts of persons. Wherein the principall heads of diverse sciences are illustrated, rare secrets of naturall things unfoulded, &c. Digested into five bookes, whose severall chapters with their contents are to be seene in the table after the epistle dedicatory. By David Person, of Loghlands in Scotland, Gentleman.

Section 6.

Severall other opinions wherein the Ancient Heathnicks agreed with us Christians; Confirmed by the Testimo∣nyes of their Poets.

GOD then as he created all things,* 1.1 maintaineth and governeth them, both according to these Philosophers opinions, and ours; so they jumpe with us in this, that, to procure his greater fa∣vour and to shun his greater curse, we should adore, invoke, and sacrifice unto him not only the calves of our lippes, but reall sacrifices, as in those dayes under the law was done by Aaron and his successors under the Old Testament; and as they who were ap∣pointed to attend upon the Altar were sequestrated from amongst the rest of the people, so was it amongst them.

The Poets are full of the testimony of both these.

Now as particularly Processions were used for the good successe of their cornes, (as yet in the Roman

Church is observed) so had they particular dayes, which they esteemed more sacred then others. Tibul∣lus in the first Elegie of his second booke perfectly particularizeth it.

Dii Patrii, purgamus agros, purgamus agrestes, Vos mala de nostris pellite limitibus. Neu seges eludat messem, &c. Vina diem celebrent: non festâ luce madere Est rubor, errantes & malè ferre pedes.

And as yet in the said Church there is invocation of certaine Saints, for such or such diseases, and for raine, whose relicts in such processions they carry about; so the same Poet in the same Elegie acknowledgeth some Gods to be appropriated (as I may say) to this, or that use and place.

Huc ades aspiraque mihi, dum carmine nostro Redditur agricolis gratia Coelitibus Ruracano, rurisque Deos.

Lastly as in the new Roman profession there is almost in every family the Statue of some Saint, so finde I amongst the ancient to have beene the like.

Sed patrii servate lares; aluistis iidem, cursarem vestros cùm tener antepedes. Nec pudeat prisco vos esse è stirpite factos, Sic veteris sedes incoluistis avi. Tunc melius tenuere fidem: cùm paupere cultu Stabat in exigua ligneus aede Deus.

That they acknowledged nothing to happen unto men by chance, but by the dispensation of the su∣preme powers, In that also they agreed with us.

Finally, I may say that as these Philosophers ac∣knowledged punishments for sins to be inflicted upon

men both in their life, and after their death, so had they confidence of joyes to be reaped in the world to come for their good deeds, as Socrates in his Apologie for himselfe at length declareth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Comparison of the old Ro∣man Philoso∣phers with the Roman Church now.