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CHAP. VII.
Of the Sophian Sect, or Persian Religion, as it is at this present.
IT hath beene alreadie shewed, how the Saracens had one Calyfa, or Caliph, whome they esteemed the Head of their Religion and Em∣pire, in right vnto both succeeding their grand Seducer, Mahomet; and how the foure Captaines or Doctors, each ayming, vnder colour of Religion, to further his ambitious Proiects, made way to difference of Sects in the beginning; and in succeeding Ages the Sword deci∣ded who was rightfull successour, the posteritie of each challenging to himselfe that right, according as they were able in the Field to maintaine it. These Persians affected Hali, as truest interpreter of their Law, and Lord of the State, to whome Mahomet gaue his daughter in his life time, and his Alcoran at his death, being his kinsman also by birth: and although, by the violence of the contradicting Ca∣liphes, they did not alway make hereof open profession, yet euer and anone, as occasion was offered, this fire brake out, yet neuer into so great a flame, as af∣ter the yeare 1369, by Sophi, Guine, Aidar, Ismael, and their successours, vnto this day.
From that diuision betwixt the Persians and Arabians, about the successour of Mahomet, (it is Barrius his relation, in which the Persians call themselues Sia, which signifieth the Vnion of one Bodie, but the Arabians call them Raffadin, that is, Vnreasonable, and themselues Cunin) proceeded other Sects amongst the Ma∣humetans; and amongst the Persians, two, called Camarata and Mutazeli, which follow little the saying of the Prophets, but would haue all proued to them by na∣turall reason, not allowing Moses or Mahomet any further. * 1.1 There is one Sect a∣mongst them, called Malabedà, which subiecteth all things to Chaunce and to the Starres, not to Diuine Prouidence. There are other called Emozaidi, which reiect many things in the Alcoran, and follow the Doctrine of Zaidi, the Nephew of Hocem, second sonne of Ali; these inhabite on the Confines of Prester Iohn, and in Melinde.
But to come to the common Persians, and to obserue out of Barrius the diuer∣sitie of Opinion betwixt them and the Arabians; their Doctors reduce these diffe∣rences into seuenteene Conclusions. The Persians say, That GOD is the author and worker of euerie good, and that euill commeth from the * 1.2 Deuill: The Arabians say, That would bring in two Gods, one of good, the other of euill. The Persians say, That GOD is eternall, and that the Law and Creation of Men had a beginning: The Ara∣bians answere, That all the words of the Law are prayses of the workes of GOD, and therefore eternall, like himselfe. The Persians say, That the Soules of the Blessed in the other World cannot see the essence of GOD, because he is a Spirit of Diuinitie; onely they shall see his Greatnesse, Mercie, Pitie, and all other good things which he worketh in the creatures: The Arabians answere, That they shall see him with their eyes, euen as he is. The Persians say, That when Mahomet receiued the Law, his soule was carried by the Angell Gabriel into the presence of GOD: The Arabians affirme it of his bodie also. The Persians say, That the children of Ali, or Alle, and Fatema, and their twelue Nephewes, haue preheminence aboue all Prophets: the Arabians graunt it, aboue all other men, but not aboue the Prophets. The Persians say, That it is suffi∣cient to pray thrice a day vnto GOD; in the Morning when the Sunne riseth, which is called Sob the second (Dor) at Noone; the third (Magareb) before Sunne-set, be∣cause these three containe all the parts of the day: the Arabians require twice besides, according to their Law, called Hacer, and Assa. The rest of their seuenteene Articles of difference mine Author hath not expressed. These are sufficient to shew, That they not onely differ about the successors of Mahomet, as Minadoi affirmeth, but about