The history of all religions in the world, from the creation down to this present time in two parts : the first containing their theory, and the other relating to their practices ... : to which is added, a table of heresies : as also a geographical map, shewing in what countrey each religion is practised ... / by William Turner ...

3. Sacrifices.

Jewish.

THE Oblations of the Jews (according to Pur∣chas his Relations, and Theol. Discov. of Asia, &c.) were,

1. Sacrifices.

• 1. Burnt-Offerings: Consumed by the perpetual fire upon the Altar, being that which God miracu∣lously sent down from Heaven to consume Aaron's Sacrifice: Nadab and Abihu were stricken with a re∣venging fire from God, for using other: Vide Lev. 1.
• 2. Meat-Offerings: Made of fine flour, without Honey or Leaven, and with Oil and Incense on the Altar, or Frying-pan, or Oven, or Caldron, Lev. 2. part whereof was sacred to the Lord, by fire; part for the Priests.
• 3. Peace-Offerings: The Fat and Kidneys where∣of were to be burnt (the Fat and Blood being uni∣versally forbidden them to eat) the breast and right shoulder was the Priests: The rest went to the Sa∣crificer, to be caten the first or second day, or the third day burnt with Fire, Lev. 3, & 7.
• 4. Sin-offerings, viz. for sins of Ignorance of the Priest, Prince, People, &c. vide Lev. 4, & 6.
• 5. Trespass-Offerings, viz. in case of contempt, when the sin was done willingly, Lev. 6. To these were adjoyned Prayers and Praises with musical instruments and voices.
• 6. Offerings of Consecration, proper to the Priests, vide Lev. 6.10.
• 7. Of Purification, as of a Woman after Child∣birth, Lev. 12. or a Leper, Lev. 13, & 14. or for un∣clean issues of Men and Women, c. 15.

• 8. Of Expiation on that Feast-day so called, Lev. 16.

Add to these,

• 1. The Lights.
• 2. Incense every morning and evening, on a golden Altar, whereto the Priests only had access, with such perfume as is prescribed, Exod. 30.

2. Gifts.

1. According to the Law.

• 1. First-Fruits, of Man, of Beasts, of the Earth.
• 2. Tithes, to the Levites, to the Priests, the Temple, a 3d. year's Tenth.

2. By Vow.

3. Of Free-will.

Now the Jews content themselves with reading the Precepts concerning Sacrifices; comforting themselves with Hos. 14.3.

Ancient Christian.

Cyprian severely chides a rich Widow of his time, who came to the Sacrament, without giving any thing to the poor man's box, did partake of o∣thers Offerings, not giving any thing of her own, de Oper. & Eleemos.

Concerning the Oblations of the Primitive Christians, we may observe,

• 1. That Bread and Wine was ordinarily Offered every Lord's Day, by all the men and Women, Carranz. in Sum. Dec. Fabia. Pa.
• 2. That the Offerings of them who did not Communicate, were not to be accepted, Id. Sum. Eliber. Conc. c. 28.
• 3. That none were to receive these Offerings, but the Bishop, or his Substitute, upon pain of being Anathematized, Conc. Gangr. c. 8.
• 4. That the Oblations were to be distributed by the Bishop, according to the Necessity of the Faith∣ful, Carrauz. Sum. Decr. Ʋrban. Pap. 12. qu. Res Eccl.

• 5. That of the Oblations of the Faithful, or the Revenues of the Church, one part was to be al∣lowed 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 ac∣cepted. 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, Nep∣tune, 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 Pa∣gods, 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.