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 ...

Faith and Ʋsages.

Greeks.

2. Of their Faith and Ʋsages, &c. Divine Service, Prayer.

THey have 4 Liturgies, viz. One of S. James, 5 hours long, used once every year;—of S. Chrysostom, to be read almost every day in the year;—of S. Ba∣sil, and of S. Gregory.

They use Pictures, and burn Lamps before them, Perfume them with Incense; begin and end their Prayers with Bowings, and Crossing before them: But abhor all Carved Images.

They Pray to Saints; and thus teach their Chil∣dren, and privately Pray themselves morning and evening.

All Holy Lady, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners: All Coelestial Powers of An∣gels and Arch-Angels, Pray for us sinners: Holy John, Ptophet and Fore-runner and Baptist of our Lord Jesus Christ, pray, &c. Holy Ortho∣dox Apostles, Prophets and Martyrs, and all Saints, pray, &c. O Sacred Ministers of God, our Fathers, Shepherds and Teachers of the World, pray, &c. O Invincible and Indisso∣luble and Divine Powers of the Reverend and Life-giving Cross, forsake us not sinners.

The precepts of their Church require them to pray at the times of the Liturgy morning and evening, on the Lord's day and other Festivals. Also to pray for Kings, Patriarchs, Bishops, and all Souls departed in the Catholick Church; and for all Hereticks, &c. That they may return, before their passage from this Life.

Indians of S. Thomas.

They go daily to Church, to read the Liturgy aloud in the Chaldaick Tongue: But they do not think themselves obliged to rehearse it elsewhere, nor have they any Breviaries for saying it in pri∣vate.

In some places, Mass is said but once a year; in others, scarce once in six, or seven, or ten years, F. Simon out of Menes's Memoirs.

They have no Images; only the Cross they Ho∣nour much.

Georgians.

The Church-men do not daily say their Breviary, but one or two only say, and the rest listen.

Abyssins.

Their whole Divine Service is compleared by the Sole Administration of the Sacrament, and reading some few broken parcels of the New Testament; for they neither use Sacred Hymns, nor Preaching, Ludolph.

Cophties.

They have a Book of Homilies taken out of the chief Fathers,

They Worship Images (yet have no Statues) by Kissing Burning Lamps before them, with the Oyl of which they anoint the Sick.

1. On Saturday-Even, after Sun-set, the Priest attended by his Ministers, goes to Church, to sing Vespers, about an Hour; those who are present, sleep afterward in Church, or smoke Tobacco, or drink Coffee, &c.

2. Two hours after Midnight they say Matins, and afterwards Mass, to which many resort.

3. When they enter the Church, they take off their Shoes, kiss the ground near the door; then draw near the Arch-priest, kiss his Hand to receive his blessing.

4. If the Patriarch be present, and do not Officiate, he sits on a Throne, with a Copper Cross in his hand, which the People kiss.

3. After the Gospel, they read somewhat out of the Book of Homilies, for Explication of the Gospel; and that is instead of Preaching, F. Si∣mon out of Vansleb.

Most of these Ceremonies are common to other Orientals.

Maronites.

• 1. They go to Church at midnight to sing their Matins.
• 2. At break of day they say their Lauds.
• 3. Before Mass, they say their Teiree, after their Sixth.
• 4. Their Nones they sing after Dinner.
• 5. Vespers at Sun-set.
• 6. Their Compline after Supper, before bed.

Every Office is composed of a Preface, of two, three, or more Prayers, with a like number of Hymns betwixt them.

They have proper Offices for Holidays, Lent, Moveable Feasts, &c. F. Simon.

Melchites.

They have Translated their Greek Euchology or Ritual into Arabic.

They Paraphrase in their Translations. Hence their supposititious: Canons of the Council of Nice.

Muscovites.

On Sundays, and their Festivals, they go 3 times to Church, Morning, Noon and Night; and are standing and uncovered at the time of Divine Service.

They hold no Adultery, but Marrying another man's Wife.

Armenians.

Their Office is performed in the Armenian Tongue, a rough Language, and but little known. The People have much ado to understand their Liturgy.

They have the whole Bible Translated into Ar∣menian, from the Septuagint, since the time of S. John, Chrysost. F. Simon.

They have a Service-Book, and besides that the chief books amongst them, are of Gregorio of Stat, used instead of Homilies, P. Ric. Esq;

Christians of S. John

Hold Women to be unclean, that it is not avail∣able for them to go to Church, Tavernier.

Cophties.

An Appendix.

When they sing the Passion, and come to the mention of Judas, all the People cry Arsat, i. e. Horned Beast, Cuckold.

When they read of Peter cutting off Malchus's Ear, they say, Asia boutros, i. e. well fare Peter, as applauding him for the Act, M. de Thev.