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 ...

Greeks.

3. Feasting and Rejoycing, &c.

THey begin their Year in September, with great Jollity.

Take a chearful Spirit for a good Omen.

1. Easter, which is their grand Feast; at which time if they meet with their Acquaintance, within

three days of the Feast, they Salute them with these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Christ is risen: The An∣swer is made, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, He is risen indeed.

And so they kiss three times, once on each Cheek, and on the Mouth, and so depart. P. Ricaut.

Upon Easter-Eve, the Abyssins, Jacobites, Geor∣gians, Maronites, and Greeks (at Jerusalem) all, except the Latines, conjoyn in the Celebration of that Imposture, of fetching Fire from the Sepul∣chre; the Turks deride, yet throng to behold it. All the Lamps in Church are extinguish'd; when they often compassing the Sepulchre in a joint Pro∣cession, are fore-run, and followed with Savage clamours of the People, (the Women whistling) and frantick behaviours, fitter for the Feasts of Bacchus; extending their bare Arms with unlighted Tapers. At length the chief Bishops approach the Door of the Sepulchre; but the Ethiopian Priest first enters, without whom, they say, the Miracle will not fadge; who, after a long stay, returns with the Sacred Fire, supposed, at his Prayers, to burst out of the Sepulchre; At this confusedly they fire their Lights, and snatching them one from another, strive who should con∣vey it into their particular Chapels, thrusting the Flame into their Cloaths and Bosoms, kindling therewith all their Lamps, unlighted with other Fire 'till that Day Twelve-month. G. Sandys's Trav. l. 3.

The Holy Fire of the Greeks, Armenians, &c. is performed with so much confusion, that you would think certainly you were in Hell with a Legion of Devils. M. de Thev.

2. Of S. John the Abstemious, kept only by the Kaloirs and Religious.

3. Of S. John the Evangelist's Translation into Heaven, grounded upon that Text; If I will, that he stay, &c.

They tell very fond Stories of their Saints, espe∣cially Cosma, Damianus, and S. George.

For Canonizing of Saints, they have testification by 1000 Witnesses, and Examination in a full Sy∣nod.

They are very excessive in their Feasts. P. Ricaut.

Armenians.

The Eve of Holy Cross, they go to the Church-Yards, weep, and pray for the dead, eat, and drink Wine.

Baptism of the Cross, is a Festival which the Ar∣menians keep, in commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord, on the Day of Epiphany, according to the old Calendar, which they follow; plung∣ing after several Prayers, a Cross into Water, whereof all strive to take their shares in Pots. M. de Thev.

They keep S. George's Day.

On Easter-Day, by break of Day, the Priests say Mass, confess, and administer, after which it is lawful to eat flesh. They have four other Feasts, Christmass, Ascension, Annunciation, and especially S. George's. Tavernier.

Indians of St. Thomas.

Our three chief Festivals they celebrate: The first of July also they commemorate the Martyr∣dom of S. Thomas. Sir Tho. Herbert.

Muscovites.

The Muscovites observe,

• 1. The Annunciation of our Lady, March 25.
• 2. Easter-Day.
• 3. Pentecost.
• 4. New-years-day, Sep. 1.
• 5. Nativity of the Mother of God, Sep. 8.
• 6. The Manifestation of Christ on the Mount, Sep. 6.
• 7. The Assumption of the Mother of God, Sep. 15.
• 8. Exaltation of the Cross, Sep. 14.
• 9. The Oblation of the Mother of God, Nov. 21.
• 10. The Nativity of Christ, Dec. 25.
• 11. Epiphany, Jan. 6.
• 12. Candlemass-day, Feb. 2.

Of all which mention is made before.

Abyssines.

On their January 11th. (our 6th.) in the midst of their Summer, and the Feast of Epiphany, they commemorate our Saviour's Baptism; the Clergy beginning the Solemnity before the dawn of the Morning, with loud and chearful Hymns: The King, with all the Nobility, the Metropolitan, with his Clergy, Noble with the Plebeian, old and young, thronging into the Rivers and Ponds, be∣fore Sun-rise, plunging and diving over head and ears, craving of any of the Priests, as they meet them, a Blessing; and being answer'd, God bless thee, or God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless thee.

But this is turn'd into a kind of Sport, rather than a pious Festival; the young Men leaping and dancing, and swimming, and ducking one another,

and filling the neighbouring Fields with whoopings and hollowings. Ludolph.

In their Thanksgiving-Solemnities, they have their singing Priests (Dabetra) with very harsh Voices; use Instruments of the Egyptian manner, Cymbals, Morrice-bells, Kettle-Drums; Skipping and Dancing, as if they would make the Floor ring again, which they call exulting and clapping hands to the God of Jacob, and praising God upon the Harp, and Organ, and Cymbal. Idem.

Nor is this so much to be admired, if we know that in some places among the Latines, the Feast of the Body of God was celebrated with a Harp, and Dancing. Idem.

They observe the Feasts of the Annunciation, Nativity, Circumcision, Baptism, Passion, Resur∣rection, Ascension, Pentecost.

Sabeans, or Christians of St. John.

I shall give an account of these by themselves, as being part Christians, part Turks, part Jews and part Gentiles; out of Monsieur de Thevenot Itin. Orient. Ind. and Mons. Tavernier in his Persian Travels.

1. Most of the Sabeans are Gold-smiths, very Poor, and very Ignorant; they live in Bassora, Dgesire, Harviza and Souster, in Chusistan belong∣ing to the King of Persia: They have but two Books, and them made lately, though they say, in the days of Adam, their old ones burnt by Mahometans.

2. They retain Baptism in remembrance of S. John's Baptism, performed only on Sundays in running Water, In the Name of the ancient, Mighty Lord God, who knows all that we do before the Light of the World: Thrice besprinkling the Head of the Infant, and thrice dipping it into the River, and thrice rehearsing the same words: And this is all their Ceremony; and this reiterated every Year for

the space of five days by Old and Young, Male and Female; and at Marriage the Bridegroom and Bride are baptized again: Yet they say, Christ is the Spirit and Word of the Eternal Father.

3. As to Marriage, The Minister takes an Oath from the Bride, that she is a Virgin; and after∣wards the Minister's Wife searches her; then they are both baptized, and set Back to Back, and the Minister saith some Prayers over them; this is all the Ceremony. Ministers and Laity may have two Wives, but the Ministers ever a Maid at Mar∣riage.

4. As to the Eucharist, They say only some Prayers over the Hoste, which is made of Flour kneaded with Wine and Oyl, their Wine drawn from Grapes steep'd in Water and press'd.

5. As to Orders, They have superior and in∣ferior Ministers, but use no great Ceremony in Consecration; a Minister says some Prayers over him who is made Minister, and that's all: Chil∣dren succeed to their Fathers, if sixteen or seven∣teen Years of Age; or in defect of Sons, the next of kin.

6. Gospel they have none: All their Service con∣sists in some Prayers, and in Communicating, as before is said: They say, Christ left twelve Apo∣stles to preach.

7. On Sundays they work not: They highly honour the Cross, and sign themselves with it.

8. Three Festivals they have yearly (their Year consisting of 366 days, i. e. twelve Months and six days.)

1. At New Year, which lasts three days in memory of the Creation.

2. At the beginning of the fourth month, three days, in memory of St. John.

3. At the beginning of the seventh month, five days, in remembrance of our Saviour's being Baptized by St. John: They are all baptized during these five days. This Feast is called Pendgia.

9. No other Saints they acknowledge but S. John, S. Zacharias, S. Elizabeth and S. M. Magd. They acknowledge Jesus Christ but S. John's Servant, born of a Virgin, Crucified, &c.

10. No Purgatory, but a Heaven and Hell, viz. A narrow Passage for the Wicked, guarded with Lyons and Bears, which will devour them, &c. The Good go the same way, but over these Beasts, straight to Paradise.

11. No Meat they eat of, but kill'd by a Sa∣bean; all other is unclean.

12. Therefore their Ministers are always their Butchers, who put on white Drawers, a Rope for a Girdle, a white Shirt girt with it, a white Turban, a white Napkin about their Neck (like a Stole) and another rag for a Fillet: Then they wash (e. g.) the Feet and Beak of the Pullet they are to kill, because it eats and often treads on unclean things; then they kill it, saying, In the name of the Merciful God may this be Blessed to those that eat it. Sheep and Fish they wash not, accounting their Food, Grass and Water, not unclean things.

13. They will not Drink in a Vessel wherein one, not a Sabean, hath drank.

14. They abhor the Blew Colour, because the Jews in Malice (knowing that Baptism was to de∣stroy their Law) when St. John was baptizing Jesus, threw Indico into Jordan to spoil the Water, &c. from thence God cursed, this blew colour. Others say, Dogs Ordure is used in dying of this colour. N. B. M. Tavernier saith the words at Baptism are, Beesmebrad er Rabi, Kaddamin, Akzeri, Menhal el genuat Alli Kouli Kralek, i. e. In the Name of the Lord, first and last of the World and of Para∣dise, the High Creator of all things: That the Bi∣shop reads Prayers over the Child in Church before the Baptism, and in the River at Baptism, while the Godfather plunges the Child three times all over; and then to Feasting.

Papists.

1. Doctrines, according to the Council of Trent.

I (N.) do with a stedfast Faith believe and pro∣fess all and every Point contained in the Symbol of the Faith, that the Holy Roman Church doth use, viz. To believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth; of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all Worlds; God of God, Light of Light, True God of True God; begotten, not made, of the same Substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who, for us Men, and for our Salvation, came down from Heaven; was Incar∣nate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made Man; was crucified for us under Pon∣tius Pilate; suffered and was buried; and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and ascended up into Heaven; sitteth at the right Hand of the Father; and he shall come again with Glory to judge both the Quick and the Dead; of whose Kingdom there shall be no end; and in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets, and one Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church; I confess one Baptism for the Remission of Sins, and I ex∣pect the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Life of the World to come. Amen.

I do most stedfastly admit and embrace the Traditions of the Apostles, and of the Church, and all other Observances and Constitutions of the same Church.

I do likewise admit the Holy Scripture, accor∣ding to that Sense which our Holy Mother the Catholick Church hath holden and doth hold, unto whom it doth appertain to judge of the True

Sense and Interpretation of the Holy Scriptures; neither will I ever understand nor interpret the same otherwise, than according to the uniform consent of the Fathers.

I do also profess, that there be truly and pro∣perly Seven Sacraments of the New Law, and ne∣cessary for the Salvation of Mankind (although they be not necessary for all Men) viz. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Pennance, Extream Unction, Orders and Matrimony; and that these Sacraments do give Grace; and that of them Baptism, Confirmation and Orders, cannot be re∣iterated without Sacrilege.

I do also receive and admit all the received and approved Ceremonies of the Catholick Church, in the Solemn Administration of all the aforesaid Sacraments.

I do embrace and receive all and every of those things, which in the Holy Council of Trent have been defined, and declared touching Original Sin and Justification.

I do profess also, that in the Mass is offered unto God, a true, proper, and propitiatory Sacrifice for the Quick and Dead; and that in the most Holy Sacrifice of the Altar, there is truly, really and substantially the Body and Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ; and that there is made a Conversion of the whole Substance of Wine into the Blood; which Con∣version the Catholick Church doth call Transub∣stantiation. I do also confess, that under either kind only is received Christ, whole, intire, and the True Sacrament.

I do constantly hold, that there it Purgatory; and that the Souls which be there detained, are holpen by the Prayers of the Faithful.

Also, that the Saints, who reign together with Christ, are to be worshipped, and called upon; and that they offer up Prayers to God for us; and that their Relicks are to be worshipped.

I do most stedfastly affirm, that the Images of Christ, of the Mother of God always Virgin, and of other Saints, are to be had and received, and that due Honour and Reverence is to be given to them.

I do affirm, that the Authority of Indulgencies, was left by Christ in the Church, and that the use of them is very behooveful to Christian People.

I do acknowledge the Holy Catholick and Apostolick Roman Church, to be the Mother and Mistress of all Churches; and do promise and swear true Obedience to the Bishop of Rome, who is the Successor of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles, and the Vicar of Jesus Christ.

All other things defined and declared by the Holy Canons and Oecumenical Councils, and chiefly by the Holy Council of Trent, I do undoubtedly receive and profess.

And also all contrary things, and whatsoever He∣resies condemned, rejected and accursed by the Church, I likewise do condemn, reject and ac∣curse.

This True Catholick Faith, without which no Man can be Saved, which now I do willingly pro∣fess and hold, I the same I. N. do Promise, Vow and Swear to hold, and confess most constantly, by God's help, intire and uncorrupted, even to the last end of my Life; and to procure, as much as shall lye in me, that my Subjects, or those of whom I shall have care in my Office, shall accor∣dingly teach and preach the same: So God help me, and these Holy Gospels of God. Dr. James Library-keeper of Oxford, out of Lewis de Grena∣do's Sp. Doctrine.

2. Ʋsages, and Ceremonies, and Traditions.

1. In publick Prayers, they use the Latine-Tongue.

2. In the Commandments, they make the First and Second One, and divide the Tenth into Two.

3. They distinguish Sins into, 1. Mortal; by which only, they say, the Commandments are broken: which are,

• 1. Pride.
• 2. Covetousness.
• 3. Leachery.
• 4. Anger.
• 5. Gluttony.
• 6. Envy.
• 7. Sloth.

2. Venial: Not contrary to the end of the Commandments; i. e. to Charity; e. g. an idle Word; an officious, or jesting Lie, stealing of a Pin or Apple, &c. not killing, but disposing to mortal Sin.

4. They say, 'tis possible, necessary and easie, by the assistance of God's Grace, to keep all the Com∣mandments.

5. That mortal sin is remitted by,

• 1. Hearty Penance.
• 2. Contrition.

6. That venial sin is remitted by,

• 1. All the Sacraments.
• 2. Holy-water.
• 3. Devout Prayer, &c.

7. The punishment Of mortal sin, is Hell for ever.

7. The punishment Of venial sin, is Purgatory.

8. That there are six Sins against the Holy Ghost.

• 1. Despair of Salvation.
• 2. Presumption of God's Mercy.
• 3. Impugning the known Truth.
• 4. Envy at others known good.
• 5. Obstinacy in Sin.
• 6. Final Impenitence.

9. That there are four crying Sins.

• 1. Wilful Murder.
• 2. The Sin of Sodom.
• 3. Oppression of the Poor.
• 4. Defrauding VVork-men of their VVages.

10. There be three principal Counsels of Christ, to his Church.

• 1. Voluntary Poverty.
• 2. Perpetual Chastity.
• 3. Obedience to another's will, in all that is not Sin.

11. There be six Commandments of the Church, principally.

• 1. To hear Mass on all Sundays and Holy-Days; if opportunity serve.
• 2. To Fast;
  • 1. Lent.
  • 2. Vigils commanded.
  • 3. Ember-Days (and Fridays, by custom of England.)
  • 4. To abstain from Flesh on Saturdays.
• 3. To confess our Sins at least once a Year.
• 4. To receive the blessed Sacrament at least once a Year, and that at Easter, or thereabouts.
• 5. To pay Tithes to our Pastors.
• 6. Not to celebrate Marriage on times pro∣hibited, viz. from the first Sunday of Advent, 'till Twelfth-day be past; nor from Ash-Wednesday, 'till Low-Sunday de past.

N. B. 'Tis a mortal Sin to break any of these Commandments.

12. There be Seven Sacraments.

1. Baptism, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, &c.

Observ. 1. The Minister;

• 1. The Priest ordinarily.
• 2. A Lay-man, or Woman, in case of ne∣cessity.

2. The Effects.

• 1. Remission of Sin, Original and Actual.
• 2. A Spiritual Character in the Soul for ever.

3. Sponsors;

One God-father, and one God-mother, since Trent C.

4. Ceremonies.

• 1. The Priest breaths on the Child's face.
• 2. Sign of the Cross on the Breast and Fore∣head.
• 3. Putting Salt in the Child's mouth.
• 4. Spittle laid on the Ears and Nostrils.
• 5. Anointing on the Head, Shoulders, Breast.
• 6. White Chrism given to the Child.
• 7. A hallowed Light given to it.

2. Confirmation.

Observe, 1. The Form;

I sign thee with the sign of the Cross; I confirm thee with the Chrism of Salvation, in the Name of the Father, &c.

2. The Matter; Oil mingled with Balsn, blessed by a Bishop.

3. It Seals, or gives a Character.

4. The Time; at seven years old.

5. The Ceremonies;

• 1. A blow on the Cheek.
• 2. One God-father, or God-mother.

3. Eucharist.

Cons. 1. The Matter; wheaten Bread, and Wine of the Grape, with a little Water.

2. Disposition in the Receiver; Confession of Sin, being in a State of Grace.

3. The Laity Communicate in one kind.

4. Penance. Consider,

1. The Form. I absolve thee from thy sins, in the Name of the Father, &c.

2. The Parts.

• 1. Contrition.
• 2. Confession.
• 3. Satisfaction.

1. Contrition is a hearty sorrow for our Sins, proceeding immediately from the Love of God, and joyned with a firm purpose of Amendment.

2. Attrition; from the fear of Hell, or pu∣nishment, or filthiness of sin, or spiritual damage from sin.

This, with Sacramental Confession and Absolu∣tion, will remit sin.

A dying Man, in mortal sin, if he cannot have a Priest, must have Contrition.

3. Confession must be

• Short,
• Diligent,
• Humble,
• Confounding,
• Sincere,
• Entire.

4. Satisfaction is the Sacramental Penance en∣joyned by the Priest at Confession. Also,

• Voluntary Prayers,
• Fasting,
• Good Works,
• Sufferings.

By which Satisfaction is made for temporal pu∣nishments, due sometimes to sin, after forgive∣ness.

Indulgencies, viz. The superabundant Merits of Christ, and his Saints, applied to our Souls, by the grant of the Church.

5. Extream Ʋnction.

• 1. The matter of it is Oil, blessed by a Bi∣shop.
• 2. The Form. By this anointing, and his own most pious Mercy, let our Lord pardon thee, whatsoever thou hast sinned by thy seeing, &c.
• 3. The Effects.
  • 1. Spiritual Comfort.
  • 2. Remission of venial sin, and the relicks of sin.
  • 3. Corporal Health, if expedient.

6. Holy Order. Concerning which, observe,

To whom it belongs, viz. Bishops, Priests, Dea∣cons, Sub-Deacons.

Inferiour Orders are, Acolyte, Lector, Exorcist, and Porter.

7. Matrimony. Concerning which, observe,

1. Who may Marry.

• 1. Only the Laity.
• 2. Persons not a-kin by collateral Con∣sanguinity or Affinity, to the fourth degree; or at all in the right Line: but the Church can dispense with all, except Brothers and Sisters.

13. There are four Cardinal Vertues; Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.

14. Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost; Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and the Fear of our Lord.

15. Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost; Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Longanimity, Goodness, Benignity, Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Conti∣nency, Chastity.

16. Seven works of Mercy; To feed the Hun∣gry, give drink to the Thirsty, cloath the Naked, to harbour the Harbourless, to visit the Sick, to visit the Imprisoned.

17. Seven works of Mercy spiritual; To give Counsel to the Doubtful, to Instruct the Ignorant, to Admonish Sinners, to Comfort the Afflicted, to forgive Offences, to bear patiently the Troublesome, to pray for the Quick and Dead.

18. Ceremonies of the Mass.

1. Ornaments of the Priest,

1. Amis, or Linnen Veil, representing the Veil on our Saviour's Face.

2. The Albe, signifying the white Garment which Herod put on.

3. The Girdle, signifying the Cord by which he was bound in the Garden.

4. The Maniple, the Cord which bound him to the Pillar.

5. The Stole, the Cord by which he was led to be Crucified.

6. The Upper Vestment, the seamless Coat of Christ, and also the Purple Garment.

2. The Altar, representing the Cross; with its Appurtenances.

1. The Chalice, the Sepulchre of Christ.

2. The Patine, the Stone rowled to the Door of the Sepulchre.

3. The Altar-cloaths, Corporal and Pall; the Linnen in which the Body of Christ was shrowded.

4. The Candles on the Altar, the Light which Christ brought into the World.

3. Gestures.

1. Coming back three steps from the Altar, and humbling himself before he begins again; the prostration of Christ in the Garden.

2. Bowing again at the Confiteor, to pro∣voke Humility and Contrition in the People.

3. Beating his Breast at mea culpa, to teach Humiliation.

4. Ascending to the Altar, the Priest kis∣seth the middle of it; because the Altar signifies the Church, kissing Peace and Unity.

4. Parts.

1. Introite, the entrance into the Office, after the Priest's coming to the Altar; which is repeated twice.

2. Gloria Patri added to it.

3. Kyrie Eleison.

4. Gloria in excebsis.

5. Oremus.

6. The Collect, viz. a Sum of the Epistle and Gospel.

7. The Gradual, the holy degrees of Pe∣nance.

8. The Tract, viz. two or three Versicles betwixt the Epistle and Gospel, sung with a slow, long, protracted Tone, between Septuagesima and Easter (in place of the Gradual) because a time of penance and mourning.

9. The Gospel read at the North-end of the Altar; to signifie that Satan's Kingdom (seated in the North, Jer. 1.14.) is destroyed.

4. Gestures again,

1. Signing the Book with the Sign of the Cross.

2. Priest and People sign themselves with the Cross in three places, viz. Fore-head, Mouth, and Breast.

3. The first Offertory, of Bread and Wine mingled with Water.

4. The Priest washing the ends of his Fin∣gers.

5. Silence a while.

6. Elevating the Voice in saying the Pre∣face.

7. The Canon, the most sacred, essential part of the Mass, read with a low Voice, signify∣ing the sadness of Christ's Passion,

8. Beginning the Canon with bowing of the Head.

9. In the midst of it kissing the Altar, and signing the Host and Chalice thrice, with the sign of the Cross.

10. Signing the Offerings again five times.

11. After Consecration, kneeling and ado∣ring.

12. Elevation of the Host and Chalice.

13. Signing again the Offerings five times, to signifie Christ's five Wounds.

14. A nomination of the Dead, to whom the Sacrifice is applied.

15. Elevation of the Voice again, in saying, Nobis quoque peccatoribus.

16. Signing the Host and Chalice, three times again, to signifie the three Hours which Christ hung on the Cross.

17. Uncovering the Chalice, and signing it five times with the Host, to signifie the rending the Veil of the Temple, &c.

18. Pater Noster, said with a loud Voice, to signifie the seven Mystical Words, spoke by our Saviour, with a loud Voice, on the Cross.

• 1. Father, forgive them, &c.
• 2. To day shalt thou be with, &c.
• 3. Behold thy Mother; Woman, behold, &c.
• 4. My God, &c.
• 5. I Thirst.
• 6. Into thy hands, &c.
• 7. It is finished.

19. Laying down the Host upon the Cor∣poral, and then covering the Chalice again, to signifie taking Christ down from the Cross.

20. The Priest is silent for a time, to sig∣nifie our Saviour's Rest in the Grave.

21. The Host divided into three parts; his Body broken, and divided into Hands, Side, and Feet.

22. Signing the Chalice three times again, with a particle of the Host, and raising his voice, saying, Pax Domini, &c.

23. Putting a particle of the Host into the Chalice, to signifie the reuniting of our Saviour's Body and Soul.

24. Saying aloud, Agnus Dei, qui, &c.

25. Pax; or, Kiss of Peace given before Communion.

26. Ite, missa est, The Host is offered, Mass ended, &c.

27. The Priest lifteth up his hands, and blesseth the People.

N. The Missal is the Book, wherein the Mass is contained.

19. The Office of our Lady; concerning which, observe,

• 1. The Book, in which it is contained, the Primer.
• 2. The Parts.
  • 1. Hymns.
  • 2. Psalms.
  • 3. Canticles.

• ...
  • 4. Antiphones.
  • 5. Versicles.
  • 6. Responsories,
  • 7. Prayers.
• 3. The Time, viz. seven Hours several. The time of our Saviour's Passion.
• 4. The Contents.

1. Matins and Lauds; a Commemoration of his Bloody Sweat, and binding in the Garden, &c.

2. The first Hour; his being led through the Streets at Jerusalem, with the Indignities, &c.

3. The third Hour; whipping, crowning with Thorns, &c.

4. The ninth Hour; drinking Gall and Vine∣gar, dying, &c.

5. The Evening-Song; his taking from the Cross, &c.

6. The Compline; his Burial.

20. Festival-Days.

1. Of Christ.

1. His Nativity, Christmass.

2. — Circumcision, New-years-day.

3. — Epiphany, Twelfth-day.

4. — Purification, the Presentation of Christ, &c. Before Mass of that Day, the Church blesseth the Lights for the whole Year, and makes a Procession, with hallowed Lights, in the hands of all the Faithful.

5. — Transfiguration.

6. — Resurrection, or Easter-Day, from Oriens, the East.

7. — Ascension.

8. — Corpus Christi-day, in honour of the real Presence.

The Eucharist, on this Feast, during the Octave, is exposed to be adored, in all the principal Churches of the World, and great Processions are made in honour of it.

9. — Four Sundays of Advent.

10. — Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quin∣quag. Quad.

11. Passion-Sunday, to prepare us for the approaching Passion.

12. Palm-Sunday; on which Day the Church blesseth Palms, and make a Solemn Pro∣cession, the People bearing Palm-branches in their hands.

13. Dominica in Albis, Low-Sunday, the Octave of Easter-Day; because on that Day the Catechumens were solemnly divested in the Church of their white Garments.

2. Of our Blessed Lady, viz. 6. The Conce∣ption, Nativity, Presentation, Annunciation, Visitation and Assumption of our Blessed Lady.

3. Pentecost or Whitsunday.

4. Trinity-Sunday.

5. Other peculiar days.

1. The Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Antioch, viz. his installing there.

2. Of his Chair at Rome, viz. his Translation from Antioch, &c.

3. Of S. Peter and S. Paul together.

4. S. Peter ad vincula, Acts 12.

5. Michaelmass; a Church on that Day in Rome, was Dedicated to S. Michael, by Pope Bo∣niface.

6. The Apparition of S. Michael, he appear∣ing on Mount Garganus; where, by his own ap∣pointment, a Temple was Dedicated to him.

7. All-Saints, to beg the Patronage of all to∣gether.

8. All-Souls, to pray Souls out of Purga∣tory.

9. Ashwednesday; the Priest blesseth Ashes on this day, wherewith he signs the People with a Cross on their Foreheads, saying, memento, homo, remember Man; that thou art dust, and to dust, &c.

10. Mandy Thursday, in memory of our Lord's last Supper, when he washed his Disciples Feet; So called from Mandatum Novum do vobis, the beginning of the Antiphon. The Bishops on this day begin the Ceremony of washing the Peo∣ples Feet.

21. Good Friday, Add two Holy Rood-days, viz. Invention and Exaltation.

12. Three days of Tenebrae before Easter.

13. Rogation-week, a week of publick Prayer and Processions, for the temperateness of the wea∣ther, &c. from Rogo, &c.

14. Quatuor Tempora, Ember-weeks.

21. Orders of Monks, or Friers, whose Officers are, Prior, Provincial and General, &c.

1. Monks of St. Basil, who abstain from Flesh, of which not many in the Church of Rome; but many in the Greek Church.

2. Austine Friers, or Eremites, or Friers Mendicants, viz. The First Order.

Other Branches of them are,

1. Monks of S. Hierom, in Spain, especial∣ly. Their Robe a white Cassok under a Tawny Cloak.

2. Carmelites, or Jacobines, or white Fri∣ers, from the Colour of their Habit.

3. Friers of S. Cross, Crouched Friers; their Robe is watchet, and in their hands they carry the Figure of the Cross.

4. Dominicans, or Friers Praedicant, who are to Preach the Gospelin all parts of the World; called also Black Friers, from the Colour of their Habit, and are the third Order of Friers-Mendi∣cants.

3. Benedictines, whose Habit is a loose black Gown, reaching to the Ground, with a hood of the same, an under Garment of white Woollen, and Boots on their Legs.

Other Branches,

1. Monks of Clugnia, from Clugny in Nor∣mandy.

2. Carthusians, from Carthusia, a Town in Dauphine; They Eat no Flesh, live by couples, labour with their hands, watch, pray, and never meet together, but upon Sundays.

3. Monks of Cisteaûx, so called from a place in Burgundy, called by us, white Monks (as the common Benedictines, black Monks.) from their Habit, which was a white Cassock, girt with a woollen Girdle, the rest black.

4. Celestines, from Celestine the 5th, &c.

4. Franciscans, from S. Francis of Assis in Spoleto, who profess absolute Beggary, are to carry no money about them, nor more Victuals than will for the present serve for themselves and brethren. The chief branches of them are,

1. Minors, from their humility.

Cordeliers, by the French, from the knotty Cord which they use for a Girdle.

Grey Friers, by the English, from the colour of their upper Garment.

These are the fourth and last of the Friers Mendicants.

2. Minims, who keep always a true Lenten Fast, unless in sickness; their Robe is a Dark Tawny, with a Hood of the same hanging to the Girdle.

3. Capuchins, from their Cowl, or Capuch, who are to spend all their time in prayer; generally thought to be the most devout of all.

5. Jesuits, neither simply Lay, nor Priests, nor merely Secular, nor Regular; but all together; who are to vow not only Poverty, Obedience and Chastity, as the rest, but Mission; i. e. to go upon command of the Pope, or General, on any hazard∣ous business, without demanding a Reason.

6. Oratorians, founded by Ph. Nerio, all priests, who were to preach diligently the lives of the Saints, and other heads of practical and moral Duties.

7. Anchorets, the severest of the Recluse, kept in a close place, are to dig their Graves with their Nails, ill clad, and worse dieted.

22. Orders of Nuns, Nonnae Moniales.

1. Of S. Clare, called also Minorites, or Mi∣nores, who vow Poverty and Virginity, go bare∣foot, feed meanly, &c.

2. Gf S. Briget, (who was Qu. of Swedeland:) These cohabit under the same Roof with Friers, yet are prohibited coming to one another but upon spi∣ritual occasions: The Confessor shrieves them thro' an Iron Grate, by which his Lodging is parted from the Lady Abbess's Dr. Heylin.

See more of these Religious Orders in Alex. Rosse; as also of all the Christian Orders of Knight-hood; for I love not Actum agere.

Dominicans, Franciscans.

Dr. Burnet speaking of Beru, saith, Those two famous Orders, that had possessed themselves of the esteem of those Dark Ages (about 20 years before the Reformation) were engaged in a mighty Rivalry. The Dominicans were the more Learned; they were the eminentest Preachers of those times, and had the Conduct of the Courts of Inquisition, and the other chief Offices in the Church in their hands. But on the other hand, the Franciscans had an outward appearance of more severity, a ruder habit, stricter Rules, and greater Poverty; all which gave them such advantages in the eyes of the simple multi∣tude, as were able to ballance the other honours of the Dominican Order. In short, the two Orders were engaged in an high Rivalry; but the Devoti∣on towards the Virgin being the prevailing Passion of those times, the Franciscans upon this had great ad∣vantages. The Dominicans, that are all engaged in the deence of Thomas Aquinas's Opinions, were thereby obliged to assert, that she was born in Ori∣ginal Sin; this was proposed to the People by the Franciscans, as no less than Blasphemy, and by this the Dominicans began to lose ground extreamly in the minds of the People, who were strongly pre∣possessed in favour of the immaculate Conception,

Dr. Burnet's Letters, p. 31. edit. 1680.

Dr. Stillingfleet distributes his Discourse upon the Divisions of the Roman Church into Considera∣tions.

1. Of the Pope's Ʋsurpations, under pretence of Universal Pastor, whereby he may depose Kings, &c.

2. Of the Effects, doubting not to prove, that the Pope's Usurpation hath caused more Wars, Bloodshed, Confusion, &c. in Christendom, than all other causes put together, have done since the time it was first changed, e. g. Constantine the first opposed Philippics Emperor. Gregory the 2d. ta∣king away the small remainder of the Roman Em∣pire, from the Emperor Leo the 2d, in Italy, &c.

3. Of the Schisms, &c. Sometimes 2, sometimes 3 several Heads at one time. Bellermine in his Chronol. confessing 26 several Schisms, Onaphrius 30; whereof some lasted 10, some 20, one 50 years. I need not insist (saith he) on the more an∣tient, between Cornelius and Novatianus, Tiberius and Falix, Damasus and Ʋrsinius, Bonifacius and Eulalis, Symachus and Laurentius, Bonifacius and Dioscorus, Sylverius and Vigilius, &c. Those of most continuance were A. D. 821. between Formo∣sus and Sergius, Benedict 9, and Sylvester 3.

Regulars, Seculars.

4. Of the Differences in matters of Government; e. g. between the Regulars and Seculars, as to mat∣ters of Episcopal Jurisdiction (even here in England) the Mendicant Friers or Monks, being exempted by the Pope; the Jesuits difference with the Secular Priests (in Q. Elizabeth's Reign) proceeded to a Se∣paration each from other, about the Authority of Arch-Priests; and they continually charged each other with the guilt of Horrible Schism. The Je∣suits opposition to Bishops Authority, e.g. between Palafox. Bishop of Angelopolis in America, and the Jesuits.

Differences of Papists.

Lastly, Of Matters of Doctrine, between the Dominicans and Jesuits, the Thomists and Scotists, the Jansenists and Molinists.

Their Differences (adds the aforecited Author) are not confined to their Schools, no, not about the immaculate Conception; the Thomists being against it, the Scotists, Occam and Franciscans for it: John de Montesovo was convened first before the Faculty of Sorbon, and his Doctrine (against the immaculate Conception) condemned, and he forced to appeal to Rome, and then to fly into Spain, &c. Dr. Stillingfleet's Idolatry of the Church of Rome

Jesuits and Molinists.

There being a great Indifferency in Italy as to Learning and Religion both, and the Country being much improverished by the Ascendency of the Clergy, and the People being Sick with the Observation of these things, the Proposal of a new Remedy was easily received. Michael de Mo∣linos a Spaniard, of an opulent Family, who had entered into Priests Orders, but not beneficed, of an exact course of Life, addicted to Mystical Di∣vinity, (a Mysterious way of Devotion, first set out by Cassian, afterwards by St. Bernard, Denys the Areop. Thauler, Rasbrachius, Harphius, Suso, Tho. à Kempis, S. Teresa, Walter Hilton, F. Cressy, out of F. Baker's Papers) considering a Man in a three-fold State,

1. Animal, or Imaginative, where the Devo∣tion is weak and variable.

2. Rational, where the Reason forces the Will, and the Acts of Religion are dry.

3. Contemplative, in which the Will is so united to God, and overcome by that Union, that in one single Act, it loves, adores, and is re∣signed up to God, without any weariness, or mul∣tiplicity of Acts; upon which follows a secret Joy and Acquiescence in the Will of God. Contempla∣tion being nothing else but the silent and humble Ado∣ration of God, that ariseth out of a pure and quiet Mind. All the common methods of Devotion being but steps to this State of Perfection: To this end the Rosary, Breviary, &c. are generally laid aside. Molinos wrote a Book called Il Guida Spi∣ritual••; because Men may be deceived herein with∣out a Guide; This Book writ in Italy, gave offence to the Regulars, but especially the Jesuits: This Book was published first A. 1675. with Appro∣bation of the Arch-bishop of Rheggio, General of the Franciscans, F. Martin de Sparsa the Jesuit, &c. Molinos was hereupon received into Acquaintance and Favour with Cardinal Coloredi, Ceceri, Petrucci, Cassanata, Azolivi, Carpegna, and Cardinal d'E∣strees; the last was the most Zealous to advance his Design. The Pope himself lodged him in an Apartment of his Palace; many Priests came to consult him, and all the Nuns, except those which had Jesuits for their Confessors, began to lay aside their Rosaries, &c. and gave themselves to Mental Prayer: Upon this the Jesuits and Dominicans began to be alarmed at the Progress of Quietism, Molinos and his Followers are given out to be He∣reticks and Quietists; Books writ against them; Molinos and two hundred of his Friends clapt up by the Inquisition, among whom were Count Vespiniani and his Lady, Don Paulo Rocchi, (Con∣fessor to Prince Borghese) Cardinal Petrucci, &c. and the Pope himself, in the single Quality of Benedict Odeschalci, was secretly examined by that Court, &c. See more in Dr. Burnet's Letters, and the Supplement to them.

Ambrosian and Roman Office.

As for the Devotions of this place (Milan) I saw here the Ambrosian Office, which is distin∣guished from the Roman, both in the Musick, which is much simpler, and in some other Rites: The Gospel is read in a high Pulpit at the lower end of the Quire, that so it may be heard by all the People; though this is needless, since it is read in a Language that they do not understand: When they go to say High Mass, the Priest comes from the high Altar to the lower end of the Quire, where the Offertory of Bread and Wine is made by some of the Laity. Dr. Burnet's Letters.

Hither may be referred the difference of their Divine Service in England formerly, Secundum usum Sarum & Bangor, &c.