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 ...

Creeds.

Modern Jews.

Art. 1. I Believe with a true perfect faith, that God is the Creator (whose name be blessed) Governor and Maker of all Creatures, and that he hath wrought all things and shall work for ever.

Art. 2. I believe with a perfect faith, that the Creator (whose name be blessed) is one, and that such an unity, as is in him, can be found in no other; and that he alone hath been our God, is, and for ever shall be.

Art. 3. That the Creator is not Corporeal, nor to be comprehended with any bodily properties; and that no bodily essence can be likened to him.

Art. 4. That the Creator is the first and last, and that nothing was before him, and that he shall last for ever.

Art. 5. That the Creator is to be worshipt, and none else.

Art. 6. That all the words of the prophets are true.

Art. 7. I believe with a perfect faith, that the prophecies of Moses (our master may he rest in peace,) were true, that he was the Father and

Chief of all the wise men that liv'd before him, and shall live after him.

Art. 8. That all the law, which at this day is found in our hands, was delivered by God him∣self, to our master Moses (God's peace be with him.)

Art. 9. The same law is never to be chang'd, nor any other to be given us of God (whose name be Blessed.)

Art. 10. That God (whose Name be Blessed) understands all the Thoughts and Works of Men: As it is Written in the Prophets, He fashions their Hearts alike, he understands all their Works.

Art. 11. That God will recompence good to those that keep his Commandments, and will Punish those who transgress them.

Art. 12. That Messiah is yet to come, and al∣though he retard his coming, yet I will wait for him, till he come.

Art. 13. That the Dead shall be restored to Life, when it shall seem fit to God the Creator; whose Name be Blessed, and Memory Celebrated world without end. Amen.

The Creed Dr. Addison presents us with out of Sepher Ikkarim, or Book of Fundamentals, put in writing by Moses Ben Maimon a Corduba Jew, A. D. 1104. And tho not set down in their Service-Book, yet they begin their Mattins with it, and utter it with a hollow tone different from the other Service.

Christians.

I Believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;

Who was Conceived by the Holy Ghost,

Born of the Virgin Mary,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was Crucified, Dead and Buried, he Descended into Hell.

The third day he rose again from the Dead;

He ascended into Heaven,

And sits on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty:

From thence He shall come to Judg the Quick and the Dead.

I Believe in the Holy Ghost,

The Holy Catholick Church;

The Communion of Saints;

The Forgiveness of Sins;

The Resurrection of the Body;

And the Life Everlasting. Amen.

This is commonly ascribed to the Apostles, as the first Compilers; but by general Confession and Testimony of Ecclesiastical Writers is very Anti∣ent; Saving that those words (He Descended into Hell) are not of so old a Date; the first place it be∣ing found in, being the Church of Aquileia, in the Fourth Century. Dr. Pearson.

Gaurs.

1. I Believe in God, maker of the World.

2. That he sent Ebrahim zer-ateucht, his Pro∣phet, Son of Azer (a Carver by Trade) and Dogh∣don (who upon the appearance of an Angel, over∣spreading her Face with a Celestial Light, Con∣ceived the Prophet aforesaid.

3. That the Birth of this Child was known by Astrologers, and told to the King (Nebrout) who thereupon caused all the Women with Child, through all his Domininions, to be slain.

4. That this Child laugh'd, so soon as he was Born, because he was to Triumph in the Hearts of the People.

5. That the Father in fear confessed to the King, the King going about to slay the Child with a Sword, his Arm was dried up immediately: That the Child being thrown into a Fire, turned it into a Bed of Roses.

6. That some of this Fire is still preserved, and is worthy of great Veneration.

7. That the King devising new Torments, was at last stung to Death with Flies, and all that would not kiss the Prophet's Feet, and submit.

8. That this Prophet, under Scha-glocktes, (the Succeeding Prince) was cast into a Bath of melted Silver, but coming out safe, all received him as a Prophet, and called him Zer-Ateucht, i. e. wash'd in Silver.

9. After this the Prophet was never seen more.

10. That he will have three Children.

11. The first Ouchider to be born of a Virgin, who shall come into the World, and cause his Fa∣ther's Laws to be received by Preaching and Mi∣racles.

12. The Second, Ouchiderma, who shall be con∣ceiv'd in like manner, who shall assist his Brother, and convince all the World, by causing the Sun to stand still 10 years.

13. That the 3d. called Senoict-Hotius conceiv'd by the same Mother, shall come with more Au∣thority, than his two Brothers, and shall perfectly reduce all People to the Religion of their Pro∣phet.

14. That after these things shall be the Univer∣sal Resurrection, when all Souls in Paradise or Hell shall return to take possession of their own Bodies; that then all Mountains and Minerals being melted, shall fill up Hell, and destroy man∣sions of the Devils.

15. Afterwards the World shall be level'd, and made Habitable, and men shall have their Apart∣ment in it, according to the good which they did; but their chief delight shall be in beholding and praising God, and Ibrahim their Prophet. M. Ta∣vernier, l. 4. c. 8.

They say also, That before the Resurrection, those that are in Paradise do not behold the face of God; no, not the Angels themselves, except only one, who always attends upon God, to re∣ceive

and execute his Commands: That God will have pity upon the Damned, and that they shall go into Paradise, as having suffered enough alrea∣dy for their Sins. Idem.

Indian Idolaters.

I Believe one only Almighty God, and only Wise, Creator of Heaven and Earth, who fills all places with his Presence (by some called Primissar, by others Peremael, others Westnon, others Ram, &c.) that this Ram was the Son of a Potent Raja, called Deseret, and the most Vertuous of all his Children, his Wife's name Sita, both Banished with a Brother Lokeman; but passing through a Wood, Ram being in pursuit of a Bird, his Wife Sita was Ravished by Rhevan, (a kind of Deity also) that all the Creatures were employed in Searching for Sita, who at last was found by a Monkey that had leaped over the Sea, in Rhevan's Garden, who Saluted her in Ram's Name, and presented her a Ring, and with Fire with which some of Rhevans Servants would have burnt him, the Ape set Fire on Rhevan's Palace, and thereupon leapt at one Jump over the Sea again, and brought greeting from Sita to Ram; who thereupon, by the gui∣dance of the Ape, raised Forces, and went over, and rescued his Wife. Hereupon Rhevan spent all the rest of his Days like a poor Faquir, and gave original to that Order.

I believe that departed Souls are according to their Lives ordered to inhabit another Body: The Souls of the wicked into Asses, Dogs, Cats, &c. Of the Good into Cows, or potent Rajaes.

That if a Man Die with a Cows Tail in his Hand, he is happy. M. Tavernier, Part. 2. l. 2.

The People of Formosa.

I Believe the World to be Eternal.

The Soul to be Immortal.

And future Rewards and Punishments, accord∣ing to our good or evil deeds.

That the passage to the other World is over a narrow Bridg made with Canes, from which the Wicked fall into a nasty miry place; there to abide for ever, the Good go to a Mansion of Pleasure.

That there are several Gods, Tamagisahanch, in the South, who presides o're the Generation of Mankind, from whom all good to Body or Mind proceeds; that his Wife Taxank-punda, when it Thunders, chides with him for not sending Rain; Sariachsingh, in the North, who destroys all Bene∣fits bestowed on Mankind; that both these are to be Prayed to.

That there are two Gods of War, Talafula and Tapaliape, to be invocated only by the Men. Pac∣quet broke open, vol. 2.

Siamites.

I Believe that one Supreme God Created the Universe, and Governs the World.

That there are several other Gods Subordinate to him.

That the Soul is Immortal.

That on its separation from the Body, it passes to Eternal Happiness or Misery, after various Trans∣migrations.

That good Works will save a Man.

That this Religion was received by Immemo∣rial Tradition, from the Saints now worshipped by them as Deities. Pacquet broke open, vol. 2.

Peguians.

I Believe, that the Chief of the Gods (who hath several Gods under him) is the Author of all the Good that Mankind enjoys; but that he leaves to the Devil the disposing of all Evil; and there∣fore a greater Veneration is due to him than to God; All Men naturally taking more care to ap∣pease a powerful Enemy, than be grateful to an obliging Friend.

That good Works are more conducive to Eter∣nal Hppiness, than Faith.

That a man may be Saved in any opinion, so his Life be Pious and Regular.

That five principal Sapans, or Holy-days, are to be kept.

1. Sapan Giacchi, the Pilgrimage of the King and Queen, in Grandeur.

2. Sapan Carena, in Honour of their great Idol.

3. Sapan Segienon, in Honour of other Idols.

4. Sapan Daiche, when the King and Queen throw Rose-water at each other, and all the No∣bility wash them out of a Pot of the same, and none can pass the Streets without having Water thrown at him out of the Windows.

5. Sapan Donan, when a Race is performed by Boats in the Kings and Queens presence, as they Pass to Meccao.

Tunquinese.

Of these there are three Sects, The Author of the first is Confutius, whose Creed is as follows.

I Believe that man is composed of two Parts, the one fine and subtil, the other material and gross; when Man Dies, the subtiler part goes into Air, the gross stays in the Earth; that the 7 Planets are to be Adored; but especially these

Gods Rauma, Betolo, Ramonus, and Brama, and Satisbana by the Women; as also the Heavens by the King and Mandarins.

The Author of the Second Chacabout, followed by the most part of the meaner People, hath taught them thus.—

There are Ten Commandments; (which see after∣wards) a Transmigration of Souls; That they who would be Religious, must renounce the De∣lights of this Life, be Charitable to the Poor, overcome their Passions, and give themselves up to Meditation: That there are ten distinct places of Joy and Torment, the Torments proportionable to the Offence, and without any end. The Im∣perfect shall wander in diverse Bodies 3000 years; the Perfect go immediately to Bliss.

The Author of the Third Sect, is that of Lanthu, a Chinese, a great Magician, who taught, that his Mother carried him in her Womb 70 years, with∣out losing her Virginity; he exhorted the Gran∣dees to build Hospitals in all Cities: Agreeing much with Chacabout in Doctrine. Taver.

Mahometans.

I Believe, 1. That there is but one God, and that there is no number in him.

2. That Mahomet is the Messenger of God; the most excellent, and last of all the Prophets. That the Christian Religion was to Cease at his Ap∣pearance.

3. That Jesus Christ was a great Prophet In∣spired by the Spirit of God.

4. That God is a Being of great Perfection.

5. Angels are Executioners of God's Commands, without Sex, different in Dignity, and appointed to several Offices, as well in Heaven as Earth.

6. Good and Evil only happen, because God hath Fore-ordain'd them, having writ on a Table from all Eternity, things that are, and are to be.

7. There shall be a general Resurrection of the Dead: But before that,

1. Anti-Mahomet must come.

2. Jesus shall come from Heaven to Kill him, and Establish Mahometanism.

3. Gog and Magog, &c.

4. A Beast is to come out of Meccha.

5. All Living Creatures shall Die, Hills fly into the Air, the Heavens melt and drop upon the Earth.

Then shall God renew the Earth, and raise the Dead, naked; but Saints and Prophets clothed and carried by Angels to the Empyrean Heavens.

8. The Bad shall suffer Hunger, Thirst, pain∣ful Sweating, &c.

9. The Pains of the Wicked shall be proporti∣oned to their Merits; but shall not last above 50000 years.

10. That at the day of Judgment S. Michael with be a Ballance, shall weigh the good and bad Actions of Men.

11. They, whose good Deeds out-weigh their Bad, shall go to Paradise.

12. There is a particular Judgment at Death, to distinguish the Mussulman from Unbelievers. F. Simon out of a Mahometan Dr.

Ancient Heathen.

I Believe in one Supreme God, who presides over all the rest, who seeth and Governs all things, in all places.

And in as many more Inferior Gods, as our Magistrates and Laws shall require us to believe in.

That the Law of Nature and Reason is the or∣dinary Rule of our Manners.

And the Laws of the Nation.—Of our Religi∣gious Worship.

That our Souls are Immortal, and shall survive our Bodies.

That they who have defiled themselves with Vice, their Souls at Death shall be secluded from the Society of the Gods, and be tossed about the Earth; but they who have lived well and honest∣ly, and have imitated the Lives of the Gods, the Souls of these Men shall go to the Stars or Gods, from whence at first they came.

This is extracted especially out of Cicero and Somn. Scip.

Diabolical.

Their Creed is nothing but a Reverse of the Or∣thodox Faith; an open Profession, or secret Practice, contrary to the Truth; which must needs be so pregnant with Blasphemy, that it will not be safe to exhibit a Copy of it to common View.

The Bannyans.

I Believe that a God of Immense Power Eter∣nal and Provident, in the beginning Created the whole World; that he made the first Man (by Name Pourous) and for his Society Created the first Woman (Parconty) both so innocent, that they would not cut any thing that had a Sensitive Life, but fed upon Herbs and Fruits; that from them sprung two couple of Boys, Bramon, Cuttery, Shud∣dery and Wise; the first a Priest, the second a Warrior, the third a Merchant, the forth a Peasant, which Peopled the four Parts of the World; but upon their Impiety, the World was Destroyed by a Deluge: That afterwards, upon Mount Mero∣purbatea, God gave the Shaster to Bremaw in Clouds, and Lightning for a rule of Living.

Mr. Hobbes's.

I Believe that God is Almighty matter; that in him are three Persons, he having been thrice re∣presented on Earth; that it is to be decided by the Civil Power, whether he Created All things else.

That Angels are not Incorporeal Substances, but preternatural Impressions on the Brain of Man, that the Soul of Man is the Temperament of his Body; that the very Liberty of Will in that Soul is Physically necessary; that the Prime Law of Nature in the Soul of Man is Self-Love; that the Law of the Civil Soveraign is the only obliging Rule of Just and Unjust; that the Books of the Old and New Testament are not made Canon and Law, but by the Civil Powers; that what is writ∣ten in these Books, may be denied upon Oath in times of Persecution.

That Hell is a tolerable condition of Life, for a few years upon Earth; to begin at the general Resurrection; and that Heaven is a blessed Estate of good Men, like that of Adam before his Fall, beginning at the general Resurrection, to be from thence-forth Eternal, upon Earth, in the Holy Land. Dr. Tenison.