A Voyage to East India, Account of voyage · Section 15
SECTION. XV
Of their Religion, their Prieſts, their Devotion, their Churches &c.
ANd now I come to ſpeake of their Religion I ſhall firſt take notice of the Mahometan Religion there profeſſed. That of the Hindoes or Heathens ſhall finde a place wherein I may ſpeake of it afterwards.
But firſt of the Mahometan Religion, becauſe the great Mogol with his Grandees, and allother of quality about him are Mohometans; which Religion (if it deſerve that name) took its firſt Riſe, and began to be profeſſed in the world about the yeare of Chriſt 620, as hath been obſerved by many writers.
The Ringleader to it, and chiefe founder of it was Mahomet, an Arabian by birth, born (as is ſaid) in a very obſcure place, and of very meane & low Parentage, but a man fill'd with all ſubtilty and Craft; who, (as they write) after that he had much enriched himſelfe by wives, came to be the Commander of a Company of Arabian Volunteers that followed Heraclius the Emperour in his Perſian warrs; but not long after himſelfe and Souldiers, f…lling firſt into Mutiny, and after that to Rebellion, which was an excellent prepara…ve to put an innovationor change on Religion, and his Souldiers ſtanding cloſe unto him, he himſelfe, with the help of Sergiues a Chriſtian by profeſſion, but an Heretical Neſtorian Monke, & of Abdala a Jew compoſed a Religion that hath nothing in it, or that ſavours of nothing ſo much, as of rude ignorance, and moſt palpable impoſture; it being a Monſter of many heads; a moſt damnable mixture of horrid impieties, if it be conſidered alltogether.
Yet becauſe it conteins much in it very pleaſing to fleſh and blood, and ſoothes up, and complies exceedingly with corrupt nature, it wanted no followers preſently to embrace, and aſſert it; ſo that in a little time, like a Gangrene, it ſpred it ſelfe into many parts of Aſia, and ſince that hath enlarged it ſelfe like Hell; ſo that, at this preſent day it hath more that profeſs it in the world, then thoſe which profeſs Chriſtanity, if we take in all collectively that doe but beare the Names of Chriſtians, the world over.
The poore people, that are ſo much abuſed by the ſtrong deluſions of that great Impoſtor, ſay for themſelves thus, that God hath ſent three great prophets into the world, firſt Moſes, and after him Chriſt, and then Mahomet, and further adde that when Chriſt left the world hee promiſed to ſend a Comforter into it, and that Comforter w Mahomet, and therefore they cloſe with him.
I ſhall not neede amongſt men profeſſing Chriſtianity to write any thing in anſwer to thoſe their frantick aſſertions, neither will Imake it my buſineſs to enlarge my ſelfe in the diſcovery of the Mahometan Religion, becauſe that hath beene done by ſo many hands already; only this I wil ſay of it, & not much more, that it hath Will-worſhip for its Foundation, Fables and Lyes for its ſupport, and a groundleſs preſumption for its ſuper-ſtructure.
For its Foundation, firſt, abundance of will-worſhip, manifeſted in many outward performances, which are not hard to be performed, becauſe the depraved will of man, is ready preſt and bent to performe things of that kind with readineſs, Cheerfullneſs, and delight. The works of your Father the Devil you will doe, ſaith our Saviour, of the obſtinate Jews, doe them, be they never ſo hard, with content and willingneſs.
Secondly, the Mahometan Religion hath abundance of ſtrange, monſtrous, fables and Lyes for its ſupport, their Alcoran (for the ſubſtance of it) being a fardle of fooliſh impoſſibilities, fit to be received by none but fooles, and mad-men; for they can gaine no more credit with thoſe that are judicious, then what is related in the ryming ſtory of that antient Knight Errant, Bevis of Southampton; or in the Poems of Orlando the furious, where may be found ſome like ſuch paralel fictions, as of Aſtalpho who mounted a Griffin, which carried him up immediately into the Moon, where (they ſay) Mahomet ſomtime was, the reaſon I conceive which made himſelfe, and his followers ever ſince ſo full of Lunacy, or madneſs.
Thirdly, it hath a groundleſs preſumption for its ſuperſtructure, which preſumption drawes that miſ…-ed people into a carleſs ſecurity, they eſteeming themſelves the only true believers of the world, and none true belivers but themſelves
Yet it cannot bee denied, but that there are ſome things in the precepts which Mahomet hath preſcribed to be received and obſerved by his followers, that are good; layd downe in eight commandements which are theſe.
Firſt, that God is a great God, and the only God, and Mahomet is the Prophet of God.
Second, that Children muſt obey their parents, and doe nothing to diſpleaſe them either in word or deed.
Third, that every one muſt doe to another that, and only that which he would have another doe to him.
Fourth, that every man five times every day muſt repaire to the Moſquit or Church, to pray there, or whereſoever hee is, hee muſt pray every day ſo often, if not in the Church, then elſewhere.
Fift, that one whole moone in every yeare, every man, come to yeares of diſcretion, muſt ſpend the whole day, twixt the riſing, and ſetting of the Sunne… in faſting.
Sixt, that every one out of his ſtore, muſt give unto the poore liberally, freely, and voluntarily.
Seventh, that every one (except thoſe Votaries which renounce marriage) muſt marry, to increaſe and multiply the Sect, and Religion of Mahomet.
Eight, that no man muſt kill, or ſhed blood.
Now much in theſe commandements agrees with the word of truth; and we neede not wonder at it, when we conſider, that even the Devil himſelfe (as we may obſerve in the Goſpel) hath ſometimes had a Scripture in his mouth. So have Hereticks, and ſo did Mahomet and his aſſiſtants mix ſome Scripture in their Alcoran, to put a fairer gloſs upon their irreligion. But what Scriptures they all urge, are for the moſt part, if not ever, wreſted, by their mayming, or perverting, or miſapplying of them. Thus the Devill quotes a Scripture Mat 4. 6. but one part is left out, and the reſt miſſ▪ applied. Thoſe therefore who wreſt or mangle ſcripture to ſerve their owne turne, we may ſee from whoſe ſchoole they have it. Thus Mahomet cites ſcripture to doe more miſchiefe by it; let no man content himſelfe, and think all is well, becauſe he can ſometimes ſpeak good words, have a ſcripture in his mouth; when he conſiders that Hereticks, Hypocrits doe ſo, that Mahomet, nay Satan himſelfe hath done as much.
Satan can transform himſelfe into an Angel of light, and ſeeme holy to doe miſchiefe. Thus Simeon, and Levi (out of conſcience pretended) could not give their Siſter to an uncircumciſed man. Gen. 34. there was God in their mouthes, but Satan in their hearts, they hide their Cruelty with Craft, and cover their Craft with Religion. Of all miſchiefes, thoſe that ſmile moſt, are moſt deadly. the uglyeſt and vileſt of all projects well make uſe of Religion as a Foyle, to ſet them off; Poyſoned Pills can finde Gold to cover them; becauſe the worſe that any thing is, the better ſhew it deſires to make.
But to proceed; the Mahometan prieſts are called Moolaas who read ſome parcells out of their Alcoran, upon Frydays (which are their ſabboths, or days of reſt) unto the people aſſembled in their Moſquit or Churches, and then further deliver ſome precepts, which they gather out of it, unto their miſerably deluded hearers.
Theſe Moolaas are they which joyn thoſe of that Religion in marriage; and theſe imploy much of their time as Scriveners to doe buſineſſes for others; or to teach their yong Children to write and reade their language in written hand, for (as before) they have no Printing. Thoſe Moolaas are more diſtinguiſhed from the reſt of the Mahometans by their Beards (which they weare long) then by any other of their habits. Their calling gaines, and gives them very much reverence and eſteeme amongſt the People; as another ſort of prieſts there have, of an high order or ranke▪ which live much retired; but when they appeare openly are moſt highly reverenced; they are called Seayds who derive themſelves from Mahomet.
The Mahometans have faire Churches which (as before) are called Moſquits; their Churches are built of Marble or Courſer ſtone, the broad ſide towards the Weſt is made up cloſe like a firme wall, and ſo are both ends, in which there are no lights; the other broad ſide towards the Eaſt is erected upon Pillars (where a man may take notice of excellent workemanſhip both in vaults, and arches) the ſpaces betwixt them pillars ſtand open. Their Churches are built long and narrow, ſtanding North and South which way they lay up the bodies of their dead, but none of them within their Churches.
At the four Corners of their Moſquits which ſtand in great Cityes or in other places much peopled, the…e are high and round, but ſmall Turrets, which are made open with lights every way, wherein a man may be eaſily ſeene, and heard; their devout Moolaas five times every day aſcend unto the tops of thoſe high Turrets, whence they proclaim, as loudly as they can poſſibly ſpeake, their Prophet Mahomet, thus in Arabian, La alla illa alla, Mahomet Reſul-alla that is, he re is no God but one God, and Mahomet the meſſenger from God, That voyce inſtead of Bells, (which they uſe not in their Churches) puts the moſt devout in minde of the houres of their devotion, thoſe Prieſts being exceedingly zealous to promote the cauſe, and to keep up the honour of their Mahomet, as the men of Epheſus ſometime were, when they feared that the credit of their baggage Diana was like to be called into queſtion, they took up a Cry which continued for the ſpace of two houres, Crying out with one voyce, greaet is Diana of the Epheſians Act. 19. 24.
When a mans Religion is right, he ought to be very zealous in the maintenance of it, very fearefull of the hazard, or loſs thereof. And therefore if theſe Mahometans, or thoſe men of Epheſus had had truth on their ſide, they would both have deſerved much commendation for what they did. And ſo Micha too who thus complained when he had loſt his jmages, Judg. 18. 24. they have ſtol'n away my Gods, and what have I more? I confeſs that the loſs of God is the greateſt of all loſſes, but thoſe were proper Gods which Micha there bewayled, that would be ſtol'n, that could not ſave themſelves; who if the fire ſpare them, ruſt or rottenneſs, or time will conſume them. But thoſe Mahometans though they doe not endure either Idoles or Images, in their houſes, or Churches, yet are they very forward to cry up their irreligion and to ſhew much zeale for it.
Zeale, is derived from a word that ſignifies to burne, it is a compound made up of many affections, as of griefe, joy, love, anger, well tempered together, and when it is ſo, it hath its due commendation both of God and man; and curſed is he that goes about to extinguiſh that holy fire, that holy fire (I ſay) which hath light in it as well as Heat, and heate as well as light. The truth of Zeale may be further diſcovered (of zeale that is good) if we confider firſt the Roote from which it ſprings, and thats the knowledg and Love of God; Secondly the Rule by which it is carryed on, and acts, and that's the word, and will of God, and laſtly the end it aymes at, and intends, and that's the honour and glory of God; and zeale thus ordered cannot be too violent: but when for want of theſe it becomes irregular, and ſhews it ſelfe over much in bad cauſes (ſuch as before were nam'd) it is, Curſus celerrimus, ſed praeter viam, a ſwift violent motion but quite out of the way.
And if it be good to be zealous in a good cauſe, then it is better to be zealous in the beſt: and the beſt cauſe to ſhew zeale in, is the cauſe of God, Pro Aris & Focis was the old good Proverb; firſt to ſtand up for Gods rights, and afterward for our owne: and to believe that that vnum neceſſarium, which our Saviour commends unto us, Lu. 10, 42. is that one thing principally and eſpecially neceſſary, though the Devill, and our owne corruption will tell us, (if we will believe them) that there is nothing more needleſs. When Moſes and Aaron came to Pharaoh and ſpake unto him about ſacrificing unto the Lord their God, Pharaoh replyes, yee are idle, yee are idle, therefore yee ſay let us goe and ſacrifice unto the Lord, Ex. 5. 17. the ſame Devill that there ſpake in Pharaoh, ſpeaks in all ignorant and prophane people, who call Religion idleneſs and hypocriſie; a ſtrict and even walking with God, ſingularity or a doing more then God requires us to perform.
But however that is moſt true which was ſpoken by Philo judeus, ubi de religione, ibi quo que de vita agitur, we muſt act for religion as we would ſtrive for life. Philoſophy tels us that Tactus eſt fundamentum animae ſenſitivae, that the very foundation of natural life is feeling; ſo then no feeling no life, and the want of ſpirituall feeling argues a want too of ſpirituall life. The poore ſeduced Mahometans, and many others in the world are very keene, and ſharp and forward to maintaine that which they call Religion; the more ſhame for thoſe who profeſs themſelves Chriſtians, and have a ſure word to build their hope upon, yet are ferventiſſimi in terrenis, in coeleſtibus frigidiſſimi, as hot as fire in earthly, as cold as ice in heavenly things. A ſad thing to conſider that ſo many ſhould have their tongues bent like Bowes for lyes, (as the prophet Jeremy complaines Jer. 9. 37.) and Chriſtians not valiant for the truth; that others ſhould drive like Jehu, furiouſly, madly, and that in the waies of error, injuſtice, oppreſſion, prophaneſs, as in all other kinds of wickedneſs; and Chriſtians in the cauſe of God more heavily, ſlowly, like the Egyptians in the Red-Sea when their chariot wheeles were off. Shall Turks and Infidels ſolicit bad cauſes ſo earneſtly; and Chriſtians thoſe actions which are good ſo faintly! Acrius ad p…rniciem, quam nos ad vitam; make more haſt to deſtruction then Chriſtians to life, and happineſs! It was St. Jeromes complaint, conſiderare pudet quantus feruor, quae cura, &c. That he was aſham'd to conſider how ſolici…ous ſome men were in earthly, and how ſluggiſh others in heavenly things, as if they durſt not ſo much as to owne the cauſe of God▪ they were wont to ſay of cowards in Rome, that there was nothing Roman in them; it may be applyed to Chriſtians who ſhew no reſolutions for Chriſt that there is nothing Chriſtian in them, they even betraying the cauſe of Chriſt while they ſo faintly maintain it. Hardly would they dye for Chriſt, who dare not ſpeake for him; certainly they would never be brought to afford him their blood, that will not for the preſent afford him their breath.
But to returne againe to thoſe Mahometan Prieſts, who out of zeale doe ſo often proclaim their Mahomet. Tom Coryat upon a time having heard their Moolaas often (as before) ſo to cry got him upon an high place directly oppoſite to one of thoſe Prieſts, and contradicted him thus. La alla illa alla, Haſaret Eeſa Ben-alla, that is, no God, but one God, and the Lord Chriſt the Son of God, and further added that Mahomet was an Impoſtor: and all this he ſpake in their owne language as loud as poſſibly he could, in the eares of many Mahometans that heard it. But whether (circumſtances conſidered) the zeale, or diſcretion of our Pilgrim were more here to be commended, I leave to the judgment of my Reader. That he did ſo, I am ſure, and I further believe how that bold attempt of his, if it had been acted in many other places of Aſia, would have coſt him his life with as much torture as cruelty could have invented. But he was here taken for a mad-man, and ſo let alone.
Happly the rather, becauſe every one there hath liberty to profeſs his owne Religion freely and if he pleaſe may argue againſt theirs, without feare of an inquiſition, as Tom Coryat did at another time with a Moolaa, and the Queſtion which of theſe two was the Muſſleman or true Believer, after much heate on both ſides, Tom Coryat thus diſtinguiſhed, that himſelfe was the Orthodox Muſſleman or true true believer, the Moola the pſeudo Muſſleman or falſe true believers; which diſtinction, if I had not thought it would have made my Reader ſmile had been here omitted.
The Mahometans have a ſet forme of prayer in the Arabian tongue, not underſtood by many of the common people, yet repeated by them as well as by the Moolaas, they likewiſe rehearſe the Names of God and of their Mahomet certain times every day upon Beads, like the miſs-led Papiſts, who ſeem to regard more the Number, then the weight of prayers.
Certainly Will-worſhip is a very eaſy duty, and if Almighty God would be as much pleaſed with it, as man is, ſo much of that ſervice would not be quite loſt: But in thoſe ſervices wherein God is highly concern'd to reſt in the performance of any duty, when tis done, or any other way to fayle in the manner of doing it, makes thoſe ſervices which ſome may eſteeme holy, no better then Sins; Prayers, an Abomination: there being a vaſt difference twixt ſaying of prayers, and praying of prayers; twixt the ſervice of the head, and that of the heart; prayer, and prayer (heedefull circumſtances conſidered) differing as much as Religion, and Superſtition.
But for the carriage of that people in their devotions, before they goe into their Churches they waſh their feet, and entring into them put off their ſhooes. As they begin their devotions they ſtop their eares, and fix their eyes, that nothing may divert their thoughts, then in a ſoft and ſtill voyce they utter their prayers, wherein are many words moſt ſignificantly expreſſing the Omnipotency, and Greatneſs, and Eternity, and other Attributes of God. Many words likewiſe that ſeeme to expreſs much Humiliation, they confeſſing in divers ſubmiſſive geſtures, their owne unworthineſs, when they pray caſting themſelves low upon their Face, ſundry times, and then acknowledg that they are Burdens to the Earth, and poyſon to the Ayre, and the like, being ſo confounded and aſham'd as that they ſeeme not to dare ſo much as to lift up their eyes towards Heaven, but after all this, comfort themſelves in the mercyes of God, through the mediation of Mahomet.
If this people could as well conclude, as they can begin and continue their prayers, in reſpect of their expreſſions, and carriages in them, they might find comfort; but the concluſion of their devotions marrs all.
Yet this, for their commendation (who doubtleſs, if they knew better would pray better) that what divorſins, and impediments ſoever they have ariſing either from pleaſure or profit, the Mahometans pray five times a day. The Mogol doth ſo, who ſits on the Throne; the ſhepherd doth ſo that waits on his flock in the field, (where by the way, they doe not follow their flocks; but their flocks, them) all ſorts of Mahometans doe thus whether fixed in a place or moveing in a journey, when their times, or hours of Prayer come, which in the morning are at Six, Nine, and Twelve of the clock; and at three and ſix in the afternoone.
When they pray it is their manner to ſet their Faces that they may look towards Medina neere Mecha in Arabia where their great Seducer Mahomet was buried, who promiſed them after one thouſand years, to fetch them all to Heaven; which terme, when it was out, and the promiſe not fulfilled, the Mahometans concluded that their fore-Fathers miſſtooke the time of the promiſe of his comming, and therefore reſolved to waite for the accompliſhment of it one thouſand years more. In the mean time they doe ſo reverence that place where the body of Mahomet was lay'd up, that whoſoever hath beene there (as there are divers which flock yearely thither in Pilgrimage) are for ever after called, and eſteemed Hogg…es, which ſignifies holy men.
And here the thing being rightly and ſeriouſly conſidered, it is a very great ſhame that a Mahometan ſhould pray five times every day, that Paganes and Heathens ſhould be very frequent in their devotions, and Chriſtians (who only can hope for good anſwers in Prayer) ſo negligent in that great prevailing duty. For a Mahometan to pray five times every day, what diverſions ſoever he hath to hinder him, and for a Chriſtian to let any thing interrupt his devotion; for a Mahometan to pray five times a day, and for one that is called a Chriſtian not to pray (ſome believing themſelves above this and other ordinances) five times in a weeke, a monethmonth, a year.
But this will admit leſs cauſe of wonder if wee conſider how that many bearing the Names of Chriſtians cannot pray at all, thoſe I meane which are prophane and filthy, and who live as if there were no God to hear, or to judg, and no Hell to puniſh. Such as theſe can but babble, they cannot pray, for they blaſpheme the Name of God, while they may thinke they adore it.
I ſhall adde here a ſhort ſtorie, It happened that I once having ſome diſcourſe with a Mahometan of good quality, and ſpeaking with him about his frequent praying I told him that if himſelfe, and others of his profeſſion who did believe it as a duty to pray ſo often, could conclude their Petitions in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, they might finde much comfort in thoſe their frequent performances, in that great duty: He anſwered, that I needed not to trouble my ſelfe with that, for they found as great comfort as they could deſire in what they did. And preſently he would needs inferr this Relation.
There was (ſaid hee) a moſt devout Muſſleman who had his habitation in a great City where Mahomet was zealouſly profeſſed, and that man for many yeares together ſpent his whole day in the Moſquit, or Church, in the mean time, he minding not the world at all, became ſo poor that he had nothing left to buy bread for his family, yet notwithſtanding his poor condition he was reſolved ſtill to ply his devotions, and in a morning (when he perceived that there was nothing at all left for the further ſubſiſtence of himſelfe and houſhould) tooke a ſolemne leave of his wife and Children reſolving for his part to goe and pray and dye in the Moſquit, leaving his family (if no relief came) to famiſh at home. But that very day he put on this reſolution, there came to his houſe in his abſence a very beautifull young man (as he appeared to be) who brought and gave unto his wife a very good quantity of Gold bound up in a white Napkin, telling her, that God had now remembred her husband, and ſent him his pay for his conſtant paines taken in his devotion, withall charging her not to ſend for her husband, for though he had taken ſuch a ſolemne leave of her that morning, yet he would come home to her againe that night, and ſo he departed from her. The woman preſently bought in ſome neceſſaryes for her houſe (for they had eaten up all before) and further made ſome good proviſion for her husband againſt his coming home in the evening, (for ſo he did) and finding all his family very cherefull and merry, his Wife preſently told him, that there had been ſuch a one there (as before deſcribed) and left ſo much gold behinde him, with that fore mentioned meſſage delivered with it. Her husband preſently replyed that it was the Angel Gabriel ſent from God, (for the Mahometans ſpeak much of that Angel) and he further added that himſelfe had nothing to bring home unto her but a little grett, or ſand which he tooke up in his way homeward, and bound it in his girdle, which he preſently opening to ſhew her, it was all turn'd into pretious ſtones, which amounted unto a very great value in Money. The Seventh part of which as of his gold likewiſe he preſently gave to the poore, (for, ſaid he, a Muſſleman is very charitable) and then inferrd, that if we doe not neglect God, God will not forget us, but when we ſtand moſt in need of help will ſupply us. VntoUnto which concluſion we may all ſubſcribe, leaving the premiſes which are layd downe in that ſtory, unto thoſe that dare believe them.
The Mahometans ſay, that they have the Bookes of Moſes, but they have very much corrupted that ſtory, in aſcribing that to Iſhmael which is ſaid of Iſaac Gen: 22. as if Iſhmael ſhould have beene ſacrificed, not Iſaac. (of which more afterward) They ſay that they have the Booke of Davids Pſalmes; and ſome Writings of Solomon, with other parcels of the old Teſtament; which, if ſo, I believe a made much to vary from their original.
They ſpeak very much in the Honour of Moſes whom they call Mooſa Calim-Alla; Moſes the publiſher of the minde of God. So of Abraham whom they call Ibrahim Carim-Alla Abraham the Honored, or Friend of God.
So of Iſhmael whom they call Iſmal, the Sacrifice of God. So of Iacob▪ whom they call Acob the bleſſing of God. So of Joſeph, whom they call Eeſoff▪ the betrayed for God. So of David, whom they call Dahood the Lover, and prayſer of God. So of Solomon, whom they call Selymon the wiſdome of God, all expreſſed, as the former, in ſhort Arabian words, which they ſing in ditties unto their particular remembrances.
And, by the way, many of the Mahometans there are called by the names of Mooſa, or Ibrahim, or Iſmal, or Acob▪ or Eeſoff or Dahood, or Selymon: ſo others are called Mahmud, or Chaan, which ſignifies the Moone; or Friſta, which ſignifies aſtarre, &c. And they call their women by the Names of Flowers or Fruits of their Countrey, or by the names of Spices or Odours, or of pearls, or precious Stones, or elſe by other Names of pretty or pleaſing ſignification. As Iob named one of his daughters Jemimah, which ſignifies, Cleare as the day, the ſecond Keziah, which ſignifies pleaſant as Caſſia or ſweete ſpice. And the name of the third Keren-happuch, ſignifying the Horne or ſtrength of beauty, Iob 42. 14.
But I'll return again to that people that I may acquaint my reader with one thing of ſpeciall obſervation and tis this: That there is not one among the Mahometans (of any underſtanding) which at any time mentions the name of our bleſſed Saviour called there Hazare… Eeſa the Lord Chriſt, but he makes mention of it with high Reverence and reſpect. For they ſay of Chriſt that he was a good man and a juſt, that he lived without ſin, that he did greater miracles than ever any before or ſince him nay further they call him Rha-how-Alla, the breath of God, but how he ſhould be the Son of God, cannot conceive, and therefore cannot believe.
Perhaps the Socinians firſt tooke that their opinion from theſe, which bids them to have every thing they receive as truth, to be cleered up unto them by the ſtrength of Reaſon, as if there were no need of the exerciſe of faith.
And truly (I muſt needs confeſs) that to beleeve the Incarnation of the Son of God, is one of the hardeſt and greateſt taskes for Faith to encounter withall that God ſhould be made a Man, that this Man Chriſt ſhould be born of a Virgin, that Life ſhould ſ…ring from Death, and that from Contempt and Scorne, Triumph, and Victorie ſhould come, &c. But Chriſtians muſt bind up all their thoughts, as to theſe, in that excellent meditation of Picus Mirandula, ſaying, Mirandam Dei Incarnationem, &c. concerning that admirable, and wonderfull Incarnation of Chriſt the Son of God, I ſhall not ſay much, it being ſufficient for me, as for all others that look for benefit by Chriſt, to believe, that he was begotten, and that he was born. Theſe are Articles of our Faith; and we are not chriſtians if we believe them not.
It may ſeem very ſtrange therefore, that the Mahometans (who underſtand themſelves better) ſhould have ſuch a very high eſteem of our Bleſſed Saviour Chriſt, and yet think us who profeſs our ſelves Chriſtians to be ſo unworthy, or ſo uncleane, as that they will not eat with us, any thing that is of out dreſſing, nor yet of any thing that is dreſſed in our veſſels.
There are more particulars which challenge a roome in this Section as their proper place: but becauſe I would not have it ſwell too bigg, I ſhall here part it, and ſpeak further.