574 ' DORD*S DISCOVERY OF THE BANIANS AND PERSEES,

the foul to be vagrant on earth for three days after his deceafe, in which time Lucifermolefteth it: for fecurity from which moleftation it flieth to their holy fire, feekingprefervation there : which time concluded, it receiveth juftice or reward, hell or heavenUpon this opinion, they all (as their bufinefs will permit) affemble themfelves for threedays together, and oiler up their prayers at morning, noon and evening, that God would be pleafed to be merciful to the foul departed, and remit the fins that the partycommitted in his lifetime. After the three days are expired, and that they think thedefinitive fentence is part, what fhall become of him, they on the fourth day make afeftival and conclude their mourning.

The Author s Conclujion to the Reader.

SUCH in fum (worthy reader,) is the religion which this feet of the Perfees pro-fefs : I leave it to the cenfure of them that read, what to think of it. This is thecuriofity of fuperftition to bring in innovations into religious worfhip, rather makingdevices of their own brain, that they may be lingular, than following the example ofthe belt in a folid profeffion. What feem thefe Perfees to be like in their religiousfire, but thofe fame gnats that, admiring the flame of fire, furround it fo long till theyprove ingen'wfi in foam ruinam , “ ingenious in their own deftruftion ?” And if thePapifts would hence gather ground for purgatory, and prayers for the dead, and manyother fuperltitions by them ufed, to be found in thefe two lefts, we can allow them,without any lhame to our profeffion, to gather the weeds of fuperllition out of thegardens of the Gentile idolaters. But the Catholic Chriftian, indeed, will make thefeerrors as a fea-mark to keep his faith from Ihipwreck. To fuch I commend this tranl-marine colleftion, to beget in good Chriftians the greater deteftation of thefe herefies,and the more abundant thankfgiving for our calling, according to the advice of theapoltle, Ephef. iv. 17. “ This I fay, and teffcify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walknot as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having their underftandingsdarkened, being alienated from the life of God , through the ignorance that is in them,becaufe of the blindnefs of their heartsbut rather that we may pray, that God would eftablilh us in his truth 5 his word is that truth.

a journey