call it also Chaldee. It is in this Janguage that the holy Scriptures are written and read in their churches, as also their liturgies and other church books.

The sovereign of Abassinia is a Christian prince; and from the extent of his dominions, and the multitude of his subjects, he claims the title of Emperor. It is by virtue of his profession of the Christian faith that he holds the empire, and bears the imperial titles. His motto is, "Jesus, Emperor of Ethiopia, of the Tribe of Judah, victorious;" and this is the seal of the empire, displayed by a lion holding a cross, which are his arms. His titles of embassy to foreign princes announce his descent, religion, and government, in the usual forms of Oriental magnificence, of which we have a specimen in letters of embassy sent to Pope Clement VII., and Don Emanuel, King of Portugal, as follows: "David the Beloved of God, Pillar of the Faith, of the blood and line of Judah, Son of David, Son of Solomon, Son of the Pillar of Sion, Son of the Seed of Jacob, Son of the Hand of Mary, Son of Nahu after the flesh, Emperor of the Great Ethiopia, and of all the kingdoms and countries thereon depending, &c. &c." It may be observed, that formerly, not only Abassinia, but all Ethiopia, was subject to the Emperor; but these domains, having fallen into paganism, were lost to the empire; nevertheless, the title of sovereignty is claimed by all that succeed to the throne of Abassinia.

Next to the Emperor is the Abuna, i. e. our Father, who is the patriarch, and sole bishop of all Abassinia: he ordains all priests and deacons, appoints them to benefices, nominates the superiors of monasteries, and has an absolute power over the monks, who are there very numerous; he is the only bishop of the Ethiopic church, but is himself subject to the patriarch of Alexandria in Egypt, by whom he is consecrated and invested with the powers and title of his office.

The Abuna is nominated by the Emperor, who is supreme in all ecclesiastical as well as civil affairs.

We may judge of the greatness of the ecclesiastical establishment from this, that, at one ordination, the Abuna is said sometimes to ordain ten thousand priests and five or six thousand deacons. The whole ceremony of the ordination consists in this: the Abuna, sitting down, repeats the beginning of the Gospel over the heads of such as are made priests, and gives them his benediction with an iron cross, which he holds in his hand, weighing seven or eight pounds;-but as for the deacons, he gives them his benediction without reciting the Gospel.

The Ethiopic church is entitled to the veneration due to every Christian church of early foundation. It is a tradition among the Abassinians, that their empire became Christian in the days of their celebrated Queen Candace, who was converted by the Eunuch baptized by Philip the deacon, as it is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. But however this may be, the constitution of their church, and the purity of its doctrine, bear evident signs of an early original; and though it may not have been of apostolic foundation, yet it probably was planted not later than the expiration of the apostolic age. Ruffinus writes, that their conversion was brought about by the instrumentality of one Frumentius, in the fourth century; but this seems a far less probable statement; and could I enter into the subject, ample testimony might be produced in favour of an earlier date.

The Ethiopic Christians acknowledge the holy Scriptures to be the only rule of faith and practice. They worship one God in Trinity. They believe in the incarnation of the Son of God; and that Christ is perfect God and perfect man. They own the merits of Jesus Christ to be sufficient for eternal salvation. They celebrate the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and administer the latter in both kinds to

clergy and laity, conformably to the custom of all the eastern churches. Finally, they use the Nicene Creed in their hiturgy, which comprises the fundamental articles of the Christian faith.

As to forms and ceremonies in worship, wherein all churches differ more or less, as well in the east as west; in these the Ethiopian Christians have prescribed for themselves, as other churches have done, though perhaps with dess deviation from the principles of Christianity than is to be found in some of the western churches.

Circumcision is with them a national custom, and not a religious rite: they circumcise their children, both male and female, eight days after the birth; but this is not done out of a compliance either with the Jewish law, or with the practice of the ancient Judaising Christians: they assign other reasons for it.

They baptize their male children at forty days old. and females on the eightieth day after the birth, except in cases where there is danger of death. The children, it is said, are not immersed in the water at baptism, but only dipped, or sprinkled.

Adult baptism is performed in the following manner:-The priest begins with reciting Psalm LI., and then perfumes the person with incense, and asks his name; certain other prayers are then recited, and several parts of the body are anointed with holy oil; the priest then lays his hand upon the head of the person, while he renounces the devil and his works, makes his vow to Christ, and rehearses the creed; after which he is again anointed with oil. The remainder of the consecrated oil is then poured into the baptismal water, when the priest descends into the pool; and the new convert, being conducted thither by the deacons, is plunged thrice under water by the priest, who uses the form of words, "I baptize thee," &c., taken from Matt. ch. xxviii. 19. After baptism he is assisted by the dea cons, who lead him out of the pool,

and put on him a white under-garment, to signify purity of soul, and over it a red vest, in token of his sal vation purchased by the blood of Christ; and being thus initiated into the church of the faithful, he partakes of the holy communion. At his dismissal he is presented with milk and honey; and the priest, laying his hand upon his head, gives him his benediction; "Son of baptism, go in peace."

The holy sacrament is administered in both kinds, and is received standing both by priests and people. The officiating priest administers the bread, and the deacon the wine in a spoon. The bread is leavened, except on certain days of humiliation and fasting, when they use unleavened bread; and the wine is prepared from the stones of raisins.

They observe Saturday, in remembrance of the Creation, and solemnly keep the Christian Sabbath, or Lord's-day. Their public worship, which they attend once on that day, continues for several hours, when they observe the usual services proper for its solemnization, prayer, reading the Scriptures, singing, and exhortation, or delivering a discourse or homily. In some of their churches they have music, to which they sing; but their instruments and psalmody are not agreeable to an European ear. What is singular among them is the practice of sacred dances, to the sound of cymbals and kettledrums, which, they say, is in imitation of David; they call it rejoicing before the Lord. It may be presumed, that this practice is observed more particularly on festivals. Theit fasts are many, and they keep them with great strictness.

It is not lawful to communicate in private, or any where else but in the church, with an exception only in favour of the Emperor, when he receives the communion in his royal chapel. This office completes their divine service at all times, being administered every Sunday in every church, after the custom of the primitive Christians.

call it also Chaldee. It is in this Janguage that the holy Scriptures are written and read in their churches, as also their liturgies and other church books.

The sovereign of Abassinia is a Christian prince; and from the extent of his dominions, and the multitude of his subjects, he claims the title of Emperor. It is by virtue of his profession of the Christian faith that he holds the empire, and bears the imperial titles. His motto is, "Jesus, Emperor of Ethiopia, of the Tribe of Judah, victorious;" and this is the seal of the empire, displayed by a lion holding a cross, which are his arms. His titles of embassy to foreign princes announce his descent, religion, and government, in the usual forms of Oriental magnificence, of which we have a specimen in letters of embassy sent to Pope Clement VII., and Don Emanuel, King of Portugal, as follows: "David the Beloved of God, Pillar of the Faith, of the blood and line of Judah, Son of David, Son of Solomon, Son of the Pillar of Sion, Son of the Seed of Jacob, Son of the Hand of Mary, Son of Nahu after the flesh, Emperor of the Great Ethiopia, and of all the kingdoms and countries thereon depending, &c. &c." It may be observed, that formerly, not only Abassinia, but all Ethiopia, was subject to the Emperor; but these domains, having fallen into paganism, were lost to the empire; nevertheless, the title of sovereignty is claimed by all that succeed to the throne of Abassinia.

Next to the Emperor is the Abuna, i. e. our Father, who is the patriarch, and sole bishop of all Abassinia: he ordains all priests and deacons, appoints them to benefices, nominates the superiors of monasteries, and has an absolute power over the monks, who are there very numerous; he is the only bishop of the Ethiopic church, but is himself subject to the patriarch of Alexandria in Egypt, by whom he is consecrated and invested with the powers and title of his office.

The Abuna is nominated by the Emperor, who is supreme in all ecclesiastical as well as civil affairs.

We may judge of the greatness of the ecclesiastical establishment from this, that, at one ordination, the Abuna is said sometimes to ordain ten thousand priests and five or six thousand deacons. The whole ceremonyof the ordination consists in this: the Abuna, sitting down, repeats the beginning of the Gospel over the heads of such as are made priests, and gives them his benediction with an iron cross, which he holds in his hand, weighing seven or eight pounds;-but as for the deacons, he gives them his benediction without reciting the Gospel.

The Ethiopic church is entitled to the veneration due to every Christian church of early foundation. I is a tradition among the Abassinians, that their empire became Christian in the days of their celebrated Queen Candace, who was converted by the Eunuch baptized by Philip the deacon, as it is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. But however this may be, the constitution of their church, and the purity of its doctrine, bear evident signs of an early original; and though it may not have been of apostolic foundation, yet it probably was planted not later than the expiration of the apostolic age. Ruffinus writes, that theit conversion was brought about by the instrumentality of one Frumentius, in the fourth century; but this seems a far less probable statement; and could I enter into the subject, ample testimony might be produced in favour of an earlier date.

The Ethiopic Christians acknowledge the holy Scriptures to be the only rule of faith and practice. They worship one God in Trinity. They believe in the incarnation of the Son of God; and that Christ is perfect God and perfect man. They own the merits of Jesus Christ be sufficient for eternal salvation They celebrate the sacraments Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and administer the latter in both kinds

clergy and laity, conformably to the custom of all the eastern churches. Finally, they use the Nicene Creed in their liturgy, which comprises the fundamental articles of the Christian faith.

As to forms and ceremonies in worship, wherein all churches differ more or less, as well in the east as west; in these the Ethiopian Christians have prescribed for themselves, as other churches have done, though perhaps with dess deviation from the principles of Christianity than is to be found in some of the western churches.

Circumcision is with them a national custom, and not a religious rite: they circumcise their children, both male and female, eight days after the birth; but this is not done out of a compliance either with the Jewish law, or with the practice of the ancient Judaising Christians: they assign other reasons for it.

They baptize their male children at forty days old, and females on the eightieth day after the birth, except in cases where there is danger of death. The children, it is said, are not inmersed in the water at baptism, but only dipped, or sprinkled.

Adult baptism is perforined in the following manner:-The priest begins with reciting Psalm LI., and then perfumes the person with incense, and asks his name; certain other prayers are then recited, and several parts of the body are anointed with holy oil; the priest then lays his hand upon the head of the person, while he renounces the devil and his works, makes his vow to Christ, and rehearses the creed; after which he is again anointed with oil. The remainder of the consecrated oil is then poured into the baptismal water, when the priest descends into the pool; and the new convert, being conducted thither by the deacons, is plunged thrice under water by the priest, who uses the form of words, "I baptize thee," &c., taken from Matt. ch. xxviii. 19. After baptism he is assisted by the dea sons, who lead him out of the pool,

and put on him a white under-garment, to signify purity of soul, and over it a red vest, in token of his sal vation purchased by the blood of Christ; and being thus initiated into the church of the faithful, he partakes of the holy communion. At his dismissal he is presented with milk and honey; and the priest, laying his hand upon his head, gives him his benediction; "Son of baptism, go in peace."

The holy sacrament is administered in both kinds, and is received standing both by priests and people. The officiating priest administers the bread, and the deacon the wine in a spoon. The bread is leavened, except on certain days of humiliation and fasting, when they use unleavened bread; and the wine is prepared from the stones of raisins.

They observe Saturday, in remembrance of the Creation, and solemnly keep the Christian Sabbath, or Lord's-day. Their public worship, which they attend once on that day, continues for several hours, when they observe the usual services proper for its solemnization, prayer, reading the Scriptures, singing, and exhortation, or delivering a discourse or homily. In some of their churches they have music, to which they sing; but their instruments and psalmody are not agreeable to an European ear. What is singular among them is the practice of sacred dances, to the sound of cymbals and kettledrums, which, they say, is in imitation of David; they call it rejoicing before the Lord. It may be presumed, that this practice is observed more particularly on festivals. Their fasts are many, and they keep them with great strictness.

It is not lawful to communicate in private, or any where else but in the church, with an exception only in favour of the Emperor, when he receives the communion in his royal chapel. This office completes their divine service at all times, being administered every Sunday in every church, after the custom of the primitive Christians.

Their churches are built in the usual form of those in the East, and in imitation of the Temple of Jerusalem; having a sanctuary and an outer court. In the sanctuary stands the holy table, set on four pillars; upon which is placed the tabot, or chest with the utensils for the consecrated elements; and over this is a canopy.

The outer court, or body of the church, resembles that of the cathedral churches amongst us, and consists of a spacious pavement, on which stand the pillars that support the superstructure, or roof, and which is without pews or seats. Age and infirmity compel many to lean where they can for rest; and as their service continues for several hours, and no sitting is allowed, most churches accommodate the weak with a sort of crutches fixed for the purpose, which is also the practice among the modern Greeks. As to the tabot, or holy chest, it is thought to be in imitation of those used by the Christians in the ages of martyrdom, when, being forced to meet in caves and burying-places in the night, for fear of their persecutors, they carried the sacred elements and utensils in chests made like a coffin, the better to escape the notice of their cruel enemies, and secure a peaceful celebration. In after times, these chests were brought into the churches, and by degrees were made to resemble a table: but the Ethiopian Christians alone seem to retain it in the ancient manner, having both table and chest, though the latter is made in a tabular form. In other churches, especially in the West, the table is the altar, without a chest.

These Christians have so great a veneration for their churches, as the temples of God, that, in riding by them, they alight from their mules and walk a space, and then remount. When they enter, they put off their shoes at the door; and never spit upon the pavement, or commit other indecencies in or about the house of worship.

It is observed they have pictures in their churches, but do not allow of any statues; and though they have crosses, they will not suffer cru cifixes to be used: it is counted a heinous offence among them to carry even a picture of Christ crucified,

Monks and monasteries abound in Abyssinia. The monks labour bard in the fields and gardens; fast daily till three in the afternoon; and assemble for devotion at midnight, and other stated hours: they are subject to priors and superiors, who are all appointed by the Abuna. Their monasteries are more like vil, lages than the Roman convents; and as the country is fertile, and land is plenty, their labours procure them an easy support. The most celebrated of their monasteries is that of Allelujah, which formerly had four thousand monks. The monkish life is purely voluntary, and they are allowed to decline it whenever they please. Some of them are schoolmasters and tutors; and others, of superior ability, are preferred to civil offices, and become principals and governors of provinces. The Ethiopic clergy, like the Greek, are allowed to marry once; but on a second marriage they are degraded. Marriage is forbid den the monks; nor can their children be admitted to the priesthood: so that if they are inclined to marry, they must quit the order of monachism.

With respect to learning among the Ethiopians, little can be said. They are, it seems, ignorant of other languages; and this, with the nature and situation of their country, shuts them out from a free intercourse with learned and commercial nations. They possess few books, except such as concern the religion and laws of their country; and these being of ancient compilation, and written in their ancient language, the Ethiopic, the reading and understanding of them is esteemed a considerable acquirement. It is said, however, that some Jesuits discovered, in one of their churches, a