1 mitive fathers believed, that no man could lawfully marry after divorced from his wife, nor a woman after divorced from her husband, even in cases of adultery, which is one of the highest violations of the marriage vow; but the generality of the fathers were of a different opinion. words of St. Paul, 2 Cor. vi. 14. "Be ye not un- The RELIGION of the PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, &c. HESE islands, situated at the eastern extremity of Asia, are for the most part inhabited by idolators; for although the Spanish Jesuits have converted some of them to popery, yet the number is very inconsiderable. These idolators worship the sun, moon, and stars, and in some places they pay divine adoration to the devil, and frequently sacrifice to him, to testify the great obligations they are under for the riches he bestows upon them; for it appears, these people look upon the devil as the god of riches and money. But they have many gods or idols, both in public and private, and some of their ceremonies have a near affinity with what we often reed of in ancient history, concerning the Greeks and Romans. One of their idols, to whom much respect is paid, is called Batala, which signifies god for they believe that this idol made all things in the beginning out of nothing. They have another idol, the name of which signifies time, because they believe that he began with the world, and will at last put an end to it. the creator; The worship of these heathens is wholly founded No. 5. upon tradition, and preserved in songs and hymns, which parents teach their children to learn by heart. In these hymns, like the antient Greeks, they celebrate the heroic actions of their gods; for it is plain, that those idols whom they worship, are no more than the images of some of their ancestors, who, in former times, either made wise laws for the regula tion of their conduct, or invented some useful arts and sciences. In some of the smaller islands, they have no tem ples, nor altars, and all their worship consists in praying to the devil, whom they believe to be every where present with them. They are so much afraid of this evil spirit, whom yet they worship, that they never walk out, nor sit down at home, unless two or three, if not more, are in company; for they firmly believe, that if there is no more than one person by himself, then the devil will come and kill him. In some of these islands, they have no other form of worship, besides that of clasping their hands together, and looking stedfastly towards heaven. They call the Supreme Being Abba, which has in Ec duced duced many of our voyagers to imagine, that they are descended from the Jews, or Syrians, that being a title which, in the Hebrew and Syriac, signifies Father; and God is, with great propriety, called Father in Scripture. This supposition, however, must have something stronger to support it, before we can give it much credit, for most of the Asiatic nations use the term Abba as a father, and in many respests there is a sriking similiarity in their languages. It is remarkable, that those who worship the sun, refuse to eat swine's flesh, but they offer hogs in sacrifice. This is done on very solemn festivals, and in the following manner: After a concert of vocal and instrumental music, two old women ftep forward and pay the most devout homage to the sun; for the women, particularly the old ones, act both as priestesses and magicians. The homage to the sun being over, they dress themselves in their pontifical vestments, and bind a ribbon round their heads in such a manner, that they appear to have two horns growing out of their foreheads. In the mean time they hold something in their hands resembling a girdle, and thus arrayed they dance, and play upon a kind of rural pipe, say their prayers, and pronounce some particular words with their eyes fixed on the sun; during this act of devotion, the hog that is to be sacrificed is bound fast to a stake, and they all dance around him. A flaggon of wine is next brought to one of the old women, who pours a cup full of it on the hog, performing, at the same time, some ceremonies suitable to the solemnity of the sacrifice. She then stabs the hog and lets him bleed to death; they wash their musical pipes in the blood of the victim, and dipping one of their fingers into it, mark the foreheads of their husbands. But the most remarkable things is, that although these people will not eat swine's flesh in their common meals, yet when the hog is killed in the sacrifice, the whole carcase is warmed a few minutes before a slow fire, and then the old women, the priestesses, cut it in small pieces and distribute it among the people, who eat it in honour of the sun. The bones, and whatever is left, are burnt, and the whole sacrifice ends with music and dancing. These islanders, like most others, who are ignorant of the true religion, form a notion that they can know, from seeing the first object that presents itself to them in the morning, whether they will be successful, or unsuccessful in their undertakings during the remainder of the day. If they set out on a journey, and happen to tread upon an insect, they will return back to their houses. In their marriage ceremonies they have very little remarkable, only that they admit of a plurality of wives, one being superior to all the others. to all the others. They believe in the immortality of the soul, but like most of those heathens already mentioned, they think it passes from one body to another. Those who are most addicted to superstition, make often deep incisions into their flesh, by way of penance for their sins; for they believe that the gods are pleased with them when they torment themselves. In some of the Philippine islands the people circumcise their children, but the rite itself is accompanied with such particular marks of cruelty as are shocking to be mentioned. Instead of cutting off the foreskin of the private parts, they force a nail into a particular part of the fundament, and this they do, that young men may be deterred from seeking after unlawful pleasures, especially while they reflect on the wounds in their bodies occasioned by this barbarous practice. It is likewise done in order to prevent youth from committing unnatural crimes, and we are told the practice itself was at first invented by the women, and this is not much to be wondered at, when we consider that nothing can exasperate a woman more than to hear that a man has debased himself below the dignity of the brute creation. This was the opinion of the ancient Greeks, as appears from the following words of the poet, Venus one only altar does approve, For offerings by nature due to love. In their funeral solemnities, they first burn the bodies of the deceased, and then bury the ashes, and upon the spot they generally erect a small pagod or temple, but if the deceased person's relations are poor, then a pole is generally stuck up instead of a pagod. Their processions to the funeral pile are rude, but solemn. As they have no priests, the old women, who act in that character, march before the corpse, some playing on instruments, and others singing to them. The relations of the deceased follow behind the corpse, and the procession is closed by the servants and neighbours. The body being laid on the pile, several hymns are sung by the old priestesses, and the relations having kissed the deceased, fire is set to it, and the whole consumed. After this, the ashes are decently buried, and the relations return home, where they have an entertainment that lasts. three days. Near these islands are many others, where in most respects, the manners and customs, both civil and religious, are the same, particularly the islands of Ladrones, which is a term of reproach given them, by those of the Philippines, and signifies Rogues; but ists, and it is probable there are no Atheists in the world. It is a sentiment that can scarce ever take place in the heart of a rational creature; for how can a man believe in the immortality of the soul, and a future state of rewards and punishments, without acknowledging at the same time, that there is a Supreme Being. These islanders believe, there are two angels attending on every person here below, the one evil and the other good; that the good one prompts them on to virtuous actions, but the evil one is continually instigating them to commit crimes, and that they are to be rewarded, or punished in the next world, accordingly as they obey the one or the other. but why that name was given them, does not appear perhaps, because some of them had been pirates, and plundered many of their neighbours. Their idols are wooden images, and their pagods, or temples, the hulks of old boats, or canoes, the fore part of which serves as an altar, and there the figure of the god is placed. They are so brutish in their manners, that they herd together as so many swine, and contrary to the custom of most other heathens, they know nothing of marriage; for all ranks of men and women lay promiscuously together, without any sort of distinction. They wear no cloaths in common, only that when they go to worship their idols, they have their private parts covered with the leaves of trees. Their worship for the most part consists in sacrificing hogs, in the same manner as in the Philippine islands, and they have some rude hymns, which they sing around the victim before it is slaugh-ly simple; the body is carried out, and a pile of tered. But notwithstanding all the brutality we have mentioned, yet these idolators, when they go to their temples, are extremely modest; for should a man presume to offer any indecency to a woman, by uncovering her secret parts, he would have his lips and nose cut off; and many of our Europeans, who have visited those parts, have seen instances of this severity of punishment, which may serve to shew, that in some respects, decency is to be found, even among savages. have no The Marian islands are the next in order to be treated of, and if we can believe the Jesuits, it will follow, that the inhabitants are the most wretched creatures in the universe, that they do not believe there is a God, and that they have neither altars, temples, nor sacrifices; in a word (say they) they religion at all. This assertion, however, of the Jesuits, is not to be credited, and probably, took its rise from the circumstance of those fathers not being able to make any of them converts. The truth is, these people, like those in the other heathen nations around them, believe in a God, and the immortality of the soul; but admit, that it transmigrates from one body to another. They say, that when souls are properly purified, they go into everlasting happiness; but that such as remain impenitent, will be punished with eternal torments. Sudden death is considered by them as a sure presage of going into eternal misery; but if death comes on slow and lingering, in a natural way, then they believe that the soul will, after different transmigrations, go into paradise, and partake of all the delicious fruits with which that happy place abounds, That they have no pagods, or temples among them, is certain, and so it is with many other heathens in the universe; but this is no proof of their being Athe As they have no such ceremony as that of marriage among them, so their funeral rites are extreme wood being erected, it is laid upon it, and reduced The account we have given of these people, naturally leads us to enquire into the system of Atheism, which has been much talked of, but little understood. By an Atheist, is meant, one who does not believe the existence, or providence of God, and consequently has no religion at all, either true or false. There is reason to doub whether there ever were in this world, rational creatures who could, by the perversion of reason, argue themselves into an opinion, that there was no God. It is true, we read of one Theodorus, who opened a school at Athens, to teach there was no God; but such was the public clamour against him, that, had he not made his escape, he would have been put to death There were several other atheistical teachers in Athens, at different times; it does not appear, that their doctrines made any impression on the minds of the people, who, instead of one God, worshipped many. Plato distinguishes Atheists into three sects, or classes; first, such as deny absolutely there are any gods; secondly, those who allow the existence of the gods, but deny that they concern themselves with the affairs of this lower world, so that they give up all belief in Divine Providence; and lastly, such as believe, that there are gods, but that they are easily reconciled to men, who have offended against them, or broken their laws. The heathens called the primitive Christians Atheists, which seems to have arisen from the notion that they worshipped a man, namely, Jesus of of Nazareth; and likewise, because they would not worship the heathen idols, nor swear by the soul of the emperor, which was looked upon as an act of impiety, both by the priests and the laity, who knew nothing of the simplicity of the gospel. Atheism, notwithstanding all the absurdities attending it, yet has had its martyrs. Lucilio Vanini, a Neopolitan gentleman, taught Atheism in France, about the beginning of the last century, and being convicted, was condemned to suffer death. When he was brought out to the place of execution, he was pressed to ask pardon of God, of the king, and of justice. He answered, he did not believe there was a God; as for the king, he had never offended him; and with respect to justice, it might go to the devil. His tongue was first cut out, and then his body was burned to ashes, April 9, 1619. Dr. Tillotson, speaking of Atheism, says, "For some ages before the reformation, Atheism was confined to Italy, and had its chief residence at Rome. All that is mentioned of it in the history of those times, is to be found in the lives of the popes and cardinals, written by Roman Catholic authors; so that Atheism itself seems to have been the spawn of the superstitions of the church of Rome, in her most deformed state." The RELIGION of the MOLUCCA ISLANDS, &c. N treating of these islands, we include those of Amboyna, Banda, and the Celebes. Some of the inhabitants profess the religion of Mahomet, but of that we shall not at present take any notice, confining ourselves to the Pagans only. They worship | the air, under the name of Lanitho, who is subject to another being, whom they call Lanthila; but every town has its Nito, or particular god, whom they consult in all things of importance, and they do it in the following manner. Twenty or thirty persons having assembled together, they summon the Nito, by beating a small consecrated drum, whilst two or three of the company light up wax tapers, and pronounce several mysterious words, which they consider as able to conjure him up. Aftes some time, one of the company steps forward under the character of Nito, and speaks in his name, telling them, that the god, or dæmon, has just entered into him. The first thing the people do, is to set victuals before him, and after he has eaten, they propose their questions to him, and he answers them. These superstitious ceremonies are public, but they have others in secret, and it must be attended to all along, that this Nito is an evil spirit, and they pray unto him as unto the devil. In their private worship, the master of every family is obliged to light up wax tapers in different parts of his house, in honour of Nito, and to set some meat before him, and he is to preserve some things consecrated by the evil spirit, which are supposed to be endowed with something having a supernatural power, But notwithstanding all their rites and ceremonies, yet we are well assured, that fear is the leading principle in their religion; nor would they worship the dæmon Nito, were it not to pacify him, lest he should inflict some dreadful punishment upon them. Their ceremony of taking an oath is very remarkable. They pour water into a porringer or dish, into which they threw some gold, earth, and a leaden bullet. They then dip into this composition, the point of a sword, or an arrow, and give the liquor to the person who is to be sworn, to drink. This ceremony is attended with the most dreadful imprecations on all such as shall perjure themselves. They have such an opinion of the power of the devil, that they believe he has emissaries, employed to dig the dead bodies of their relations out of their graves to prevent which, they keep a constant guard round their sepulchres, till they imagine that the corpse is consumed; for it is their firm belief, that the dæmons, who take up the dead bodies, regale themselves upon them. In the island of Amboyna, there are some families, who pretend to have the power of witchcraft vested in them, from one generation to another; and these persons are a terror to all the rest of the inhabitants, because they believe, that they can, at any time destroy them. In all these islands, the natives have very senseless notions concerning their first formation, which is not to to be wondered at, when we consider that all their knowledge flows from traditional accounts, transmitted to them by their ancestors. It is asserted, that formerly they believed the world to be eternal; but whatever truth may be in that, they are now of a different opinion, or rather, they have so many opinions, that the whole may be compared to that midnight darkness, which hides every object from the eyes of men. There are some of them so stupid as to believe, that they sprang originally from the hollow of an old tree, and some of their chiefs assert, that they are descended from the cocoa-tree; others believe, that they have descended from serpents, which has induced many learned men to imagine that they have some confused traditional accounts, in what manner our first parents eat the forbidden fruit. There are many heathens who still worship serpents, and in the island of Amboyna, the women wear jewels set in gold, in the form of snakes, or serpents, which they look upon as sacred, and never touch them, but with the most reverential awe. that a person can be bewitched with a look; and therefore they take care that their children are never brought into the company of persons, besides those whom they imagine to be their friends.. A young maid must never touch any sort of fruit that grows double, nor must such fruit be presented to a married woman, lest she should bring forth twins. They imagine that such women as die in child-bed, are turned into ghosts and spectres to frighten their fellow-creatures; and that they wander about invisible, in order to find out their husbands. In order, therefore, to prevent a person who has died under such circumstances from metamorphosing herself into one of these restless spirits, they place an egg under each of her arm-pits before they bury her, and the deceased, imagining she has got her little infant under her arm, will never (they say) dare to stir abroad, lest she should let it fall. And they stick a parcel of pins in her toes, and stuff cotton between them. They likewise put saffron, in the form of a cross, to the soles of her feet, and tie her legs close together with thongs made of particular herbs. They put several sorts of herbs under the heads of sick persons, and beneath their pillows they place broomsticks or cudgels, that they may have it in their power to drive the evil spirits away. In their marriage ceremonies, these islanders have nothing very remarkable; for as soon as the parties are agreed, which must always be by the consent of the parents, the bridegroom's father makes the nuptial presents, and the father of the bride invites them to an elegant entertainment, at which there is music and dancing, according to the custom of the country, and then the young couple retire. If the woman should not chuse to live with her husband If these islanders meet accidentally with a dead corpse on the road, they return home again in the utmost hurry and confusion, especially if they have a young child along with them; for they imagine that the soul of the deceased hovers in the air near the corpse, and studies to do all the mischief it can to the living, but particularly to young children. In order, therefore, to prevent mischief, they tie little beads round the necks of their infants when they are about three or four months old, after which they believe that dæmons have no power to hurt them. As the small pox often rages among them, they believe they are afflicted with it by the power of some evil genius, and that if they are not more than ordinary watchful, the body of the patient will be stolen away in the night and given to Sagu, a tree which they worship as a god. To prevent the dæmon from doing any mischief, they place a wooden image near the top of the house, where there is an opening, and no sooner does he see it than he flies away and roves about in the air, without the least hope of ever effecting his intended purpose. If they meet with a deformed or decrepid man, when they first go out in the morning, they return home, being convinced, in their own opinion, that should they proceed on their journey, some mischief would befal them before evening. They live in the continual dread of evil spirits, and to prevent their ma licious intentions, they always keep some consecrated things under their pillows, and were they to neglect this they would be unable to go to bed so as to get any rest. They are so weak as to imagine, No. 5 Ff after marriage, then she is obliged to return him all the presents she received from his father, after which she pours water on his feet, to denote that all those impurities are cleansed away which she contracted in consequence of her connection with him, and she, as well as the man, are at liberty to marry whom they please. In some of these islands the young men are not permitted to marry till they have produced some of the heads of their enemies, as a testimony of their valour. But what is most remarkable, their young men are not permitted to wear any sort of clothes, not even so much as to conceal their private parts, till they have at least brought two heads, one to entitle them to wear clothes, and the other that they may be allowed to keep a house. All these heads are laid upon a consecrated stone, which serves them |