THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 



33$ 



in your time, but as you did not intend it, and could not 

 prevent it ; the confequence of an accident, where inatten- 

 tion is exceedingly culpable, will be imputed to you, and 

 nothing further." 



The prieft declared to me, with great earneftnefs, that he 

 never did believe that the elements in the eucharift were 

 converted by confecration into the real body and blood of 

 Chrift. He faid, however, that he believed this to be the 

 Roman Catholic faith, but it never was his ; and that 

 he conceived the bread was bread, and the wine was wine, 

 even after confecration. From this example, which occur- 

 red merely accidentally, and was not the fruit of interroga- 

 tion or curiofity, it appears to me, whatever the Jefuits fay, 

 fome at leaft among the Abyflinians do not believe the real 

 prefence in the eucharift ; but further I am not enough 

 informed to give a pofitive opinion. To follow this inves- 

 tigation more curioufly would have been attended with a 

 confiderable degree of danger ; and therefore I have ftated 

 my only means of knowledge, and leave my readers entire- 

 ly to the freedom of their own opinion, and to after inqui- 

 ry and information. 



The Abyflinians are not all agreed about the ftate of fouls 

 before the refurrection or the body. The opinion which 

 generally prevails is, that there is no third ftate ; but that, 

 after the example of the thief, the fouls of good men enjoy 

 the beatific vilion immediately upon the feparation from the 

 body. But I mull here obferve, that their practice and books 

 do both contradict this ; for, as often as any perfon dies, alms 

 are given, and prayers are offered for the fouls of thofe de- 

 parted, which would be vain did they believe they were 



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