1 64. Trayels into f L e v a n t. Part 11. 
not in the name of the Holy Trinity •> nor do they perforn it but on Sundayt^ znd 
if the Child be born any other day, they ftay till Smday, though it be even in 
danger of dying. A man carries the Child to the River-fide i for they hold that 
there can be no Baptifing but in running water, and therefore they always live 
near the Rivers, and inhabit not thofe places where there are none. One of their 
Minifters goes along with the Man that carries the Child i and when they are come 
to the River-fide, the Minifter fays thefe words, In Bifcemon edai rabbi tad mat 
nacrai men hale we, (that is to fay,) In name of the Ancient Mighty Lord God, n>ho 
♦ l^ojvs all that tve do before the light of the voMd y then he throws a little water upon 
the Head of the Infant, and repeating the fame Prayer, cafts water again upon 
the Head of iti afterwards he reapeats the fame words a third time, an<i throws 
water a third time upon the Childs Head : this being done, he who holds the Child 
dips it three times into the River, and that is all the Ceremony of their Baptifm. 
It is nor enough for them to have been fo Baptifed once in their life-time but they 
often reiterate thefe Ceremonies j and every year during the (pace of five days, every 
perfon, great and fmall, young and old, Male and Female, is Baptifed aiilj Re- 
baptifed ; and when any of them Marry, the Minifter again Baptifes the Bride- 
The Sacra- groom and Bride. They hold only four Sacraments, to wit, Baptifin, the Eucha- 
ments of the Orders and Marriage, they acknowledge neither Confirmation, Extream 
Sabeans. Unâion, nor Penance. As to .the Sacrament of the Eucharift, which is buta no- 
minal Sacrament, no more than their Baptifm, they pronounce not the words of 
The Hofis of Confecration over the Hoft but only fome Prayers. They make their Hofts of 
the Sabtans. Ffower kncd with Wine and Oil. As for the Wine of their Confecration, they 
makeufeof Wine drawn from dryed Grapes fteeped in water, which they prefs i 
and they ufe the fame Wine for moiftening the Flower whereof they make the Hoft. 
The Minlfters In relation to Orders, they have Superiour and Inferiour Minifters, but they ufe 
of the s*l>tans. no great Ceremony in Confecrating them : for Children fucceed to their Fathers; 
in the Miniftery, provided they be fixteen or feventeen years of Age, and failing 
Sons, the next of Kin fucceed : this is all the Ceremony of their Confecration -, a 
Minifter fays fome Prayers over him who is to be a Minifter, and that is fufficient 
The Marriage with them. As to Marriage, the Minifter who is to Officiate, takes an Oath of 
of the Sabms. the Biide, in prefence of the Women that are called to the Ceremony, that ftie 
is a Virgin i and let her fwear what (he pleafe to him, the Minifters Wife muft ftill 
fcarch her, and make her report > afterwards the Minifter Baptifes the Bridegroom 
and Bride, and then fets them Back to Back, faying fome Prayers over them, which 
compleats the Ceremony of the Marriage. Every man may have two Wives, 
both Lay-men and Minifters j but all the Wives that Minifters take muft be Virgins 
The Sabem when they Marry them. They know not what the Gofpel is. All their Mafs 
know not the confifts in fome Prayers, and in Communicating with their Hoft made and Con- 
Gofpel. fecrated after their manner, and their Wine of dry Grapes. They do not fay Mafs 
at Bajfora, becaufe they have no Church there. They Work nor on Sundays \ 
Feftivals of and have three Fcftivals in the year, to wit, one at New-year, which lafts three 
the Sabeans. Jays ^ and that is in memory of the Creation of Adam. The fécond is at the 
beginning of the fourth month, it likewife lafts three days, and is the Feftival of 
St. John. The third is at the beginning of the feventh month, it lafts five days, 
and is in memory of our Saviours being Baptized by Sr. John. They are all Ba- 
Ptndgiit. ptifed during thefe five days, once a day, and they call this laft Feaft Tendgia» 
They acknowledge no other Saints but St. John , St. Zacharias his Father, and 
Their belief St. E//za^e*^ his Mother. They acknowledge JESUS CHRIST but only 
C^h"ïU S T ^ "^"^"^ feivant. As for the other World, they admit not of Purgatory, but 
The Opinion °"^y ^ Heaven and a HelU they fay that the wicked after their death fliall pafs 
of the Sabi- through a narrow way. Guarded by Lions, Serpents, and fuch other Creatures 
ans concern- which will devour them » and the good (hall go the fame way, but over thefe 
Llfc*'^^ ^^^^^ Beafts, llreight to Paradife, which they fancy (as well as the turh^s) to be Material, 
having borrowed from them many Fables, which make a great part of their belief. 
The Meat of They eat no meat but what hath been killed by a Sabean ; and whatfoever it be 
thiSabuns. gjfg that hath been touched by any that are not of their Religion, they look upon 
The Sabun it as unclean, and will not eat of it. Their Minifters kill their Pullets, Sheep, 
thdrButchm Fi(h, who for performing of that Office, lay afide their Cloaths, and put on a 
' pair of white Drawers, with a Rope for a Girdle s a white Shirt girt about with 
a Rope : a white Turban, with the end of it hanging on their Left Shoulder > a 
white 
