RELIGIOUS EASTiXG. 
5(31 ■ 
also frequently fasted rigidly for a very iorsg time. In this respect, 
however, they were all outdone by their master Pythagoras, who con- 
tinued his fasts for no less than forty days together. Even Polionius 
Tyaneus, one of his most famous disciples, could never come up to 
him in the length of his fasts, though they greatly exceeded those of 
the ordinary Pythagoreans. 
The Gymnosophists, or brachraans of4;be East, are also very remark- 
able for their severe fastings; and the Chinese, according to Father 
le Comte, have also their stated fasts, with forms of prayer for pre- 
venting barrenness, inundations, earthquakes, &c. The Mahometans, 
too, who possess so large a part of Asia, are very remarkable for the 
strict observance of their fasts, and tiie exactness of their dervises in 
this respect is extraordinary. Fasting was qften used by the heatliens 
for superstitious purposes; sometimes to procure the interpretation 
ofdreams ; of others, to be an antidote against their pernicious conse- 
quences. A piece of superstition still prevails among the Jews, who, 
though expressly forbidden to fast on sabbath-days, think themselves 
at liberty to dispense with this duty when they have frightful and 
unlucky dreams the night preceding, that threaten them with great 
misfortunes. On these occasibns, they observe a formal fast the whole 
day, and at night the patient, having invited three of his friends, ad- 
dresses himself to them seven times in a very solemn manner, saying, 
‘‘ May the dream 1 have had, prove a lucky one !” and his friends 
aasvv^r as many times, “ Amen, may it be lucky, and God make it 
soC After which, in order to encourage him, they conclude the cere- 
Riony with these words of Ecclesiastes, “Go, eat thy bread with 
joy and then set themselves down to table. They have also added 
fasts not commanded in the law of Moses, particularly three, in me- 
liiory of sore distresses their nation has suffered at different times. 
The abstinence of the ancient Jews commonly lasted twenty-seven 
or twenty-eight hours at a time ; beginning before sunset, and not 
ending till some hours after sunset next day. On these days they 
were obliged to wear white robes, in token of grief and repentance ; 
to coyer themselves with sackcloth, or their worst clothes ; to lie on 
ashes, to sprinkle them on their beads, Sic. Some spent the whole 
uight, and the day following, in the temple or synagogue, in piayers 
and other devotions, barefooted, with a scourge in their hands, of which 
they sometimes made a good use, to raise their zeal. .To complete 
their abstinence, at night they were to eat nothing but a little bread 
dipped in water, with some salt for seasoning; except they chose to 
add to their repast some bitter herbs and pulse. 
v-The ancients, both Jews and, pagans, hfid also their fasts for puri- 
fying the body, particularly the priests, and such as were any way 
employed at the altars ; for when nocturnal disorders happened' to 
these»?lk was unlawful for them to approach all the next day, which 
Ijicy were bound to employ in purifying themselves. On thiaaccount, 
at great festivals, where their ministry could not be dispensed wilfch, 
it waa usual for them, on the eve thereof, not only to fast, but also 
to abstain from sleep for the greater certainty ; for this purpose 
’ the htgh’priest .had uuder-o^cers to wake him, if oyertaken with sleep, 
against which other preservatives were also made use of. 
4 B 
