Religious ceremonies and customs or, The forms of worship practised by the several nations of the known world, from the earliest records to the present time; on the basis of the ... work of Bernard Picart. To which is added, a brief view of minor sects, which exist at the present day ... / By William Burder, B.A.

  • Burder, William.
Date:
[etc., etc.] 1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Religious ceremonies and customs or, The forms of worship practised by the several nations of the known world, from the earliest records to the present time; on the basis of the ... work of Bernard Picart. To which is added, a brief view of minor sects, which exist at the present day ... / By William Burder, B.A. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    about God, the way of acceptance with him, and the realities of the future world ; all those departures from a consistent belief and worship, which distinguish every nation, and every portion of the world, except where the Bible is strictly received as the rule of life. So obvious is it that-the depravity of the heart kas dictated the various false religions that prevail in the world, that even the infirmities remain- ing in pious persons have given rise to minor differences among the evan- The corrup- _gelical sects of Christians. Every wrong and perverted feeling tions even of of the heart is likely to engender a degree of deviation from Bod sD have the truth. Hence those unhappy, though not fatal, separa- smaller differ- tions which take place among persons who, on the whole, ences. adhere to the same great fundamental principles. Christian integrity secures a substantial, though not literal, agreement in the truths and observances of religion. If that integrity were perfect in this world, or more nearly perfect than it now is, there might literally be but one creed, and one mode of worship. An acquaintance with these different systems of religion, while it is calculated to furnish no small entertainment, will convey several highly The diversity of “portant reflections to the reader, - We should not and religions teaches cannot well contemplate such a scene, without learning some important some useful lessons from it, especially as it is con- sgssons nected with glorious purposes, which God evidently intends to subserve. 1. A view of these religions will present to us a melancholy account of the apostacy of the human species. It will evince the nature and the Presentsame. CHects of that apostacy, and thus confirm the scriptural lancholy account narrative on the subject. It will exemplify the great fact of of the apostacy. human degeneracy in a form and manner calculated to con- vince every candid reader, that original, deep, aud wide-spread corruption, in which the fall of man consists, appears in dark lines, in the history of the various religions which mankind have embraced. Indeed, the most disgusting exhibitions of man’s apostacy are found in many of the religions which he has contrived, with a view to supersede the religion derived from heaven. The awful consequences of the apostacy will here be presented in a medium, in which they will appear in their undisguised and most hateful character. The lust, impurity, pride, ambition, revenge, malignity, rebellion, unbelief, selfishness, in which this primitive defection is mani- fested, constitute the leading features of those superstitions, to which millions in every age have bowed. 2. A view of these religions, so far as they are departures from the truth, will furnish a sad detail of the extent and power of Satan’s empire, Shows the ex. 12 the world. Mankind having apostatized from God, have, tent and power in every nation, and in every period of time, been succes- of Satan’sem-- sively brought under the dominion of Satan. They have oe. been subject to his influence, obeyed his laws, and in their religious rites often directly paid him homage. In fine, they have been his slaves, and he has claimed them as his property. ‘The wickedness in which he delights. they have, in innumerable instances, practised. We