Ghoft was become incarnate in her perfon, for the falvation of a great part of mankind. According to her doctrine, none were faved by the blood of Jefus, but true and pious Chriftians; while the Jews, Saracens, and unworthy Christians, were to obtain falvation through the Holy Spirit, which dwelt in her; and that, in confequence thereof, all, which had happened in Chrift, during his appearance upon earth in the human nature, was to be exactly renewed in her perfon, or rather, in that of the Holy Ghoft, which was united to her, Mofheim's Ecclefiaftical History, vol. iii. p. 131. ZAG 'ACHEANS, difciples of Zacheus, a native of Paleftine, who, about the year 350, retired to a mountain near the city of Jerufalem, and there performed his devotions in fecret; pretending, that prayer was only agreeable to God, when it was performed fecretly, and in filence. Broughton's Hiftorical Library, vol. ii. p. 516. ZANZALIANS. [See Jacobites.] ZUINGLIANS, a branch of the ancient Protestants; fo called from Ulric Zuinglius, a divine of Switzerland, who received the doctor's cap at Bafil, in 1501. He poffeffed an uncommon fhare of penetration, and acutenefs of genius. Zuinglius declaimed against indulgences, the mafs, the celibacy of the clergy, and other doctrines of the Roman Catholic church. He differed both from Luther and Calvin, in the following point, viz. He fuppofed only a fymbolical, or figurative, prefence of the body and blood of Chrift, in the cucharift; and reprefented a pious remembrance of Chrift's death, and of the benefits it procured to mankind, as the only fruits, fruits, which arofe from the celebration of the Lord's fupper.* He was alfo for removing out of the churches, and abolishing in the ceremonies of public worship, many things, which Luther was difpofed to treat with toleration and indulgence; fuch as images, altars, wax tapers, the form of exorcifm, and private confeffion. The religious tenets of this denomination, were, in moft other points, fimilar to thofe of the Lutherans. [See Lutherans.] Mofheim's Ecclefiaftical History, vol. iv. p. 66, 79. Luther held confubftantiation; and Calvin acknowledged a real, though fpiritual prefence of Chrift, in the facrament. So that they all three entertained different fentiments upon this fubject. END OF THE FIRST PART. A View of Religions. PART II. THE THE religions, which are not included in the foregoing work, are the Pagan, Mahometan, Jews, and Deifts. Of these, the Pagan is the most extenfive; and the worship of the GRAND LAMA is the most extensive and fplendid mode of Paganism. The religion of Lama made confiderable progress in early times. It was adopted in a large part of the globe. It is profeffed all over Thibet and Mongalia; is almost univerfal in Greater and Lefs Bucharia, and several provinces of Tartary; and has fome followers in the kingdom of Caffimere, in India; and is the predominant religion of China.* The Grand Lama is a name given to the fovereign pontiff, or high priest of the Thibetian Tartars, who refides at Patoli, a vast palace on a mountain, near the banks of Barampooter, about feven miles from Lahaffa. The foot of this mountain is inhabited by twenty thoufand Lamás, or priests, who have their feparate apartments round about the mountain; and, according to their respective quality, are placed nearer, or at a greater distance from the fovereign pontiff. He is not only worshipped by the Thibetians, but also is the great object of adoration for the various tribes of heathen Tar Dr. Stiles' Election Sermon, p. 76. tars, tars, who roam through the vast tract of continent, which ftretches from the banks of the Wolga, to Correa, on the fea of Japan. He is not only the fovereign pontiff, the vicegerent of the Deity on earth; but the more remote Tartars are faid to abfolutely regard him as the Deity himfelf; and call him God, the everlafting Father of heaven. They believe him to be immortai, and endowed with all knowledge and virtue. Every year they come up, from different parts, to worfhip, and make rich offerings at his fhrine. Even the emperor of China, who is a Manchou Tartar, does not fail in acknowledgments to him, in his religious capacity; and actually entertains, at a great expenfe, in the palace of Peking, an inferior Lama, deputed as his nuncio from Thibet. The Grand Lama, it has been faid, is never to be feen but in a fecret place of his palace, amidst a great number of lamps, fitting crofs-legged upon a cushion, and decked all over with gold and precious stones; where, at a distance, the people proftrate themselves before him, it being not lawful for any, fo much as to kifs his feet. He returns not the leaft fign of refpect, nor ever fpeaks, even to the greatest princes; but only lays his hand upon their heads; and they are fully perfuaded, they receive from thence a full forgiveness of all their fins.t * The Sunniaffes, or Indian pilgrims, often vifit Thibet as a holy place; and the Lama always entertains a body of two or three hundred in his pay. Befide his religious influence and authority, the Grand Lama is poffeffed of unlimited power throughout his dominions, which are very extenfive. The inferior Lamás, who form the most numerous, as well as the most powerful body in the state, have the priesthood entirely in their hands and Guthrie's Geography, (edition printed in 1788) p. 660. The great Lamás feldom fhew themselves, the better to maintain the veneration they have infpired for their perfon and mysteries; but they give audience to ambaffadors, and admit princes, who come to visit them. Their picture is al ways in full view, being hung up over the doors of the temple, at Patoli. Guthrie, p. 661. |