The carnality of religious contention in two sermons preached at the merchant's lecture in…The carnality of religious contention in two sermons preach'd at the merchant's lecture in…

Nor is it alien from this purpose to take notice, that those Diabolical Rites are said to have obtained among the Paganish Idolaters of drinking the warm Blood of their Sacrifices, and of eating things strangled with the Blood in them, upon the Imagination that in their so doing, they did partake of the very Spirit of their Gods whom they ⟨p. 8⟩worshipped; and 'tis not altogether unsupposable that rhe Devil might, in some unusual manner, enter into them at those times, more violently agitating their Blood and other Humours; in the higher Ferments whereof, if by the directer Influence of the great Enemy of Mankind Quarrels and Murders (as was not unlikely) should also sometimes ensue, it could not but heighten the Sport and Triumphs of Hell.

And that the Decree of the Apostles and Elders, Acts 15. might have such a Reference, prohibiting these things conjunctly, Idolatry, and Fornication, and things strangled, and Blood; that they should by no means mingle with the Pagans in these Horrid Rites, a learned Modern Writer of our own hath rendered very probable^*. And hereto those vehement Dehortations of the Apostle must answerably be understood to refer, 1 Cor. 10. 11. remonstrating to them, that they could not have fellowship with the Lord's Table, and the Table of Devils. And I would not, says he, that you should have fellowship with Devils. For tho' he did ⟨p. 9⟩not judge it unlawful to eat of the Idolytha, i. e. things offered to Idols, being sold in the Shambles, he yet most earnestly protests against their presuming to mingle and partake in the horrid Diabolical Rites, and impure Practices that were wont to be used at their Festivals in the Idols Temples.