N00887:285
Christianus per ignem. Or, A disciple warming of himself and owning of his Lord:…
Christianus per ignem. Or, A disciple warming of himself and owning of his Lord: with devout and useful meditations, fetched out of the fire, by a Christian in a cold season, sitting before it. A work though never out of season, yet more particularly, designed for the seasonable and profitable entertainment, of them that would well employ their leisure [sic] by the fire-side. : [Three lines in Latin from Alsted]Christianus per ignem. Or, A disciple warming of himself and owning of his Lord: with devout and useful meditations, fetch'd out of the fire, by a Christian in a cold season, sitting before it. A work though never out of season, yet more particularly, designed for the seasonable and profitable entertainment, of them that would well employ their liesure [sic] by the fire-side. : [Three lines in Latin from Alsted]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benjamin Eliot, 1702
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But we will in the next place, Enquire, What was passing through' the Fire to this Molech? Now, 'tis very certain, That some of the Pagans, especially when certain Distresses were upon them, did use an Immolation of their Children unto Moloch. [Ponder, Ezek. 16 20, 21. with Jer. 7 31. and Jer. 32. 35. There I shall see the signification of Passing through' the Fire.] As we read of the Sepharvites, [2 King. 17. 31.] That they Burnt their Children unto Adramelech, [or, Deus potens:] and Anamelech, [or Deus respondens.] Thus, other Historians, and particularly Josephus, relate such horrid practices to have been usual among the Canaanites; whom therefore the Book of Wisdom, calls, Unmerciful Murderers of their Children. The Ambiguity of the Diabolical Oracle requiring this Rite, may have been one thing that betrayed the woeful people into it. As when Apollo demanded of the Pelasgians, [Greek or Hebrew], which might signify, either, A man, or, A Torch: So very ambiguous was the phrase of, passing through' the Fire. And therefore, the Hard Word, which the Elder Ages had understood in the Harder Sense of Combustion, the ⟨p. 155⟩Later Ages, found out a Softer Sense of Purgation, for it; and they began to think, that Moloch would be content, as Tertullian speaks, Traducto Corpore Flamma. For this Februation of the Children to Moloch, two piles were kindled, and persons were carried through' them, in token of their consecration to Moloch. And thus tho' tis said of Ahaz, 2 King. 16. 3. He caused his Son to pass through' the Fire; yet it seems, we find the Son surviving this Traduction; it being that very Hezekiah, who afterwards proved [O the Sovereign Grace of Heaven!] Such a notable Destroyer of these Idolatries. Theodoret is of this Opinion; who adds, I my self have seen it in some Cities, that once in a year they kindle Bonfires in the Streets, and not only Boys, but Men, do Leap through' those Fires, and Children are by their Mothers carried through' them; and it appeared a sort of Expiation. Perhaps, this Remark by the way, might raise in ones mind, some Thoughts upon the Rites of Bonfires in our Days; especially, when we find them so condemned by the primitive Christians; and we find the Pagans confessing with Varro, Ignem magnum transiliunt, his pallibus see expiari credentes; and Ovid.