Gleanings of antiquities / By John Beaumont, Gent.

  • Beaumont, John, -1731.
Date:
1724
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Gleanings of antiquities / By John Beaumont, Gent. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    214/226 (page 200)
    cerning the burning-hot Iron, the fcalding Water, and fingle Combat, and the expiatory and pretoriai Ceremonies ufed on their account: Our Anceftors being moft religious Perfons, confided more in God than themfelves, rely'd more on the Divine Juftice and God's Promifes, than on their own Wit, orWif- dom ; and rather (food to the Divine Decrees, than their own Opinions : They look'd on God as pre- lent in all Adis and Things done and thought ; things were then ratify'd, when the Divine Plea- fure had adjudged them : they concluded that all things were done in the Theatre of Heaven, God looking on them : and therefore in doubtful Cau- fes, efpecially in Crimes which could not be proved by any Human Teftimony, they fled to the Divine Pleafure, to the Supreme Majefly, who could not be deceiv'd, as to an honorary Umpire, and Judge of all things. The Senate, People, and Priefls, who came in Crowds to fee a (ingle Combat, as I And in the Salick-Law} implored the Divine Aid, they com¬ memorated the Benefits which, on a like Occafion, our Saviour, through his Benignity and Clemency had conferr’d on them ; they minded him of his Pro¬ mifes, recited Examples, prayed that his mighty Power would (liow itfelf on the prefent Occafion, according to his Promife,as it had always done hither¬ to ; and that, according to his Juftice, he would be prefent to the Innocent, and grant him Victory. Free leave was granted the Accufed of making choice of, and hireing whom he pleafed to fight for him, the Accufer was forced to fight himfelf. I find in the antient Books of Sacrifices, the burning-hot Iron, and the fcalding-hot Water were confeerated by the Priefls with the following Prayers : God, juft Judge, ftrong and patient, who are Author and Lover of Juftice, who judge equitably; judge, O Lord, that which is juft, becaufe your Judgments are right; who look on the Earth, and make