ppily freed from that slavish idolatry in these our days. But
heretofore, almost in all countries, in all places, superstition hath
blinded the hearts of men; in all ages what a small portion hath the true
church ever been! _Divisum imperium cum Jove Daemon habet._ [6354]The
patriarchs and their families, the Israelites a handful in respect, Christ
and his apostles, and not all of them, neither. Into what straits hath it
been compinged, a little flock! how hath superstition on the other side
dilated herself, error, ignorance, barbarism, folly, madness, deceived,
triumphed, and insulted over the most wise discreet, and understanding man,
philosophers, dynasts, monarchs, all were involved and overshadowed in this
mist, in more than Cimmerian darkness. [6355]_Adeo ignara superstitio
mentes hominum depravat, et nonnunquam sapientum animos transversos agit._
At this present, _quota pars!_ How small a part is truly religious! How
little in respect! Divide the world into six parts, and one, or not so
much, as Christians; idolaters and Mahometans possess almost Asia, Africa,
America, Magellanica. The kings of China, great Cham, Siam, and Borneo,
Pegu, Deccan, Narsinga, Japan, &c., are gentiles, idolaters, and many other
petty princes in Asia, Monomotopa, Congo, and I know not how many Negro
princes in Africa, all Terra Australis incognita most of America pagans,
differing all in their several superstitions; and yet all idolaters. The
Mahometans extend themselves over the great Turk's dominions in Europe,
Africa, Asia, to the Xeriffes in Barbary, and its territories in Fez, Sus,
Morocco, &c. The Tartar, the great Mogor, the Sophy of Persia, with most of
their dominions and subjects, are at this day Mahometans. See how the devil
rageth: those at odds, or differing among themselves, some for [6356]Ali,
some Enbocar, for Acmor, and Ozimen, those four doctors, Mahomet's
successors, and are subdivided into seventy-two inferior sects, as
[6357]Leo Afer reports. The Jews, as a company of vagabonds, are scattered
over all parts; whose story, present estate, progress from time to time, is
fully set down by [6358]Mr. Thomas Jackson, Doctor of Divinity, in his
comment on the creed. A fifth part of the world, and hardly that, now
professeth CHRIST, but so inlarded and interlaced with several
superstitions, that there is scarce a sound part to be found, or any
agreement amongst them. Presbyter John, in Africa, lord of those
Abyssinians, or Ethi