The same Custom the _Chineses_ observe to this present: _Francis Xaverius_ relates, “That he sail’d in a _Chinese_ Vessel from _Goa_ to _Japan_, which bore an Idol in its Stern, before which the Master lighted Candles, perfum’d it with Aloe-wood, and offer’d Birds and other Food, inquiring of it the Event of his Voyage. Sometimes he judg’d from the Statues immovable Looks, that it would fall out successfully; and other times, not.” [Sidenote: _De abstinent. Animal._ l. 2.] [Sidenote: _Prepar. Evang._ lib. 1.] Lastly, _Porphyrius_ relates, “That the _Phenicians_ upon any great Exigency, as War, excessive Heat, or Mortal Distempers, by order selected one of the most comely and beautiful of their Children, to be offer’d up to _Saturn_.” And _Eusebius_ saith also out of _Porphyrius_, “That _Saturn_, whom the _Phenicians_ call _Israel_, the Learned _Vossius_ and _Hugo Grotius_ read _Il_, or _El_ (one of the ten Names of God in _Hebrew_) which they also give to the Planet _Saturn_, who when he Reign’d in _Phenicia_, having one only Son born by the Nymph _Anobret_, and was in danger to lose his Kingdom, being worsted in an unlucky War, he dress’d him in Royal Robes, and placing him on an Altar built for that purpose, sacrific’d him with his own Hands.” [Sidenote: Men and Children used for Sacrifices by the _Phenicians_ and other People.] [Sidenote: Who forbade the sacrificing of Men.] And although such like cruel Oblations are us’d in _America_, must it therefore follow, that they are deriv’d from the _Phenicians_, when several other People are guilty of the same? Nay, there is scarce one Countrey, which hath not at some time or other perform’d such inhumane Acts, seeming to them Zeal in their Religion; for the most eminent of the Heathens scrupled not at it, which certainly are held to be the _Persians_, _Greeks_, and _Romans_; and yet they were not abhorr’d, though committing Humane Slaughters. This holy Butchery and Religious Slaughter of Mankind began in _Rome_ in the Emperor _Adrian_’s Reign, so continuing till the time of _Tertullian_, _Lactantius_, and _Eusebius_. The _Greeks_ which inhabited the utmost part of _Italy_, employ’d themselves daily in Sacrificing Strangers to _Saturn_, and sometimes one another. But at last this formal Cruelty became a ridiculous Custom; for the _Romans_ by severe Edicts strictly forbad all such Humane Offerings: Yet that they might retain some memory of their former Sacrifices, they order’d thirty Images to be made of Rushes, which every year on the fifteenth of _April_, were by the _Roman_ Priests and Vestal Nuns, to be thrown from the _Milvian_ Bridge into the _Tyber_. [Sidenote: _Lib. de Superstit._] Moreover, _Manethon_ relates, “That the _Egyptians_ in _Heliopolis_ us’d to offer three Men at once to _Juno_; which Custom was observ’d till King _Amasis_ order’d, That in stead of Men, they should serve her with Wax Candles.”