The sacred Books, in some places, seem to ascribe Knowledge to the _Stars_, when they praised God at the beginning of the World, _Job_ xxxviii. 7. but the Stars were not then created, therefore it’s generally supposed they were _Angels_. Since then the Sun, Moon and Stars are excited to praise the Lord; the Moon withdrew its Light, and the Sun stopt its Course at the Command of _Joshua_ ... and perhaps one reason of their strange Opinions about the heavenly Bodies, might be owing to these and the like Expressions; not knowing that these Words were meerly popular, and not to be understood literally, for then we must say that the Earth, the Trees, the Waters, are animated, since we find in Scripture some Expressions that would insinuate as much. The _Arabians_ who sprung from _Ishmael_, worshipped the Sun, Moon and Stars, in which they were conducted by their Priests who were cloathed in white Vestments, wearing Mitres and Sandals, which at first were only Soles tied to the Feet with Strings. In Authors that speak of ecclesiastical Rites, and Ornaments, we find the word _Sandals_ to signify a valuable kind of Shoes, worn by the _Prelates at Solemnities_[381]. Footnote 381: _Benedictus Baudovinus de Calceo Antiquo._ We find _Sandals_ also used by the Ladies, very different in form: When _Judith_ went to the Camp of _Holofernes_, she put _Sandals_ on her Feet, at the sight of which he was captivated; for ’tis said, _Her Sandals ravish’d his Eyes_. These were a magnificent sort of Stockens, like Buskins, of an extraordinary Beauty[382], and were proper only to the Ladies of Condition, who generally had Slaves to carry them. Footnote 382: _Judith_ x. 4. _N. B._ The real _Buskin_ was the _Cothurnus_, a very high Shoe rais’d on Soals of Cork, wore by the ancient Actors in Tragedy, to make them appear taller, and more like the Heroes they represented, most of whom were supposed to be Giants. The _Persians_ had no Temples, Altars, nor Images, holding such little Things improper for the high Gods. Therefore they worshipp’d upon the Top of Hills, where they offer’d Sacrifices to the Sun, Moon, and Stars. The _Babylonians_ adored the Sun, to which the King offer’d every Day a white Horse richly furnish’d: The Sun was in high Esteem among the _Phenicians_, whose Priests were crown’d with Gold. The _Tartars_ and _Cathaians_ worship the Sun, and Stars, to which they offer the first Fruits of their Meat every Morning before they eat and drink themselves. They have divers Monasteries of Idols, to whom they dedicate their Children. In _Nova Zembla_ there is no Religion prescrib’d by Law, but they worship the _Sun_, so long as ’tis with them, and the Moon and North-Star in its absence. In _China_ are great Numbers of sacred Temples, where the Priests have so much Power over their Gods, that they may beat them when they don’t answer their Expectation: Their _chief_ Gods are the _Sun_, _Moon_, and _Stars_, where they are not christianis’d.