Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/289

Rh of the person who offers the sacrifice, or, as some of the priests informed me, from a wish to avoid following the wicked example of Eli's sons, who made the sacrifices of the temple an occasion of selfish gratification. Few, however, refuse their portion on this account. The skin is also given to the priest, as was required in the burnt offerings. Lev. vii. 8." And this the doctor considers as a corroborative evidence of the Hebrew lineage of the Nestorians. But here again we may observe that this argument proves too much, since the Mohammedans throughout Turkey often sacrifice a lamb with the same intention at the door of their Mezârs (shrines), and sprinkle the building with the blood of the slaughtered animal, which is afterwards cut up and distributed among the people of the village. A like practice still prevails among the Jacobites around Mosul and in Jebel Toor.

On another religious rite common among the Nestorians, the same author writes: Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the : because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean.' Numb. xix. 13. This is the sentiment of the Nestorians; but, as in many other cases, it is modified by Christianity. Baptism, it is affirmed, purifies our bodies, so that no contamination is received from the dead body of a Christian. But if any person touch the dead body of a Jew, a Moslem, or a heathen, he is considered unclean, and must not touch any clean thing, or enter a church, till he has been duly purified with water. They are also careful to wash themselves after their own burial services."

The following office extracted from their own rituals, and which is still in use among the Nestorians, will serve to give a just idea of the original design of this practice, and to correct the somewhat confused idea respecting the same conveyed in the above paragraph.

Our, &c.

May the adorable name of Thy glorious Trinity be ever worshipped, glorified, honoured, praised, blessed, and magnified, in