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dissolved, a new convocation be-dignity frequently on their children. ing generally called along with a None but the lowest rank among new parliament. the people commence ecclesiastics; COPHTI, COPHT, or COPTI, a whence arises that excessive ignoname given to the christians of rance found among them: yet the Egypt who are of the sect of the respect of the laity towards the Jacobites. See JACOBITES. The clergy is very extraordinary. The Cophts have a patriarch, who re-monastic life is in great esteem sides at Cairo; but he takes his among them to be admitted into title from Alexandria. He has it, there is always required the no archbishop under him, but consent of the bishop. The relieleven or twelve bishops. The gious Cophts, it is said, make a rest of the clergy, whether secular vow of perpetual chastity; reor regular, are composed of the nounce the world, and live with orders of St. Anthony, St. Paul, great austerity in deserts, they and St. Macarius, who have each are obliged to sleep in their clothes their monasteries. Besides the and their girdle, on a mat stretchorders of priests, deacons, anded on the ground; and to prostrate sub-deacons, the Cophts have, themselves every evening one hunlikewise archimandrites, or ab-dred and fifty times with their face bots; the dignity whereof they and breast on the ground. They confer with all the prayers and are all, both men and women, of ceremonies of a strict ordination. the lowest class of the people, and By a custom of six hundred years live on alms. The nunneries are standing, if a priest elected bishop properly hospitals, and few enter be not already archimandrite, that but widows reduced to beggary. dignity must be conferred on him CORBAN, in Jewish antiquibefore episcopal ordination. The ty, were those offerings which had second person among the clergy life; in opposition to the minchab, after the patriarch is the titular or those which had not. It is patriarch of Jerusalem, who also derived from the word karab, resides at Cairo. To him belongs which significs" to approach;" the government of the Cophtic because the victims were brought church during the vacancy of the to the door of the tabernacle. patriarchal see. To be elected The corban were always looked patriarch, it is necessary the per-upon as the most sacred offerings. son have lived all his life in con- The Jews are reproached with tinence. To be elected bishop, defeating, by means of the corban, the person must be in the celibate; the precept of the fifth commandor if he have been married, it must ment, which enjoins the respect not be above once. The priests due to parents; for, when a child and inferior ministers are allowed had no mind to relieve the wants to be married before ordination of his father or mother, he would but not forced to it, as some have say to them-" It is a gift (corobserved. They have a great num-ban) by whatsoever thou mightest ber of deacons, and even confer the be profited by me ;" i. e. "I

have devoted that to God which|nance, Jer. xxxiii, 20. a promise, you ask of me, and it is no longer Exod. xxxiv, 10. Is. lix, 21. and mine to give." Mark vii, 11. also for a precept, Jer. xxxiv, 13,

CORDELIER, a Franciscan, 14. In scripture we read of vaor religious of the order of St.rious covenants; such as those Francis. The denomination cor-made with Noah, Abraham, and delier is said to have been given the Hebrews at large. Anciently in the war of St. Lewis against the covenants were made and ratified infidels, wherein the friars minor, with great solemnity. The scriphaving repulsed the barbarians, and tures allude to the cutting of anithat king having inquired their mals asunder; denoting that, in name, it was answered, they were the same manner, the perjured and people cordeliez, "tied with ropes;" covenant breaker should be cut alluding to the girdle of rope, or asunder by the vengeance of God, cord, tied with three knots, which Jer. xxxiv, 18. they wore as part of their ha

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The covenants which more especially relate to the human race CORNARISTS, the disciples are generally called the coveof Theodore Cornhert, an enthusi-nant of works and the covenant astic secretary of the states of Hol-of grace.

land. He wrote, at the same The covenant of works is that time, against the Catholics, Lu- whereby God requires perfect therans, and Calvinists. He main-Jobedience from his creatures, in tained that every religious com-such a manner as to make no exmunion needed reformation; but press provision for the pardon of he added, that no person had a offences committed against the right to engage in accomplishing precepts of it on the repentance of it without a mission supported by such offenders, but pronounces a miracles. He was also of opinion, sentence of death upon them, Gen. that a person might be a good ii. Gal. iv, 24. Ps. lxxxix, 3, 4. christian without being a member The covenant of grace is generally of any visible church. defined to be that which was made

COVENANT, a contract, or with Christ, as the second Adam, agreement, between two or more and in him with all the elect as parties on certain terms. The terms his seed, Is. xlii, 1 to 6. 1st Pet. made use of in the scriptures for i, 20. Is. lii, 13.

covenant are л and dia. The I. The covenant of works was former signifies choosing, or friend-made with Adam; the condition ly parting; as in covenants each of which was, his perseverance party, in a friendly manner, con- during the whole time of his prosented, and so bound himself to the bation: the reward annexed to chosen terms; the latter signifies this obedience was the continutestament, as all the blessings of ance of him and his posterity in the covenant are freely disposed to such perfect holiness and felicity us. The word covenant is also he then had while upon earth, and used for an immutable ordi-everlasting life with God hereafter,

The penalty threatened for the|nant are generally said to be the breach of the command was con- Father and the Son; but Dr. demnation; terminating in death Gill supposes that the Holy Ghost temporal, spiritual, and eternal. should not be excluded, since The seals of this covenant were, he is promised in it, and, in conthe tree of knowledge and the sequence of it, is sent down into tree of life; and, perhaps, the the hearts of believers; and which Sabbath and Paradise, Gen. ii. must be by agreement, and with Gal. iii. Gal. ii, 24. Rom. v, 12, 19. his consent. If we believe, thereThis covenant was broken by fore, in a Trinity, it is more Adam's eating of the forbidden proper to suppose that they were fruit, whereby he and his posterity all engaged in this plan of the were all subject to ruin, Gen. iii, covenant, than to suppose that Rom. v, 12, 19; and without the the Father and Son were enintervention of the Divine grace gaged exclusive of the Holy Spiand mercy, would have been lost for rit, 1st John v, 6, 7. As to the ever, Rom. iii, 23. The Divine work of the Son, it was the will Being, foreseeing this, in infinite and appointment of the Father wisdom and unspeakable compas-that he should take the charge sion planned the covenant of grace; and care of his people, John vi, by virtue of which his people are 39. Heb. ii, 13. redeem them by reinstated in the blessings of puri-his blood, John xvii. Heb. x. ty, knowledge, and felicity, and obey the law in their room, Rom. that without a possibility of any x, 4. justify them by his rightefarther defalcation. ousness, Dan. ix, 24, &c. and, II. The covenant of grace. Some finally preserve them to glory, divines make a distinction between Isa. xl, 11. Jesus Christ, accordthe covenant of redemption anding to the divine purpose, became that of grace: the former, they the representative and covenant say, was made with Christ in eter-head of his people, Eph. i, 22, 23. nity; the latter with believers in Col. i, 18. They were all contime. Others object to this, and sidered in him, and represented suppose it a needless distinction; by him, Eph. i, 4. promises of for there is but one covenant of grace and glory made to them in grace, and not two, in which the him, Tit. i, 2. 1st Cor. i, 20. he head and members are concerned; suffered in their stead, 2d Cor. v, and, besides, the covenant of 21. He is also to be considered grace properly speaking, could as the mediator of the covenant not be made between God and by whom justice is satisfied, and man; for what can man restipu-man reconciled to God. See art. late with God, which is in his MEDIATOR. He is also the power to do or give him, and surety of this covenant, Heb. vii, which God has not a prior right |22. as he took the whole debt unto? Fallen man has neither upon him, freed his people from inclination to yield obedience, the charge, obeyed the law, and nor power to perform it. The engaged to bring his people to parties, therefore, in this cove-glory, Heb. ii, 13. Isa. xlix, 5, 6. VOL. I

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He is called the testator of the law prescribed; for it is not worcovenant, which is denominated a thy of God to admit man to a Testament, Heb. vii, 22. Heb. ix, blessed communion with him but 15. He disposes of his blessings in the way of holiness.-4. In according to his will or testament, both is the same end, the glory which is unalterable, signed by of God. But they differ in the his hand, and sealed by his blood, following respects: 1. In the coIn this covenant, as we before venant of works, the character or observed, the Holy Spirit also is relation of God is that of a suengaged. His assent is given to preme lawgiver, and the chief every part thereof: he brings his good rejoicing to communicate people into the enjoyment of its happiness to his creatures. blessings, 1st Pet. i, 2. 2d Thess. the covenant of grace he appears ii, 13. He was concerned in as infinitely merciful, adjudging the incarnation of Christ, Matt. i, life to the elect sinner, agreeably 18. and assisted his human nature, to his wisdom and justice.-2. In Heb. ix, 14. He takes of the the covenant of works there was things of Christ, and shews them no mediator: the covenant of unto us; cleanses, enlightens, sanc-grace has a mediator, Christ.tifies, establishes, and comforts his 3. In the covenant of works, people, according to the plan of the condition of perfect obedithe covenant, Rom. viii, 15, 16.ence was required to be performSee HOLY GHOST. ed by man himself in covenant. III. The properties of this cove-In the covenant of grace the nant are such as these: 1. It is same condition is proposed, but eternal, being made before time, to be performed by a mediator. Eph. i, 3, 4. 2d Tim i, 9.-2.-4. In the covenant of works Divine as to its origin, springing man is considered as working, and entirely from free grace, Rom. xi, the reward, as to be given of debt. 5, 6. Ps. lxxxix, 2, 3, 28.-3. It In the covenant of grace the man is absolute and unconditional, in covenant is considered as beEph. ii, 8, 9.-4. It is perfect and lieving; eternal life being given as complete, wanting nothing, 2d the merit of the mediator, out of Sam. xxiii, 5.-5. It is sure and free grace, which excludes all immovable, Isa. liv, 10. Isa. lv, 3. boasting.-5. In the covenant of -6. Called new in opposition to works something is required as a the old, and as its blessings will condition, which, being performbe always new, Heb. viii, 6, 3. ed, entitles to reward. The co

IV. These two covenants above-venant of grace consists not of mentioned agree in some things, in conditions, but of promises: the others they differ. 1. "In both," life to be obtained; faith, by which says Witsius, "the parties con- we are made partakers of Christ; cerned are God and man.-2. In perseverance, and, in a word, the both, the same promise of eternal whole of salvation, are absolutely life.-3. The condition of both is promised.-6. The special end of the same perfect obedience to the the covenant of works was the

manifestation of the holiness, good-||James I, and which he enjoined ness and justice of God; but on all his subjects. It was again the special end of the covenant of subscribed in 1590 and 1596. grace is the praise of the glory of The subscription was renewed in his grace, and the revelation of 1638, and the subscribers engaged his unsearchable and manifold by oath to maintain religion in wisdom."-7. The covenant of the same state as it was in 1580, works was only for a time, but and to reject all innovations inthe covenant of grace stands sure troduced since that time. This for ever. oath, annexed to the confession of V. The administration of the faith, received the name of the covenant of grace.-The covenant Covenant, as those who subscribed of grace, under the Old Testa- it were called Covenanters. ment, was exhibited by promises, Solemn leave and covenant, was sacrifices, types, ordinances, and established in the year 1643, and prophecies. Under the New, it formed a bond of union between is administered in the preaching Scotland and England. It was of the gospel, baptism, and the sworn to and subscribed by many Lord's supper; in which grace in both nations; who hereby soand salvation are held forth in lemnly abjured popery and premore fulness, evidence, and effi-lacy, and combined together for cacy to all nations, 2d Cor. iii, 6 their mutual defence. It was apto 18. Heb. viii. Matt. xxviii, 19, proved by the parliament and as20. But in both periods, the me-sembly at Westminster, and ratidiator, the whole substance, bless-fied by the general assembly of ings, and manner of obtaining an Scotland in 1645. King Charles I, interest therein by faith, are the disapproved of it when he survery same, without any difference, rendered himself to the Scots Heb. xi, 6. Gal. iii, 7, 14. The army in 1646; but, in 1650, reader who may wish to have a Charles II, declared his approbamore enlarged view of this subject tion both of this and the national may peruse Witsius, Strong, or covenant by a solemn oath; and, Boston on the Covenants, in the in August of the same year, made former of which especially he will a farther declaration at Dunfermfind the subject masterly handled. line to the same purpose, which COVENANT, in ecclesiastical his-was also renewed on occasion of tory, denotes a contract or con-his coronation at Scone, in 1651. vention agreed to by the Scotch, The covenant was ratified by parin the year 1638, for maintaining liament in this year; and the their religion free from innova-subscription of it was required by tion. In 1581, the general as-every member, without which sembly of Scotland drew up a the constitution of the parliament confession of faith, or national was declared null and void. It covenant, condemning episcopal produced a series of distractions government, under the name of in the subsequent history of that hierarchy, which was signed by country, and was voted illegal by

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