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ABELIANS, or ABELONIANS, had them. The ancient christians a sect which arose in the diocese had their ablutions before commuof Hippoo in Africa, and is sup- nion, which the Romish church posed to have begun in the reign still retain before their mass, and of Arcadius, and ended in that of sometimes after. The Syrians, Theodosius. Indeed, it was not Copts, &c. have their solemn washcalculated for being of any long ings on Good Friday; the Turks continuance. They regulated mar- also have their ablutions, their riage after the example of Abel, Ghast, their Wodou, Aman, &c. who, they pretended, was married, ABRAHAMITES, an order but lived in a state of continence of monks exterminated for idolathey therefore allowed each man try by Theophilus, in the ninth to marry one woman, but enjoin-century. Also the name of another ed them to live in the same state. sect of heretics who had adopted To keep up the sect, when a man the errors of Paulus. See PAUand woman entered into this soci-LICIANS.

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ety, they adopted a boy and a girl, ABSOLUTION signifies acwho were to inherit their goods, quittal. It is taken also for that and to marry upon the same terms act whereby the priest declares the of not having children, but of sins of such as are penitent remitadopting two of different sexes. ted. The Romanists hold absolu

ABESTA, the name of one of tion a part of the sacrament of pethe sacred books of the Persian nance; and the council of Trent and Magi, which they ascribe to their that of Florence declare the form great founder Zoroaster. The or essence of the sacrament to lie Abesta is a commentary on two in the words of absolution. "I abothers of their religious books solve thee of thy sins." Accordcalled Zend and Pazend; the three ing to this, no one can receive abtogether including the whole sys-solution without the privity, contem of the Ignicold, or worship-sent, and declaration of the priest; pers of fire.

ABILITY. See INABILITY.

except, therefore, the priest be willing, God himself cannot pardon any man. This is a doctrine ABLUTION, a ceremony in as blasphemous as it is ridiculous. use among the ancients, and still The chief passage on which they practised in several parts of the ground their power of absolution world. It consisted in washing is that in John xx, 23-" Whosethe body, which was always done soever sins ye remit, they are rebefore sacrificing, or even enter-mitted unto them, and whoseing their houses. Ablutions ap-soever sins ye retain, they are repear to be as old as any ceremo-tained." But this is not to the purnies, and external worship itself. pose; since this was a special comMoses enjoined them, the hea- mission to the apostles themselves, thens adopted them, and Mahom-and the first preachers of the goset and his followers have continu-pel, and most probably referred to ed them. The Egyptians, the the power he gave them of disGreeks, the Romans, the Jews, all cerning spirits. By virtue of this

power, Peter struck Annanias and held by the apostles, enjoined the Sapphira dead, and Paul struck christian converts to abstain from Elimas blind. But supposing the meats strangled, from blood, from passage in question to apply to the fornication, and from idolatry, successors of the apostles, and to Acts xv. The spiritual monarchy ministers in general, it can only of the western world introduced import that their office is to preach another sort of abstinence, which pardon to the penitent, assuring may be called ritual, and consists those who believe that their sins in abstaining from particular meats are forgiven through the merits of at certain times and seasons, the Jesus Christ; and that those who rules of which are called rogations. remain in unbelief are in a state of If I mistake not, the impropriety condemnation. Any idea of au- of this kind of abstinence is clearthority given to fallible, uninspir-ly pointed out in 1 Tim. iv, 3.— ed men to absolve sinners, differ-In England, abstinence from flesh ent from this, is unscriptural; nor has been enjoined by statute, even can I see much utility in the terms since the reformation; particularministerial or declarative absolu-ly on Fridays and Saturdays, on tion, as adopted by some divines, vigils, and on all days commonly since absolution is wholly the pre-called fish days. The like injuncrogative of God; and the terms tions were renewed under queen abovementioned may, to say the Elizabeth; but at the same time least, have no good influence on it was declared, that this was done the minds of the ignorant and su-not out of motives of religion, as perstitious. if there were any difference in ABSTEMII, a name given to meats, but in favour of the consuch persons as could not partake sumption of fish, and to multiply of the cup of the eucharist, on ac- the number of fishermen and macount of their natural aversion toriners, as well as to spare the stock wine. of sheep. See FASTING. ABSTINENCE, in a general ABSTINENTS, a set of hesense, is the act of refraining from retics that appeared in France and something which we have a pro-Spain about the end of the third pension to or find pleasure in. It is century. They are supposed to more particularly used for fasting have borrowed part of their opior forbearing of necessary food. nions from the Gnostics and MaAmong the Jews, various kinds of nichæans, because they opposed abstinence were ordained by their marriage, condemned the use of law. Among the primitive chris-flesh meat, and placed the Holy tians, some denied themselves the Ghost in the class ofcreated beings. use of such meats as were prohi- ABYSS, in a general sense, debited by that law; others looked notes something profound; in its upon this abstinence with con-literal sense it signifies without a tempt; as to which Paul gives his bottom; in a more particular sense, opinion, Romans xiv, 1, 3. The it denotes a deep mass or fund of council of Jerusalem, which was waters. In this last sense the

word is used in the Septuagint for|lebrate the Epiphany with peculiar the water which God created at festivity; have four Lents; pray the beginning with the earth, which for the dead; and invoke angels. encompassed it round, and which Images in painting they venerate; our translators render by deep. but abhor all those in relievo, exThus it is that darkness is said to cept the cross. They admit the have been on the face of the abyss, apocryphal books and the canons Gen. i, 2. Abyss is also used for of the apostles, as well as the aposan immense cavern in the earth, tolical constitutions, for genuine. wherein God is supposed to have They allow of divorce, which is collected all those waters on the easily granted among them, and third day, which in our version is by the civil judge; nor do their rendered the seas, and elsewhere civil laws prohibit polygamy.the great deep. Abyss is likewise They have, at least, as many miused to denote the grave or com-racles and legends of saints as the mon receptacle of the dead, Rom. Romish church. They hold that X, 7; also hell, or the bottomless the soul of man is not created; bepit, Luke viii, 31. Rev. ix, 1. Rev. cause, say they, God finished all xi, 7. See Deluge. his works on the sixth day. Thus

ABYSSINIAN CHURCH, we see that the doctrines and rithat which is established in the tual of this sect form a strange comempire of Abyssinia. They are a pound of judaism and christianity, branch of the Copts, with whom ignorance and superstition. Some, they agree in admitting only one indeed, have been at a loss to know nature in Jesus Christ, and re-whether they are most Christians jecting the council of Chalcedon; or Jews: it is to be feared, howwhence they are also called Mo-ever, that there is little beside the nophysites and Eutychians, which name of christianity among them. see. The Abyssinian church is go- Should the reader be desirous to verned by a bishop styled abuna.know more of this sect, he may They have canons also, and monks. consult Father Lobo's Voyage to The emperor has a kind of supre-Abyssinia; Bruce's Travels; Lumacy in ecclesiastical matters. The dolph's Hist. of Ethiopia; and Dict. Abyssinians have at divers times of Arts and Sciences, vol. i, p. 15. expressed an inclination to be re- ACACIANS, a sect of heretics conciled to the see of Rome; but in the fourth century; so named rather from interested views than from Acacius, bishop of Cæsarea, any other motive. They practise who denied the Son to be of the circumcision on females as well as same substance with the Father, males. They eat no meats pro-though some of them allowed that hibited by the law of Moses. They he was of a similar substance. Alobserve both Saturday and Sun-so the name of another sect, named day sabbaths. Women are oblig-after Acacius, patriarch of Coned to the legal purifications. Bro-stantinople, in the fifth century, thers marry their brothers' wives, who favoured the opinions of Eu&c. On the other hand, they ce-tyches. See EUTYCHIANS.

ACADEMICS, a denomina-Lives; Bruker's History of Phition given to the cultivators of alosophy; or (which is more mospecies of philosophy originally dern) Enfield's Abridgment. derived from Socrates, and after- ACCLAMATIONS, ecclesiwards illustrated and enforced by astical, where shouts of joy which Plato. The contradictory systems the people expressed by way of apwhich had been successively urged probation of their preachers. It upon the world were become so hardly seems credible to us that numerous, that, from a view of practices of this kind should ever the variety and uncertainty of hu- have found their way into the man opinions, many were led to church, where all ought to be reveconclude that truth lay beyond therence and solemnity. Yet so it was reach of our comprehension. The in the fourth century. The people consequence of this conclusion was were not only permitted, but someabsolute scepticism: hence the ex-times even exhorted, by the preachistence of God, the immortality of er himself, to approve his talents the soul, the preferableness of vir- by clapping of hands, and loud actue to vice, were all held as uncer-clamations of praise. The usual tain. This sect, with that of the words they made use of were, Epicureans, were the two chief" Orthodox," "Third apostle," that were in vogue at the time of &c. These acclamations being carChrist's appearance, and were em-ried to excess, and often misplaced, braced and supported by persons were frequently prohibited by the of high rank and wealth. A con- ancient doctors, and at length abrosideration of the principles of these gated. Even as late, however, as two sects [see EPICUREANS] will the seventeenth and eighteenth lead us to form an idea of the de- centuries, we find practices that plorable state of the world at the were not very decorous; such as time of Christ's birth; and the ne-loud humming, frequent groaning, cessity there was of some divine strange gestures of the body, &c. teacher to convey to the mind true See articles DANCERS, SHAKERS. and certain principles of religion ACCOMMODATION of and wisdom. Jesus Christ, there- SCRIPTURE is the application fore, is with great propriety called of it, not to its literal meaning, but the Day Spring from on High, the to something analagous to it. Thus Sun of Righteousness, that arose a prophecy is said to be fulfilled proupon a benighted world to dispel perly when a thing foretold comes the clouds of ignorance and error, to pass; and, by way of accommoand discover to lost man the path to dation, when an event happens to happiness and heaven. But, as we any place or people similar to what do not mean to enlarge much upon fell out some time before to anothese and some other sects, which ther. Thus the words of Isaiah, belong rather to philosophy than spoken to those of his own time, theology, we shall refer the reader are said to be fulfiled in those to Budden's Introduction to the who lived in our Saviour's-" Ye History of Philosophy; Stanley's hypocrites, well did Esaias pro

phesy, &c. which same words an order of monks at ConstantinoSt. Paul afterwards accommo-ple in the fifth century, whom the dates to the Jews of his time, Is. writers of that and the following xxix, 14. Matt. xv, 8. Acts xiii, ages called Axola; that is, Watch41. Great care, however, shoulders, because they performed divine be taken by preachers who are fond service day and night without inof accommodating texts, that they termission. They divided themfirst clearly state the literal sense selves into three classes, who alterof the passage. nately succeeded one another, so ACCURSED, something that that they kept up a perpetual course lies under a curse or sentence of of worship. This practice they excommunication. In the Jewish founded upon that passageidiom, accursed and crucified were Pray without ceasing," 1st synonymous: among them, every Thess. v, 17.

one was accounted accursed who ACOLYTHI, or ACOLUTHI, died on a tree. This serves to ex-young people who, in the primitive plain the difficult passage in Rom. times, aspired to the ministry, and ix, 3. where the apostle wishes for that purpose continually athimself accursed after the manner tended the bishop. In the Romish of Christ; i. e. crucified, if hap-church, Acolythi were of longer pily he might by such a death continuance; but their functions save his countrymen. The prepo-were different from those of their sition here made use of is used first institution. año Their business in the same sense, 2d Tim. i, 3. was to light the tapers, carry the where it obviously signifies after candlesticks and the incense pot, the manner of. and prepare the wine and water. ACEPHALI, such bishops as At Rome there were three kinds; were exempt from the discipline 1, those who waited on the pope; and jurisdiction of their ordinary 2, those who served in the churchbishop or patriarch. It was also es; 3, and others, who, together the denomination of certain sects;||with the deacons, officiated in other 1, of those who, in the affair of the parts of the city.

council of Ephesus, refused to fol- ACT OF FAITH (Auto da low either St. Cyril or John of An- Fe) in the Romish church, is a tioch; 2, of certain heretics in the solemn day held by the Inquisififth century, who, at first, follow-tion for the punishment of heretics, ed Peter Mongus, but afterwards and the absolution of the innocent abandoned him, upon his subscrib-accused. They usually contrive the ing to the council of Chalcedon, Auto to fall on some great festival, they themselves adhering to the that the execution may pass with Eutychian heresy; and, 3, of the the more awe; and it is always on followers of Severus of Antioch, a Sunday. The Auto da Fe may and of all, in general, who held be called the last act of the Inquiout against the council of Chalce-sitorial tragedy: it is a kind of don. jail-delivery, appointed as often ACQEMETÆ, or ACOEMETI, as a competent number of prison

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