AN

ALPHABETICAL INDEX

OF THE

Ecclesiastical Writers cited in this Exposition, and
the times when they flourished.

EXPLANATION

Of some Words and Terms used in the foregoing Exposition.

Absolution, a juridical act, whereby a priest pronounces the pardon of sins to such as seem to have the necessary qualifications. The word absolution is derived from the Latin word absolvo, which, in its primitive signification, is, to loose, to untie; the absolution, or remission of sins, being an act similar to that of loosing or untying a chain, or cord, with which any person or thing is tied or bound.

Abstinence, fasting, or forbearance of necessary food; being an act of humiliation, especially in times of eminent danger, plagues, wars, famine, &c.

Adoption, an act whereby any one receives another into his family; a very ancient custom, and formerly practised in almost all countries. By baptism we become the adopted children of God, John i. 12. and are made partakers, by promise, of the inheritance of the saints in light. Col. i. 12.

Adult, grown up, or past the age of infancy. The Jews and primitive Christians considered children as adults at the age of thirteen.

Affusion, the act of pouring water upon a person in baptism; and though dipping and affusion are two different acts, yet the word baptism implies them

both.

Agape, a love-feast among the Christians of Corinth, which was at first instituted by the rich with a good intention, to supply the necessities of the poor and needy; but was afterwards prostituted to very evil purposes, gluttony and drunkenness ; for which reason they were discontinued by ecclesiastical authority in the third century.

Alb, a surplice or white garment thrown over a

child at baptism, as emblematical of purity or innocency of life.

Allelujah, a Hebrew word, or rather two Hebrew words joined in one, used as a sign of joy and exultation, and is interpreted, Praise ye the Lord.

Alcoran, a book wherein Mahomet's laws and religion are written.

Altar, the table in Christian churches where the communion is administered.

· Anabaptists, so called from the rebaptizing as many as come into their communion who were baptized in their infancy; for they are against Pedobaptism, or baptising of infants. Those who now call themselves baptists, are properly anabaptists.

Annals, a species of history, which relate events in the chronological order wherein they happened. They differ from perfect history in this, that annals are but a bare relation of what passes every year, as a journal is of what passes every day; whereas history relates not only the transactions themselves, but also the causes, motives, and springs of action.

Anthem, church-song, certain passages taken outof the scriptures, and adapted to a particular solemnity. They are performed in two parts, and should be written Anthymn.

Anti-pado-baptist, one who rejects the baptism of infants, in opposition to the plain dictates of the holy scripture, and the unanimous practice of the primitive church for many ages after our blessed Saviour's ascension.

Antiphone, any verse or little sentence, which churchmen sing by course, one after another.

Apostle, a word derived from the Greek verb ATOσTEXXE, to send on a message.-Our Lord selected twelve out of the number of his disciples, whom he invested with the apostleship, most probably in allusion to the twelve patriarchs, and who are called the Apostles by way of eminence.

Apostolical Canons, rules or laws made for the government of the Christian church, supposed by

some to have been drawn up by the Apostles; others, as Bishop Beveridge, that though not written by the Apostles, yet they are very ancient, and properly a collection of the canons of several churches before that of Nice. Daillé takes them to be later, and not collected till about the end of the fifth century. To prove that they are not a work of the Apostles, Du Pin observes, that they contain many things that could never have been appointed by the Apostles; as the jurisdiction of Metropolitans, an order not established in their time; the canon against the Montanists and Novatians, and many other questions, which happened long after the Apostles.

Areopagite, a chief judge in capital matters in the city of Athens; so called of a certain street in that city dedicated to Mars, in which those judges were wont to sit. St. Dionysius, converted to the Christian faith by St. Paul, is supposed to have been one of those judges.

Arians, a sect of heretics who sprang up in the fifth century; and who denied the divinity of our blessed Saviour, and of the Holy Ghost. They were called Arians, from Arius their first founder. The name is derived from the Latin, and signifies dry, without moisture.

Attitude, the posture in which the body is placed in the time of public worship, and which ought always to correspond with the rubric. It is the duty of the congregation to stand, or sit, or kneel as the church directs; and to act otherwise is very unchristian, as well as indecent and unseemly. The laity are as much bound to attend the various attitudes in divine worship as the clergy, and should no more presume to break the Apostolic rule," Let all things be done decently and in order," than those who are the immediate ministers of the gospel.

Baptism, one of the sacraments of the New Testament, called by the Apostles and primitive writers regeneration, that is, a new-birth, whereby

people are initiated into the church of Christ, and answers to circumcision under the Old Testament. It may also be called our spiritual indenture to, or enlistment under, Christ; and is performed either by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.

Baptistry, the place where the sacrament of baptism is administered..

Baptist, he that administers baptism, whether by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. The same is now generally assumed by those who hold to dipping only, as the people called Quakers exclusively arrogate to themselves the title of friends.

Bishops, the head order of the clergy, who alone have power to ordain the ministers of Christ, and to confirm the members of his church.

Calendar, a register of the year, in which the months and stated times are marked, as festivals and holy days.

Candidate, a person who is preparing himself for, and intends shortly to enter into holy orders. According to the canons of our church, deacon's orders are not to be conferred on any person before he is twenty-one years old.

Canon, from a Greek word, properly signifying a rule, or line, to make any thing straight, or to try the straightness of it. Therefore, laws or deerees made by ecclesiastical councils for church government, are called canons. And certain times of prayer used by churchmen were called canonical hours of prayer.

Capitulars, the body of the statutes of a chapter; the assembly of the clergy of a cathedral being so called.

Catechumen, one who is yet in the first rudiments of Christianity; or, one newly instructed in matters of faith.

Catholic, a Greek word, signifying universal, or general. Also one that is orthodox in opinion, that holds the general and right received faith. The Papists call themselves by this name; and we some