A

THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY:

CONTAINING

DEFINITIONS OF ALL RELIGIOUS TERMS;

A COMPREHENSIVE

VIEW OF EVERY ARTICLE

. IN THE

SYSTEM OF DIVINITY;

AN

IMPARTIAL ACCOUNT

OF

ALL THE PRINCIPAL DENOMINATIONS

which have subsisted in the

RELIGIOUS WORLD,

FROM

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO THE PRESENT DAY.

TOGETHER WITH

AN ACCURATE STATEMENT

OF

The most remarkable Transactions and Events

Recorded in Ecclesiastical History.

BY CHARLES BUCK.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

FIRST AMERICAN, FROM THE SECOND LONDON, EDITION.

Whitehall:

PRINTED FOR W. W. WOODWARD,

NO. 52, CORNER OF CHESNUT AND SECOND STREETS, PHILADELPHIA,

1807.

DICKINSON, PRINTER.

PREFACE.

It was an observation of one of the wisest of men, "that the soul be

without knowledge, it is not good." Knowledge, in a great measure, forms the true dignity and happiness of man: It is that by which he holds an honourable rank in the scale of being, and by which he is rendered capable of adding to the felicity of his fellow-creatures. Every attempt, therefore, to enlarge its boundaries, and facilitate its acquisition, must be considered as worthy of our attention and regard. The present Work is designed to promote these valuable and important ends.

The plan of conveying knowledge by dictionaries has been long established, and well received in the republic of letters. A dictionary, however, of a religious and ecclesiastical nature was still a desideratum in the religious world; for although we have had dictionaries which explained scripture terms, yet it is evident these could not embrace the history of the church since the sacred canon was concluded, nor explain the many terms which have been used; nor, indeed, point out the various sects and denominations which have subsisted since that time. I do not mean, by these remarks, to depreciate the valuable Works above referred to: I am sensible of their excellencies, and I have no wish to undervalue them in order to exalt my own. This Work, however, is of a different nature, as the Reader will easily see, if he take the trouble to compare and examine.

There may, doubtless, be defects in this publication which may have escaped my attention; but whoever considers the various books that must have been consulted; the discriminations that were necessary to be made; the patient investigation required; and the toil of selecting, transcribing, and composing, must be convinced that it has been attended with no small difficulty. The advantages, however, which my own mind derived from the Work, and the probability of its being useful to others, greatly encouraged me in its prosecution. Besides, to be active, to be useful, to do something for the good of mankind, I have always considered as the honour of an intelligent being. It is not the student wrapt up in metaphysical subtilties; it is not the recluse living in perpetual solitude; it is not the miser who is continually amassing wealth, that can be considered as the greatest ornaments or the greatest blessings to human society :--it is rather the useful than the shining talent that is to be coveted.

Perhaps it may be said, the Work is tinctured too much with my own sentiments, and that the theology is too antiquated to please a liberal, philosophizing, and refined age. In answer to this, I observe, that I could do no other, as an honest man, than communicate what I believed to be the truth. It is a false liberality to acquiesce with every man's opinion, to fall in with every man's scheme, to trifle with error, or imagine there is no difference between one sentiment and another; yet, notwithstanding this declaration, I trust the features of bigotry are not easily discernible in this Work; and that, while I have endeavoured to carry the torch of Truth in my hand, I have not forgotten to walk in the path of Candour.

It is almost needless here to say, that I have availed myself of all the writings of the best and most eminent authors I could obtain. Whatever has struck me as of importance in ecclesiastical history; whatever good and accurate in definition; whatever just views of the passions of the human mind; whatever terms used in the religious world; and whatever instructive and impressive in the systems of divinity and moral philosophy, I have endeavoured to incorporate in this Work. And in order to prevent its being a dry detail of terms and of dates, I have given the substance of what has been generally advanced on each subject, and occasionally selected some of the most interesting and practical passages from our best and celebrated sermons. I trust, therefore, it will not only be of use to inform the mind, but impress the heart; and thus promote the real good of the Reader. The Critic, however, may be disposed to be severe; and it will, perhaps, be easy for him to observe imperfections. But be this as it may : I can assure him I feel myself happy in the idea that the Work is not intended to serve a party, to encourage bigotry, or strengthen prejudice, but "for the service of Truth, by one who would be glad to attend and grace her triumphs; as her soldier, if he has had the honour to serve successfully under her banner; or as a captive tied to her chariot-wheels, if he has, though undesignedly, committed any offence against her." After all, however, what a learned author said of another work I say of this:" If it have merit it will go down to posterity; if it have none, the sooner it dies and is forgot the better."

C.B.

A

THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.

ABB

A

ABB

BBA, a Syriac word, signify-into a state of holy freedom, ing Father. It is more particu- might consequently address God larly used in the Syriac, Coptic, and as their Father. Ethiopic churches, as a title given

gular have over their monks. The sex, indeed, does not allow her to perform the spiritual functions annexed to the priesthood, wherewith the abbot is usually invested; but there are instances of some abbesses who have a right, or rather a privilege, to commission a priest to act for them. They have even a kind of episcopal jurisdiction,

ABBESS, the superior of an abto the bishops. The bishops them-bey or convent of nuns. The abbess selves bestowed the title Abba more has the same rights and authority eminently on the bishop of Alexan-over her nuns that the abbots redria, which occasioned the people to give him the title of Baba, or Papa; that is, Grandfather: a title which he bore before the bishop of Rome. It is a Jewish title of honour given to certain Rabbins || called Tanaites: it is also used by some writers of the middle age for the superior of a monastery. Saint Mark and Saint Paul use this word in their Greek, Mark xiv, 36. Rom. viii, 15. Gal. iv, 6, because it was then commonly known in the synagogues and the primitive ABBEY, a monastery, governassemblies of the christians. It is ed by a superior under the title of thought by Selden, Witsius, Dod-Abbot or Abbess. Monasteries dridge, and others, that Saint Paul alluded to a law among the Jews which forbade servants or slaves to call their master Abba, or Father; and that the apostle meant to convey the idea that those who believed in Christ were no longer slaves to sin; but, being brought VOL. I.

B

as well as some abbots who are exempted from the visitation of their diocesan.

were at first nothing more than religious houses, whither persons retired from the bustle of the world to spend their time in solitude and devotion; but they soon degenerated from their original institution, and procured large privileges, exemptions, and riches. They