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pressed by a natural want, stopped aside, n what similar to a principle of power giving bat expired on the spot, his bowels gushing motion to a machine; and as happy in the out. The Arian party, however, found a contemplation of himself, but regardless of protector in Constantius, who succeeded his human affairs. They were uncertain as to father in the East. They underwent vari- the immortality of the soul -As this was ous revolutions and persecutions under suc- rather a philosophical than religious sect, we ceeding emperors; till, at length, Theodo- shall not enlarge on it. sius the Great exerted every effort to sup- ARK, or Noah's Ark, a floating vessel press them. Their doctrine was carried, inbuilt by Noah for the preservation of his the fifth century, into Africa, under the family, and the several species of animals, Vandals; and into Asia undor the Goths. during the deluge. The form of the Ark was Italy, Gaul, and Spain, were also deeply in- an oblong, with a flat bottom, and a sloped fected with it; and towards the commence | roof, raised to a cubit in the middle; it had ment of the sixth century, it was triumphant | neither sails nor rudder; nor was it sharp at in many parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe: the ends for cutting the water. This form but it sunk, almost at once, when the Van-was admirably calculated to make it lie dals were driven out of Africa, and the steady on the water, without rolling, which Goths out of Italy, by the arms of Justinian. might have endangered the lives of the aniHowever, it revived again in Italy, under the mals within. protection of the Lombards, in the seventh The length of this ark was 300. cubits, century, and was not extinguished till about which, according to Dr. Arbuthnot's calculathe end of the eighth. Arianism was again tion, amount to a little more thon 547 teet; revived in the West by Servetus, in 1531, its breadth, 50 cubits, or 91-2 fuet; its for which he suffered death. After this the height, 30 cubits, or 54-72 feet; and its solid doctrine got footing in Geneva, and in Po contents 2,730-782 solid feet, sufficient for a land; but at length degenerated in a great carriage for 81,062 ton. It consisted of three measure into Sociniamism. Erasmus, it is stories, each of which, abating the thickness thought, aimed at reviving it, in his com- of the floors, might be about 18 feet high, mentaries on the New-Testament, and the and no doubt was partitioned into a great learned Grotius seems to lean that way. many rooms or apartments. This vessel was Mr. Whiston was one of the first divines doubtless so contrived, as to admit the air who revived this controversy in the eigh- and the light on all, though the particular teenth century. He was followed by Dr construction of the windows be not menClark, who was chiefly opposed by Dr. Wa- tioned. terland. Those who hold the doctrine which ARK OF THE COVENANT, a small is usually called Low Arianism, say that chest or coffer, three feet nine inches in Christ pre-existed; but not as the eternal length, two feet three inches in breadth, and Logos of the Father, or as the Being by li two feet three inches in height, in which whom he made the worlds, and had inter- were contained the golden pot that had mancourse with the patriarchs, or as having any i na, Aaron's rod, and the tables of the cove.certain rank or employment whatever in the nant. The ark was reposited in the holiest divine dispensations. In modern times the place of the tabernacle. It was taken by term Arian is indiscriminately applied to the Philistines, and detained twenty (some those who consider Jesus simply subordinate | say forty), years at Kirjah-jearim; but, the - to the Father. Some of them believe Christ people being afflicted with emerods on acto have been the creator of the world; but count of it, returned it with divers presents. they all maintain that he existed previously It was afterwards placed in the temple. to his incarnation, though in his pre-existent The lid or covering of the ark was called state they assign him different degrees of the propiciatory or mercy-seal; over which dignity. Hence the terms High and Low two figures were placed, called cherubins, Arian. See PRE-EXISTENCE. Some of the with expanded wings of a peculiar form. more recent vindicators of Arianism have Here the Shechinah rested both in the tabeen H. T'aylor, in his Apology of Benbernacle and temple in a visible cloud: Mordecai to his Friends for embracing hence were issued the Divine oracles by an Christianity ; Dr. Harwood, in his Five audible voice; and the high priest appeared Dissertations; Dr. Price, in his Sermons before this mercy-seat once every year on on the Christian Doctrine. See also the 4th the great day of expiation; and the Jews, vol

. of the Theological Repository, p. 153– wherever they worshipped, turned their 163, and Corinth': Tract on the Pre-exist- faces towards the place where the ark stood. ence of Christ.

In the second temple there was also an On the opposite side, Bogue and Benneti's ark, made of the same shape and dimensions Hist. of Dissenters, vol. lii. Abbadie, Wa-l with the first, and put in the same place, terland, Guyse, Hey, Robinson, Eveleigh, but without any of its contents and peculiar Hawker on the Divinity of Christ ;--la-honours. It was used as a representative of lamy, Taylor, Gill, Jones, Pike and Simp- the former on the day of expiation, and a reson, on the Trinity.

pository of the original copy of the holy ARISTOTELIANS, the followers of Aris scriptures, collected by Ezra and the men of totle. They believed in the eternity of the the great synagogue after the captivity; and, world, and represented the Deity as some- ll in imitation of this, the Jews, to this day,

have a kind of ark in their synagogues, wherein their sacred books are kept. ARMENIANS, the inhabitants of Armenia, whose religion is the Christian, of the Eutychian sect; that is, they hold but one nature in Jesus Christ. See EUTYCHIANS. They assert also the procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father only. They believe that Christ at his descent into hell freed the souls of the damned from thence, and reprieved them to the end of the world, when they shall be remanded to eternal flames. They believe that the souls of the righteous shall not be admitted to the beatific vision till after the resurrection, not withstanding which they pray to departed saints, adore their pictures, and burn lamps before them. The Armenian clergy consist of patriarchs, archbishops, doctors, secular priests and monks. The Armenian monks are of the order of St. Basil; and every Wednesday and Friday they eat neither fish, nor eggs, nor oil, nor any thing made of milk; and during Lent they live upon nothing but roots. They have seven sacraments; baptism, confirmation, penance, the eucharist, extreme unction, orders, and matrimony.-They ad-|| mit infants to the communion at two or three months old. They seem to place the chief part of their religion in fastings and abstinence; and, among the clergy, the higher the degree, the lower they must live; insomuch that it is said the archbishops live on nothing but pulse. They consecrate holy water but once a year; at which time every one fills a pot, and carries it home, which brings in a considerable revenue to the church.

II. That Jesus Christ, by his sufferings and death, made an atonement for the sins of all mankind in general, and of every individual in particular; that, however, none but those who believe in him can be partakers of divine benefits.

III. That the true faith cannot proceed from the exercise of our natural faculties and powers, nor from the force and operation of free will; since man, in consequence of his natural corruption, is incapable either of thinking or doing any good thing; and that, therefore, it is necessary, in order to his conversion and salvation, that he be regenerated and renewed by the operation of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God through Jesus Christ.

IV. That this divine grace or energy of the Holy Ghost begins and perfects every thing that can be called good in man, and, consequently, all good works are to be attributed to God alone; that, nevertheless, this grace is offered to all, and does not force men to act against their inclinations, but may be resisted and rendered ineffectual by the perverse will of the impenitent sinner. Some modern Arminians interpret this and the last article with a greater latitude.

V. That God gives to the truly faithful who are regenerated by his grace the means of preserving themselves in this state. The first Arminians, indeed, had some doubt with respect to the closing part of this article ; but their followers uniformly maintain" that the regenerate may lose true justifying faith, fall from a state of grace, and die in their sins."

After the appointment of Arminius to the theological chair at Leyden, he thought it bis duty to avow and vindicate the principles which he had embraced; and the freedom with which he published and defended them,

ARMINIANS, persons who follow the doctrines of Arminius, who was pastor at Amsterdam, and afterwards professor of divinity at Leyden. Arminius had been edu-exposed him to the resentment of those that cated in the opinions of Calvin; but, thinking the doctrine of that great man with regard to free will, predestination, and grace, too severe, he began to express his doubts concerning them in the year 1591; and, upon farther enquiry, adopted the sentiments of those whose religious system extends the love of the Supreme Being, and the merits of Jesus Christ to all mankind. The Arminians are also called Remonstrants, because in 1611, they presented a remonstrance to the states-general, wherein they state their grievances, and pray for relief.

adhered to the theological system of Geneva, which then prevailed in Holland; but his principal opponent was Gomer, his colleague. the controversy which was thus begun became more general after the death of Arminius in the year 1609, and threatened to involve the United Provinces in civil discord. The Arminian tenets gained ground under the mild and favourable treatment of the magistrates of Holland, and were adopted by several persons of merit and distinction. The Calvinists or Gomarists, as they were now called, appealed to a national synod; accordingly the synod of Dort was convened, by order of the states general, in 1618; and was composed of ecclesiastic deputies from the United Provinces, as well as from the reformed Churches of England, Hessia, Bremen, I. That God, from all eternity, determined Switzerland, and the Palatinate. The printo bestow salvation on those whom he fore-cipal advocates in favour of the Arminians saw would persevere unto the end; and to was Episcopius, who at that time was proinflict everlasting punishments on those who fessor of divinity at Leyden. It was first should continue in their unbelief, and resist proposed to discuss the principal subjects in his divine succours; so that election was dispute, that the Arminians should be allowconditional, and reprobation in like manner,ed to state and vindicate the grounds on the result of foreseen infidelity and perse-which their opinions were founded; but, some vering wickedness. difference arising as to the proper mode of

The distinguishing tenets of the Arminians may be comprised in the five following articles relative to the predestination, universal redemption, the corruption of man, conversion, and perseverance, viz.

are obliged to believe as having been revealed by God himself, and allowed and established as such by the church. See CONFESSIONS. ARTICLES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. See CHURCH OF ENGLAND. ARTICLES LAMBETH. The Lambeth

conducting the debate, the Arminians were, excluded from the assembly, their case was tried in their absence, and they were pronounced guilty of pestilential errors, and condemned as corruptors of the true religion. A curious account of the proceedings of the above synod may be seen in a series of let-articles were so called, because drawn up at ters written by Mr. John Hales, who was present on the occasion.

Lambeth palace, under the eye and with the assistance of archbishop Whitgift, bishop In consequence of the above-mentioned de- Bancroft, bishop Vaughan, and other eminent cision, the Arminians were considered as dignitaries of the Church. That the reader enemies to their country, and, its established may judge how Calvanistic the clergy were religion, and were much persecuted. They under the reign of queen Elizabeth, we shall were treated with great severity, and de- here insert them. 1. God hath from eterprived of all their posts and employments, nity predestinated certain persons to life, and their ministers were silenced, and their con- hath reprobated certain persons unto death. gregations were supprest. The great Bar- 2. The moving or efficient cause of predesneveldt was beheaded on a scaffold; and the tination unto life is not the foresight of faith, learned Grotius, being condemned to perpetual or of perseverance, or of good works, or of imprisonment, fled, and took refuge in France. any thing that is in the persons predestinaAfter the death of prince Maurice, who ted; but the alone will of God's good pleahad been a violent partisan in favour of the sure. 3. The predestinati are a pre-deterGomarists in the year 1625, the Arminian mined and certain number, which can neiexiles were restored to their former reputa- ther be lessened nor increased. 4. Such as tion and tranquillity; and, under the tolera- are not predestinated to salvation shall inevition of the state, they erected churches and tably be sondemned on account of their sins. founded a college at Amsterdam appointing 5. The true, lively, and justifying faith, and Episcopius the first theological professor. the Spirit of God justifying is not extinguishThe Arminian system has very much pre-ed, doth not utterly fail, doth not vanish away vailed in England since the time of Arch- in the elect, either finally or totally. 6. Á bishop Laud, and its votaries in other coun- true believer, that is, one who is endued with tries are very numerous. It is generally sup-justifying faith, is certified by the full assuposed that a majority of the clergy in both rance of faith that his sins are forgiven, the established churches of Great Britain and that he shall be everlastingly saved by favour the Arminian system, notwithstand-Christ. 7. Saving grace is not allowed, is not ing their articles are strictly Calvinistic. imparted, is not granted to all men, by which The name of Mr. John Wesley hardly need they may be saved if they will. 8. No man be mentioned here. Every one knows what is able to come to Christ, unless it be given an advocate he was for the tenets of Armi- || him; and unless the Father draw him; and nius, and the success he met with. See ME-all men are not drawn by the Father, that THODISTS.

they may come to his Son. 9. It is not in Some of the principal writers on the side the will or power of every man to be saved." of the Arminians have been Arminius, What gave occasion to the framing these arEpiscopius, Vorstius, Grotius, Curcellaus, ticles was this:-Some persons had distinLimborch, Le Clerc, Wetstein, Goodwin,guished themselves at the university of CamWhitby, Taylor, Fletcher, &c.

bridge by opposing predestination. AlarmSome of the principal writers on the other ed at the opinions that were vented the side have been Polhill in his Book on the above-mentioned archbishop, with others, Decrees; John Edwards in his Veritas Re- composed these articles, to prevent the bedux; Cole in his Sovereignty of God; Ed-lief of a contrary doctrine. These, when wards on the Will and Original Sin; Dr. completed, were sent down to Cambridge, Owen in his Display of Arminianism, and to which the scholars were strictly enjoined on particular Redemption; Gill in his Cause to conform. of God and Truth; and Toplady in almost all his works.

ARTOTYRITES, a Christian sect in the primitive church, who celebrated the euchaARNOLDISTS, the followers of Arnold, rist with bread and cheese. The word is deof Brescia, in the twelfth century, who was rived from apr, "bread," and rupes, a great declaimer against the wealth and "cheese." The Artotyrites admitted wovices of the clergy. He is also charged with men to the priesthood and episcopacy; and preaching against baptism and the eucharist. Epiphanius tells us that it was a common He was burnt at Rome in 1155, and his ash-thing to see seven girls at once enter into es cast into the Tiber.

ARTEMONTES, a denomination in the second century; so called from Artemon, who taught that, at the birth of the man Christ, a certain divine energy, or portion of the divine nature, united itself to him.

ARTICLE OF FAITH, is by some defined a point of Christian doctrine, which we

their church robed in white, and holding a torch in their hand; where they wept and bewailed the wretchedness of human nature, and the miseries of this life.

ASCENSION OF CHRIST, his visible elevation to heaven. The ascension of Jesus Christ was not only presignified by many scripture types, but also by many remarka.

18.

ble scripture prophecies, Ps. xlvii. 5. Ps. his majesty is represented by his commis cx. 1. Dan. vii. 13, 14. Mic. ii. 15. Ps. Ixviii.sioner, who dissolves one meeting and calls another in the name of the king, while the The evidences of his ascension were nu-moderator does the same in the name of Jemerous. The disciples saw him ascend, Acts sus Christ. See CONVOCATION, PRESBY i. 9. 10, Two angels testified that he did as-TERIANS. cend, Acts i. 11. Stephen, Paul, and John, saw him in his ascended state, Acts vii. 55, 56. Acts ix. Rev. i. The marvellous des cent of the Holy Ghost demonstrated it, John xvi. 7, 14, Acts ii. 33. The terrible overthrow and dispersion of the Jewish nation is a standing proof of it, John viii. 21. Matt.|| xxvi. 64.

The time of his ascension. It was forty days after his resurrection. He continued so many days on earth, that he might give many repeated proofs of his resurrection. Acts i. 3. that he might instruct his followers in every thing which pertained to the abolishment of the Jewish ceremonies, Acts i. 3 and that he might open to them the scriptures concerning himself, and renew their commission to preach the gospel, Acts i. 5, 6. Mark xvi. 15.

The manner of his ascension. It was from Mount Olivet to heaven, Acts i. 12; not in appearance only, but in reality and truth; visibly and locally; a real motion of his human nature; sudden, swift, glorious, and in a triumphant manner. He was parted from his disciples while he was solemnly blessing them; and multitudes of angels attended him with shouts of praise. Ps. lxviii. 17. xlvii. 5, 6.

ASSENT, that act of the mind whereby it takes or acknowledges any proposition to be true or false. There are three degrees of assent :-conjecture, opinion, and belief. Conjecture is but a slight and weak inclination to assent to the thing proposed, by reason of the weighty objections that lie against it. Opinion is a more steady and fixed assent, when a man is almost certain, though yet with some fear of the contrary remains with him. Belief is a more full and assured assent to the truth. See BELIEF.

ASSURANCE is the firm persuasion-we have of the certainty of any thing, or a certain expectation of something future.

Assurance of the understanding is a well-grounded knowledge of divine things founded on God's word, Col. ii. 2. Assurance of Faith does not relate to our personal in terest in Christ, but consists in a firm belief of the revelation that God has given us of Christ in his word, with an entire dependance on him, Heb. x. 22-Assurance of hope is a firm expectation that God will grant us the complete enjoyment of what he has promised, Heb. vi. 11.

The doctrine of assurance, i. e. the belief that we have an interest in the divine favour, has afforded matter for dispute among diThe effects or ends of Christ's ascension vines. Some have asserted that it is not to were, 1. To fulfil the prophecies and types be obtained in the present state, allowing concerning it. 2. To take upon him more that persons may be in a hopeful way to openly the exercise of his kingly office. 3. salvation, but that they have no real or abse To receive gifts for men both ordinary and lute assurance of it: but this is clearly refu extraordinary, Ps. Ixviii. 18. 4. To open the ted by fact as well as by scripture. That way into heaven for his people, Heb. x. 19, it is to be obtained is evident, for we have 20. 5. To assure the saints of their ascen- reason to believe many persons have actually sion also, John xiv. 1, 2. obtained it, Job xix. 25. Ps xvii. 15. 2 Tim. ASCETIC, one who retires from thei. 12. The scriptures exhort us to obtain it, world for the purpose of devotion and morti-2 Cor. xiii. 5. Heb. vi. 11. 1 Thes. v. 21. fication. When the monks came in fashion, The Holy Spirit is said to bear witness of it, this title was bestowed upon them, especial-Rom. viii. 16. The exercises of the Christian ły such as lived in solitude. It was also the graces is considered as a proof of it. 1 John title of several books of spiritual exercises, ii. 14. 1 John ii. 3. We must, however, as the Ascetics, or devout exercises, of St. guard against presumption; for a mere perBasil, &c. suasion that Christ is ours, is no proof that he is so. We must have evidence before we can have genuine assurance. It is necessary to observe also, that it is not a duty im posed upon all mankind, so that every one, in whatsoever state he may be, ought to be fully persuaded of his salvation. We do not affirm," says Saurin, "that Christians of whose sincerity there may be some doubt have a right to assurance: that backsliders, as such, ought to persuade themselves that they shall be saved; nor do we say that Christians who have arrived to the highest degree of holiness can be persuaded of the certainty of their salvation in every period of their lives; nor, if left to their own efforts, can they enjoy it: but believers supported by the Divine aid, who walk in all good con

ASCODROGITES, a denomination which arose about the year 181. They brought into their churches bags or skins filled with new wine, to represent the new bottles filled with new wine, mentioned by Christ. They danced round these bags or skins, and, it is said, intoxicated themselves with the wine. ASCOODRUTES, a sect, in the second century, who rejected the use of all symbols and sacraments on this principle, that incorporeal things cannot be communicated by things corporeal, nor divine mysteries by any thing visible.

ASSEMBLIES OF THE CLERGY are called convocations, synods, councils. The annual meeting of the church of Scotland is called a general assembly. In this assembly

science before him, these only have ground || tion always relates to things of the highest to expect this privilege."

importance; to things which appear too vast and extensive for the grasp of intellect, rather than to any thing of an intricate nature. The body marks in a striking manner the singular state of the mind under this emotion. The eyes are firmly fixed, without being directed to any particular object; the character of countenance, which was formed by the habitual influence of some predominant affection, is for a time effaced; and a suspension of every other expression, a certain vacuity, strongly notes this state of mind.

ATHANASIANS, those who profess the sentiments held in the Athanasian Creed. See CREED.

Some divines have maintained that assurance is included in the very essence of faith, so that a man cannot have faith without assurance; but we must distinguish between assurance and justifying faith. The apostle, indeed, speaks of the full assurance of faith; but then this is a full and firm persuasion of what the Gospel reveals; whereas the assurance we are speaking of relates to our personal interest in Christ, and is an effect of this faith, and not faith itself. Faith in Christ certainly includes some idea of assurance; for, except we be assured that he is the Saviour, we shall never go to or rely upon him as such: but faith in Christ does not imply an assurance of our interest in ATHEIST, one who denies the existence him; for there may be faith long before the of God:-this is called speculative atheism: assurance of personal interest commences. Professing to believe in God, and yet acting The confounding of these ideas has been' the contrary to this belief, is called practical cause of presumption on the one hand, and atheism. Absurd and irrational as atheism despair on the other. When men have been is, it has had its votaries and martyrs. In taught that faith consisted in believing that the seventeenth century, Spinosa, a foreigner, Christ died for them, and been assured that, was its noted defender. Lucilio Vanini, a if they can only believe so, all is well; and native of Naples, also publicly taught athethat then they are immediately pardoned ism in France; and, being convicted of it at and justified, the consequence has been, that Tolouse, was condemned and executed in the bold and self-conceited have soon wrought 1619. It has been questioned, however, themselves up to such a persuasion, without whether any man ever seriously adopted any ground for it, to their own deception; such a principle. The pretensions to it have whilst the dejected, humble, and poor in been generally founded on pride or affectaspirit, not being able to work themselves to tion. The open avowal of atheism by sevesuch a pitch of confidence, have concludedral of the leading members of the French that they have not the faith of God's elect, and must inevitably be lost.

convention seems to have been an extraor dinary moral phenomenon. This, however, as we have seen, was too vague and uncomfortable a principle to last long. Archbishop Tillotson justly observes, that speculative atheism is unreasonable upon five accounts.

The means to attain assurance are not those of an extraordinary kind, as some people imagine; such as visions, dreams, voices, &c.; but such as are ordinary; self-examination, humble and constant prayer, consult-1. Because it gives no tolerable account of ing the sacred oracles, Christian communication, attendance on the divine ordinances, and perseverance in the path of duty; without which all our assurance is but presumption, and our profession but hypocrisy.

the existence of the world.-2. It does not give any reasonable account of the universal consent of mankind in this apprehension, that there is a God.-3. It requires more evidence for things than they are capable Assurance may be lost for a season through of giving.-4. The Atheist pretends to know bodily diseases which depress the spirits, un- that which no man can know.-5. Atheism watchfulness, falling into sin, manifold temp-contradicts itself. Under the first of these tations, worldly cares, and neglect of private he thus argues.-"I appeal to any man of duty. He, therefore, who would wish to en- reason whether any thing can be more joy this privilege, let him cultivate commu- unreasonable than obstinately to impute an nion with God, exercise a watchful spirit effect to chance, which carries in the very against his spiritual enemies, and give him- face of it all the arguments and characters self unreservedly to Him whose he is, and of a wise design and contrivance. Was whom he professes to serve. See Saurin's ever any considerable work, in which there Ser. vol. iii. ser. 10. Eng. ed.; Case's Ser- was required a great variety of parts, and a mons, ser. 13; Lambert's Ser. on John ix. regular and orderly disposition of those parts, 35; Hervey's Theron and Aspasio, dia- done by chance? Will chance fit means to logue 17; Howe's Works, vol. i. p. 342. ends, and that in ten thousand instances, and 348; Brooks, Burgess, Roberts, Baxter,not fail in any one? How often might a man, Polhill, and Davye on Assurance; Hora Sol., vol. ii. p. 269.

ASSURITANS, a branch of the Donatists, who held that the Son was inferior to the Father, and the Holy Ghost to the Son. See DONATISTS.

after he had jumbled a set of letters in a bag, fling them out upon the ground before they would fall into an exact poem; yea, or so much as make a good discourse in prose! And may not a little book be as easily made by chance as the great volume of the world? ASTONISHMENT, a kind or degree of How long night a man be in sprinkling cowonder introduced by surprise. This emolours upon canvass with a careless hand,

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