the first deacons. Many of the primi tive writers believed that Nicholas was rather the occasion than the author of the infamous practices of those who assumed his name, who were expressly condemned by the Spirit of God himself, Rev. ii. 6. And, indeed, their opinions and actions were highly extravagant and criminal. They allowed a community of wives, and made no distinction between ordinary meats and those offered to idols. According to Eusebius, they subsisted but a short time; but Tertullian says, that they only changed their name, and that their heresies passed into the sect of the Cainites.

according to the ancient manner, the ancients delivered their precepts and doctrines, were in process of time erroneously understood, both by priests and people, in a literal sense; that in consequence of this, the invisible beings and demons whom the Supreme Deity had placed in the different parts of the universe as the ministers of his providence, were by the suggestions of superstition converted into gods, and worshipped with a multiplicity of vain ceremonies. He therefore insisted that all the religions of all nations should be restored to their primitive standard: viz. The ancient philosophy of the east: and he asserted that his project, was agreeable to the intentions of Jesus NOETIANS, Christian heretics in Christ, whom he acknowledged to be a the third century, followers of Noetius, most excellent man, the friend of God; a philosopher of Ephesus, who pretendand affirmed that his sole view in deed that he was another Moses sent by scending on earth, was to set bounds to the reigning superstition, to remove the|| errors which had crept into the religion of all nations, but not to abolish the ancient theology from which they were derived.

God, and that his brother was a new Aaron. His heresy consisted in affirming that there was but one person in the Godhead; and that the Word and the Holy Spirit were but external denominations given to God in consequence of different operations; that, as Creator, he is called Father; as incarnate, Son; and as descending on the apostles, Holy Ghost.

Taking these principles for granted, Ammonius associated the sentiments of the Egyptians with the doctrines of Plato; and to finish this conciliatory scheme, he so interpreted the doctrines NONCONFORMISTS, those who of the other philosophical and religious refuse to join the established church. sects, by art, invention, and allegory, Nonconformists in England may be conthat they seemed to bear some sem-sidered of three sorts. 1. Such as abblance to the Egyptian and Platonic systems.

sent themselves from divine worship in the established church through total irreligion, and attend the service of no other persuasion.-2. Such as absent themselves on the plea of conscience : as Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, &c.-S. Internal Nonconformists, or unprincipled clergymen, who ap plaud and propagate doctrines quite inconsistent with several of those articles they promised on oath to defend. The word is generally used in reference to those ministers who were ejected from their livings by the act of Uniformity, in 1662. The number of these was about two thousand. However some af. fect to treat these men with indiffer

With regard to moral discipline, Ammonius permitted the people to live according to the law of their country, and the dictates of nature; but a more sublime rule was laid down for the wise. They were to raise above all terrestrial things, by the towering efforts of holy contemplation, those souls whose origin was celestial and divine. They were ordered to extenuate by hunger, thirst, and other mortifications, the sluggish body, which restrains the liberty of the immortal spirit, that in this life they might enjoy communion with the Supreme Being, and ascend after death, active and unencumbered, to the unience, and suppose that their consciences versal Parent, to live in his presence for ever.

NEW TESTAMENT. See INSPI RATION, and SCRIPTURE.

were more tender than they need be, it must be remembered, that they were men of as extensive learning, great abilities, and pious conduct as ever appearNICENE CREED. See CREED. ed. Mr. Locke, if his opinion have any NICOLAITANS, heretics who as-weight, calls them worthy, learned, sumed this name from Nicholas of Antioch; who, being a Gentile by birth, first embraced Judaism and then Christianity; when his zeal and devotion recommended him to the church of Jerusalem, by whom he was chosen one of

"As to

pious, orthodox divines, who did not
throw themselves out of service, but
were forcibly ejected”
Mr. Bogue
thus draws their character:
their public ministration," he says, "they
were orthodox, experimental, serious,

of this intolerant spirit, that it is supposed near eight thousand died in prison in the reign of Charles II. It is said, that Mr. Jeremiah White bad carefully collected a list of those who had suffered between Charles II. and the revolu

The same persecutions were carried on in Scotland; and there, as well as in England, many, to avoid persecution, fled from their country.

affectionate, regular, faithful, able, and popular preachers. As to their moral qualities, they were devout and holy; faithful to Christ and the souls of men; wise and prudent; of great liberality and kindness; and strenuous advocates for liberty, civil and religious. As totion, which amounted to sixty thousand. their intellectual qualities, they were learned, eminent, and laborious." These men were driven from their houses, from the society of their friends, and exposed to the greatest difficulties, But, notwithstanding all these dreadTheir burdens were greatly increased by ful and furious attacks upon the Disthe Conventical act, whereby they were senters, they were not extirpated. prohibited from meeting for any exer- Their very persecution was in their facise of religion (above five in number) vour. The infamous characters of their in any other manner than allowed by informers and persecutors; their piety, the liturgy or practice of the Church of zeal, and fortitude, no doubt, had influEngland. For the first offence the pen-ence on considerate minds; and, indeed, alty was three months imprisonment, or they had additions from the established pay five pounds; for the second offence, church, which "several clergymen in six months imprisonment, or ten pounds; this reign deserted as a persecuting and for the third offence, to be banish-church, and took their lot among them.* ed to some of the American plantations for seven years, or pay one hundred pounds; and in case they returned, to suffer death without benefit of clergy. By virtue of this act, the gaols were quickly filled with dissenting Protestants, and the trade of an informer was King William coming to the throne, very gainful. So great was the severity the famous Toleration Act passed, by of these times, says Neale, that they which they were exempted from sufferwere afraid to pray in their families, ifing the penalties above-mentioned, and above four of their acquaintance, who permission given them to worship God, came only to visit thein, were present: according to the dictates of their own some families scrupled asking a bless-consciences. In the latter end of Queen ing on their meat, if five strangers were

at table.

In addition to this, king James suddenly altered his measures, granted a universal toleration, and preferred Dissenters to places of trust and profit, though it was evidently with a view to restore popery.

Anne's reign they began to be a little alarmed. An act of parliament passed, called the Occasional Conformity Bill, which prevented any person in office under the government entering into a meeting-house. Another, cailed the Schism Bill, had actually obtained the royal assent, which suffered no Dissenters to educate their own children, but required them to be put into the hands of Conformists; and which forbade all tutors and schoolmasters being present at any conventicle, or dissent

But this was not all (to say nothing of the Test act :) in 1665, án act was brought into the House to banish them from their friends, commonly called the Oxford Five Mile Act, by which all dissenting ministers, on the penalty of forty pounds, who would not take an oath (that it was not lawful, upon any fretence whatever, to take arms against the king, &c.) were prohibited from coming within five miles of any city, town corporate, or borough, or any placeing place of worship; but the very day where they had exercised their ministry, and from teaching any school. Some few took the oath; others could not, consequently suffered the penalty.

this iniquitous act was to have taken place, the Queen died (August 1, 1714.)

But his majesty king George I. being fully satisfied that these hardships were brought upon the Dissenters for their steady adherence to the Protestant succession in his illustrious house against a tory and jacobite ministry, who were paving the way for a popish pretender, procured the repeal of them in the fifth year of his reign; though a clause was left that forbade the mayor or other magistrate to go into any meeting for religious worship with the ensigns of his Such were the dreadful consequences office. See Bogue's Churge at 3

In 1675, "the mouths of the high church pulpiteers, were encouraged to open as loud as possible. One, in his sermon before the House of Commons, told them, that the Nonconformists ought not to be tolerated, but to be cured by vengeance. He urged them to set fire to the faggot, and to teach them by scourges or scorpions, and open their eyes with gall."

||

The Novatians did not deny but a person falling into any sin, how grievous soever, might obtain pardon by repentance; for they themselves recommended repentance in the strongest terms; but their doctrine was, that the church had it not in its power to receive sinners into its communion, as having no way of remitting sins but by baptism; which once received could not be repeated.

The two leaders, Novatian and Novatus, were proscribed, and declared heretics, not for excluding penitents from communion, but for denying that the church had the power of remitting sins.

NONJURORS, those who refused to take the oaths to government, and who In process of time the Novatians were in consequence under certain in-softened and moderated the rigour of capacities, and liable to certain severe their master's doctrine, and only refused penalties. It can scarcely be said that absolution to very great sinners. there are any Nonjurors now in the kingdom; and it is well known that all penalties have been removed both from Papists and Protestants, formerly of that denomination, as well in Scotland as in England. The members of the episcopal church of Scotland have long NOVITIATE, a year of probation been denominated Nonjurors; but per-appointed for the trial of religious, haps they are now called so improperly, whether or no they have a vocation, and as the ground of their difference from the necessary qualities for living up to the establishment is more on account the rule, the observation whereof they of ecclesiastical than political principles. are to bind themselves to by vow. The NON-RESIDENCE, the act of not novitiate lasts a year at least; in some residing on an ecclesiastical benefice. houses more. It is esteemed the bed of Nothing can reflect greater disgrace on the civil death of a novice, who expires a clergyman of a parish, than to receive to the world by profession. the emolument without ever visiting his parishioners, and being unconcerned for the welfare of their souls; yet this has been a reigning evil in our land, and proves that there are two many who There were women in the ancient care little about the flock, so that they Christian church, who made public may but live at ease. Let such remem-profession of virginity before the mober what an awful account they will have to give of talents misapplied, time wasted, souls neglected, and a sacred office abused.

NOVATIANS, Novatiani, a sect of ancient heretics that arose towards the close of the third century; so called from Novatian, a priest of Rome, They were called also Cathari, from nabags, pure, q. d. Puritans.

NUN, a woman, in several Christian countries, who devotes herself,in a cloister or nunnery, to a religious life. See article MONK.

nastic life was known in the world, as appears from the writings of Cyprian and Tertullian. These, for distinction's sake, are sometimes called ecclesiasti cal virgins, and were commonly enrolled in the canon or matricula of the church. They differed from the monastic virgins chiefly in this, that they lived privately in their father's houses, whereas the others lived in communiNovatian first separated from the ties: but their profession of virginity communion of pope Cornelias, on prewas not so strict as to make it criminal tence of his being too easy in admitting for them to marry afterwards, if they to repentance those who had fallen off thought fit. As to the consecration of in times of persecution. He indulged virgins,it had some things peculiar in it: his inclination to severity so far, as to it was usually performed publicly in the deny that such as had fallen into gross church by the bishop. The virgin made sins, especially those who had apostati-a public profession of her resolution, and zed from the faith under the persecution set on foot by Decius, were to be again received into the bosom of the church; grounding his opinion on that of St. Paul: "It is impossible for those "who were once enlightened, and have "tasted of the heavenly gift, &c. if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance," Heb. vi. 4 to 6.

then the bishop put upon her the accustomed habit of sacred virgins. One part of this habit was a veil, called the sacrum valamen; another was a kind of mitre or coronet worn upon the head. At present, when a woman is to be made a nun, the habit, veil, and ring of the candidate are carried to the altar; and she herself, accompanied by her

bearest relations, is conducted to the nounced against all who shall attempt to bishop, who, after mass and an anthem make her break her vows. In some (the subject of which is "that she ought few instances, perhaps, it may have to have her lamp lighted, because the || happened that nunneries, monasteries, bridegroom is coming to meet her") &c. may have been useful as well to pronounces the benediction: then she morality and religion as to literature; rises up, and the bishop consecrates the in the gross, however, they have been new habit, sprinkling it with holy water. highly prejudicial; and however well When the candidate has put on her re- they might be supposed to do when ligious habit, she presents herself before viewed in theory, in fact they are unthe bishop, and sings on her knees natural and impious. It was surely far Ancilla Christi sum, &c. then she re- from the intention of Providence to serceives the veil,and afterwards the ring, clude youth and beauty in a cloister, or by which she is married to Christ; and, to deny them the innocent enjoyment lastly, the crown of virginity. When of their years and sex. See MONASshe is crowned, an anathema is de- TERY.

OATH, a solemn affirmation, wherein we appeal to God as a witness of the truth of what we say, and with an imprecation of his vengeance, or a renunciation of his favour, if what we affirm be false, or what we promise be not performed.

frequently the substance of the oath is repeated to the juror by the magistrate, who adds in the conclusion, So help you God.' The energy of the sentence resides in the particle so; so, that is, hac lege, upon condition of my speaking the truth, or performing this proThe forms of oaths," says Dr. Paley, mise, and not otherwise, may God help "like other religious ceremonies, have me. The juror, whilst he hears or rein all ages been various; consisting, peats the words of the oath, holds his however, for the most part, of some bo- right hand upon the Bible, or other book dily action, and of a prescribed form of containing the four Gospels, and at the words. Amongst the Jews, the juror conclusion kisses the book. This obheld up his right hand towards heaven, scure and elliptical form, together with Psal. cxliv. 8. Rev. x. 5. (The same the levity and frequency with which it form is retained in Scotland still.) is administered, has brought about a Amongst the Jews, also, an oath of fi- general inadvertency to the obligation delity was taken by the servant's put- of oaths, which both in a religious and ting his hand under the thigh of his lord, political view is much to be lamented: Gen. xxiv. 2. Amongst the Greeks and and it merits public consideration," Romans, the form varied with the sub- continues, Mr. Paley, “whether the reject and occasion of the oath in pri- quiring of oaths on so many frivolous vate contracts, the parties took hold of occasions, especially in the customs, and each other's hand, whilst they swore to in the qualification for petty offices, has the performance; or they touched the any other effect than to make them altar of the ged by whose divinity they cheap in the minds of the people. A swore. Upon more solemn occasions it pound of tea cannot travel regularly was the custom to slay a victim, and the from the ship to the consumer without beast being struck down, with cer- costing half a dozen oaths at least; and tain ceremonies and invocations, gave the same security for the due discharge birth to the expressions, Taμvuv oprav, ferire of their office, namely, that of an oath, pactum; and to our English phrase, is required from a churchwarden and translated from these, of striking a an archbishop, from a petty constable bargain. The forms of oaths in Chris- and the chief justice of England. Oaths, tian countries are also very different; however, are lawful; and, whatever be but in no country in the world worse the form, the signification is the same." contrived, either to convey the meaning, It is evident that so far as atheism preor impress the obligation of an oath, vails, oaths can be of no use. “Remove than in our own. The juror with us, God once out of heaven, and there will after repeating the promise or aflirma-never be any gods upon earth. If man's tion which the oath is intended to con- nature had not something of subjection firm, adds, So help me God;' or mere in it to a Supreme Being, and inhe

rent principles, obliging him how to behave himself toward God and toward the rest of the world, government could never have been introduced, nor thought of. Nor can there be the least mutual

Doctrine of Oaths; Doddridge's Let tures, lect. 189; Tillotson's 22d Sermon; Wolsely's Unreasonableness of Atheism, p. 152.

Oath of allegiance is as follows: "I, A. B. do sincerely promise and swear, that I will be faithful, and bear true allegiance to his Majesty, King George. So help me God." This is taken by Protestant dissenting ministers, when licenced by the civil magistrate; as is also the following:

Oath of supremacy; "I, A. B. do swear, that I do from my heart abhor, detest, and abjure, as impious and heretical, that damnable doctrine and po

security between governors and govern. ed, where no God is admitted. For it is acknowledging of God in his supreme judgment over the world, that is the ground of an oath, and upon which the validity of all human engagements depend." Historians have justly remarked, that when the reverence for an oath began to be diminished among the Romans, and the loose Epicurian system, which discarded the belief of Providence, was introduced, the Roman ho-sition, that princes excommunicated or nour and prosperity from that period deprived by the Pope, or any authority began to decline. The Quakers re- of the see of Rome, may be deposed or fuse to swear upon any occasion, found- murdered by their subjects, or any other ing their scruples concerning the law-whatsoever. And I do declare, that no fulness of oaths, upon our Saviour's foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or prohibition, Swear not at all." Matt. potentate, hath, or ought to have, any v. 34. But it seems our Lord there re-jurisdiction, power, pre-eminence, or ferred to the vicious, wanton, and un-authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, authorized swearing in common dis- within this realm. So help me God." course, and not to judicial oaths; for he himself answered when interrogated upon oath, Matt. xxvi. 63, 64. Mark, xiv. 61. The apostle Paul also makes || use of expressions which contain the nature of oaths, Rom. i. 9. 1 Cor. xv. 31. 2 Cor. i. 18. Gal. i. 20. Heb. vi. 13, 17. Oaths are nugatory, that is, carry with them no proper force or obligation, unless we believe that God will punish false swearing with more severity,than a simple lie or beeach of promise; for which belief there are the following reasons: 1. Perjury is a sin of greater deliberation.-2. It violates a superior confidence.-3. God directed the Israelites to swear by his name, Deut. vi. 13. x. 20. and was pleased to confirm his covenant with that people by an oath; neither of which it is probable he would have done, had he not intended to represent oaths as having some meaning and effect beyond the obligation of a bare promise.

OBEDIENCE, the performance of the commands of a superior. Obedience to God may be considered, 1. As virtual, which consists in a belief of the Gospel, of the holiness and equity of its precepts, of the truth of its promises, and a true repentance of all our sins.

2. Actual obedience, which is the prac tice and exercise of the several graces and duties of Christianity.-3. Perfect obedience, which is the exact conformity of our hearts and lives to the law of God, without the least imperfection. This last is only peculiar to a glorified state. The obligation we are under to obedience arises, 1. From the relation we stand in to God as creatures, Psalm xcv. 6.-2. From the law he hath revealed to us in his word, Psalm cxix. 3. 2 Peter, i. 5, 7.-3. From the blessings of his providence we are constantly receiving, Acts, xiv. 17. Psalm cxlv.— 4. From the love and goodness of God in the grand work of redemption, 1 Cor. "Promissory oaths are not binding vi. 20. As to the nature of this obediwhere the promise itself would not be so. ence, it must be, 1. Active, not only See PROMISES. As oaths are designed avoiding what is prohibited, but perfor the security of the imposer, it is forming what is commanded, Col. iii. 8, manifest that they must be interpreted 10-2. Personal; for though Christ has and performed in the sense in which the obeyed the law for us as a covenant of imposer intends them." Oaths, also, works, yet he hath not abrogated it as must never be taken but in matters of a rule of life, Rem. vii. 22. Rom. iii. 31. importance, nor irreverently, and with--3. Sincere, Psalm li. 6. 1 Tim. i. 5.-out godly fear. Paley's Mor. Phil. ch. 4. Affectionate, springing from love, and 16. vol. i. Grot. de Jure, 1. 11. c. 13. § not from terror, 1 John, v. 19. 1 Jolin, 21; Barrow's Works, vol. i. ser. 15;ii. 5. 2 Cor. v. 14.-5. Diligent, not Burnet's Exposition of the 39th Article slothfully, Gal. i. 16. Psalm xviii. 44. of the Church of England; Herfort's Rom. xii. 11.-6. Conspicuous and open, Essay on truths of importance, and Phil, ji. 15. Mat. v. 16.-7. Universal;