CHANT is used for the vocal music of churches. In church history we meet with divers kinds of these; as. 1. Chant Ambrosian, established by St. Ambrose. -2. Chant Gregorian, introduced by pope Gregory the Great, who established schools of chanters, and corrected the church music. This, at first, was called the Roman song; afterwards the plain song. as the choir and people sing in unison

CHAOS, the mass of matter supposed to be in confusion before it was divided by the Almighty into its proper classes and elements. It does not appear who first asserted the notion of a chaos. Moses, the earliest of all writers, derives the origin of this world from a confusion of matter, dark, void, deep, without form, which he calls TOHU BOHU which is precisely the chaos of the Greek and barbarian philosophers. Moses goes no farther than the chaos, nor tells us whence it took its origin, or whence its confused state and where Moses stops, there precisely do all the

rest.

CHAPLAIN, a person who performs divine service in a chapel, or is retained in the service of some family to perform divine service.

As to the origin of chaplains, some say the shrines of relics were anciently covered with a kind of tent, cape, or capella, i. e. little cape; and that hence the priests who had the care of them were called chaplains. In time, these relics were reposited in a little church, either contiguous to a larger, or eparate from it; and the name capella, which was given to the cover, was also given to the place where it was lodged; and hence the priest who superintended it came to be called capellanus, or chaplain.

According to a statute of Henry VIII. the persons vested with a power of retaining chaplains, together with the number each is allowed to qualify, are as follow: an archbishop eight: a duke or bishop six; marquis or earl five; viscount four; baron, knight of the garter, or lord chancellor, three: a duchess, marchioness, countess, baroness, the trea

clerk of the closet, the king's secretary, dean of the chapel, almoner, and master of the rolls, each of them two, chief justice of the king's bench, and ward of the cinque ports, each one. All these chaplains may purchase a licence or dispensation, and take two benefices, with cure of souls. A chaplain must be retained by letters testimonial under hand and seal, for it is not sufficient that he serve as chaplain in the family.

CHAPEL, a place of worship.-surer or comptroller of the king's house, There are various kinds of chapels in Britain. 1. Domestic chapels, built by noblemen or gentlemen for private worship in their families.-2. Free chapels, such as are founded by kings of England They are free from all episcopal jurisdiction, and only to be visited by the founder and his successors. which is done by the lord chancellor: yet the king may licence any subject to build and endow a chapel, and by letters pa tent exempt it from the visitation of the ordinary.-3. Chapels in universities, belonging to particular universities. 4. Chapels of ease, built for the ease of one or more parishioners that dwell too far from the church, and are served by inferior curates, provided for at the charge of the rector, or of such as have benefit by it, as the composition or cus tom is.-5. Parochial chapels, which differ from parish churches only in name: they are generally small, and the inhabitants within the district few. If there be a presentation ad ecclesiam instead of capellam, and an admission and institution upon it, it is no longer a chapel, but a church for themselves and families.6. Chapels which adjoin to and are part of the church: such were formerly built by honourable persons as burying pla CHAPTER, a community of eccleces.-7. The places of worship belong-siastics belonging to a cathedral or coling to the Calvinistic and Arminian Methodists are also generally called chapels, though they are licensed in no other way than the meetings of the Protestant Dissenters,

In England there are forty-eight chaplains to the king, who wait four, each month. preach in the chapel, read the service to the family, and to the king in his private oratory, and say grace in the absence of the clerk of the closet. While in waiting, they have a table and attendance, but no salary. In Scotland, the king has six chaplains with a salary of 50l. each; three of them having in addition the deanery of the chapel royal divided between them, making up above 100%. to each. Their only duty at present is to say prayers at the election of peers for Scotland to sit in parliament.

CHAPLET, a certain instrument of piety made use of by the papists. It is a string of beads, by which they measure or count the number of their prayers.

legiate church. The chief or head of the chapter is the dean, the body consists of canons or prebendaries. The chapter has now no longer a place in the administration of the diocese during

the life of the Bishop; but succeeds to the whole episcopal jurisdiction during the vacancy of the see.

CHARGE: 1. a sermon preached by the bishop to his clergy;-2. Among the Dissenters, it is a sermon preached to a minister at his ordination, generally by some aged or respectable preacher.

rit in the magistrate, equity and patience in the judge, moderation in the scvereign, and loyalty in the subject. In parents it is care and attention in children it is reverence and submission. In a word, it is the soul of social life. It is the sun that enlivens and cheers the abodes of men; not a meteor which occasionally glares, but a luminary, which in its orderly and regular course dispenses a benignant influence." See Barrow's Works, vol. i. ser. 27, 28. Blair's Ser. vol. iv. ser. 2; Scott's Ser. ser. 14; Tillotson's Ser. ser. 158; Paley's_Mor. Phil. vol. i. p. 231, and articles BENEVOLENCE, LOVE.

CHARM, a kind of spell, supposed by the ignorant to have an irresistible influence, by means of the concurrence of some infernal power, both on the minds, lives, and properties of those whom it has for its object.

CHARITY, one of the three grand theological graces, consisting in the love of God and our neighbour, or the habit or disposition of loving God with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves. "Charity," says an able writer," con sists not in speculative ideas of general|| benevolence floating in the head, and leaving the heart, as speculations often do, untouched and cold: neither is it confined to that indolent good nature which makes us rest satisfied with being free from inveterate malice, or ill will to our fellow creatures, without prompting us to be of service to any. True charity "Certain vain ceremonies," says Dr. is an active principle. It is not proper- Doddridge," which are commonly cally a single virtue; but a disposition re-led charms, and seem to have no efficacy siding in the heart as a fountain; whence at all for producing the effects proposed all the virtues of benignity, candour, for- by them, are to be avoided; seeing if bearance, generosity, compassion, and there be indeed any real efficacy in them, liberality flow as so many native streams it is generally probable they owe it to From general good will to all, it extends some bad cause; for one can hardly its influence particularly to those with imagine that God should permit good whom we stand in nearest connexion, angels in any extraordinary manner to and who are directly within the sphere interpose, or should immediately exert of our good officers. From the country his own miraculous power on trifling or community to which we belong, it occasions, and upon the performance of descends to the smaller associates of such idle tricks as are generally made neighbourhood, relations, and friends the condition of receiving such benefits." and spreads itself over the whole circle CHASTITY, purity from fleshly lust. of social and domestic life. I mean not In men it is termed continence. See that it imports a promiscuous undistin- CONTINENCE. There is a chastity of guishing affection which gives every speech, behaviour. and imagination, as man an equal title to our love. Charity, well as of body Grove gives us the folif we should endeavour to carry it so far, lowing rules for the conservation of would be rendered an impracticable vir- chastity.-1. To keep ourselves fully tue, and would resolve itself into mere employed in labours either of the body words, without affecting the heart. True or the mind: idleness is frequently the charity attempts not to shut our eyes to introduction to sensuality.-2. To guard the distinction between good and bad the senses, and avoid every thing which men; nor to warm our hearts equally may be an incentive to lust. Does the to those who befriend and those who in- free use of some meats and drinks make jure us. It reserves our esteem for good the body ungovernable? Does reading men, and our complacency for our certain books debauch the imagination friends. Towards our enemies, it in- and inflame the passions? Do temptaspires forgiveness and humanity. It tions often enter by the sight? Have breathes universal candour and liberal-public plays, dancings, effeminate muity of sentiment. It forms gentleness of temper, and dictates affability of manners. It prompts corresponding sympathies with them who rejoice, and them who weep. It teaches us to slight and despise no man. Charity is the comforted of the afflicted, the protector of the oppressed, the reconciler of differences, the intercessor for offenders. It is faithfulness in the friend, public spi

sic, idle songs, loose habits, and the like, the same effect? He who resolves upon chastity cannot be ignorant what his duty is in all these and such like cases.3. To implore the Divine Spirit, which is a spirit of purity; and by the utmost regard to his presence and operations to endeavour to retain him with us. Grove's Moral Philos. p. 2. sec. 6.

CHAZINZARIANS, a sect which

arose in Armenia in the seventh centu- [] come to want, children should take care ry. They are so called from the Arme- to furnish them with the necessaries of nian word chazus, which signifies a life, and, so far as their ability will percross, because they were charged with mit, with the conveniences of it." Dodadoring the cross. dridge's Lectures, p. 241. vol. i. Paley's Mor. Phil. p. 372. vol. i.

CHEATS are deceitful practices, in defrauding, or endeavouring to defraud, another of his known right, by means of some artful device contrary to honesty. See HONESTY, JUSTICE.

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CHOREPISCOPI (της χώρας επισκοποί, bishops of the country.) In the ancient church, when the dioceses became enlarged by the conversions of pagans in the country, and villages at a great distance from the city church, the bishops appointed themselves cetain assistants, whom they called Chorepiscopi, because by their office they were bishops of the country. There have been great dis

order, some thinking that they were mere presbyters; others that there were two sorts, some that had received episcopal ordination, and some that were presbyters only; others think that they were all bishops.

CHEERFULNESS, a disposition of mind free from dejection. Opposed to gloominess. If we consider cheerfulness, says Addison, in three lights, with regard to ourselves, to those we converse with, and to the Great Author of our being, it will not a little recommend it-putes among the learned concerning this self on each of these accounts. The man who is possessed of this excellent frame of mind is not only easy in his thoughts, but a perfect master of all the powers and faculties of his soul; his imagination is always clear, and his judgment undisturbed; his temper is even and unruffled, whether in action or in solitude. He comes with a relish to all those goods which Nature has provided for him, tastes all the pleasures of the creation which are poured about him, and does not feel the full weight of those evils which may befal him. See HAPPINESS, Joy.

CHRISM, oil consecrated by the bishop, and used in the Romish and Greek churches in the administration of baptism, confirmation, ordination, and extreme unction.

CHRISTIAN, by Dr. Johnson, is defined, "a professor of the religion of Christ;" but in reality a Christian is more than a professor of Christianity. He is one who imbibes the spirit, participates the grace, and is obedient to the will of Christ.

CHRIST, the Lord and Saviour of mankind. He is called Christ, or Messiah, because he is ar.ointed, sent, and furnished by God to execute his mediaCHILDREN, duties of, to parents.torial office. See JESUS CHRIST. Dr. Doddridge observes, "1. That as children have received important favours from their parents, gratitude, and therefore virtue, requires that they should love them.-2. Considering the superiority of age, and the probable superiority of wisdom, which there is on the side of parents, and also how much The disciples and followers of Christ the satisfaction and comfort of a parent were first denominated Christians at depend on the respect shown him by his Antioch, A. D. 42. The first Christians children, it is fit that children should distinguished themselves in the most reverence their parents.-3. It is fit that, remarkable manner, by their conduct while the parents are living, and the use and their virtues. The faithful, whom of their understanding continued, their the preaching of St. Peter had convertchildren should not ordinarily under-ed, hearkened attentively to the exhortake any matter of great importance, without advising with them, or without very cogent reasons pursue it contrary to their consent.-4. As young people need some guidance and government in their minority, and as there is some peculiar reason to trust the prudence, care, and affection of a parent, preferable to any other person, it is reasonable that children, especially while in their minority, should obey their parents; without which neither the order of families, nor the happiness of the rising generation could be secured: nevertheless, still supposing that the commands of the parent are not inconsistent with the will of God-5. Virtue requires that, if parents

tations of the apostles, who failed not carefully to instruct them as persons who were entering upon an entire new life. They attended the temple daily, doing nothing different from the other Jews, because it was yet not time to separate from them. But they made a still greater progress in virtue for they sold all that they possessed, and distributed their goods to the wants of their brethren. The primitive Christians were not only remarkable for the consistency of their conduct, but were also very eminently distinguished by the many miraculous gifts and graces bestowed by God upon them.

The Jews were the first and the most

It is easy to discover the cause of the many persecutions to which the Christians were exposed during the first three centuries. The purity of the Christian

inveterate enemies the Christians had. | whom, in regard to their quality, I have They put them to death a- often as they set apart from the rest, in order to send had it in their power; and when they them to Rome. These persons declare revolted against the Romans, in the time that their whole crime, if they are guilof the emperor Adrian, Barchochebas, ty, consists in this: That on certain days who was at the head of that revolt, em- they assemble before sun-rise, to sing ployed against the christians the most alternately the praises of Christ, as of rigorous punishments to compel them God; and to oblige themselves, by the to blaspheme and renounce Jesus Christ. performance of their religious rites, not And we find that even in the third cen- to be guilty of theft or adultery, to obtury they endeavoured to get into their serve inviolably their word, and to be hands Christian women, in order to true to thei trust. This disposition has Scourge and stone them in their syna- obliged me to endeavour to inform mygogues. They cursed the Christians self still farther of this matter, by putthree times a day in their synagogues; ting to the torture two of their women and their rabbins would not suffer them servants, whom they called deaconessto converse with Christians upon any es; but I could learn nothing more from occasion; nor were they contented to them than that the superstition of these hate and detest them. but they dispatch- people is as ridiculous as their attached emissaries all over the world to de- ment to it is astonishing." fame the Christians and spread all sorts of calumnies against them. They accused them among other things, of worshipping the sun, and the head of an ass; they reproached them with idle-morality, directly opposite to the corness, and being a useless set of people. ruption of the pagans, was doubtless one They charged them with treason, and of the most powerful motives of the pubendeavouring to erect a new monarchy lic aversion. To this may be added the against that of the Romans. They af- many calumnies unjustly spread about firmed that in celebrating their myste- concerning them by their enemies, parries, they used to kill a child, and eat ticularly the Jews; and this occasioned his flesh. They accused them of the so strong a prejudice against them, that most shocking incests, and of intemper- the pagans condemned them without enance in their feasts of charity. But the quiring into their doctrine, or permitting lives and behaviour of the first Chris- them to defend themselves. Besides, tians were sufficient to refute all that their worshipping Jesus Christ as God, was said against them, and evidently de- was contrary to one of the most ancient monstrated that these accusations were laws of the Roman empire, which exmere calumny, and the effect of invete-pressly forbade the acknowledging of rate malice. Pliny the Younger, who any God which had not been approved was governor of Pontus and Bithynia of by the senate. But, notwithstanding between the years 103 and 103, gives a the violent opposition made to the estavery particular account of the Chris-blishment of the Christian religion, it tians in that province, in a letter which gained ground daily and very soon made he wrote to the emperor Trajan, of surprising progress in the Roman emwhich the following is an extract: "I pire. In the third century there were take the liberty, Sir, to give you an ac- Christians in the senate, in the camp, in count of every difficulty which arises to the palace; in short every where but in me: I had never been present at the the temple and the theatres; they filled examinations of the Christians; for the towns, the country, the islands. Men which reason I know not what questions and women of all ages and conditions and have been put to them, nor in what even those of the first dignities, embracmanner they have been punished. My ed the faith; insomuch that the pagans behaviour towards those who have been complained that the revenues of their accused to me has been this; I have temples were ruined. They were in such interrogated them, in order to know great numbers in the empire, that (as whether they were really Christians. Tertullian expresses it) were they to When they have confessed it, I have re-have retired into another country, they peated the same question two or three would have left the Romans only a frighttimes, hreatening them with death it ful solitude. For persecutions of the they did not renounce this religion. Christians, see article PERSECUTION. Those who have persisted in their con- Christians may be considered as nomifession have been by my order led tonal and real. There are vast numbers punishment. I have even met with some who are called Christians, not because Roman citizens guilty of this phrenzy, they possess any love for Christ, but

In the Asiatic Researches of the Society instituted in Bengal, may be found an enlarged account of the Christians of St. Thomas, which was laid before that society by F. Wrede, Esq. See also Monthly Magazine for 1804. p. 60. and Dr. Kerr's Report to Lord Bentick, on the state of the Christians inhabiting the kingdom of Cochin and Travancore. Evang. Mag. 1807. p. 473.

CHRISTIANITY, the religion of

Christians.

because they happen to be born in a || with an unction composed of oil and Christian country, educated by Chris- walnuts, without any benediction. In tian parents, and sometimes attend the eucharist they consecrate with little Christian worship. There are also ma- cakes made of oil and salt, and instead ny whose minds are well informed re- of wine make use of water in which raispecting the Christian system, who pre-sins have been infused. fer it to every other, and who make an open profession of it; and yet, after all, feel but little of the real power of Christianity. A real Christian is one whose understanding is enlightened by the influences of divine grace, who is convinced of the depravity of his nature, who sees his own inability to help himself, who is taught to behold God as the chief good, the Lord Jesus as the only way to obtain felicity, and that the Holy Spirit is the grand agent in applying the blessings of the Gospel to his soul. His heart I. CHRISTIANITY, foundation of. is renovated, and inclined to revere, ho- Most, if not all Christians, whatever nour, worship, trust in. and live to God. their particular tenets may be, acknowHis affections are elevated above the ledge the Scriptures of the Old and world, and centre in God alone. He New Testaments as the sole foundation embraces him as his portion, loves him of their faith and practice But as these supremely, and is zealous in the defence books, or at least particular passages in and support of his cause. His temper them, have from the ambiguity of lanis regulated, his powers roused to vi- guage been variously interpreted by difgorous action, his thoughts spiritual, and ferent commentators, these diversities his general deportment amiable and have given birth to a multiplicity of difuniform. In fine, the true Christian ferent sects. These, however, or at character exceeds all others as much as least the greatest number of them, apthe blaze of the meridian sun outshines || peal to the Scriptures of the Old and the feeble light of the glow-worm. New Testaments as the ultimate stanCHRISTIANS OF ST. JOHN, a dard, the only infallible rule of faith and sect of Christians very numerous in Bal- manners. If asked by what authority fara, and the neighbouring towns: they these books claim an absolute right to formerly inhabited along the river Jor- || determine the consciences and underdan, where St. John baptized, and it was standings of men with regard to what from thence they had their name. They they should believe, and what they hold an anniversary feast of five days, should do, they answer, that all Scripduring which they all go to the bishop. ture, whether for doctrine, correction who baptizes them with the baptisin of or reproof, was given by immediate inSt. John. Their baptism is also per-spiration from God. If again interrogaformed in rivers and that only on Sun- ted how those books which they call days: they have no notion of the third Scripture are authenticated, they reply, person in the Trinity; nor have they that the Old and New Testaments are any canonical book, but abundance full proved to be the word of God, by eviof charms, &c. Their bishoprics de-dences both external and internal. See scend by inheritance as our estates do, § 2, and article REVELATION. though they have the ceremony of an election.

CHRISTIANS OF ST. THOMAS, a sort of Christians in a peninsula of India on this side the gulf; they inhabit chiefly at Cranganor, and the neighbouring country; these admit of no images, and receive only the cross, to which they pay a great veneration. They affirm, that the souls of the saints do not see God till after the day of judgment; they acknowledge but three sacraments, viz. baptism, orders, and the eucharist; they make no use of holy oils in the administration of baptism, but after the ceremony, anoint the infant

II CHRISTIANITY, evidences of the truth of. The external evidences of the authenticity and divine authority of the Scriptures have been divided into direct and collateral. The direct evidences are such as arise from the nature, consistency, and probability of the facts; and from the simplicity, uniformity, competency, and fidelity of the testimonies by which they are supported. The collateral evidences are either the same Occurrences supported by heathen testimonies, or others which concur with and corroborate the history of Christianity. Its internal evidences arise either from its exact conformity with