ther of all the innumerable company of men, who are made priests unto God. With unequalled purity, patience, pity, courage, and labour, he, amidst inconceivable injuries and temptations, faithfully executes his work. At the expense of his life, he averted the burning plague of endless vengeance from his unreasonable foes; and having finished his. work of obedience, he publicly and; willingly, on Calvary, surrendered himself unto death; bequeathing his robes of finished righteousness to his spiritual seed.

We hear no more of Aaron, till at Merbah he and his brother Moses sinned, in not sufficiently expressing their confidence in God's providing water for the congregation. To punish this, and to mark the insuficiency of the Aaronic priesthood, for bringing men to the heavenly inheritance, Aaron was debarred from entering Canaan. About a year before the Hebrews entered that country, and while they encamped at Mosera, he, at the commandment of the Lord, went up to mount Hor; and his sacred robes being stripped off him by Moses, and AB, the eleventh month of the put on Eleazar his son and successor, Jewish civil year, and the fifth of he suddenly expired in the Lord, their sacred. It answereth to the aged 123 years, A. M. 2552: His moon that begins in July, and conown sons and brother buried him insisted of thirty days. On the first a care, and all the Israelites mourn- day, the Jews observe a fast for the ed for him thirty days, Numb. xx. death of Aaron: on the 9th, a fast Deut. x. 6. His offspring were call- for the debarring of the murmuring ed AARONITES; and were so numer- Hebrews from the promised land, ous, as to have thirteen cities assign- and for the burning of the first and ed them out of the tribes of Judah second temple; on the 18th, a fast and Benjamin, 1 Chron. xii. 27. and for the distinction of the evening vi. 54,60. Josh. xxi, 13,-19. lamp during the reign of Ahaz Some good authors think the story on the 24th, a feast in memory of of the Heathen Mercury to have the abolishment of the Sadducean been hammered out of Aaron's. law, which required sons and daughBut may we not, with far more edi-ters to be equal heirs of their parents' fication, consider him as a personal estate. type of Jesus Christ? Heb. v. 4, 5. His call to his office of priesthood, was seasonable and divinely solemn an unmeasurable unction of the Holy Ghost, and perfect purity of nature, prepared him for the execution thereof: miracles unnumbered; the de. struction of his Jewish and other enemies; the marvellous budding of his gospel ROD, in the conversion and sanctification of men, abundantly confirm it. He is the leader of his people from their spiritual bondage; and he guides, justifies, and sanctifies them in their wilderness-journey. He is their great prophet, who can speak well to their respective cases and doubts. He is their distinguished High-priest, and the spiritual FaVOL. I. No. 1.

ABADDON, which signifies de struction; and APOLLYON the destroyer, is the name of the king and head of the apocalyptic Locusts, under the fifth trumpet. His name is marked both in Hebrew and Greek, to intimate, that he is a destroyer both of Jews and Gentiles. But who he is, is not so universally agreed. Some think him the devil, who goes about secking whom he may devour. Without excluding Satan, who was a murderer from the beginning, we suppose the Spirit of God, by this king of the locusts, this angel of the bottomless pit, directly designs the Popes, these sons of perdition, who, at the head of unnumbered clergy, and other agents, ruin the

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benites and Moabites. It is like they had this name from the ABARIM, or passages, between the particular hills of PISGAII, NEBO, PEOR, &c.; all which were part of them. Near these mountains the Israelites had several encampments, Numb. xxxiii. 44.48, and xxvii. 12.

ner, as Paul did, when he, though a preacher, laboured with his hands for his daily bread, 2 Cor. xi. 7.

To ABATE, to grow lower, less, Gen. viii. 3. Deut. xxxiv. 7. to make less, Lev. xxvii. 18.

souls, and murder the bodies, of inconceivable multitudes of men ;and Mahomet and his inferior a gents, who, partly with delusion, and partly with ravage and murder, have destroyed infinite numbers. It would be shocking to relate, what thousands and millions were murdered by Hejajus, and Abu To ABASE,signifies to treat with Moslem, Saracens, Tamerlane the contempt; to reduce to meanness and Tartar, Bajazet, and Mohamed II. poverty, Dan. iv. 37. Job xl. 11. Turks, Shah Abbas the Persian, and One is abased when deprived of hoother heads of the Mahomedan par- nour and wealth, and laid under poty, Rev. ix. 11. See in ANTICHRIST, verty, affliction, contempt, Philip. iv. ARABIANS, SCYTHIANS. 12. One abases himself when he beABANA and PHARPAR, two riv-haves in a humble and debased man. ers of Syria, which Naaman the leper thought more fit to cure him of his unclean disease, than all the rivers of Israel, Abana is probably the same with Barrady or Chrysorroas, which, springing from mount Lebanon, glides pleasantly towards the south; and, after running some leagues, is divided into three streams; the middlemost and largest runs directly through the city of Damascus, and the other two run one on each side of the city, and fertilize the gar-ity, or chasten them by heavy crosses dens to an uncommon degree. The streams uniting to the southward of the city are, after a course of about five leagues, lost in a dry desert. Benjamin of Tudela will have that part of the Barrady, which runs through Damascus, to be Abana, and the streams which water the gardens without the city to be Pharpar; but perhaps the Pharpar is the same with Orontes, the most noted river of Syria, which, taking its rise a little to the north or north-east of Damascus, glides through a delightful plain, till after passing Antioch, and running about 200 miles to the north-west, it loses itself in the Mediterranean sea, 2 Kings v. 12.

ABARIM, a general name given to a ridge of rugged hills on the east of Jordan; on the south and north of the river Arnon. They reached into the territories of both the Reu

ABBA, a Syriac word signifying father. It being the same whether we read it backward or forward, may perhaps hint to us, that God's fatherly affection to his people is the same whether he smile on them by prosper

and sore adversity. The Spirit of adoption making the saints to cry ABBA, FATHER, imports, .that by his influence both Jews and Gentiles, as one united body, have the most assured faith in, love to, and familiar intercourse with God, Rom. viii. 15. Gal. iv. 6.

ABDON. (1.) The son of Hillel an Ephramite. He succeeded Elon, A. M. 2840: and judged the Israelites eight years; after which he died, and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim. He left forty sons, and thirty grandsons, who rode on ass-colts, according to the manner of the great men of that age, Judg. xii, 13. (2.) The son of Micah, one of JOSIAH's messengers sent to consult HULDAH, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 20. (3.) A city which belonged to the tribe of Asher; and was given to the Levites of Gershom's family, Josh. xxi. 30,

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6. ABEL, ABEL-BETHMA ACHAH, ABIATHAR, the tenth high ABEL-MAIM, a strong city some- priest of the Jews, and fourth in where about the south frontiers of descent from ELI. When Saul mount Lebanon. It probably be- murdered AHIMELECH, his father, longed to the tribe of Naphtali. and the other priests at Nob, AbiSheba the son of Bichri fled here, athar escaped to David in the wil when pursued by David's troops. derness, and joined his party; and To free themselves from Joab's by him David consulted the Lord furious siege, the inhabitants, ad- at Keilah and Ziklag, 1 Sam. xxii. vised by a prudent woman, be- and xxiii. 9, and xxx. 7. Saul had headed the rebel, and threw his placed Zadok, a descendent of Eleahead over the wall, 2 Sam. xx. 14, zar, in the high-priesthood, instead -18. About 80 years after, Ben- of Abiathar; but when David came hadad King of Syria took and ra- to the throne, he made Abiathar, vaged it, 1 Kings xv. 20. About 200 and Zadok next to him, the chief years after which, Tiglathpilezer priests; and thus matters continued took it, and carried the inhabitants while David reigned, 2 Sam. xx. 25. captive to Assyria, 2 Kings xv. 29. Abiathar and Zadok designed to It was afterwards built, and was have attended David with the ark, capital of the canton of Abilene. as he fled from Absalom; but he advised them to return with it, and procure him proper information, 2 Sam. xv. 24,-29. Just before the death of King David, Abiathar treasonably conspired to render Adonijah his father's successor; and was forbidden the execution of his office, by Solomon, on that account; and confined to his city of Anathoth; and Zadok was put in his room, 1 Kings i. and ii. Thus was the family of Eh wrathfully for ever put from the high-priesthood, 1 Sam. ii. 29,-36. It is not Abiathar, but his son, that is called AHIMELech, or Abimelech. Nor is it Abiathar's father, but himself, that is mentioned, Mark ii. 26; for it is certain he then lived, and might have a great hand in procuring the shew-bread for David: Nor does that text insinuate, that Abiathar then executed the office of high-priest.

To ABHOR. (1.) To laothe, detest, Deut. xxxii. 19. Job xlii. 6. (2.) To despise, neglect, Amos vi. 8. 13.) To reject, cast off, Psal. lxxxix. 38. God's abhorring his anointed, if referred to Christ, imports his hiding his face from him, and executing the punishment due to our sins upon him, Psal. lxxxix. 38. God's not abhorring the affliction of the afflicted, imports, his not overlooking it, but sympathizing with, and helping and 'comforting them under their troubles, Psal. xxii. 24. Job's clothes abhorred him in marking the loathsome disease which his sins had brought on him, Job ix. 31. The carcases of the rejected Jews; of the ruined heathens under Constantine, &c.; and of the Antichristians and Mahometans, about the beginning of the millennium, are an abhorring to all flesh vast numbers of slain did, or shall, pollute the very air. 'Such Jews as remain, since the destruction of their city and temple, are hated and contemned by all nations. Under and after Constantine, the heathens and their idols were detested by multitudes; and such shall, in a little, be the case of Papists and Mahometans, Is. lxvi. 24.

ABIB, or NISAN, the name of the first sacred, and seventh civil month of the Jewish year. It contained thirty days; and answered to our moon of March. This word signifies green ears, or ripe fruit; and was given to this month, because, in the middle thereof, the Jews began their harvest. On the

To ABIDE, (1.) To stay; tar

10th day of this month the Paschal | few days was recovered by David lamb was taken: on the evening of her husband, 1 Sam. xxv. and xxx. the 14th day they did eat the pass- 2 Sam. iii. 3. 1 Chron. iii. 1. over; and on the seven days following they kept the feast of unleaven-ry, Gen. xxii. 5. (2.) To dwell, or ed bread, the last of which was held live in a place, Gen. xxix. 19. (3.) as a solemn convocation, Exod. xii. To endure; suffer, Jer. x. 10. (4.) xii. On the 15th day they gather- To continue, Eccl. viii. 15. (5.) To ed their sheaf of the barley first- wait for, Acts xx. 23. (6.) To stand fruits, and on the 16th they offered firm, Psal. cxix. 90. Christ and his it; after which they might begin Father make their abode with one, their harvest, Lev. xxvi. 4,-14. On when they bestow frequent and fathe first day of it, the modern Jews miliar influences of power, kindness, observe a fast for the death of Nadab and inward comfort, on his soul, and Abihu: on the 10th a fast for John xiv. 23. Men abide in Christ, the death of Miriam: on the 27th a and his love, when, being united to fast for the death of Joshua: on the him by faith, they continne cleaving 29th they prayed for the latter-rain. to his person, believing his love, and Their Migillath Taanith, however, walking in his ways, John xv. 6, 10. takes no notice of any of these super- Christ's word, or doctrine, abides in added solemnities; which to me is an men, and they in it, when the knowevidence that they never universally ledge and faith of its truth and excelobtained. lency, the experience of its power, and an open profession and careful observance of it, are continued in a fixed and constant manner.

ABIGAIL, (1.) the sister of King David, wife of Jether, and mother ef AMASA, I Chron. ii. 17. (2.) The wife of NABAL. She was a woman of great prudence and wisdom; but, perhaps, by the covetousness of her parents, was married to a rich sot. When his rude behaviour to David's messengers had brought him and his family into the utmost danger, Abigail hearing of it by some of her servants, loaded several asses with provisions, and went to meet David. In the most polite and pudent manner, she tendered him her present. Her prudent address not only disarmed his rage, but procured his highest esteem for her virtue. Returning to her husband, she told him the danger they had been in by his folly; and how she had prevented their ruin. He quickly died of a stupid melancholy: and she, not long after, was married by David. She bare to him two sons, Daniel, and Chileab; if these two names do not rather denote the same person. She "was taken captive by the Amalekites when Ziklag was burnt; but in a

ABIJAH, ABIJAM, or ABIA, was the son of REHOBOAM, by his wife MAACHAH. He succeeded his father in the throne of Judah, A. M. 3046. He married fourteen wives, by whom he had twenty sons, and sixteen daughters. He reigned but three years; and imitated the impiety of his father. He was almost constantly at war with Jeroboam King of Israel. Once he took the field with 400,000, against Jeroboam and 800,000. The armies being drawn up, very near one to another, Abijah got him up to the top of mount Zemaraim, and harangued the troops of the enemy, to persuade them to return to their wonted subjection to the house of David, and to the true worship of God. Meanwhile, Jeroboam detached a part of his army around the hill, to attack the rear of Abijah's. Abijah and his forces, seeing themselves surrounded, cried to the Lord for help, and the priests sounded the silver trumpets.