APPROPRIATION

cal notary, apostolical brief, apostolical chamber, | apostolical vicar, &c.

APOSTOLICAL CONSTITUTIONS, a collection of regulations attributed to the apostles, and supposed to have been collected by St. Clement, whose name they likewise bear. It is the general opinion, however, that they are spurious, and that St. Clement had no hand in them. They appeared first in the fourth century, but have been much changed and corrupted since. There are so many things in them different from and even contrary to the genius and design of the New Testament writers, that no wise man would believe, without the most convincing and irresistible proof, that both could come from the same hand. Grabe's Answer to Whiston; Saurin's Ser. vol. ii. p. 185; Lardner's Cred. vol. iii. p. 11. ch. ult.; Doddridge's Lect. lec. 119.

ARIANS

mind by which we apply the blessings of the Gospel to ourselves. This appropriation is real when we are enabled to believe in, feel, and obey the truth; but merely nominal and delusive when there are no fruits of righteousness and true holiness. See ASSURANCE.

AQUARIANS, those who consecrated water in the eucharist instead of wine. Another branch of them approved of wine in the sacrament, when received at the evening: they likewise mixed water with the wine.

ARABICI, erroneous Christians, in the third century, who thought that the soul and body died together, and rose again. It is said that Origen convinced them of their error, and that they then abjured it.

ARCHANGEL, according to some divines, mears an angel occupying the eighth rank in the APOSTOLIC FATHERS, an appellation celestial hierarchy; but others, not without reausually given to the writers of the first century, son, reckon it a title only applicable to our Sawho employed their pens in the cause of Chris-viour. Compare Jude ix. with Dan. xii. 1. 1 tuanity. Of these writers, Cotelerius, and after Thes. iv. 16. him Le Clerc, have published a collection in two volumes, accompanied both with their own annotations, and the remarks of other learned men. See also the genuine epistles of the apostolic fatners by Abp. Wake. APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. See Suc

CESSION.

APOTACTITE, an ancient sect, who affected to follow the example of the apostles, and renounced all their effects and possessions. It does not appear that they held any errors at first; but afterwards they taught that the renouncing of all riches was not only a matter of counsel and advice, but of precept and necessity.

ARCHBISHOP, the chief or metropolitan bishop, who has several suffragans under him. Archbishops were not known in the East till about the year 320; and though there were some soon after this who had the title, yet that was only a personal honour, by which the bishops of considerable cities were distinguished. It was not till of late that archbishops became metropolitans, and had suffragans under them. The ecclesiastical government of England is divided into two provinces, viz. Canterbury and York. The first archbishop of Canterbury was Austin, appointed by king Ethelbert, on his conversion to Christianity, about the year 598. His grace of Canterbury is the first peer of England, and the next to the royal family, having precedence of all dukes, and all great officers of the crown. It is his privilege, by custom, to crown the kings and queens of this kingdom. The archbishop of York has precedence of all dukes not of the royal Application is also used for that part of a ser- blood, and of all officers of state, except the lord mon in which the preacher brings home or ap-high chancellor. The first archbishop of York plies the truth of religion to the consciences of was Paulinus, appointed by pope Gregory about his hearers. See SERMON. the year 622.

APPLICATION is used for the act whereby our Saviour transfers or makes over to us what he had earned or purchased by his holy life and death. Accordingly it is by this application of the merits of Christ that we are to be justified and entitled to grace and glory.

APPROBATION, a state or disposition of the mind, wherein we put a value upon, or become pleased with, some person or thing. Moralists are divided on the principle of approbation, or the motive which determines us to approve or disapprove. The Epicureans will have it to be only self-interest: according to them, that which determines any agent to approve his own action, is its apparent tendency to his private happiness; and even the approbation of another's action flows from no other cause but an opinion of its ARCHONTICS, a sect about the year 160 or tendency to the happiness of the approver, either 203. Among many other extravagant notions, immediately or remotely. Others resolve appro- they held that the world was created by archanbation into a moral sense, or a principle of be-gels; they also denied the resurrection of the body. nevolence, by which we are determined to approve every kind affection either in ourselves or whers, and all publicly useful actions which we imagine to flow from such affections, without any view therein to our own private happiness. But may we not add, that a true Christian's approbation arises from his perception of the will of God? See OBLIGATION.

ARCHDEACON, a priest invested with authority or jurisdiction over the clergy and laity, next to the bishop, either through the whole diocese, or cnly a part of it. There are sixty in England, who visit every two years in three, when they inquire into the reparations and moveables belonging to churches; reform abuses; suspend; excommunicate; in some places prove wills; and induct all clerks into benefices within their respective jurisdictions.

APPROPRIATION, the annexing a benefice to the proper and perpetual use of some religious house. It is a term also often used in the religious world as referring to that act of the

ARCH-PRESBYTER, or ARCH-PRIEST, a priest established in some dioceses with a superiority over the rest. He was anciently chosen out of the college of presbyters, at the pleasure of the bishop. The arch-presbyters were much of the same nature with our deans in cathedral churches.

ARIANS, followers of Arius, a presbyter of the church of Alexandria, about 315, who maintained that the Son of God was totally and essentially distinct from the Father; that he was the first and noblest of those beings whom God had

ARIAN

ARK OF THE COVENANT

modern times, the term Arian is indiscriminately applied to those who consider Jesus simply subordinate to the Father. Some of them believe Christ to have been the creator of the world; but they all maintain that he existed previously to his incarnation, though in his pre-existent state they assign him different degrees of dignity. Hence the terms High and Low Arian." See PRE-EXISTENCE. Some of the more recent vindicators of Arianism have been H. Taylor, in his Apology of Ben Mordecai to his friends for embracing Christianity; Dr. Harwood, in his Five Dissertations; Dr. Price, in his Sermons on the Christian Doctrine. See also the 4th vol. of the Theological Repository, p. 153-163, and Cornish's Tract on the Pre-existence of Christ.

On the opposite side, Bogue and Bennett's Hist of Dissenters, vol. iii. Abbadie, Waterland, Guyse, Hey, Robinson, Ereleigh, Hawker on the Divinity of Christ;-Calamy, Taylor, Gill, Jones, Pike, and Simpson on the Trinity. ARISTOTELIANS. The followers of Aris

and represented the Deity as somewhat similar to a principle of power giving motion to a machine; and as happy in the contemplation of himself, but regardless of human affairs. They were uncer tain as to the immortality of the soul.-As this was rather a philosophical than religious sect, we shall not enlarge on it.

created the instrument, by whose subordinate | ment whatever in the divine dispensations. In operation he formed the universe; and, therefore, inferior to the Father both in nature and dignity: also, that the Holy Ghost was not God, but created by the power of the Son. The Arians owned that the Son was the Word; but denied that Word to have been eternal. They held that Christ had nothing of man in him but the flesh, to which the xy,, or word, was joined, which was the same as the soul in us. The Arians were first condemned and anathematized by a council at Alexandria, in 320, under Alexander, bishop of that city, who accused Arius of impiety, and caused him to be expelled from the communion of the church; and afterwards by 380 fathers in the general council of Nice, assembled by Constantine, in 325. His doctrine, however, was not extinguished; on the contrary, it became the reigning religion, especially in the east. Arius was recalled from banishment by Constantine in two or three years after the council of Nice, and the laws that had been enacted against him were repealed. Notwithstanding this, Athanasius, then bishop of Alexandria, refused to admit him and his followers to communion. This so en-totle. They believed in the cternity of the world, raged them, that, by their interest at court, they procured that prelate to be deposed and banished; but the church of Alexandria still refusing to admit Arius into their communion, the emperor sent for him to Constantinople; where upon delivering in a fresh confession of his faith in terms less offensive, the emperor commanded him to be received into their communion; but that very evening, it is said, Arius died as his friends were conducting him in triumph to the great church of Constantinople. Arius, pressed by a natural want, stepped aside, but expired on the spot, his bowels gushing out. The Arian party, however, found a protector in Constantius, who succeeded his father in the East. They underwent various revolutions and persecutions under succeeding emperors; till, at length, Theodosius the Great exerted every effort to suppress them. Their doctrine was carried, in the fifth century, The length of this ark was 300 cubits, which, into Africa, under the Vandals; and into Asia according to Dr. Arbuthnot's calculation, amount under the Goths.-Italy, Gaul, and Spain, were to a little more than 547 feet; its breadth, 50 cualso deeply infected with it; and towards the bits, or 91-2 feet; its height, 30 cubits, or 54-72 commencement of the sixth century, it was tri- feet and its solid contents 2,730-782 solid feet, umphant in many parts of Asia, Africa, and Eu- sufficient for a carriage for 81,062 tons. It conrope: but it sunk almost at once, when the Van-sisted of three stories, each of which, abating the dals were driven out of Africa, and the Goths out of Italy by the arms of Justinian. However, it revived again in Italy, under the protection of the Lombards, in the seventh century, and was not extinguished till about the end of the eighth. Arianism was again revived in the West by Servetus, in 1531, for which he suffered death. After this the doctrine got footing in Geneva, and in Poland; but at length degenerated in a great measure into Socinianism. Erasmus, it is thought, aimed at reviving it, in his commentaries on the New Testament; and the learned Grotius seems to lean that way. Mr. Whiston was one of the first divines who revived this controversy in the eighteenth century. He was followed by Dr. Clarke, who was chiefly opposed by Dr. Waterland. Those who hold the doctrine which is usually called Low Arianism, say that Christ pre-existed; but not as the eternal Logos of the Father, or as the being by whom he made the worlds, and had intercourse with the patri archs, or as having any certain rank or employ.

ARK, or NOAH'S ARK, a floating vessel built by Noah for the preservation of his family, and the several species of animals, during the deluge. The form of the ark was an oblong, with a flat bottom, and a sloped roof, raised to a cubit in the middle; it had neither sails nor rudder; nor was it sharp at the ends for cutting the water. This form was admirably calculated to make it lie steady on the water, without rolling, which might have endangered the lives of the animals within.

:

thickness of the floors, might be about 18 feet high, and no doubt was partitioned into a great many rooms or apartments. This vessel was doubtless so contrived, as to admit the air and the light on all, though the particular construction of the windows be not mentioned.

ARK OF THE COVENANT, a small chest or coffer, three feet nine inches in length, two feet three inches in breadth, and two feet three inches in height, in which were contained the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod, and the tables of the covenant. The ark was reposited in the holiest place of the tabernacle. It was taken by the Philistines, and detained twenty (some say forty) years at Kirjath-jearim; but, the people being afflicted with emerods on account of it, returned it with divers presents. It was afterwards placed in the temple. The lid or covering of the ark was called the propitiatory or mercy seat; over which two figures were placed, called cherubims, with expanded wings of a peculiar form. Here the Shechinah rested both in the

ARMINIANS

tabernacle and temple in a visible cloud: hence were issued the Divine oracles by an audible voice; and the high priest appeared before this mercy-seat once every year on the great day of expiation; and the Jews, wherever they worshipped, turned their faces towards the place where the ark stood.

In the second temple there was also an ark, made of the same shape and dimensions with the first, and put in the same place, but without any of its contents and peculiar honours. It was used as a representative of the former on the day of expiation, and a repository of the original copy of the holy Scriptures, collected by Ezra and the men of the great synagogue after the captivity; and, in imitation of this, the Jews, to this day, have a kind of ark in their synagogues, wherein their sacred books are kept.

ARMINIANS

persevere unto the end; and to inflict everlasting punishments on those who should continue in their unbelief, and resist his divine succours; so that election was conditional, and reprobation in like manner the result of foreseen infidelity and persevering wickedness.

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 par ticular; that, however, none but those who be lieve in him can be partakers of divine benefits.

III. That 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 operations of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God through Jesus Christ.

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, notwithstanding which they pray to departed saints, adore their pictures, and burn lamps before them. The Armenian clergy V. That God gives to the truly faithful, who consist of patriarchs, archbishops, doctors, secular are regenerated by his grace, the means of prepriests, and monks. The Armenian monks are serving themselves in this state. The first Arof the order of St. Basil; and every Wednesday minians, indeed, had some doubt with respect to and Friday they eat neither fish, nor eggs, nor the closing part of this article; but their followoil, nor any thing made of milk; and during Lenters uniformly maintain "that the regenerate may they live upon nothing but roots. They have lose true justifying faith, fali from a state of grace, seven sacraments; baptism, confirmation, pe- and die in their sins." nance, the eucharist, extreme unction, orders, and After the appointment of Arminius to the theomatrimony.-They admit infants to the commu- logical chair at Leyden, he thought it his duty to nion at two or three months old. They seem to avow and vindicate the principles which he had place the chief part of their religion in fastings embraced; and the freedom with which he puband abstinences; and, among the clergy, the higher lished and defended them, exposed him to the the degree, the lower they must live; insomuch, resentment of those that adhered to the theologithat it is said the archbishops live on nothing but cal system of Geneva, which then prevailed in pulse. They consecrate holy water but once a Holland; but his principal opponent was Gomar, year; at which time every one fills a pot, and his colleague. The controversy which was thus carries it home, which brings in a considerable begun became more general after the death of revenue to the church. Arminius, in the year 1609, and threatened to ARMINIANS, persons who follow the doc-involve the United Provinces in civil discord. trines of Arminius, who was pastor at Amster- The Arminian tenets gained ground under the dam, and afterwards professor of divinity at Ley-mild and favourable treatment of the magistrates den. Arminius had been educated in the opinions of Holland, and were adopted by several persons 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 further inquiry, 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.

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 ineffectua! by the perverse will of the impenitent sinner. Some modern Arminians interpret this and the last article with a greater latitude.

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

rance, viz.

I That God, from all eternity, determined to bestow salvation on those who he foresaw would

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, Switzerland, and the Palatinate. The principal advocate in favour of the Arminians was Episcopius, who at that time was professor of divinity at Leyden. It was first proposed to discuss the principal subjects in dispute, that the Arminians should be allowed to state and vindicate the grounds on which their opinions were founded; but, some difference arising, as to the proper mode of conducting the debate, the Arminians were excluded from the assembly, their case was tried in their absence, and they were pronounced guilty

ARTICLES, LAMBETH

In consequence of the abovementioned decision, the Arminians were considered as enemies to their country, and its established religion, and were much persecuted. They were treated with great severity, and deprived of all, their posts and employments; their ministers were silenced, and their congregations were suppressed. The great Barneveldt was beheaded on a scaffold; and the learned Grotius, being condemned to perpetual imprisonment, fled, and took refuge in France.

ASCENSION OF CHRIST

of pestilential errors, and condemned as corrupt- | beth palace, under the eye and with the assistance ers of the true religion. A curious account of the of archbishop Whitgift, bishop Bancroft, bishop proceedings of the above synod may be seen in a Vaughan, and other eminent dignitaries of the series of letters written by Mr. John Hales, who Church. That the reader may judge how Calviwas present on the occasion. nistic the clergy were under the reign of queen Elizabeth, we shall here insert them. "1. God hath from eternity predestinated certain persons to life, and hath reprobated certain persons unto death. 2. The moving or efficient cause of predestination unto life is not the foresight of faith, or of perseverance, or of good works, or of any thing that is in the persons predestinated; but the alone will of God's good pleasure. 3. The predestinati are a pre-determined and certain number, which can neither be lessened nor increased. Such as are not predestinated to salvation shall After the death of prince Maurice, who had inevitably be condemned on account of their sins. been a violent partisan in favour of the Goma- 5. The true, lively, and justifying faith, and rists, in the year 1625, the Arminian exiles were the Spirit of God justifying, is not extinguished, restored to their former reputation and tranquillity; doth not utterly fail, doth not vanish away in the and under the toleration of the state, they erected elect, either finally or totally. 6. A true believer, churches and founded a college at Amsterdam, that is, one who is endued with justifying faith, is appointing Episcopius the first theological profes-certified by the full assurance of faith that his The Arminian system has very much prevailed in England since the time of Archbishop Laud, and its votaries in other countries are very numerous. It is generally supposed that a majority of the clergy in both the established churches of Great Britain favour the Arminian system, notwithstanding their articles are strictly Calvinistic. The name of Mr. John Wesley hardly need be mentioned here. Every one knows what an advocate he was for the tenets of Arminius, and the success he met with. See METHODISTS. Some of the principal writers on the side of the Arminians have been Arminius, Episcopius, Vorstius, Grotius, Curceleus, Limborch, Le Clerc, Wetstein, Goodwin, Whitby, Taylor, Fletcher, &c.

sor.

Some of the principal writers on the other side have been Polhill in his Book on the Decrees; John Edwards in his Veritas Redux; Cole in his Sovereignty of God; Edwards on the Will, and Original Sin; Dr. Owen in his Display of Arminianism, and on Particular Redemp tion; Gill in his Cause of God and Truth; and Toplady in almost all his works.

ARNOLDISTS, the followers of Arnold, of Brescia, in the twelfth century, who was a great declaimer against the wealth and vices of the clergy. He is also charged with preaching against baptism, and the eucharist. He was burnt at Rome in 1155, and his ashes cast into the Tiber.

ARRHABONARII, a sect who held that the eucharist is neither the real flesh or blood of Christ, nor yet the sign of them, but only the pledge or earnest thereof.

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 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 articles were so called, because drawn up at Lam

sins are forgiven, and that he shall be everlastingly saved by Christ. 7. Saving grace is not allowed, is not imparted, is not granted to all men, by which they may be saved if they will. 8. No man is able to come to Christ, unless it be given him; and unless the Father drew him; and all men are not drawn by the Father, that they may come to his Son. 9. It is not in the will or power of every man to be saved." What gave occasion to the framing these articles was this:-Some persons had distinguished themselves at the university of Cambridge, by opposing predestination. Alarmed at the opinions that were vented, the above-mentioned archbishop, with others, com posed these articles, to prevent the belief of a contrary doctrine. These, when completed, were sent down to Cambridge, to which the scholars were strictly enjoined to conform.

ARTOTYRITES, a Christian sect in the primitive church, who celebrated the eucharist with bread and cheese. The word is derived from pros, bread, and Tups, cheese. The Artotyrites admitted women to the priesthood and episcopacy; and Epiphanius tells us that it was a common thing to see seven girls at once enter into 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 ele vation to heaven. The ascension of Jesus Christ was not only presignified by many Scripture types, but also by many remarkable Scripture prophecies, Ps. xlvii. 5. cx. 1. Dan. vii. 13, 14. Mic. ii. 13. Ps. lxviii. 18.

The mar

The evidences of his ascension were numerous. The disciples saw him ascend, Acts i. 9, 10. Two angels testified that he did ascend, Acts i. 11. Stephen, Paul, and John saw him in his ascended state, Acts vii. 55, 56. ix. Rev. i. vellous descent 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, Jolan viii. 21. Matt xxvi. 64.

The time of his ascension. It was forty days after his resurrection. He continued so many davs on earth, that he might give many re peated proofs of his resurrection, Acts i. 3; that he might instruct his followers in every thing

ASSURANCE

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 i5, 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. Ixviii. 17. xlvii. 5, 6.

The effects or ends of Christ's ascension were, 1. To fulfil the prophecies and types concerning it. 2. To take upon him more openly the exercise of his kingly office. 3. To receive gifts for men both ordinary and extraordinary, Ps. lxviii. 18. 4. To open the way into heaven for his people, Heb. x. 19, 20. 5. To assure the saints of their ascension also, John xiv. 1, 2.

ASCETIC, one who retires from the world for the purpose of devotion and mortification. When the monks came in fashion, this title was bestowed upon them, especially such as lived in solitude. It was also the title of several books of spiritual exercises, as the Ascetics, or devout exercises of St. Basil, &c.

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 corporcal, 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 his majesty is represented by his commissioner, who dissolves one meeting and calls another in the name of the king, while the moderator does the same in the name of Jesus Christ. See CONVOCATION, PRESBYTERIANS, WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY,

ASSURANCE

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 divines. Some have asserted that it is not to be obtained in the present state, allowing that persons may be in a hopeful way to salvation, but that they have no real or absolute assurance of it: but this is clearly refuted by fact as well as by scripture. That it is to be obtained is evident, for we have reason to believe many persons have actually obtained it. Job xix. 25. Ps. xvii. 15. 2 Tim. i. 12. The Scriptures exhort us to obtain it, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Heb. vi. 11. 1 Thess. v. 21. The Holy Spirit is said to bear witness of it, Rom. viii. 16. The exercise of the Christian graces is considered as a proof of it, 1 John iii. 14. 1 John ii. 3. We must, however guard against presumption; for a mere persuasion that Christ is our's 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 imposed 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 salva tion 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 conscience before him, these only have ground to expect this privilege."

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 rely upon him as such; but faith in Christ does not imply an assurance of our interest in him; for there may be faith long before the assurance of personal interest commences. The confounding of these ideas has heen the cause of presumption on the one hand, and despair on the other. When men have been taught that faith consists in believing that Christ died for them, and been assured that, if they can only believe so, all is well; and that then they are immediately pardoned and justified, the conse quence has been, that the bold and self-conceited have soon wrought themselves up to such a persuasion, without any ground for it, to their own deception; whilst the dejected, humble, and poor Assurance of the Understanding is a well-in spirit, not being able to work themselves to such grounded knowledge of divine things founded on a pitch of confidence, have concluded that they God's word. Col. ii. 2.-Assurance of Faith have not the faith of God's elect, and must inevitdoes not relate to our personal interest in Christ, ably be lost. but consists in a firm belief of the revelation that The means to attain assurance are not those of God has given us of Christ in his word, with an an extraordinary kind, as some people imagine; entire dependence on him. Heb. x. 22.-As- such as visions, dreams, voices, &c.; but such as urance of Hope is a firm expectation that God ❘ are ordinary; self-examination, humble and con

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 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.