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numerous. It is highly disho-dox, that the Son was oues@, of nourable and abasing; transform-the same substance, but only usiing a man into any thing or every 87, of a like substance with the thing for his own interest. It is Father; and thus, though in exsinful, and the source of innume-pression they differed from the orrable sins; as perjury, hypocrisy, thodox in a single letter only, falsehood, idolatry, persecution, yet in effect they denied the diviand murder itself. It is danger-nity of Jesus Christ. The Semious. It excites contempt, is the Arianism of the moderns consists source of tyranny, discord, war, in their maintaining that the Son and makes a man a slave, and was, from all eternity, begotten exposes him to the just indigna- by the will of the Father; contrary tion of God. The remedies to to the doctrine of those who teach prevent or suppress this evil are that the eternal generation is necesthese. Consider that it is abso-sary. lutely prohibited, Jerem. xlv. 5. Luke ix, 23. Heb. xiii, 5, Col. iii, 5. A mark of a wicked degenerate mind; that the most awful curses are pronounced against it, Isa. v, 3. Hab. vi, 9-12. Is. xv, 1, 2. Amos vi, 1. Mic. ii, 1, 2; that it is contrary to the example of all wise and good men; that the most awful examples of the punishment of this sin are recorded in scripture; as Pharaoh, Achan, Haman, Gehazi, Absa lom, Ananias and Saphira, Judas, and many others.

Such, at least, are the respective opinions of Dr. Clarke and Bishop Bull.

SEMI-PELAGIANS,a name anciently, and even at this day, given to such as retain some tincture of Pelagianism.

Cassian, who had been a deacon of Constantinople, and was afterwards a priest at Marseilles, was the chief of these Semi-Pelagians, whose leading principles were, 1. That God did not dispense his grace to one more than another, in consequence of predestination, i. e. an eternal and absolute deSEMBIANI, so called from cree, but was willing to save all Sembianus, their leader, who con- men, if they complied with the demned all use of wine as evil terms of his Gospel.-2. That of itself. He persuaded his fol- Christ died for all men.-3. That lowers that wine was a produc- the grace purchased by Christ, tion of Satan and the earth, denied and necessary to salvation, was ofthe resurrection of the body, and fered to all men.-4. That man, rejected most of the books of the before he received grace, was caOld Testament. pable of faith and holy desires.SEMI-ARIANS were thus de-5. That man was born free, and nominated, because, in profession, was, consequently, capable of rethey condemned the errors of the sisting the influences of grace, or Arians, but in reality maintained of complying with its suggestion. their principles, only palliating The Semi-Pelagians were very and concealing them under softer numerous; and the doctrine of and more moderate terms. They Cassian, though variously explainwould not allow, with the ortho-ed, was received in the greatest

part of the monastic schools in -5. The benevolent affections are Gaul, from whence it spread itself all accompanied with an agreeafar and wide through the Europe-ble feeling; the malevolent on the an provinces. As to the Greeks, contrary:-and, 6. The highest, and other Eastern Christians, they the noblest, and the most durable had embraced the Semi-Pelagian pleasure, is that of doing well; doctrines before Cassian. In the and the most bitter and painful sensixth century the controversy be-timent, the anguish and remorse of tween the Semi-Pelagians and the disciples of Augustin prevailed much, and continued to divide the Western churches.

a guilty conscience. See Theoriedes Sentimens Agreeables; Reid on the Intellectual Powers, p. 232; Kames's Criticisms, vol. ii, p. 501.

SENSE, a faculty of the soul, whereby it perceives external objects by means of impressions made on the organs of the body.

Moral sense is said to be an apprehension of that beauty or deformity which arises in the mind by a kind of natural instinct, previously to any rersoning upon the remoter consequences of actions. Whether this really exists or not, is disputed. On the affirmative

or disapprove certain actions without deliberation.-2. This approbation or disapprobation is uniform and universal. But against this opinion it is answered, that, 1. This uniformity of sentiment does not pervade all nations.-2.

SENSATION properly signifies that internal act by which we are made conscious of pleasure or pain felt at the organ of sense. As to sensations and feelings, says Dr. Reid, some belong to the animal part of our nature, and are common to us with the brutes; others belong to the rational and moral part. The first are more properly called sensations; the last, feelings. The French word sentiment is common to both. The design of the Al-side it is said, that, 1. We approve mighty in giving us both the painful and agreeable feelings is, for the most part, obvious, and well deserving our notice. 1. The painful sensations are admonitions to avoid what would hurt us; and the agreeable sensations to invite us to those actions that are neces-Approbation of particular conduct sary to the preservation of the individual or the kind.-3. By the same means, nature invites us to moderate bodily exercise, and ad-ceives strength from authority, monishes us to avoid idleness and inactivity on the one hand, and excessive labour on the other.3. The moderate exercise of all our rational powers gives pleasure. 4. Every species of beauty is beheld with pleasure, and every species of deformity with disgust. VOL. II. 3 I

arises from a sense of its advantages. The idea continues when the motive no longer exists; re

imitation, &c. The efficacy of imitation is most observable in children.-3. There are no maxims universally true, but bend to circumstances.-4. There can be no idea without an object, and instinct is inseparable from the idea of the object. See Paley's Moral

Phiies., vol. i, chap. v; Hutcheson into the Greek language, which

on the Passions, p. 245, &c.; Mason's Sermons, vol. i, p. 253.

Gospels and by the apostles, and which has thereby received the highest sanction which any writ ings can possibly receive."

was a language commonly understood by the nations of the world. SEPTUAGINT, the name It has also been with great progiven to a Greek version of the priety observed," that there are books of the Old Testament, from many words and forms of speech its being supposed to be the work of in the New Testament, the true seventy-two Jews, who are usually import of which cannot be known called the seventy interpreters, be- but by their use in the Septuagint. cause seventy is a round number. This version also preserves many Aristobulus, who was tutor to important words, some sentences, Ptolemy Physion; Philo, who liv-and several whole verses which ed in our Saviour's time, and was originally made a part of the Hecontemporary with the apostles; brew text, but have long ago enand Josephus, speak of this trans-tirely disappeared. This is the lation as made by seventy-two in-version, and this only, which is terpreters, by the care of Deme-constantly used and quoted in the trius Phalerus, in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus. All the Christian writers during the first fifteen centuries of the Christian æra have admitted this account of the Septuagint as an undoubted fact; but, since the reformation, critics have boldly called it in question. But whatever differences of opinions there have been as to the mode of translation, it is universally acknowledged that such a version, whole or in part, existed; and it is pretty evident that most Dr. Holmes, canon of Christ of the books must have been trans- Church, was employed for some lated before our Saviour's time, years on a correct edition of the as they are quoted by him. It must Septuagint. He had been col also be considered as a wonderful lating from more than three hunprovidence in favour of the reli-dred Greek manuscripts; from gion of Jesus. It prepared the way twenty or more Coptic, Syriac, for his coming, and afterwards Arabic, Sclavonian, and Armegreatly promoted the setting up of nian manuscripts; from eleven his kingdom in the world; for hi-editions of the Greek text and therto the scriptures had remained locked up from all other nations but the Jews in the Hebrew tongue, which was understood by no other nation; but now it was translated

There have been various editions of the Septuagint; such as Breitenger's edition, 1730; Boss's edition, 1709; Daniel's edition, 1653; Mills's edition, 12mo., 1725; bishop Pearson's, printed by Field, 12mo., 1665: but Grabes's edition, published in 1707, is in great repute.

versions; and from near thirty Greek fathers, when death prevented him from finishing this valuable work. He printed the whole of the Pentateuch in five parts

folio; and lately edited the pro-age of the world from about 5500 phecy of Daniel according to Theo-to 3760; and thence to prove that dosian and the LXX, departing Jesus could not be the Messiah. from his proposed order, as if by a presentiment of his end.

Dr. Kennicott adds, that some Hebrew copies, having the larger chronology, were extant till the time of Eusebius, and some till the year 700.

Those who desire a larger account of this translation may consult Hody de Bib. Textibus; Prideaux's Connexions; Owen's Inqui- SERMON, a discourse deliverry into the Septuagint Version; ed in public for the purpose of reBlair's Lectures on the Canon; and ligious instruction and improveMichalis's Introduction to the ment. New Testament.

In order to make a good ser SEPTUAGINT CHRONO-men, the following things may LOGY, the chronology which is be attended to. The exordium formed from the dates and periods should correspond with the subof time mentioned in the Septua-ject on which we are about to gint translation of the Old Testa-treat. For this purpose the conment. It reckons 1500 years more text often forms a source of apfrom the creation to Abraham than propriate remark; and this, though the Hebrew Bible. Dr. Kennicott, called a hackneyed way, is one in the dissertation prefixed to his of the best for opening gradually Hebrew Bible, has shewn it to be to the subject; though, I confess, very probable that the chronology always to use it is not so well, of the Hebrew scriptures, since the as it looks formal. There are period just mentioned, was cor-some subjects in which the conrupted by the Jews between the text cannot be consulted; then, years 175 and 200; and that the perhaps, it is best to begin with chronology of the Septuagint is some passage of scripture appomore agreeable to truth. It is a site to the subject, or some strikfact, that, during the second anding observation. It has been dethird centuries, the Hebrew scrip-bated, indeed, whether we should tures were almost entirely in the begin with any thing particularly hands of the Jews, while the calculated to gain the attention, or Septuagint was confined to the whether we should rise gradually Christians. The Jews had, there- in the strength of remark and aptfore, a very favourable opportunityness of sentiment. As to this, we for this corruption. The following may observe, that, although it is the reason which is given by be acknowledged that a minister Oriental writers: It being a very should flame most towards the ancient tradition that Messiah was end, perhaps it would be well to to come in the sixth chiliad, be-guard against a two low and feecause he was to come in the last ble manner in the exordium. It days (founded on a mystical appli-has been frequently the practice cation of the six days creation), of making apologies, by way of the contrivance was to shorten the introduction: though this may be

be distinct and few, yet have a just dependance on and connexion one with the other. It was common in the two last centuries to have such a multitude of heads, subdivisions, observations, and inferences, that hardly any one could

admitted in some singular cases, as on the sudden death of a minister, or disappointment of the preacher through unforeseen circumstances, yet I think it is often made use of where it is entirely unnecessary, and carries with it an air of affectation and pride.remember them: it is the custom An apology for a man's self is of-of the present day, among many, ten more a reflection than any to run into the other extreme, and thing else. If he be not qualified, to have no division at all. This is why have the effrontery to engage? equally as injurious. "I have no and, if qualified, why tell the peo- notion," says one, "of the great ple an untruth? usefulness of a sermon without Exordiums should be short: heads and divisions. They should some give us an abridgment of be few, and distinct, and not cointheir sermon in their introduc-cide. But a general harangue, or tion, which takes off the people's a sermon with a concealed diviattention afterwards; others pro- sion, is very improper for the gemise so much, that the expecta-nerality of hearers, especially the tion thereby raised is often disap-common people, as they can nei pointed. Both these should be ther remember it, nor so well unavoided; and a simple, correct, derstand it." Another observes: modest, deliberate, easy gradation" We should ever remember we to the text attended to.

are speaking to the plainest capacities; and as the arranging our ideas properly is necessary to our being understood, so the giving each division of our discourse its denomination of number has a happy effect to assist the attention and memory of our hearers."

As to the plan. Sometimes a text may be discussed by exposition and inference; sometimes by raising a proposition, as the general sentiment of the text, from which several truths may be deduced and insisted on; sometimes by general observations; and As to the amplification. After sometimes by division. If we dis- having laid a good foundation on cuss by exposition, then we should which to build, the superstructure examine the authenticity of the should be raised with care. "Let reading, the accuracy of the trans-every text have its true meaning, lation, and the scope of the writer.every truth its due weight, every If a proposition be raised, care hearer his proper portion." The should be taken that it is founded reasoning should be clear, delion the meaning of the text. If ob-berate, and strong. No flights of servations be made, they should not be too numerous, foreign, nor upon every particle in the text. If by division, the heads should

wit should be indulged; but a close attention to the subject, with every exertion to inform the judgment and impress the heart. It is in

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