pure spirits divested of all matter, or united to some thin bodies, or corporeal vehicles, has been a controversy of long standing: the more general opinion is, that they are substances entirely spiritual, though they can at any time assume bodies, and appear in human shape, Gen. xviii. and xix. Gen. xxxii Matt. xxviii: Luke i. &c. The scriptures represent them as endued with extraordinary wisdom and power, 2 Sam. xiv. 20. Ps. ciii. 20; holy and regular in their inclinations; zealous in their employ, and completely happy in their minds, Job xxxviii. 7. Heb. i. 7. Matt. xviii. 10. Their number seems to be great, Ps. Ixviii. 17. Heb. xii. 22; and perhaps have distinct orders, Col. i. 16, 17. 1 Pet. iii. 22. 1 Thes. iv. 16. Dan. x 13. They are delighted with the grand scheme of redemption, and the conver sion of sinners to God, Luke ii. 12. 1 Pet i. 12. Luke xv. 10. They not only wor ship God, and execute his commands at large, but are attendant on the saints of God while here below, Ps. xci. 11, 12 Heb. i. 13. Luke xvi. 22. Some conjec ture that every good man has his par ticular guardian angel, Matt. xviii. 10 Acts xii. 15; but this is easier to be supposed than to be proved; nor is it a matter of consequence to know. "What need we dispute," says Henry, "whether every particular saint has a guardian angel, when we are sure he has a guard of angels about him?” They will gather the elect in the last day, attend the final judgment, Matt. xxv. 31. Rev. xiv. 18. Matt. xiii. 39, and live for ever in the world of glory, Luke xx. 36. especially by way of message or intercourse between God and his creatures. Hence the word is used differently in various parts of the scripture, and signifies, 1. Human messengers, or agents for others, 2 Sam. ii. 5. "David sent Messengers (Heb. angels) to Jabesh Gilead, Prov. xiii. 17. Mark i. 2. James ii. 25.-2. Officers of the churches, whether prophets or ordinary ministers, Hag. i 13. Rev. i. 20.-3. Jesus Christ, Mal. iii. 1. Isa. Ixiii. 9.-4. Some add the dispensations of God's providence, either beneficial or calamitous, Gen. xxiv. 7. Ps. xxxiv. 7. Acts xii. 23. 1 Sam. xiv. 14; but I must confess, that, though I do not at all see the impropriety of considering the providences of God as his angels or messengers for good or for evil, yet the passages generally adduced under this head do not prove to me that the providences of God are meant in distinction from created angels-5. Created intelligences, both good and bad, Heb. i. 14. Jude 6. the subject of the present article.-As to the time when the angels were created, much has been said by the learned. Some wonder that Moses, in his account of the creation, should pass over this in silence. Others suppose that he did this because of the proneness of the Gentile world, and even the Jews, to idolatry; but a better reason has been assigned by thers, viz. that this first history was purposely and principally written for information concerning the visible world; the invisible, of which we know but in part, being reserved for a better life. Son.e think that the idea of God's not creating them before this world was Although the angels were criginally made, is very contracted. To suppose, created perfect, yet they were mutable: say they, that no creatures whatever, some of them sinned, and kept not their neither angels nor other worlds, had first estate; and so, of the most blessed been created previous to the creation and glorious, became the most vile and of our world, is to suppose that a Being miserable of all God's creatures. They of infinite power, wisdom, and good- were expelled the regions of light, and ness, had remained totally inactive from with heaven lost their heavenly dispo all eternity, and had permitted the in-sition, and fell into a settled rancour finity of space to contínue a perfect vacuum till within these 6000 years; that such an idea only tends to discredit revelation, instead of serving it. On the other hand it is alleged, that they must have been created within the six days; because it is said, that within this space God made heaven and earth, and all things that are therein. It is, however, a needless speculation, and we dare not indulge a spirit of conjecture. It is our happiness to know that they are all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who are heirs of salvation. As to the nature of these beings, we are told that they are spirits; but whether against God, and malice against men What their offence was is difficult to determine, the scripture being silent about it. Some think envy, others unbelief; but most suppose it was pride. As to the time of their fall, we are certain it could not be before the sixth day of the creation, because on that day it is said, "God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good;" but that it was not long after, is very probable, as it must have preceded the fall of our first parents. The number of the fallen angels seems to be great, and, like the holy angels, perhaps have various orders among them, Matt. xii. 24. Eph. ü. 2. Eph. vi. 12. Col. ii. 15. Rev. xii. 7. they were construed into indications of Their constant employ is not only doing malice; the inducement which prompted evil themselves, but endeavouring by our adversary to act as he did, and how all arts to seduce and pervert mankind, powerfully the same inducement has, at 1 Pet. v. 8. Job i. 6. It is supposed they one time or other, operated upon ourwill be restrained during the millen- selves; that he is suffering, perhaps, nium, Rev. xx. 2, but afterwards again, under a contrition, which he is ashamed, for a short time, deceive the nations, Rev. or wants opportunity to confess; and xx. 8, and then be finally punished, Matt. how ungenerous it is to triumph by coldxxv. 41. The authors who have written ness or insult over a spirit already humon this subject have been very nume- bled in secret; that the returns of kindrous; we shall only refer to a few: Rey-ness are sweet, and that there is neither nolds's Enquiry into the State and Eco-honour, nor virtue, nor use, in resisting nomy of the Angelical World; Doddridge's Lect. p. 10. lect. 210. to 214; Milton's Paradise Lost; Bp. Newton's Works, vol. iii. p. 538, 568; Shepherd of Angels; Gilpin on Temptation; Casmanna Angelographia; Gill and Ridgeley's Bodies of Divinity. ANGELICS, an ancient sect, supposed by some to have got this appella tion from their excessive veneration of angels, and by others from maintaining that the world was created by angels. ANGELITES, a sect in the reign of the emperor Anastasius, about the year 494; so called from Angelium, a place in the city of Alexandria, where they held their first meetings. They were called likewise Severites, from Severus, who was the head of their sect; as also Theodosians, from one Theodosius, whom they made pope at Alexandria. They held that the persons of the trinity are not the same; that none of them exists of himself, and of his own nature; but that there is a common God or Deity existing in them all, and that each is God by a participation of this Deity. them; for some persons think themselves bound to cherish and keep alive their indignation, when they find it dying away of itself. We may remember that others have their passions, their prejudices, their favourite aims, their fears, their cautions, their interests, their sudden impulses, their varieties of apprehension, as well as we: we may recollect what hath sometimes passed in our own minds when we have got on the wrong side of a quarrel, and imagine the same to be passing in our adversary's mind now: when we became sensible of our misbehaviour, what palliations we perceived in it, and expected others to perceive; how we were affected by the kindness, and felt the superiority of a generous reception, and ready forgiveness; how persecution_revived our spirits with our enmity, and seemed to justify the conduct in ourselves, which we before blamed. Add to this the indecency of extravagant anger; how it renders us while it lasts, the scorn and sport of all about us, of which it leaves us, when it ceases, sensible and ashamed; the inconveniences and irre ANGER, a violent passion of the trievable misconduct into which our mind, arising from the receipt, or sup- irascibility has sometimes betrayed us; posed receipt, of any injury, with a pre- the friendships it has lost us; the dissent purpose of revenge. All anger is tresses and embarrassments in which by no means sinful; it was designed by we have been involved by it; and the the Author of our nature for self-de- repentance which, on one account or fence; nor is it altogether a selfish pas- other, it always costs us. But the reflecsion, since it is excited by injuries offer- tion calculated above all others to allay ed to others as well as ourselves, and that haughtiness of temper which is sometimes prompts us to reclaim offen- ever finding out provocations, and which ders from sin and danger, Eph. iv. 26; renders anger so impetuous, is, that but it becomes sinful when conceived which the Gospel proposes; namely, upon trivial occasions or inadequate that we ourselves are, or shortly shall provocations; when it breaks forth into be, suppliants for mercy and pardon at outrageous actions; vents itself in re-the judgment seat of God. Imagine our viling language, or is concealed in our secret sins all disclosed and brought to thoughts to the degree of hatred. To light; imagine us thus humbled and exsuppress this passion the following re- posed; trembling under the hand of flections of arch-deacon Paley, may not God; casting ourselves on his compasbe unsuitable: "We should consider the sion; crying out for mercy; imagine Pssibility of mistaking the motives from such a creature to talk of satisfaction which the conduct that offends us pro-and revenge; refusing to be entreated, ceeded; how often our offences have disdaining to forgive; extreme to mark been the effect of inadvertency, when and to resent what is done amiss; ima gine, I say, this, and you can hardly feign to yourself an instance of more impious and unnatural arrogance." Paley's Mor. Phil. ch. 7. vol. i.; Fawcett's excellent Treatise on Anger; Seed's Posth. Ser. ser. 11. particular solemnity. Anthems were first introduced in the reformed service of the English church, in the beginning of the reign of queen Elizabeth. ANTHROPOMORPHITES, a sect of ancient heretics, who, taking every ANGER OF GOD. See WRATH. thing spoken of God in the scripture in ANGLO-CALVINISTS, a name a literal sense, particularly that passage given by some writers to the members of Genesis in which it is said, "God of the church of England, as agreeing made man after his own image," mainwith the other Calvinists in most points, tained that God had a human shape. excepting church government. ANTHROPOPATHY, a figure, exANNIHILATION, the act of reduc-pression, or discourse, whereby some ing any created being into nothing. The passion is attributed to God which prosentiments of mankind have differed perly belongs only to man. Anthropowidely as to the possibility and impos-pathy is frequently used promiscuously sibility of annihilation. According to some, nothing is so difficult; it requires the infinite power of God to effect it: according to others, nothing so easy. Existence, say they, is a state of violence; all things are continually endeavouring to return to their primitive nothing: it requires no power at all; it will do it itself: nay, more, it requires an infinite power to prevent it. With respect to human beings, it appears probable from reason; but it is confirmed by Scripture that they will not be anni-established church chiefly in matters of ́. hilated, but exist in a future state, Matt. church government; and who differ, x. 28. Ecc. xii. 7. John v. 24. 1 Thess. v. also, from the Burgher seceders, with 10. Matt. xxv. 34, 41. Luke xvi. 22, 28. whom they were originally united, chiefLuke xx. 37, 38. 1 Cor. xv. See 158, &c.ly, if not solely, respecting the lawfulvol. i. Massilon's Ser. Eng. Trans.; No. 129, Guardian; Blair's Ser. vol. i. p. 461; and articles DESTRUCTIONISTS, RESURRECTION, SOUL. ANNUNCIATION, the tidings brought by the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary of the incarnation of Christ. It is also used to denote a festival kept by the church on the 25th of March, in commemoration of these tidings. ANOMOEANS, the name by which the pure Arians were called in the fourth century, in contradistinction to the Semi-arians. The word is formed from the Greek avoμons, different. See ARIANS and SEMI-ARIANS. with anthropology; yet in strictness they ought to be distinguished, as the genus from the species. Anthropology may be understood of any thing human attributed to God, as eyes, hands, &c. but anthropopathy only of human affections and passions, as joy, grief. We have frequent instances of the use of these figures in holy scripture. ANTIBURGHERS, a numerous and respectable body of dissenters from the church of Scotland, who differ from the ness of taking the Burgess oath. For an account of their origin and principles, See SECEDERS. ANTICHRIST, an adversary to Jesus Christ. There have been various opinions concerning the Antichrist mentioned in the Scripture, 1 John ii. 18. Some have held that the Jews are to be reputed as Antichrist; others Caligula; others Mahomet; others Simon Magus; others infidelity; and others, that the devil himself is the Antichrist. Most authors agree, however, that it applies to the church of Rome. Grotius, Hammond, Bossuet, and others, supposed Rome pagan to be designed; but Rome Christian seems more evident, for John "saw the beast rise up out of the sea," Rev. xiii. 1. Now, as heathen Rome had risen and been established long before his time, this could not refer to the Roman empire then subsisting, but to a form of government afterwards to arise. As, therefore, none did arise, after ANTHEM, a church song performed Rome was broken to pieces by the barin cathedral service by choristers who barians, but that of the papal power, it sung alternately. It was used to denote must be considered as applying to that. both psalms and hymns, when perform-The descriptions also, of the beast as ed in this manner; but, at present, anthem is used in a more confined sense, being applied to certain passages taken out of the scriptures, and adapted to a ANTEDILUVIANS, a general name for all mankind who lived before the flood, including the whole human race from the creation to the deluge. For the history of the Antediluvians, see Book of Genesis. Whiston's Josephus, Cockburn's Treatise on the Deluge, and article DELUGE. the great apostacy, the man of sin, the mystery of iniquity, and the son of perdition, will apply only to Christian Rome. See Daniel vii. 2 Thess. ii. and epoch agrees best with the time when, according to prophecy, he was to be revealed. The rise of Antichrist was to be preceded by the dissolution of the Roman empire, the establishment of a different form of government in Italy, and the division of the empire into ten kingdoms; all these events taking place, make it very probable that the year 606 was the time of his rise. Nor have the events of the last century made it less probable. The power of the pope was never so much shaken as within a few years: "his dominion is, in a great measure, taken from him;" and every thing seems to be going on gradually to terminate his authority; so that, by the time this 1260 years shall be concluded, we may suppose that Antichrist shall be finally destroyed. As to the cruelties of Antichrist, the persecutions that have been carried on, and the miseries to which mankind have been subject, by the power of the beast, the reader may consult the articles INQUISITION and PERSECUTION. In this we have to rejoice, that, however various, the opinions of the learned may be as to the time when Antichrist rose, it is evident to all that he is fast declining and will certainly fall, Rev. xviii. 1,5 What means the Almighty may farther use, the exact time when, and the manner how, all shall be accomplished, we must leave to him who ordereth all things after the counsel of his own will See Bh. Newton on the Prophecies; Simpson's Key to ditto; Moseley's Ser. on Fall of Babylon; Ward's Three Discourses on Prophecy, and books under that article. Rev. xiii. Besides the time allowed for ANTIDORON, a name given by the Greeks to the consecrated bread; out of which the middle part, marked with the cross, wherein the consecration resides, being taken away by the priest, the remainder is distributed after mass to the poor. not promote our salvation, nor ill one's hinder it; that repentance is not to be preached from the decalogue, but only from the Gospel. This sect sprang up in England during the protectorate of Cromwell, and extended their system of libertinism much farther than Agricola did. Some of them it is said,,main D repugnancy: these last have greater affinity with the animal constitution. The causes of antipathy are less known than those of aversion. Repugnancy is less permanent than either the one or the other. We hate a vicious character, we feel an aversion to its exertions. We are affected with antipathy for certain persons at first sight: there are some affairs which we transact with repugnancy. Hatred calumniates, aversion keeps us at a distance from certain persons. Antipathy makes us detest them; repugnancy hinders us from imitating them. ANTIPEDOBAPTISTS, (from arts, "against," and rais raides, "child," and Barr, "baptize,") is a distinguishing denomination given to those who object to the baptism of infants. See BAPTISM. tained, that if they should commit any kind of sin, it would do them no hurt, nor in the least affect their eternal state; and that it is one of the distinguishing characters of the elect that they cannot do any thing displeasing to God. It is necessary, however, to observe here, and candour obliges us to confess that there have been others, who have been styled Antinomians, who cannot, strictly speaking, be ranked with these men: nevertheless, the unguarded expressions they have advanced, the bold positions they have laid down, and the double construction which might so easily be put upon many of their sentences, have led some to charge them with Antinomian principles. For instance; when they have asserted justification to be eternal, without distinguishing between the secret determination of God in eternity, and the execution of it in time; when ANTIQUITIES, a term implying all they have spoken lightly of good works, testimonies or authentic accounts that or asserted that believers have nothing have come down to us of ancient nations. to do with the law of God, without fully As the study of antiquity may be useful explaining what they mean: when they both to the enquiring Christian, as well assert that God is not angry with his as to those who are employed in, or are people for their sins, nor in any sense candidates for the Gospel ministry, we punishes them for them, without distin- shall here subjoin a list of those which guishing between fatherly corrections are esteemed the most valuable.-Faand vindictive punishment: these things, bricii Bibliographia Antiquaria; Spenwhatever be the private sentiments of cer de Legibus Heb. Ritualibus; Godthose who advance them, have a ten-wyn's Moses and Aaron; Bingham's dency to injure the minds of many. It has been alleged, that the principal thing they have had in view, was, to counteract those legal doctrines which have so much abounded among the selfrighteous; but, granting this to be true, there is no occasion to run from one extreme to another. Had many of those writers proceeded with more caution, been less dogmatical, more explicit in the explanation of their sentiments, and possessed more candour towards those who differed from them, they would have been more serviceable to the cause of truth and religion. Some of the chief of those who have been charged as favouring the above sentiments are, Crisp,|| Richardson, Saltmarsh, Hussey, Eatom, Town, &c. These have been answered by Gataker, Sedgwick, Witsius, Bull, Williams, Ridgley, Beart, De Fleury, &c. See also Bellamy's Letters and Dialogues between Theron, Paulinas, and Aspasio; with his Essay on the Nature and Glory of the Gospel; Edwards' Chrispianism, unmasked. ANTIPATHY, hatred, aversion, repugnancy, Hatred is entertained against persons, aversion and antipathy against persons or things, and repugnancy against actions alone. Hatred is more voluntary than aversion, antipathy, or Antiquities of the Christian Church Brown's Antiquities of the Jews; Potter's and Harwood's Greek, and Kennett's and Adam's Roman Antiquities ; Preface to the Prussian Testament, published by L'Enfant and Beausobre; Prideaux and Shuckford's Connections; Jones's Asiatic Researches; and Maurice's Indian Antiquities. ANTISABBATARIANS, a modern religious sect, who deny the necessity of observing the Sabbath Day. Their chief arguments are, 1. That the Jewish Sabbath was only of ceremonial, not of moral obligation; and consequently, is abolished by the coming of Christ.-2. That no other Sabbath was appointed to be observed by Christ or his apostles.3. That there is not a word of Sabbathbreaking in all the New Testament.4. That no command was given to Adam or Noah to keep any Sabbath.-And, 5. That, therefore, although Christians are commanded not to forsake the assembling of themselves together," they ought not to hold one day more holy than another. See article SABBATH. ANTITACTÆ, a branch of Gnostics, who held that God was good and just, but that a creature had created evil; and, consequently, that it is our |