Chapter 3

The Epistles were written by the authors whose names they bear (except perhaps Hebrews). Seven of them are called _Catholic_, which means addressed to the Church _generally_, or _universally_, and not to particular persons or particular bodies of Christians.

The Book of Revelation, or Apocalypse, is by St. John the Apostle.

The following is a chronological table of the books of the New Testament, with their probable dates:--

Books Date A.D. S. Matt's 60 S. Mark's 64 S. Luke's 64 S. John's 70 The Acts 64 I. Thess. 52 II. Thess. 52 Galatians 52 I. Corinth. 53 II. Corinth. 57 Romans 58 Ephesians 61 Philipp. 62 Colloss. 62 Philemon 62 I. Tim. 56 Titus 56 II. Tim. 61 S. James 61 I. Peter 64 II. Peter 64 Jude 64 I. John 80 II. John 85 III. John 90 Revelation 95 Some scholars assign an earlier date to the Revelation.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

| | BOOKS ILLUSTRATING | CONTEMPORARY PERIOD | HISTORY | SAME PERIOD | PROPHETS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Creation | Genesis, | I. Chron. i. to x. | To | Exodus. | (geneaologies). | Settlement| Numbers. | Leviticus. | In | Deuteronomy.| | Canaan. | Joshua. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Judges. | Judges. | Ruth. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kings. | I. Samuel. \| I. Chron. x. to xxix. 22; Psalms | | II. Samuel./| of David,Asaph, Ethan, and | | | Sons of Korah. | | I. Kings | | Ecclesiastes, Canticles, and | Jonah (time of Jehu). | \| Proverbs, (time of Solomon). | | II. Kings /| I. Chron. xxix. 22, to end of II. | Amos | | Chron. | Hosea | From Uzziah | | | Isaiah \ to end of | | | Joel / Hezekiah. | | | Micah | | | | Nahum | | | | | | | Zephaniah\ Time of | | | Jeremiah / Josiah. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Esther. | Psalm cxxxvii. | Habakkuk, Daniel, | | Obadiah, Ezekiel. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ezra. | Psalms cxx. to cxxxiv. (probably sung | Haggai, Zechariah, | on the way back). | Malachi. Nehemiah. | Psalms cxiii. to xcviii. at consecration of | | Temple. | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BIBLE CHRISTIANS. Sometimes called Bryanites. They are the followers of a Mr. William O'Bryan, a Wesleyan local preacher in Cornwall, who, in 1815, separated from the Wesleyans, and began himself to form societies upon the Methodist plan. In doctrine they do not appear to differ from the various bodies of Arminian Methodists. The forms of public worship are of the same simple character. But in the administration of the Lord's Supper "it is usual to receive the elements in a sitting posture, as it is believed that that practice is more comformable to the posture of body in which it was first received by Christ's Apostles, than kneeling; but persons are at liberty to kneel, if it be more suitable to their views and feelings to do so." Members of this sect are nearly all Cornish people.

_Ministers_. _Lay Preachers_. _Members_. 173. 1,442. 24,238.

_On_ _Sunday_ _Probation_. _Chapels_. _Scholars_. 822. 574. 37.361.

BIDDING PRAYER. The Prayer before the Sermon. Before the Reformation it was called the _Bidding of the beads_. The people were bid to pray for certain objects as the preacher successively named them. The canonical form of the present prayer is given in the 55th Canon. The ordinary practice of using a collect is now sanctioned by custom. An extempore prayer, however, from the preacher is quite unauthorized. At the University sermons, and also on occasions of more than usual solemnity, the Bidding Prayer is always used. In Borough towns it is appropriately repeated on the Sunday next after November 9th, when the Mayor is elected.

BIER. The carriage on which the coffin is carried to the grave.

BISHOP, _see_ Orders.

BOUNTY, QUEEN ANNE'S. Before the Reformation, the _Annates_ or _First-fruits_, being the profits for one year of every vacant benefice, were paid to the Pope. In Henry VIII.'s reign they were paid to him instead. Queen Anne, however, instead of receiving them for her own use, established a fund for the benefit of the poor clergy. This fund has since been called Queen Anne's Bounty. Money was granted to it also by Parliament, and many generous individuals increased the sum.

BOWING AT THE NAME OF JESUS. This pious custom is ordered by the 18th Canon of our Church, in supposed accordance with the idea of the Apostle in Phil. ii.9. In many churches the custom is now observed by bowing at the Sacred Name in the Creed only; but the Canon orders "due and lowly reverence to be done" whenever the "Name of the Lord Jesus is mentioned in the time of Divine Service."

BOWING TOWARDS THE ALTAR. This reverent custom is still practised in many of the Royal Chapels, and in some churches and Cathedrals, _e.g._, in Christ Church, Oxford, in many village churches where the custom, once universal, has not died out, and it survives in some College Chapels.

The synod of 1640 said, "We heartily commend it to all good and well affected people, that they be ready to tender to the Lord their reverence and obeisance, both at their coming in and going out of church, according to the most ancient custom of the primitive Church in the purest times."

BROAD CHURCH, _see_ Church Parties.

BURIALS ACT. A Bill passed in Parliament, 1880. Before the passing of the Act no deceased persons (with certain exceptions, specified in the Rubric) could be buried in consecrated ground without the Service of the Church of England being read over their remains. Now, anyone who wishes to have his relatives or friends buried in any such ground without any religious service, or with any other Christian and orderly service than that of the Church of England, can do so. This service may be conducted by anybody, man, woman, or child, but 48 hours' notice must be given in writing to the incumbent, who still has all his legal rights preserved. The Burials Bill deals solely with the churchyard, and confers no rights as to the tolling of the bell, or to the use of any church or consecrated chapel.

Under this Act the Clergy are empowered to use the Service of the Church for the burial of the dead in any unconsecrated burial ground or cemetery.

The Bill owes its origin to the agitation of Dissenters, and that their supposed grievances were purely sentimental is shown by the fact that comparatively few funerals are taken under this Act.

BURIAL SERVICE, THE. The present arrangement of this Office is the outcome of several revisions. In 1549 (1st Prayer Book of Edward VI.) there was a special Communion Office for use at funerals. The custom obtaining in many places of the mourners coming to church on the Sunday next following the funeral perhaps has its origin in the ancient practice of their receiving Holy Communion together. The Rubric denying Christian burial to the unbaptized, the excommunicate, and to suicides was added in 1661. The first two sentences, or anthems--John xi.25, 26, and Job xix.25-27, formed part of an ancient Office. The third sentence, I Tim. vi.7, and Job i.21, and the two Psalms, were added in 1549. The Lesson formerly formed part of the Mass for the Dead. The sentences, or anthems, to be said at the grave side are from old Offices, so also what follows down to the Collects. The prayer, "For as much," &c., is called the _Committal Prayer_, and the practice of casting earth upon the coffin is part of a very old ceremony. The last two prayers were added in 1552, and the "Grace" in 1661. Many of the dissenting sects use this Service. The whole Office is of a nature to cheer the heart of the mourner, and to rouse in all a "hope full of immortality."

CALENDAR, THE CHURCH, is the detailed (excepting, of course, the rubrics) law of the Church for the daily worship of God. It also contains a list of Fasts and Festivals, or Holy Days. Our Church recognises eighty-two such Holy Days, of which the following is a classification, not including Ash Wednesday, Holy Week or Passion Week, and Easter Eve:--

In honour of our Blessed Lord (including 50 ordinary Lord's Days) 57

In honour of God the Holy Ghost 3

In honour of the Holy Trinity 1

In honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2

In honour of the Holy Angels 1

In honour of the Apostles and Evangelists 14

In honour of S. John Baptist and other Saints 4

The object for which Holy Days are instituted, is the commemoration of some person or event by devotional observance, the devotion being, of course, offered to Almighty God. (_Blunt's Household Theology_.)

The Calendar contains a Table of Lessons, or portions of Holy Scripture, to be read in Church, and rules for finding the date of the Moveable Feasts.

The present Table of Lessons came into use Jan. 1st, 1873.

(For Holy Days, &c., see under their respective heads.)

CALL TO THE MINISTRY. Every Candidate for Deacon's Orders (see Ordinal) has this question put to him by the Bishop,--"Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you this Office and Ministration, to serve God for the promoting of His glory and the edifying of His people?"

In the "Ordering of Priests" a similar question is put in this form,--"Do you think in your heart that you be truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the order of this Church of England, to the Order and Ministry of Priesthood?" And in the "Consecration of Bishops" the question is put thus,--"Are you persuaded that you be truly called to this Ministration, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the order of this realm?"

It should be noticed that the question is not "Are you sure?" but (_a_) "Do you trust?" (_b_) "Do you think?" (_c_) "Are you persuaded?" If a man deals earnestly and truly with his own heart, he can scarcely be deceived as to whether he answers these solemn questions truly or not. He need not wait for some miraculous intimation from the Holy Spirit. By ordinary signs he may safely judge: primarily, from his own sincere inward conviction; and in an inferior degree from the advice of his parents, or of God's ministers, or of other godly persons qualified to advise in such a matter. These are all ways of learning God's will.

Bishop Oxenden, in his "Pastoral Office," says to the Candidate for Holy Orders, "If, after looking well at your motive, you find it pure,--if you are entering the Ministry in a serious, thoughtful spirit,--if the love of souls, and an earnest desire to save them, impels you--if you feel the work is one in which your soul will find delight, and that you are heartily willing to labour in the service of your Heavenly Master,--then I hesitate not to say that you have chosen for yourself the best and most delightful of all professions." This consciousness of purity of motive is a true indication that a candidate is called of God.

CALVINISTS. These form no particular sect, but are to be found among different bodies of Christians. They are the followers of the Reformer, John Calvin, who was born in 1509. The five _points_, or essential doctrines of Calvinism, are (1) particular election, (2) particular redemption, (3) moral inability in a fallen state, (4) irresistible grace, and (5) the final perseverance of the saints. In other words, a Calvinist holds that before the foundation of the world God _elected_ a certain number to salvation, and _reprobated_ the rest of mankind to damnation; that Christ Jesus died only for the elect; that mankind are totally depraved in consequence of the fall; that God, in His own good time, calls all those he has before predestinated to life by the _irresistible_ power of the Holy Spirit to grace and salvation; that those once called can never finally fall from a state of grace.

It is true that the 17th Art. is so ambiguous in language that even such a doctrine as the above is not reproved by it; but the Church of England, in her Communion Office, says that "Christ, by the one oblation of Himself once offered, made a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the _whole_ world," and in the Church Catechism it is said that "God the Son hath redeemed _all_ mankind." These two passages alone are enough to show that the Church of England is not Calvinistic in her doctrine. (See _Antinomianism_ and _Arminians_.)

CANDLES, _see_ Altar Lights.

CANON. A Greek word, meaning a Rule or Measure. The laws of the Church are called _Canons_. The Canons made before the Reformation are binding on our Church now, and are acted upon in the Ecclesiastical Courts, except where they have been superseded by subsequent Canons, or by the provisions of an Act of Parliament.

CANON. An ecclesiastic, having the right to a stall in a Cathedral, and of giving a vote in the Chapter. He differs from a Prebendary in that a Prebendary means one who enjoys a Prebend, or endowment, whereas a Canon does not necessarily do so. In England the Honorary Canons are all without capitular revenues.

CANON. A name applied to part of the Roman Office of Mass, and it was also made use of in first Prayer Book of Edward VI. The name is given to the more solemn part of the Eucharistic Service, from just after the Preface till the final close.

CANON OF SCRIPTURE, _see_ Bible.

CANONICAL HOURS. At a very early date special hours of prayer were appointed by the church. In the Church of Rome the Canonical Hours begin with _vespers_, or evening prayer, about 6 o'clock, or sunset; next follows _compline_, a service at bedtime; at midnight the service of _nocturns_, or _matins_, was held; _lauds_, an early morning service of praise, was held at cock-crow. Then came the "Little Hours," _prime_ at 6 o'clock, _terce_ at 9, _sext_ at noon, and _nones_ at 3.

CANTATE DOMINO. Psalm xcviii, used occasionally at Evening Prayer in place of the Magnificat.

CANTICLES. Songs, especially also the Song of Solomon. The sacred songs appointed to be sung or said in the Order for Morning and Evening Prayer. These are the Venite, Te Deum, Benedicite, Benedictus, Jubilate, Magnificat, Cantate, Nunc Dimittis, and Deus Misereatur; each of which see.

CASSOCK, _see_ Vestments.

CATECHISM. From a word meaning to _instruct by word of mouth_. The insertion of this elementary exposition of Christian Faith and Practice into the Prayer Book is a feature of the Reformation. The Catechism, as drawn up in 1549, finished with the explanation of the Lord's Prayer. The explanation of the Sacraments was not added until 1604. Bishop Overall is believed to have written it. The Catechism formerly stood in the Confirmation Service, but was placed in its present position in 1661. The first rubric at the end of the Catechism has for a long time been rendered practically obsolete by the institution of Sunday Schools and Children's Services.

CATHEDRAL. The chief church of every diocese is called the Cathedral, because in it is the _cathedra_, or _seat_, of the Bishop. Every Cathedral has a body of clergy belonging to it of various degrees of dignity. (See _Dean_, _Dean and Chapter_.)

CATHOLIC. A Greek word, meaning _universal_ or _general_. The Holy Catholic Church is the visible Church of Christ throughout the world, of all ages, all whose branches have retained unbroken the Apostolical succession in the Ministry. There may be erring Branches of the True Church. Art. xix. declares, "As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred, so also the Church of Rome hath erred...."

It is improper to speak of the _Roman_ Catholic Church simply by the name of Catholic; in England, members of the Church of England are _Catholics_.

CEMETERY. _A sleeping place_. The beautiful name given to places of burial by Christians.

CEREMONY. _Ceremonia_ in its classical sense was a general term for worship. Johnson defines a ceremony to be "outward rite, external form in religion." Hooker uses the word in this sense. In a larger sense it may mean a whole office. All should read that part of the introduction to our Prayer Book which treats "Of Ceremonies, why some are to be abolished, and some retained" (written in 1549). _see_ also Art. xxxiv.

CHALICE, _see_ Altar Vessels.

CHANCEL. The choir, or upper part of a church, commonly at the east end, is called the chancel. It is the freehold of the Incumbent should he be a Rector. Where there is a lay impropriator he has the freehold. It usually is raised some steps above the level of the nave, from which it was formerly separated by a screen, called the _rood_ screen, upon which was the _rood_, or figure of our Blessed Lord on the Cross. The chancel contains the seats, or stalls, for the clergy and the choir. The east end of the chancel is partitioned off by the altar rails. The part thus enclosed is called the sanctuary, and contains the altar. The sanctuary is usually raised still higher than the chancel by additional steps.

CHANCELLOR. A deputy of the Bishop, with a jurisdiction in all ecclesiastical matters throughout the diocese.

The Chancellor of a Cathedral is quite a different personage. He is an ecclesiastic, frequently a canon, who discharges many duties in connection with the Cathedral of which he is Chancellor. He directs the services, is secretary of the chapter, the librarian, the superintendent of schools connected with the Cathedral, &c. These offices, however, are not always combined.

CHANT, _see_ Church Music

CHAPEL. Any consecrated building other than a Parish Church or Cathedral. The word is also now applied to the Meeting Houses of the various dissenting bodies. Lately, some of these bodies have taken to calling their places of worship _churches_.

CHAPLAIN. A person authorized to officiate in places other than the Parish Church, such as the private chapels of noblemen, and the chapels attached to Asylums, Workhouses, Hospitals, and the like. A statute of Henry VIII. restricts the number of chaplains which may be appointed by personages of various ranks as follows:--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 Treasurer or Comptroller of the King's household, the Clerk of the Closet, the King's Secretary, the Dean of the Chapel, Almoner, and Master of the Rolls, each of them two chaplains. The Queen has forty-eight chaplains, called Chaplains in Ordinary.

CHAPTER. The governing body of a Cathedral or Collegiate Church, consisting of the Dean, the Canons, Prebendaries, &c. (See _Dean and Chapter_.)

CHAPTER HOUSE. A building attached to a Cathedral, in which the Dean and Chapter meet for the transaction of business.

CHARGE. The address delivered by a Bishop or Archdeacon at their respective Visitations of the Clergy.

CHASIBLE, or CHASUBLE, _see_ Vestment.

CHERUB, _see_ Angel.

CHIMERE, _see_ Vestments

CHOIR, or QUIRE. That part of a church which is called the chancel, is generally called the _choir_ in a Cathedral. The word is also applied to the singing men and boys, who lead the musical part of the service. (See _Church Music_.)

CHORISTER. A member of the choir, and more properly one of the boys of the choir.

CHRIST. _The Anointed One_. The Greek form of the Hebrew _Messiah_. One of the titles of our Blessed Lord. Acts x.38. (See _Trinity_, _The Holy_.)

CHRISTEN, TO. The same as to Baptize. (See _Baptism_.)

CHRISTIAN. A title given, in ridicule possibly in the first instance, to the believers in Christ by the people of Antioch. (Acts. xi.26.)

CHRISTIAN NAME. The name given us when we were made Christians, viz., at our baptism.

CHRISTMAS DAY. Dec. 25th. The day kept as the anniversary of our Saviour's birth. This is believed to be the true day and month. W. H. Mill says that the objections against it are "for the most part weak and groundless." This high Festival has been kept at least since the IVth century. There are special Psalms and Lessons appointed, and a "proper preface" in the Communion Service. It is one of those "three times" at which all professing members of the Church are expected to communicate every year.

CHURCH, THE. Our Prayer Book supplies us with a definition in Art. xix. The three chief branches of the Church Catholic are--(1) the Eastern, or Greek Church; (2) the Western, or Roman Church; and (3) the Anglican Church, of which the Episcopal Churches of England, Scotland, Ireland, America, and the Colonies form part. Although, unhappily, there are grave differences in both faith and ceremony among these great branches of the Church, yet we can still profess our belief in "one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church," inasmuch as we are all one by unity of faith in Christ, by Apostolical foundation, and succession of Orders. It seems well here to give a brief sketch of the English, Greek, and Roman Churches.