sacred word. It includes activity office;-all the canonical books. and vigour-watchfulness against of the Old and New Testaments intruding objects-firmness and (but not of the Apocrypha) are resolution-patience and perseve-to be publicly read in the vulgar rance. The shortness of our time; tongue: how large a portion is the importance of our work; the to be read at once, is left to the pleasure which arises from dischar-minister, who has likewise the ging duty; the uncertainty of the liberty of expounding, when he time of our dissolution; the con-judges it necessary. It prescribes sciousness we do not labour in vain; heads for the prayer before sertogether with the example of Christ mon; it delivers rules for preachand all good men, should excite ing the word; the introduction to us to the most unwearied diligence the text must be short and clear, in the cause of God, of truth, and drawn from the words or context, our own souls. or some parallel place of scripture. DIMISSORY LETTER, a In dividing the text, the minister, letter given by a bishop to a candi- is to regard the order of the date for holy orders, having a title matter more than that of the in his diocese, directed to some words: he is not to burden the other bishop, and giving leave for memory of his audience with too the bearer to be ordained by him. many divisions, nor perplex their

ment.

DIOCESE, the circuit of every understandings with logical phrases bishop's jurisdiction. It is formed and terms of arts; he is not to from the Greek dones, govern-start unnecessary objections; and he is to be very sparing in citaDIRECTORY, a kind of regu-tions from ecclesiastical or other lation for the performance of reli- human writers, ancient or mogious worship, drawn up by the dern, &c. The directory recomassembly of divines in England, at mends the use of the Lord's the instance of the parliament, in Prayer, as the most perfect model 1644. It was designed to supply of devotion; it forbids private or the place of the Liturgy, or Book lay persons to administer baptism, of Common Prayer, the use of and enjoins it to be performed in which they had abolished. It con- the face of the congregation; it sisted of some general heads, which orders the communion-table at were to be managed and filled up the Lord's Supper to be so placed, at discretion; for it prescribed no that the communicants may sit form of prayer, or circumstances about it. It also orders, that the of external worship, nor obliged sabbath be kept with the greatest the people to any responses, ex- strictness, both publicly and pricepting Amen. The substance of vately; that marriage be solemit is as follows:-It forbids all sa-nized by a lawful minister of the lutations and civil ceremony in word, who is to give counsel to, the churches; the reading the and pray for the parties; that scriptures in the congregation is the sick be visited by the minister declared to be part of the pastoral under whose charge they are; Hh

VOL. I.

dead to be buried without any by the privy council, and is called prayers or religious ceremonies; the first book of discipline. that days of fasting are to be ob- DISCONTENT, uneasiness at served when the judgments of our present state.

God are abroad, or when some Man never appears in a worse important blessings are desired; light than when he gives way to that days of thanksgiving for mer- this disposition. It is at once the cies received be also observed; strongest proof of his pride, igand, lastly, that singing of psalms norance, unbelief, and rebellion together in the congregation is the against God. Let such remember, duty of christians. In an ap- that discontent is a reflection on pendix to this Directory it is God's government; that it cannot ordered, that all festivals, vul- alter the state of things, or make garly called holy days, are to be them better; that it is the source abolished; that no day is to be of the greatest misery; that it is kept but the Lord's day; and that an absolute violation of God's as no place is capable of any ho-law, Heb. xiii, 5; and that God liness under pretence of consecra- has often punished it with the tion, so neither is it subject to most signal judgments, Numb. xi, pollution by any superstition for- Ps. cvii. See CONTENTMENT. merly used; and therefore it is DISCRETION, prudent beheld requisite, that the places of haviour, arising from a knowledge public worship now used should of and acting agreeable to the difstill be continued and employed. ference of things. "There are," Should the reader be desirous of says Addison, No. 225 Spect. perusing this Directory at large," many more shining qualities may find it at the end of Neal's in the mind of man, but there is History of the Puritans. none so useful as discretion: it is DISCIPLINE, Church, con- this, indeed, which gives a vasists in putting church laws in ex-lue to all the rest; which sets ecution, and inflicting the penalties them at work in their proper enjoined. See CHURCH. times and places, and turns them DISCIPLINE, Book of, in the to the advantage of the person history of the church of Scotland, who is possessed of them. Without is a common order drawn up by it, learning is pedantry, and wit the assembly of ministers in 1650, impertinence; virtue itself looks for the reformation and uniformity like weakness: the best parts only to be observed in the discipline and qualify a man to be more sprightly policy of the church. In this in errors, and active to his own book the government of the church prejudice. by prelates is set aside; kirk sesDiscretion is a very different sions are established; the super-thing from cunning; cunning is stitious observation of fast days only an accomplishment of little, and saint days is condemned, and mean, ungenerous minds. Discreother regulations for the govern- tion points out the noblest ends ment of the church are deter-to us, and pursues the most promined. This book was approved per and laudable methods of at

he

taining them; cunning has only dealing out any thing. The two private selfish aims, and sticks at different methods of revealing the nothing which may make them truths of the gospel before and succeed. Discretion has large and after Christ's death are called the extended views, and, like a well Old and New Testaments dispenformed eye, commands a whole sations. The dealing of God horizon; cunning is a kind of with his creatures in his provishort-sightedness that discovers dence is called a dispensation. the minutest objects which are The state of supernatural or renear at hand, but is not able to dis-vealed theology may also be dicern things at a distance. Dis-vided into six dispensations. 1. cretion, the more it is discovered, From the fall of Adam to the gives a great authority to the per- flood.-2. From Noah to the givson who possesses it; cunning, ing the law.--3. From that time when it is once detected, loses its to the time of David and the proforce, and makes a man incapable phets.--4. From David to the of bringing about even those events Babylonish captivity.--5. The pewhich he might have done, had heriod from that, to the time of passed only for a plain man. Dis- Christ, finishes the Old Testament cretion is the perfection of reason, dispensation.--6. From Christ to and a guide to us in all the duties the end of time, the gospel dispenof life; cunning is a kind of in-sation. The superiority of this stinct, that only looks out after last dispensation, as Dr. Watts obour immediate interest and wel-serves, appears, if we consider that fare. Discretion is only found in it contains the fairest and fullest men of strong sense and good un-representation of the moral law; derstandings; cunning is often to and which is more particularly be met with in brutes themselves, explained here than in any of the and in persons who are but the former dispensations.--2. In this fewest removes from them. In dispensation the gospel or coveshort, cunning is only the mimic nant of grace is revealed more of discretion, and may pass upon perfectly and plainly than ever beweak men, in the same manner fore; not in obscure expressions, as vivacity is often mistaken for in types and carnal metaphors, but wit, and gravity for wisdom." See in its own proper form and lanPRUDENCE. guage.--3. The rites and ceremoDISDAIN, contempt, as un-nies under this dispensation are worthy of one's choice. It is dis-preferable to those in former times, tinguished from haughtiness thus and that in three respects: they are Haughtiness is founded on the fewer, clearer, and much more eahigh opinion we have of ourselves; sy.--4. The Son of God, who was disdain on the low opinion we the real mediator through all forhave of others. mer dispensations, has condescendDISINTERESTED LOVE. ed to become the visible mediator See SELF-LOve. of this dispensation.--5. This dis

DISPENSATION, the act of pensation is not confined to one

family, or to one nation, or to all makes part of the common nature few ages of men, but it spreads of man; the former makes part of through all the nations of the the nature of this or that man. earth, and reaches to the end of DISPUTATION, Religious, time.-6. The encouragements and is the agitation of any religious persuasive helps which christianity question, in order to obtain clear gives us to fulfil the duties of the and adequate ideas of it. The procovenant are much superior to priety of religious disputation or those which were enjoyed under controversial divinity has been a any of the former dispensations.matter of doubt with many. Some Watts's Works, vol. i, ser. 47, oct. ;artfully decry it, in order to destroy Gill's Body of Div. Introd.; Ro-free inquiry. Some hate it, bebinson's Sermons, p. 174; Ridg-cause they do not like to be conley's Div. qu. 35. tradicted. Others declaim against

DISPERSION of Mankind it, to save themselves the disgrace was occasioned by the confusion of exposing their ignorance, or the of tongues at the overthrow of Ba-labour of examining and defendbel, Gen. xi, 9. As to the manner ing their own theses. There are of the dispersion of the posterity others who avoid it, not because of Noah from the plain of Shinar, they are convinced of the imit was undoubtedly conducted with propriety of the thing itself, but the utmost regularity and order. because of the evil temper with The sacred historian informs us which it is generally conducted. that they were divided in their The propriety of it, however, lands; every one according to his will appear, if we consider that tongue, according to his family, every article of religion is denied and according to his nation, Gen. by some, and cannot well be bex, 5, 20, 31. The ends of this lieved, without examination, by dispersion were to populate the any. Religion empowers us to earth, to prevent idolatry, and to investigate, debate, and controdisplay the divine wisdom and vert each article, in order to aspower. See CONFUSION OF Certain the evidence of its truth. TONGUES. The divine writings, many of them, DISPOSITION, that temper of are controversial; the book of mind which any person possesses. Job, and Paul's epistles, especially. In every man, says lord Kames, The ministry of our Lord was a there is something original that perpetual controversy, and the serves to distinguish him from apostles came at truth by much others, that tends to form a cha-disputing, Acts xv, 7. Acts xvii, racter, and to make him meek 17. Acts xix, 8. To attend, howor fiery, candid or deceitful, re-ever, to religious controversy with solute or timorous, cheerful or advantage, the following rules morose. This original bent, term-should be observed. 1. The quesed disposition, must be distinguish-tion should be cleared from all ed from a principle: the latter sig-doubtful terms and needless adnyfying a law of human nature, ditions.-2. The precise point of

inquiry should be fixed.-3. Seel than any other of his secrets. The that the object aimed at be truth, hypocrite is one who dissembles and not the mere love of victory. for a bad end, and hides the snare, -4. Beware of a dogmatical spi-that he may be more sure of his rit, and a supposition that you are prey; and, not content with a always right.-5. Let a strict rein negative virtue, or not appearing be kept on the passions when you the ill man he is, makes a show are hard pushed. Vide Robinson's of positive virtue, and appears Claude, p. 245, vol. ii; Watts on the man he is not. See HYPOthe Mind, chap. 10; Beattie on CRISY. Truth, 347, &c.; Locke on Under- DISSOLUTION, death, or the standing, chap. 10, vol. ii. DISSENTERS, those who se-The dissolution of the world is an separation of the body and soul. parate from the established church. awful The number of Dissenters in this to believe, both from the Old Testaevent, which we have reason kingdom is very considerable.ment and the New, will certainly They are divided into several par- take place. 1. It is not an increties; the chief of which are the dible thing, since nothing of a Presbyterians, Independents, Bap-material nature is formed for pertists, Quakers, and Methodists. petual duration.-2. It will doubtSee those articles, as also NON-less be under the direction of the CONFORMISTS and PURITANS. DISSIDENTS, a denomination-3. The soul of man will remain Supreme Being, as its creation was. applied in Poland to those of the unhurt amidst this general desolaLutheran, Calvinistic, and Greek tion.-4. It will be an introduction profession. The king of Poland to a greater and nobler system in engages by the pacta conventa to the government of God, 2d Pet. iii, tolerate them in the free exercise 13.--5. The consideration of it of their religion, but they have ought to have a great influence on often had reason to complain of the us while in the present state, 2d violation of these promises. DISSIMULATION, the act|GRATION. Pet. iiii, 11, 12. See CONFLAof dissembling. It has been distin

DIVERSION, something that

guished from simulation thus: Si-unbends the mind, by turning it off mulation is making a thing appear from care. which does not exist; dissimulation thing lighter than amusement, It seems to be someis keeping that which exists from and less forcible than pleasure. appearing. Moralists have obsery-It is an old simile, and a very ed, that all dissimulation is not hy-just one, that a bow kept always pocrisy. A vicious man, who en-bent will grow feeble, and lose deavours to throw a veil over his its force. The alternate succesbad conduct, that he may escape sion of business and diversion prethe notice of men, is not in the serve the body and soul in the strictest sense of the word a hy-happiest temper. Diversions must pocrite, since a man is no more however, be lawful and good. obliged to proclaim his secret vices The playhouse, the gaming-table,