be concluded that there was a sin-||of giving baptism to the dead. The gle person of all the baptized who third council of Carthage speaks went into the water ankle deep. of it as a thing that ignorant chrisAs to the apostle's expression, tians were fond of: Gregory Naburied with him in baptism, zianzen also takes notice of the "they think it has no force; and same superstitious opinion. The that it does not allude to any cus-practice seems to be grounded on tom of dipping, any more than a vain idea, that, when men had our baptismal crucifixion and neglected to receive baptism in death has any such reference. It their life-time, some compensais not the sign but the thing signi- tion might be made for this default fied that is here alluded to. As by receiving it after death. Christ was buried and rose again BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD, to a heavenly life, so we by bap-a practice formerly in use, when tism signify that we are cut off a person dying without baptism, from the life of sin, that we may another was baptized in his stead; rise again to a new life of faith and thus supposing that God would love." accept the baptism of the proxy,

To conclude this article, it is as though it had been administerobserved against the mode of im-ed to the principal. Chrysostom mersion, that, as it carries with it says, this was practised among the too much of the appearance of a Marcionites with a great deal of burdensome rite for the gospel dis- ridiculous ceremony, which he pensation; that as it is too inde- thus describes:-After any catecent for so solemn an ordinance; chumen was dead, they hid a livas it has a tendency to agitate the ing man under the bed of the despirits, often rendering the sub-ceased; then coming to the dead ject unfit for the exercise of pro-man, they asked him whether he per thoughts and affections, and would receive baptism; and he indeed utterly incapable of them: making no answer, the other anas in many cases the immersion of swered for him, and said he would the body would in all probability be baptized in his stead; and so be instant death; as in other situ- they baptized the living for the ations it would be impracticable dead. If it can be proved (as some for want of water, it cannot be con- think it can) that this practice was sidered as necessary to the ordi-as early as the days of the aposnance of baptism. tle Paul, it might probably form a

See Gale, Robinson, Stennet, solution of those remarkable words Gill, and Booth, on Antipædopap-in 1st Cor. xv, 29" If the tism; and Wall, Henry, Bostwick, dead rise not at all, what shall Towgood, Addington, Williams, they do who are baptized for the Edwards, Miller, Evans, &c. on dead?" The allusion of the aposthe other side. tle to this practice, however, is BAPTISM OF THE DEAD, rejected by some, and especially a custom which anciently prevail-by Dr. Doddridge, who thinks it ed, among some people in Africa, too early: he thus paraphrases the

passage. “Such are our views|siderable figure in England, and and hopes as christians; else, if it spread themselves into several were not so, what should they do separate congregations. They sewho are baptized in token of their parated from the Independants embracing the christian faith, inbout the year 1638, and set up the room of the dead, who are for themselves under the pastoral just fallen in the cause of Christ,care of Mr. Jesse; and, having rebut are yet supported by a succes-nounced their former baptism, sion of new converts, who imme-they sent over one of their numdiately offer themselves to fill up er to be immersed by one of the their places, as ranks of soldiers Dutch Anabaptists of Amsterthat advance to the combat in the dam, that he might be qualified room of their companions who to baptize his friends in England have just been slain in their arter the same manner. sight?" The Baptists subsist under two Lay baptism we find to have denominations, viz. the particu been permitted by both the com-ur or Calvinistical, and the gemon prayer books of king Edwarderal or Arminian. Their modes and queen Elizabeth, when an in-of church government and worfant was in immediate danger of ship are the same as the Indedeath, and a lawful minister could pendents; in the exercise of not be had. This was founded which they are protected, in comon a mistaken notion of the impos-non with other dissenters, by sibility of salvation without the sa-the act of toleration. Some of crament of baptism; but after-both denominations allow of mixwards, when they came to haveled communion; by which it is clearer notions of the sacraments understood that those who have it was unanimously resolved, in not been baptized by immersion, a convocation held in 1575, that on the profession of their faith, even private baptism in a case of inay sit down at the Lord's table necessity was only to be adminis-with those who have been thus tered by a lawful minister. baptized. Others, however, disBAPTISTS, a denomination allow it, supposing that such of christians who maintain that have not been actually baptized baptism is to be administered by at all. See FREE COMMUNION. immersion, and not by sprinkling. Some of them observe the seSee BAPTISM. venth day of the week as the SabAlthough there were several bath, apprehending the law that Baptists among the Albigenses, enjoined it not to have been reWaldenses, and the followers of pealed by Christ.

Wickliffe, it does not appear that Some of the general Baptists they were formed into any stabi-nave, it is said, gone into Socinility until the time of Menno, about unism or Arianism; on account of the year 1536. See ANABAP-which several of their ministers TISTS and MENNONITES. About ad churches who disapprove of 1644 they began to make a con- these principles have within the

last forty years formed themselves which the ceremony of baptism is into a distinct connexion called performed. In the ancient church, the New Association. The church-it is said, it was generally a buildes in this union keep up a friend-ing separate and distinct from the ly acquaintance in some outward church. It consisted of an antethings with those from whom room, where the adult persons to they have separated; but in things be baptized made their confession more essential disclaim any con- of faith; and an inner room, nexion with them, particularly as where the ceremony of baptism to changing ministers, and the ad-was performed. Thus it contimission of members. The general nued to the sixth century, when Baptists have, in some of their the baptisteries began to be taken churches, three distinct orders se-into the church.

parately ordained, viz.-messen- BARDESANISTS, a sect so gers, elders, and deacons. Their denominated from their leader general assembly is held annually Bardesanes, a Syrian, of Edessa, in Worship Street, London, on in Mesopotamia, who lived in the the Tuesday in the Whitsun week.second century. They believed The Baptists have two exhibi-that the actions of men depended tions for students to be educated altogether on fate, and that God at one of the universities of Scot-himself is subject to necessity.land, given them by Dr. Ward, They denied the resurrection of of Gresham College. There is the body, and the incarnation and likewise an academy at Bristol for death of our Saviour.

students generally known by the BARLAAMITES, the followname of the Bristol Education So-ers of Barlaam, in the fourteenth ciety. The Baptists in America century, who was a very zealous and in the East and West Indies champion in behalf of the Greek are chiefly Calvinists, and hold against the Latin church. It is occasional fellowship with the par- said that he adopted the sentiticular Baptist churches in Eng-ments and precepts of the stoics, land. Those in Scotland having with respect to the obligation of imbibed a considerable part of the morality and the duties of life; principles of Messrs. Glass and and digested them into a work of Sandeman, have no communion his, which is known by the title with the other. They have liberal-of Ethica ex Stoicis.

ly contributed, however, towards BARNABAS, EPISTLES the translation of the scripture into OF, an apocryphal work ascribed the Bengalee language, which to St. Barnabas. It was first publishsome of the Baptist brethren are ed in Greek, from a copy of father now accomplishing in the East. Hugh Menaed, a monk. Vossius See Rippon's Baptist Register, published it, in 1656, with the vol. i, p. 772-175; Adams's View of epistles of Ignatius.--Barnabas's Religions, article Baptists; Evans's gospel is another apocryphal work Sketch of Religious Denominations. scribed to Barnabas, wherein the BAPTISTERY, the place in history of Jesus Christ is given in VOL. I.

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a different manner from that of the|aions, called Dynamis and Sophia evangelist. (i. e. power and wisdom) engenBARTHOLOMITES, a reli- dered the angels of the highest orgious order founded at Geneva in der. These angels formed a heaven 1307; but, the monks leading irre-for their habitation, and brought gular lives, it was suppressed in forth other angelic beings of a na1650, and their effects confiscated. ture somewhat inferior to their In the church of the monastery of own. Many other generations of this order at Geneva is preserved angels followed these. New heathe image, which, it is pretended, vens were also created, until the Christ sent to king Abgarus. number of angelic orders, and of

BASILIAN MONKS, religi- their respective heavens, amountous, of the order of St. Basil, ined to three hundred and sixty-five, the fourth century, who, having and thus equalled the days of the retired into a desert in the province year. All these are under the emof Pontus, founded a monastery, pire of an omnipotent Lord, whom and drew up rules, to the amount Basilides called Abraxas.

of some hundreds, for his dis- The inhabitants of the lowest ciples. This new society soon heavens, which touched upon the spread all over the East; nor was borders of the eternal, malignant, it long before it passed into the and self-animated matter, conceivWest. Some pretend that St. Basiled the design of forming a world saw himself the spiritual father of from that confused mass, and of more than 90,000 monks in the creating an order of beings to peoEast only; but this order, which ple it. This design was carried flourished for more than three cen-into execution, and was approved turies, was considerably diminish-by the Supreme God, who to the ed by heresy, schism, and a change animal life, with which only the of empire. The historians of this inhabitants of this new world were order say that it has produced at first endowed, added a reason14 popes, 1805 bishops, 3010 able soul, giving at the same time abbots, and 11,085 martyrs, be-to the angels the empire over sides an infinite number of con-them.

fessors and virgins. This order These angelic beings, advanced likewise boasts of several em-to the government of the world perors, kings, and princes, who which they had created, fell by have embraced its rule. degrees from their original purity, BASILIDIANS, a denomina-and soon manifested the fatal tion, in the second century, from marks of their depravity and corBasilides, chief of the Egyptian ruption. They not only endeaGnostics. He acknowledged the ex-voured to efface in the minds of istence of one supreme God, per-men their knowledge of the Sufect in goodness and wisdom, who preme Being, that they might be produced from his own substance worshipped in his stead, but also seven beings, or aions, of a most began to war against each other, excellent nature. Two of these with an ambitious view to enlarge

every one the bounds of his re- BAXTERIANS, so called spective dominion. The most ar-from the learned and pious Mr. rogant and turbulent of all these Richard Baxter, who was born in angelic spirits was that which pre-the year 1615. His design was to sided over the Jewish nation.-reconcile Calvin and Arminius: for Hence the Supreme God, behold-this purpose he formed a middle ing with compassion the miserable scheme between their systems. state of rational beings, who groan-He taught that God had elected ed under the contest of these jar-some, whom he is determined to ring powers, sent from heaven his save, without any foresight of their son Nus, or Christ, the chief of good works; and that others to the dions, that, joined in a substan-whom the gospel is preached have tial union with the man Jesus, he common grace, which if they immight restore the knowledge of prove, they shall obtain saving the Supreme God, destroy the grace, according to the doctrine of empire of those angelic natures Arminius. This denomination own, which presided over the world, with Calvin, that the merits of and particularly that of the arro-Christ's death are to be applied to gant leader of the Jewish people.believers only; but they also asThe God of the Jews, alarmed at sert that all men are in a state this, sent forth his ministers to capable of salvation.

seize the man Jesus, and put him Mr. Baxter maintains that there to death. They executed his may be a certainty of persevercommands; but their cruelty couldnce here, and yet he cannot tell not extend to Christ, against whom whether a man may not have so their efforts were vain. Those weak a degree of saving grace as souls who obey the precepts of to lose it again.

the Son of God, shall, after the In order to prove that the death dissolution of their mortal frame, of Christ has put all in a state caascend to the Father, while their pable of salvation, the following bodies return to the corrupt mass arguments are alleged by this of matter whence they were form-learned author. 1. It was the naed. Disobedient spirits, on the ture of all mankind which Christ contrary, shall pass successively assumed at his incarnation, and into other bodies. the sins of all mankind were the BATH-KOL (i.e. the daughter occasion of his suffering.-2. It of a voice) an oracle among the was to Adam, as the common faJews, frequently mentioned in ther of lapsed mankind, that God their books, especially the Tal-made the promise (Gen. iii, 15.) mud. It was a fantastical way of The conditional new covenant does divination invented by the Jews, equally give Christ, pardon, and though called by them a revela-life, to all mankind, on condition tion from God's will, which he of acceptance. The conditional made to his chosen people after grant is universal: Whosoever beall verbal prophecies had ceased lieveth shall be saved.-3. It is not in Israel. to the elect only, but to all man