תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY,

CONTAINING

DEFINITIONS OF ALL RELIGIOUS TERMS:

A Comprehensive View of every Article in the

SYSTEM OF DIVINITY:

AN IMPARTIAL

ACCOUNT OF ALL THE PRINCIPAL DENOMINATIONS

WHICH HAVE SUBSISTED IN

THE RELIGIOUS WORLD,

FROM

TIE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO THE PRESENT DAY:

Together with an Accurate Statement of the most

REMARKABLE TRANSACTIONS AND EVENTS

RECORDED IN ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

BY THE LATE REV. CHARLES BUCK.

SCOTT'S SECOND AMERICAN, FROM THE LAST LONDON EDITION ;
WITH EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY EDWIN T. SCOTT,

No. 61, North Eighth Street.

1823.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

L.S.

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the seventeenth day of June, in the forseventh year of the Independence of the United States of America, A D. 1823,

EDWIN T. SCOTT,

of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right wreof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"A Theological Dictionary, containing definitions of all religious terms: a comprehensive view every "article in the system of Divinity: an impartial account of all the principal denominations whi have "subsisted in the religious world, from the birth of Christ to the present day: together with an aurate "statement of the most remarkable transactions and events recorded in ecclesiastical history. y the "late Rev. Charles Buck. Scott's second American, from the last London edition; with extensiaddi"tions and improvements."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragent of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of su copies, during the times therein mentioned."-And also to the act entitled, “An act supplementary an act entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and aks, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned, and extending the befits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." D. CALDWELL,

Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvani

PREFACE.

KNOWLEDGE, in a great measure, forms the true dignity and happiness of man: it is that by which he holds an honourable rank in the scale of being, and by which he is rendered capable of adding to the felicity of his fellowcreatures. Every attempt, therefore, to enlarge its boundaries, and facilitate its acquisition, must be considered as worthy of our attention and regard. The present work is designed to promote these valuable and important ends.

The plan of conveying knowledge by dictionaries has been long established, and well received in the republic of letters. A dictionary, however, of a religious and ecclesiastical nature was still a desideratum in the religious world; for although we have had dictionaries which explained Scripture terms, yet it is evident these could not embrace the history of the church since the sacred canon was concluded, nor explain the numerous terms which have been used; nor, indeed, point out the various sects and denominations which have subsisted since that time. I do not mean, by these remarks, to depreciate the valuable works above referred to: I am sensible of their excellencies, and I have no wish to undervalue them in order to exalt my own. This work, however, is of a different nature, as the reader will easily see, if he takes the trouble to compare and examine.

There may, doubtless, be defects in this publication which may have escaped my attention; but whoever considers the various books that must have been consulted; the discriminations that were necessary to be made; the patient investigation required; and the toil of selecting, transcribing, and composing, must be convinced that it has been attended with no small difficulty. The advantages, however, which my own mind derived from the work, and the probability of its being useful to others, greatly encouraged me in its prosecution. Besides, to be active, to be useful, to do something for the good of mankind, I have always considered as the honour of an intelligent being. It is not the student wrapt up in metaphysical subtilties; it is not the recluse living in perpetual soli

« הקודםהמשך »