to have ascertained. We are even ig-to the contemplation of this immense norant how wide a diversity of forms, fabric. Indeed, the beautiful and mulwhat an infinity of living animated be- tiform works around us must strike the ings may inhabit our own globe. So mind of every beholder with wonder confined is our knowledge of creation and admiration, unless he be enveloped yet so grand, so awful, that part which in ignorance, and chained down to the our narrow understandings can compre-earth with sensuality. These works hend! every way proclaim the wisdom, the power, and the goodness of the Creator. Creation is a book which the nicest See Ray and Blackmore on the Creation: art. CREATION, Enc. Brit.; Derham's Astro and Physico-theology Hervey's Meditations: La Pluche's Nature Displayed; Sturm's Reflections on the Works of God "Concerning the periods of time at which the Deity executed his several works, it cannot be pretended that man-philosopher may study with the deepest kind have had opportunities of receiv- attention. Unlike the works of art, the ing very particular information. Many more it is examined, the more it opens have been the conjectures, and curious to us sources of admiration of its great the fancies of learned men, respecting Author; the more it calls for our inspecit; but, after all, we must be indebted tion, and the more it demands our praise. to the sacred writings for the best infor- Here every thing is adjusted in the exmation." Different copies, indeed, give actest order; all answering the wisest different dates. The Hebrew copy of ends, and acting according to the apthe Bible, which we Christians, for good pointed laws of Deity. Here the Chrisreasons, consider as the most authentic, tian is led into the most delightful field dates the creation of the world 3944 of contemplation. To him every pebyears before the Christian era. The ble becomes a preacher, and every Samaritan Bible, again, fixes the era of atom a step by which he ascends to his the creation 4305 years before the birth || Creator. Placed in this beautiful temof Christ. And the Greek translation, ple, and looking around on all its variknown by the name of the Septuagint ous parts, he cannot help joining with version of the Bible, gives 5270 as the the Psalmist in saying, "O Lord, how number of the years which intervened manifold are thy works; in wisdom bast between these two periods. By compa- thou made them all!" See ETERNITY ring the various dates in the sacred of God. writings, examining how these have come to disagree, and to be diversified in different copies; endeavouring to reconcile the most authentic profane with || sacred chronology, some ingenius men have formed schemes of chronology plausible, indeed, but not supported by sufficient authorities, which they would gladly persuade us to receive in pre-its truth. ference to any of those above-mentioned. Usher makes out from the Hebrew Bible 4004 years as the term between the creation and the birth of Christ. The most ancient form of creeds is Josephus, according to Dr. Wills, and that which goes under the name of the Mr. Whiston, makes it 4658 years; and Apostles' Creed (see below;) besides M. Pezron, with the help of the Sep- this, there are several other ancient tuagint, extends it to 5872 years. Ush forms and scattered remains of creeds er's system is the most generally receiv- to be met with in the primitive records ed. But though these different systems of the church; as. 1. The form of aposof chronology are so inconsistent, and tolical doctrine collected by Origen.— so slenderly supported, yet the differ 2. A fragment of a creed preserved by ences among them are so inconsider-Tertullian-3. A remnant of a creed in able, in comparison with those which arise before us when we contemplate the chronology of the Chinese, the Chaldeans, and the Egyptians, and they agree so well with the general information of authentic history, and with the appearances of nature and of society, that they may be considered as nearly fixing the true period of the creation of the earth." Uncertain, however, as we may be as to the exact time of the creation, we may profitably apply ourselves CREDULITY, the belief of any proposition without sufficient evidence of CREED, a form of words in which the articles of faith are comprehended. See CONFESSION. the works of Cyprian.-4. A creed composed by Gregory Thaumaturgus for the use of his own church.-5. The creed of Lucian, the martyr.-6. The creed of the apostolical constitutions. Besides these scattered remains of the ancient creeds, there are extant some perfect forms, as those of Jerusalem, Cesarea, Antioch, &c. CREED, APOSTLES', is a formula or summary of the Christian faith, drawn up, according to Ruffinus, by the CREED, ATHANASIAN, a formu posed to have been drawn up by Athanasius bishop of Alexandria, in the fourth century, to justify himself against the calumnies of his Arian enemies; but it is now generally allowed not to have been his. Dr. Waterland ascribes it to Hilary, bishop of Arles. This creed obtained in France about A. D. 850, and was received in Spain and Germany about 180 years later. As to our own country, we have clear proofs of its being sung alternately in our churches in the tenth century. It was in common use in some parts of Italy in 960, and was received at Rome about 1014. As to the Greek and Oriental churches, it has been questioned whether they have ever received it, persuasion. The episcopal churches of America have rejected it. As to the matter of it, it is given as a summary of the true orthodox faith. Unhappily, however, it has proved a fruitful source of unprofitable controversy. See Dr. Waterland's Critical History of it. apostles themselves; who, during their ||rows' Exposition of it in his Works, stay at Jerusalem, soon after our Lord's vol. ii. ascension, agreed upon this creed as a rule of faith. Baronius and others con-lary or confession of faith, long supjecture that they did not compose it till the second year of Claudius, a little before their dispersion; but there are maoy reasons which induce us to ques tion whether the apostles composed any such creed. For, 1. Neither St. Luke, nor any other writer before the fifth century, make any mention of an assembly of the apostles for composing a creed.-2. The fathers of the first three centuries, in disputing against the heretics, endeavour to prove that the dec trine contained in the creed was the same which the apostles taught; but they never pretend that the apostles composed it.-S. If the apostles had made this creed, it would have been the same in all churches and in all ages; and all authors would have cited it afthough some writers are of a contrary ter the same manner. But the case is quite otherwise. In the second and third ages of the church there were as many creeds as authors; and the same author sets down the creed after a different manner in several places of his works; which is an evidence, that there was not, at that time, any creed reputed CREED, NICENE, a formulary of to be the apostles'. In the fourth cen- Christian faith; so called, because it is tury, Ruffinus compares together the a paraphrase of that creed which was three ancient creeds of the churches of made of the first general council of Aquileia, Rome, and the East, which Nice. This latter was drawn up by the differ very considerably. Besides, theses cond general council of Constantinocreeds differed not only in the terms and expressions, but even in the articles, some of which were omitted in one or other of them; such as those of the de scent into hell, the communion of the saints, and the life everlasting. From all which it may be gathered, that The three creeds above-mentioned are though this creed may be said to be used in the public offices of the church that of the apostles, in regard to the of England; and subscription to them is doctrines contained therein, yet it can-required of all the established clergy. not be referred to them as the authors Subscription to these was also required of it. Its great antiquity, however, may of the dissenting teachers by the tolerabe inferred from hence, that the whole tion act; but from which they are now form, as it now stands in the English relieved by 19 Geo. III. liturgy, is to be found in the works of St. Ambrose and Ruffinus; the former of whom flourished in the third, and the latter in the fourth century. The primitive Christians did not publicly recite the creed, except at baptisms, which, unless in cases of necessity, were only at Easter and Whitsuntide. The CRISPITES, those who adopt the constant repeating of it was not intro-sentiments of Dr. Crisp, a divine of the duced into the church till the end of the seventeenth century. He was fond, it fifth century; about which time Peter is said, of expressions which alarm, and Gnaphius, bishop of Antioch, prescribed paradoxes which astonish; and perthe recital of it every time divine ser-plexed himself much about the divine vice was performed. See King's His- purposes. He did not distinguish as he tory of the Apostles' Creed; and Bar-ought, between God's secret will in his ple, A. D. 381: and therefore might be more properly styled the Constantinopolitan creed. The creed was carried by a majority, and admitted into the church as a barrier against Arius and his followers CRIME, a voluntary breach of any known law. Faults result from human weakness, being transgressions of the rules of duty. Crimes proceed from the wicked. of the heart, being actions against tl. rules of nature. See PuNISHMENT and SIN. CRO 126 decrees, and his revealed will in his co- CROISADE, or CRUSADE, may be applied to any war undertaken on pretence of defending the cause of religion, but has been chiefly used for the expeditions of the Christians against the infidels for the conquest of Palestine. CRO rendered his schemes so suspicious, that These expeditions commenced A. D. 1096. The foundation of them was a superstitious veneration for those places where our Saviour performed his miracles, and accomplished the work of man's redemption. Jerusalem had been taken and Palestine conquered by Omar This proved a considerable in terruption to the pilgrims, who flocked from all quarters to perform their de They votions at the holy sepulchre. had, however, still been allowed this liberty, on paying a small tribute to the Saracen caliphs, who were not much inclined to molest them. But, in 1064, The this city changed its masters. Turks took it from the Saracens; and being much more fierce and barbarous the pilgrims now found they could no longer perform their devotions with the same safety. An opinion was about this time also prevalent in Europe, which made these pilgrimages much more frequent than formerly: it was imagined, that the 1000 years mentioned in Rev. xx. were fulfilled; that Christ was soon to make his appearance in Pales tine to judge the world; and conse-this great and pious design being now quently that journeys to that country universally diffused, procured the atwere in the highest degree meritorious, tendance of the greatest prelates, nobles, The and princes; and when the pope and and even absolutely necessary. multitudes of pilgrims who now flocked the hermit renewed their pathetic exto Palestine meeting with a very rough hortations, the whole assembly, as if reception from the Turks, filled all impelled by immediate inspiration, exEurope with complaints against those claimed with one voice, "It is the will infidels, who profaned the holy city, and of God!" These words were deemed so much the effect of a divine impulse, derided the sacred mysteries of Christianity even in the place where they that they were employed as the signal were fulfilled. Pope Gregory VII. had of rendezvous and battle in all future formed a design of uniting all the exploits of these adventurers. Men of princes of Christendom against the Ma- all ranks now flew to arms with the uthometans; but his exorbitant encroach- most ardour, and a cross was affixed to ments upon the civil power of princes their right shoulder by all who enlisted had created him so many enemies, and in this holy enterprise. At this time Europe was sunk in the most profound committed by men inured to wickedignorance and superstition. The eccleness, encouraged by example, and imsiastics had gained the greatest ascend-pelled by necessity. The adventurers ant over the human mind; and the were at last so numerous, that their sapeople who committed the most horrid gacious leaders became apprehensive crimes and disorders, knew of no other lest the greatness of the armament expiation than the observances imposed would be the cause of its own disap on them by their spiritual pastors But pointment. For this reason they per. amidst the abject superstition which mitted an undisciplined multitude, comnow prevailed the military spirit had puted at 300,000 men, to go before them also universally diffused itself; and. under the command of Peter the herthough not supported by art or disci- mit, and Gautier, or Walter, surnamed pline, was become the general passion the moneyless, from his being a soldier of the nations governed by the feudal of fortune These took the road towards law. All the great lords possessed the Constantinople through Hungary and right of peace and war They were Bulgaria; and trusting that heaven, by engaged in continual hostilities with one supernatural assistance, would supply another: the open country was become all their necessities, they made no proa scene of outrage and disorder: the vision for subsistence in their march. cities, still mean and poor, were neither They soon found themselves obliged to guarded by walls nor protected by pri obtain by plunder what they vainly exvileges. Every man was obliged to de- pected from miracles: and the enraged pend for safety on his own force, or his inhabitants of the countries through private alliances; and valour was the which they passed attacked the disoronly excellence which was held in es-derly multitude, and slaughtered them teem, or gave one man the pre-eminence without resistance The more discipliabove another. When all the particu- ned armies followed after; and, passing lar superstitions, therefore, were here the straits of Constantinople, were musunited in one great object, the ardourtered in the plains of Asia, and amountfor private hostilities took the same died in the whole to 700,000 men. The rection; "and all Europe," as the princess Anna Comnena expresses it, torn from its foundations, seemed, ready to precipitate itself in one united body upon Asia." princes engaged in this first crusade were, Hugo, count of Vermandois, brother to Philip I King of France; Robert, duke of Normandy; Robert, earl of Flanders; Raimond, earl of Toulouse and St. Giles; the celebrated Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of Lorrain, with his brothers Baldwin and Eustace; Stephen, earl of Chartress and Blois ; Hugo, count of St. Paul; with many other lords. The general rendezvous was at Constantinople. In this expedition, Godfrey beseiged and took the city of Nice. Jerusalem was taken by the confedera. ted army, and Godfrey chosen king. The Christians gained the famous battle of Ascalon against the Sultan of Egypt, which put an end to the first crusade, but nor to the spirit of crusading. The rage continued for near two All ranks of men now deeming the croisades the only road to heaven, were impatient to open the way with their swords to the holy city, Nobles, arti sans, peasants, even priests, enrolled their names; and to decline this ser vice was branded with the reproach of impiety or cowardice. The nobles were moved, by the romantic spirit of the age, to hope for opulent establishments in the East, the chief seat of arts and commerce at that time. In pursuit of these chimerical projects, they sold at low prices their ancient castles and inheritances, which had now lost all value in their eyes. The infirm and aged concenturies. The second crusade, in 1144, tributed to the expedition by presents and money, and many of them attended it in person; being determined, if possi ble to breathe their last in sight of that city where their Saviour died for them. Even women, concealing their sex under the disguise of armour, attended the camp; and often forgot their duty still more, by prostituting themselves to the army. The greatest criminals were forward in a service which they consider ed as an expiation for all crimes; and the most enormous disorders, were, during the course of these expeditions, was headed by the emperor Conrad III. and Louis VII. king of France. The emperor's army was either destroyed by the enemy, or perished through the treachery of Manuel, the Greek emperor; and the second army, through the unfaithfulness of the Christians of Syria, was forced to break up the siege of Damascus. The third crusade, in 1188, immediately followed the taking of Jerusalem by Saladin, the sultan of Egypt. The princes engaged in this expedition were, the emperor Frederic Barbaros"sa; Frederic, duke of Suabia, his second son; Leopold duke of Austria; Ber-, serably butchered, and himself and the nobility taken prisoners. A truce was agreed upon for ten years, and the king and lords set at liberty. The eighth croisade, in 1279, was headed by the same prince who made himself master of the port and castle of Carthage in Africa; but dying a short time after, he left his army in a very ill condition. Soon after, the king of Sicily coming up with a good fleet, and joining Philip the bold, son and successor of Lewis, the king of Tunis, after several engage. ments with the Christians, in which he was always worsted, desired peace, which was granted upon conditions advantageous to the Christians; after which both princes embarked to their own kingdoms. Prince Edward, of England, who arrived at Tunis at the time of this treaty, sailed towards Ptolemais, where he landed a small body of 300 English and French, and hindered Bendochar from laying seige to Ptolemais: but being obliged to return to take possession of the crown of England, this croisade ended without contributing any thing to the recovery of the holy land. In 1291, the town of Acre, or Ptolemais was taken and plundered by the sultan of Egypt, and the Christians quite driven out of Syria. There has been no croisade since that period, though several popes have attempted to stir up the Christians to such an undertaking; particularly Nicholas IV. in 1292, and Clement V. in 1811. Though these croisades were effects of the most absurd superstition, they tended greatly to promote the good of Europe. Multitudes, indeed, were de stroyed, M. Voltaire computes the people who perished in the different expeditions at upwards of two millions. Many there were, however, who returned; and these having conversed so long with people who lived in a much more magnificient way then themselves, began to entertain some taste for a refined and polished way of life. Thus the barbarism in which Europe had been so long immersed began to wear off soon after. The princes also who remained at home, found means to avail themselves of the frenzy of the people. By the absence of such numbers of restless and martial adventurers, peace was established in their dominions. They also took the opportunity of annexing to their crowns many considerable fiefs, either by purchase, or the extinction of the heirs; and thus the mischiefs which must always attend feudal governments were considerably lessened. With regard to the bad suc |