disowned all traditions not comprehended in the written law. Neither angels nor spirits have a distinct existence from their corporeal vestment. Man has his own condition in his own power. Polygamy is not allowed. These were their principal tenets.

The ESSENES were of very great antiquity. They chose retirement, avoided living in cities, and were very plain both in their diet and furniture. They had the character of being sober and industrious; paid the highest regard to the moral precepts of the law; gave attention to bodily cleanness, but disregarded ceremonies in general: they observed the Sabbath strictly, and frequently prayed and meditated upon the law. Their manner of life was like the Rechabites and prophets. The former were Hebrews, who separated themselves from the other Jews to live a more holy life, and were the followers of Rechab, who lived in the time of Jehu. See Jeremiah, xxxv. 5-7. The Essenes were averse to swearing in general, and were a very simple and upright people. According to Fleury, they were never reprehended by Christ or his apostles; but Percy is of opinion that the apostle alludes to them, when he reproves

exor

those who abstain from meats, and forbid to marry. See 1 Timothy, Ephesians, &c. He also conjectures that "the vagabond Jewscists," were of this sect. See Acts, chap. i. 13. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes, the two former particularly, are among the principal sects mentioned in the Gospels. I shall now give a short account of the sects-mostly heresiesmentioned in the Christian epistles; and thus, perhaps, I may rather deviate from the titlepage; but I thought it better to carry it through the New Testament, thus forming a more complete guide than otherwise.

The GALILEANS, or GAULONITES, arose in the time of Christ, and derived their name from Theudas, a native of Gaulan, or Upper Galilee, who excited his countrymen to take arms and rebel, rather than pay tribute. His tenets were, that they ought to be a free nation; that they were the elect of God, and that He only was their governor; and, therefore, they ought not to submit to men. Although, at first, he was unsuccessful, yet they were never dispersed until the destruction of the temple and city. Those passages in the New Testament enforcing obedience

to government, were probably addressed to them. They were, at first, only a small part of the Pharisees, but afterwards greatly increased, and almost swallowed up the other sects of the Jews.

GNOSTICS.-Under this head may be included the Nicolaitanes, who, some authors think, were founded by Nicolaus; but it is now uncertain. They are mentioned Rev. ii. 6, 14, 15; where our Saviour blames such for their corrupt morals, and in continuing to eat meat offered to idols, and indulging in fornication. The Gnostics believed in the existence of two principles, the one of light, and the other of darkness; the origin of the visible world; the ministry of Æons3 and the like. The affairs of these sects are enveloped in a considerable degree of obscurity. The word Gnostic is derived from a Greek word signifying a knowledge superior to that of other men. They held that the Supreme Being was not the Creator of the universe. They imbibed the Egyptian philosophy, against which the apostles often warned the Christian converts; and the word

3 The Greek word on probably signifies the age of man. The Being who formed their system, they called Demiurgus.— F. J. P.

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