norance. Dr. Fortin's Sermons, vol. vii, charge 1; Mrs. H. Moore's Hints to a Young Princess, vol. i, p. 64; Cooke's Miss. Ser. on Matt. vi, 3; Dr. Stennett's Ser. on Acts xxvi, 24, 25.

course of eight sermons preached annually at the University of Ox. ford, set on foot by the Rev. John Bampton, canon of Salisbury. According to the directions in his will, they are to be preached upon LECTURES RELIGIOUS, either of the following subjects: are discourses or sermons deliver- -to confirm and establish the ed by ministers on any subject in Christian faith, and to confute all theology. Beside lectures on the heretics and schismatics; upon sabbath day, many think proper the divine authority of the holy to preach on week-days; some- scriptures; upon the authority of the times at five in the morning, be-writings of the primitive fathers, fore people go to work, and at seven in the evening, after they have done. In London there is preaching almost every forenoon and evening in the week, at some place or other. It may be objected, however, against week-day preaching, that it has a tendency to take people from their business, and that the number of places open on a sabbath day supersedes the necessity of it. But in answer to this, may it not be observed, 1. That people stand in need at all times of religious instruction, exhortation, and comfort?-2. That there is a probability of converting sinners then as well as at other times?-3. That ministers are commanded to be instant in season and out of season?-And, 4. It gives ministers an opportunity of hearing one another, which is of great utility. After all, it must be remarked, that he who can hear the truth on a sabbath day does not act consistently to neglect his family or business to be always present at week-day lectures; nor is he altogether wise who has an opportunity of receiving instruction, yet altogether neglects it.

LECTURES BAMPTON, a

as to the faith and practice of the primitive church; upon the divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; upon the divinity of the Holy Ghost; upon the articles of the Christian faith, as comprehended in the Apostles' and Nicene creeds. For the support of this lecture, he bequeathed his lands and estates to the chancellor, masters, and scholars of the University of Oxford for ever, upon trust that the vice-chancellor for the time being take and receive all the rents and profits thereof; and, after all taxes, reparations, and necessary deductions made, to pay all the remainder to the endowment of these divinity lecture sermons. He also directs in his will, that no person shall be qualified to preach these lectures unless he have taken the degree of master of arts, at least, in one of the two Universities of Oxford or Cambridge, and that the same person shall never preach the same sermons twice. A number of excellent sermons preached at this lecture are now before the public. LECTURES BOYLE'S. See

BOYLE'S LECtures.

LECTURE MERCHANTS,

a lecture set up in the year 1672 || in prayer, and the other in a suitby the Presbyterians and Indepen-able exhortation to the people. dents, to shew their agreement When the heat of the war was among themselves, as well as to over, it became a casuistical lecsupport the doctrines of the re-ture, and was carried on till the formation against the prevailing restoration of Charles II. These errors of popery, socinianism, and sermons were afterwards publishinfidelity. The principal minis-ed in several volumes quarto, un ters for learning and popularityder the title of the Morning Exerwere chosen as lecturers; such as cises. The authors were the most Dr. Bates, Dr. Manton, Dr. eminent preachers of the day: Mr., Owen, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Collins, afterwards archbishop Tillotson, Jenkins, Mead, and afterwards was one of them. It appears that Mr. Alsop, Howe, Cole, and these lectures were held every others. It was encouraged and morning for one month only; and, supported by some of the princi- from the preface to the volume, pal merchants and tradesmen of dated 1689, the time was afterthe city. Some misunderstanding wards contracted to a fortnight. taking place, the Presbyterians re- Most of these were delivered at moved to Salter's-hall, and the In- Cripplegate church, some at St. dependents remained at Finner's- Giles's, and a volume against pohall, and each party filled up their pery in Southwark. Mr. Neal numbers out of their respective observes, that this lecture was afdenominations. This lecture is terwards revived in a different kept up to the present day, and is, form, and continued in his day. we believe, now held at Broad-It was kept up long afterwards at street Meeting every Tuesday several places in the summer, a morning. week at each place; but latterly the time was exchanged for the evening.

LECTURES MORNING, certain casuistical lectures, which were preached by some of the most able divines in London. The occasion of these lectures seems to be this during the troublesome times of Charles I, most of the citizens having some near relation or friend in the army of the earl of Essex, so many bills were sent up to the pulpit every Lord's Day for their preservation, that the minister had neither time to read them, nor to recommend their cases to God in prayer; it was, therefore, agreed by some London divines to separate an hour for this purpose every morning, one half to be spent

LECTURES MOYER'S. See

MOYER'S LECTURES.

LECTURE WARBURTONIAN, a lecture founded by bishop Warburton to prove the truth of revealed religion in general, and the Christian in particular, from the completion of the prophecies in the Old and New Testaments which relate to the Christian church, especially to the apostacy of papal Rome. To this foundation we owe the admirable discourses of Hurd, Halifax, Bagot, and many others.

LECTURES, in the church of

Not of works, lest any man should boast," Eph. ii, 8, 9.

England, are an order of preach- the Legalist; a character diameers distinct from the rector, vicar,trically opposite to that of the true and curate. They are chosen by Christian, whose sentiment corresthe vestry, or chief inhabitants of ponds with that of the apostle, who the parish, supported by volunta- justly observes," By grace are ye ry subscriptions and legacies, and saved through faith, and that not are usually the afternoon preach-of yourselves: it is the gift of God. ers, and sometimes officiate on some stated day in the week. Where there are lectures founded LEGATE, a cardinal, or bishby the donations of pious persors, op, whom the pope sends as his the lectures are appointed by the ambassador to sovereign princes. founders, without any interposi- LEGEND, originally a book, tion or consent of rectors of in the Romish church, containing churches, &c., though with the the lessons that were to be read in leave and approbation of the bi-divine service: from hence the shop; such as that of Lady Moy word was applied to the histories of er's, at St. Paul's. But the lec- the lives of saints, because chapters turer is not entitled to the pulpit were read out of them at matins ; without the consent of the rector but as the golden legend, compiled or vicar, who is possessed of the by James de Varase, about the freehold of the church. year 1290, contained in it several LEGALIST, strictly speaking, ridiculous and romantic stories, is one who acts according, to or the word is now used by Protestconsistent with the law; but in ants to signify any incredible or general the term is made use of to inauthentic narrative. Hence, as denote one who expects salvation| Dr. Jortin observes, we have false by his own works. We may far-legends concerning the miracles of ther consider a Legalist as one Christ, of his apostles, and of anwho has no proper conviction of cient Christians; and the writers of the evil of sin; who, although he these fables had, in all probability, pretends to abide by the law, yet as good natural abilities as the has not a just idea of its spiritu- disciples of Christ, and some of ality and demands. He is igno- them wanted neither learning nor rant of the grand scheme of sal-craft; and yet they betray themvation by free grace: proud of his selves by faults against chronoloown fancied righteousness, he sub-gy, against history, against manmits not to the righteousness of God; he derogates from the honour of Christ, by mixing his own works with his; and, in fact, denies the necessity of the work of the Spirit, by supposing that he has ability in himself to perform all those duties which God has required. Such is the character of

ners and customs, against morality, and against probability. A liar of this kind can never pass undiscovered; but an honest relater of truth and matter of fact is safe: he wants no artifice, and fears no examination.

LEGIONTHEBEAN, a name given, in the time of Dioclesian,

LENT, a solemn time of fast

to a whole legion of Christians, to his Egyptiaca, in defence of consisting of more than six thou- this miracle; as also, what is alsand men, who were said to have leged against it by Dan Lauroque, suffered martyrdom by the order in a discourse upon that subof Maximian. Though this story ject, subjoined to the Adversaria hath never wanted patrons, yet it Sacra of Matt. Lauroque, his is disbelieved by many. Dr. Jor-father. The controversy between tin, in his usual facetious way, Sir Peter King and Mr. Moyle says, that it stands upon the au- upon this subject is also worthy thority of one Eucherius, bishop of attention. of Lyons, and a writer of the fifth century, who had it from Theo-ing in the Christian church, obserdorus, another bishop, who had ved as a time of humiliation before the honour and felicity to find the Easter. The Romish church, and reliques of these martyrs by reve- some of the Protestant communion, lation, and perhaps by the smell maintain, that it was always a of the bones! fast of forty days, and, as such, LEGION THUNDERING, of apostolical institution. Others a name given to those Christians think that it was of ecclesiastiwho served in the Roman army of cal institution, and that it was Marcus Antoninus, in the second variously observed in different century. The occasion of it was churches, and grew by degrees this: when that emperor was at from a fast of forty hours to war with the Marcomanni, his a fast of forty days. This is army was enclosed by the enemy, the sentiment of Morton, bishop and reduced to the most deplora- Taylor, Du Moulin, Daille, and ble condition by the thirst under others. Anciently, the manner of which they languished in a parch- observing Lent among those who ed desert. Just at this time they were piously disposed, was to abwere remarkably relieved by stain from food till evening: their a sudden and unexpected rain. only refreshment was a supper, and This event was attributed to the it was indifferent whether it was Christians, who were supposed to flesh or any other food, provided have effected this by their pray-it was used with sobriety and moers; and the name of the thunder-deration. Lent was thought the ing legion was given to them, on proper time for exercising more account of the thunder and light-abundantly every species of chaning that destroyed the enemy, rity: thus what they spared of their while the shower revived the faint-own bodies by abridging them of ing Romans. Whether this was a meal, was usually given to the really miraculous or not, has been disputed among learned men. They who wish to see what has been said on both sides, may consult Witsius Dissertat. de Legune Fulminatrice, which is subjoined

poor; they employed their vacant hours in visiting the sick and those that were in prison; in entertaining strangers, and reconciling differences. The Imperial laws forbad all prosecution of men

in criminal actions that might nicles, which are for the most bring them to corporal punishment part the same with the books of and torture during the whole sea-Samuel and kings; and other parson. This was a time of more ticular chapters in other books, than ordinary strictness and devo- either because they contain the tion, and therefore, in many of names of persons, places, or other the great churches, they had reli-matters less profitable to ordinary gious assemblies for prayer and readers. The course of the first preaching every day. All public lessons for Sundays is regulated afgames and stage-plays were prohi- ter a different manner: from Adbited at this season, and also the vent to Septuagesima Sunday, celebration of all festivals, birth- some particular chapters of Isaialt days, and marriages. The Chris- are appointed to be read, because tians of the Greek church observe that book contains the clearest four Lents; the first commences on prophecies concerning Christ. the fifteenth of November; the Upon Septuagesima Sunday, Gesecond is the same with our Lent; nesis is begun; because that book, the third begins the week after which treats of the fall of man, Whitsuntide, and continues till the and the severe judgment of God festival of St. Peter and St. Paul; inflicted on the world for sin, best and the fourth commences on the suits with a time of repentance first of August, and lasts no lon- and mortification. After Genesis ger than till the fifteenth. These follow chapters out of the books Lents are observed with great of the Old Testament, as they lie strictness and austerity, but on Sa- in order; only on festival Sunturdays and Sundays they indulge days, such as Easter, Whitsunday, themselves in drinking wine and &c., the particular history relatusing oil, which are prohibited on ing to that day is appointed to be other days. read; and on the saints' days the LESSONS, among ecclesiasti-church appoints lessons out of cal writers, are portions of the holy the moral books, such as Proscriptures read in churches at the verbs, Ecclesiastes, &c., as contime of divine service. In the an-taining excellent instructions for cient church, reading the scrip- the conduct of life. As to the tures was one part of the service second lessons, the church obof the catechumen, at which all serves the same course both on persons were allowed to be pre- Sundays and week-days; reading sent, in order to obtain instruc- the Gospel and Acts of the Apostion. tles in the morning, and the Epistles in the evening, in the order they stand in the New Testament; excepting on saints' days and holy days, when such lessons are appointed as either explain the mystery, relate the history, or apply

The church of England, in the choice of lessons, proceeds as follows:--for all the first lessons on ordinary days, she directs to begin at the beginning of the year with Genesis, and so continue till the books of the Old Testament are read over, only omitting Chro-the example to us.