miles of any city, town corporate, or borough, or any place where they had exercised their ministry, and from teaching any school. Some few took the oath; others could not, consequently suffered the penalty.

In 1673, "the mouths of the high church pulpiteers were encouraged to open as loud as possible. One, in his sermon before the house of Commons, told them, that the Nonconformists ought not to be tolerated, but to be cured by vengeance. He urged them to set fire to the faggot, and to teach them by scourges or scorpions, and open their eyes with gall."

and laborious." These men were | driven from their houses, from the society of their friends, and exposed to the greatest difficulties. Their burdens were greatly increased by the Conventicle act, whereby they were prohibited from meeting for any exercise of religion (above five in number) in any other manner than allowed by the liturgy or practice of the church of England. For the first offence the penalty was 3 months imprisonment, or pay five pounds; for the second offence six months imprisonment, or ten pounds; and for the third offence, to be banished to some of the American plantations for seven years, or pay one Such were the dreadful consehundred pounds; and in case they quences of this intolerant spirit, return, to suffer death without be- that it is supposed that near eight nefit of clergy. By virtue of this thousand died in prison, in the act, the gaols were quickly filled reign of Charles II. It is said, that with dissenting Protestants, and Mr. Jeremiah White had carefully the trade of an informer was very collected a list of those who had gainful. So great was the severity suffered between Charles II, and of these times, says Neale, that the revolution, which amounted they were afraid to pray in their to sixty thousand. The same perfamilies, if above four of their ac-secutions were carried on in Scotquaintance, who came only to visit || them, were present: some families scrupled asking a blessing on their meat if five strangers were at table.

But this was not all (to say nothing of the Test act): in 1665, an act was brought into the House to banish them from their friends, commonly called the Oxford Five Mile Act, by which all dissenting ministers, on the penalty of forty pounds, who would not take an oath (that it was not lawful, upon any pretence whatever, to take arms against the king, &c.) were prohibited from coming within 5

land; and there, as well as in England, many, to avoid persecution, fled from their country.

But, notwithstanding all these dreadful and furious attacks upon the Dissenters, they were not extirpated. Their very persecution was in their favour. The infamous characters of their informers and persecutors; their piety, zeal, and fortitude, no doubt, had influence on considerate minds; and, indeed, they had additions from the established church, which "several clergymen in this reign deserted as a persecuting church, and took their lot among them." In

NONJURORS, those who refused to take the oaths to government, and who were in consequence under certain incapacities,

addition to this, king James sud-religious worship with the endenly altered his measures, grant- signs of his office. See Bogue's ed a universal toleration, and pre-Charge at Mr. Knight's Ordinaferred Dissenters to places of trust tion; Neale's History of the Puriand profit, though it was evidently tans; De Laune's Plea for the Nonwith a view to restore popery. conformists; Palmer's NonconforKing William coming to the mists Mem.; Martin's Letters on throne, the famous Toleration act Nonconformity; Robinson's Lecpassed, by which they were ex-tures; Cornish's History of Nonempted from suffering the penal-conformity; Dr. Calamy's Life of ties above-mentioned, and permis- Baxter; Pierce's Vindication of sion given them to worship God the Dissenters. according to the dictates of their own consciences. In the latter end of queen Anne's reign they began to be a little alarmed. An act of parliament passed, called the Oc-and liable to certain severe penalcasional Conformity Bill, which prevented any person in office under the government entering into a meeting-house. Another, called the Schism Bill, had actually obtained the royal assent, which suf-testants, formerly of that denomifered no Dissenters to educate nation, as well in Scotland as in their own children, but required England.-The members of the them to be put into the hands of Episcopal church of Scotland have Conformists; and which forbade long been denominated Nonjuall tutors and schoolmasters being rors; but perhaps they are now present at any conventicle, or dis- || called so improperly, as the ground senting place of worship; but the of their difference from the estabvery day this iniquitous act was lishment is more on account of ecto have taken place, the queen died clesiastical than political princi(August 1, 1714.) ples.

But his majesty king George I, being fully satisfied that these hardships were brought upon the Dissenters for their steady adherence to the Protestant succession in his illustrious house against a tory and jacobite ministry, who were paving the way for a popish pretender, procured the repeal of them in the fifth year of his reign; though a clause was left that forbade the mayor or other magistrate to go into any meeting for

ties. It can scarcely be said that there are any Nonjurors now in the kingdom; and it is well known that all penalties have been removed both from Papists and Pro

NON-RESIDENCE, the act. of not residing on an ecclesiastical benefice. Nothing can reflect greater disgrace on a clergyman of a parish to receive the emolument without ever visiting his parishioners, and being unconcerned for the welfare of their souls; yet this has been a reigning evil in our land, and proves that there are too many who care little about the flock, so that they may but live at ease. Let such remember what

an awful account they will have || and only refused absolution to we to give of talents misapplied, time ry great sinners. wasted, souls neglected, and a sacred office abused.

The two leaders, Novatian and Novatus, were proscribed, and de

NOVATIANS, Novatiani, aclared heretics, not for excluding

penitents from communion, but for denying that the church had a power of remitting sins. NOVITIATE, a year of pro-,

sect of ancient heretics that arost towards the close of the third century; so called from Novatian, d priest of Rome. They were called also Cathari, from xalagos, pure, q.bation appointed for the trial of re

ligious, whether or no they have a vocation, and the necessary quali

novice, who expires to the world by profession.

d. Puritans. Novatian first separated from the communion of pope Corneli-ties for living up to the rule, the us, on pretence of his being too observation whereof they are to easy in admitting to repentance bind themselves to by vow. The those who had fallen off in times novitiate lasts a year at least; in of persecution. He indulged his some houses more. It is esteeminclination to severity so far, as toed the bed of the civil death of a deny that such as had fallen into gross sins, especially those who had apostatized from the faith under the persecution set on foot by Decius, were to be again received into the bosom of the church; grounding his opinion on that of St. Paul: "It is impossible for "those who were once enlighten"ed, and have tasted of the hea-public profession of virginity be"venly gift, &c. if they shall fall 66 away, to renew them again unto "repentance." Heb. vi, 4 to 6.

The Novatians did not deny but a person falling into any sin, how grievous soever, might obtain pardon by repentance; for they themselves recommended repentance in the strongest terms: but their doctrine was, that the church had it not in its power to receive sinners into its communion, as having no way of remitting sins but by baptism; which once received, could not be repeated.

In process of time the Novatians softened and moderated the rigour of their master's doctrine,

NUN, a woman, in several christian countries, who devotes herself, in a cloister or nunnery, to a religious life. See article MONK.

There were women, in the ancient Christian church, who made

fore the monastic life was known in the world, as appears from the writings of Cyprian and Tertullian. These, for distinction's sake, are sometimes called ecclesiastical virgins, and were commonly enrolled in the canon or matricula of the church. They differed from the monastic virgins chiefly in this, that they lived privately in their fathers houses, whereas the others lived in communities: but their profession of virginity was not so strict as to make it criminal for them to marry afterwards, if they thought fit. As to the consecration of virgins, it had some things peculiar in it; it was usually per

herself before the bishop, and sings on her knees Ancilla Christi sum, &c.; then she receives the veil, and afterwards the ring, by which she is married to Christ; and last

she is crowned, an anathema is denounced against all who shall attempt to make her break her vows. In some few instances, perhaps, it may have happened that nunneries, monasteries, &c., may

formed publicly in the church by the bishop. The virgin made a public profession of her resolution, and then the bishop put upon her the accustomed habit of sacred virgins. One part of this habitly, the crown of virginity. When was a veil, called the sacrum velamen; another was a kind of mitre or coronet worn upon the head. At present, when a woman is to be made a nun, the habit, veil, and ring of the candidate are carried to the altar; and she herself, ac-have been useful as well to moracompanied by her nearest rela-lity and religion as to literature: tions, is conducted to the bishop, in the gross, however, they have who, after mass and an anthem, been highly prejudicial; and how(the subject of which is, "that she ever well they might be supposed ought to have her lamp lighted, to do when viewed in theory, in because the bridegroom is coming fact they are unnatural and impito meet her"), pronounces the be- ous. It was surely far from the nediction: then she rises up, and intention of Providence to seclude the bishop consecrates the new youth and beauty in a cloister, or habit, sprinkling it with holy wa-to deny them the innocent enjoyter. When the candidate has put ||ment of their years and sex. See on her religious habit, she presents MONASTERY.

OATH, a solemn affirmation, wherein we appeal to God as a witness of the truth of what we say, and with an imprecation of his

vengeance, or a renunciation of his favour, if what we affirm be false, or what we promise be not performed.

"The forms of oaths," says Mr. Paley, "like other religious ceremonies, have in all ages been various; consisting, however, for the most part, of some bodily action, and of a prescribed form of words. Amongst the Jews, the juror held

0.

up his right hand towards heaven, Psal. cxliv, 8. Rev. x, 5. (The same form is retained in Scotland still). Amongst the Jews, also, an oath of fidelity was taken by the servant's putting his hand under the thigh of his lord, Gen. xxiv, 2. Amongst the Greeks and Romans, the form varied with the subject and occasion of the oath: in private contracts, the parties took hold of each other's hand, whilst they swore to the performance; or they touched the altar of the god by whose divinity they swore.

Upon more solemn occasions it || offices, has any other effect than was the custom to slay a victim, to make them cheap in the minds and the beast being struck down, of the people. A pound of tea with certain ceremonies and invo- cannot travel regularly from the cations, gave birth to the expres- ship to the consumer without costsions TV opxor, ferire pactum; ing half a dozen oaths at least; and to our English phrase, trans- and the same security for the due lated from these, of 'striking a discharge of their office, namely, bargain.' The forms of oaths in that of an oath, is required from Christian countries are also very a churchwarden and an archbidifferent; but in no country in shop; from a petty constable, and the world worse contrived, either the chief justice of England. to convey the meaning or impress Oaths, however, are lawful, and, the obligation of an oath, than in whatever be the form, the signifiour own. The juror with us, af- cation is the same." Historians ter repeating the promise or af- have justly remarked, that when firmation which the oath is in- the reverence for an oath began tended to confirm, adds 'So help to be diminished among the Rome God;' or more frequently the mans, and the loose Epicurean substance of the oath is repeated system, which discarded the belief to the juror by the magistrate, of Providence, was introduced, who adds in the conclusion, 'So the Roman honour and prosperity help you God.' The energy of from that period began to decline. the sentence resides in the particle "The Quakers refuse to swear so; so, that is, hâc lege, upon con-upon any occasion, founding their dition of my speaking the truth, scruples concerning the lawfulness or performing this promise, and of oaths upon our Saviour's prohinot otherwise, may God help me.bition, 'Swear not at all,' Matt. v, The juror, whilst he hears or re- 34. But it seems our Lord there peats the words of the oath, holds referred to the vicious, wanton and his right hand upon a Bible, or unauthorised swearing in comother book containing the four gos-mon discourse, and not to judicial pels, and at the conclusion kisses oaths; for he himself answered the book. This obscure and ellipti-when interrogated upon oath, cal form, together with the levity Matt. xxvi, 63, 64. Mark xiv, and frequency with which it is ad-61. The apostle Paul also makes ministered, has brought about a use of expressions which contain general inadvertency to the obliga-the nature of oaths, Rom. i, 9. tion of oaths, which both in a re- 1st Cor. xv, 31. 2d Cor. i, 18. ligious and political view is much Gal. i, 20. Heb. vi, 13, 17. Oaths to be lamented: and it merits pub-are nugatory, that is, carry with lic consideration," continues Mr. them no proper force or obligaPaley, "whether the requiring of tion, unless we believe that God oaths on so many frivolous occa- will punish false swearing with sions, especially in the customs, more severity than a simple lie or and in the qualification for petty breach of promise; for which be