on account of the least sin; and be no exertion of divine power, all that punishment which will be but merely the suspension of it: inflicted on any person above that let but the upholding power of which is due to the least sin, is to God be withheld for one moment, consist in torment. Nay, if we and the whole creation would sink can form any idea in the present into nothing.

state of what would be dreadful or 4. The punishment of wicked desirable in another, instead of its men will be the same as that of being any punishment to be anni-wicked angels, Matt. xxv, 41. hilated after a long series of tor-Depart, ye cursed, into everlastment, it must be a deliverance, to ing fire, prepared for the devil and which the sinner would look for- his angels. But the punishment ward with anxious desire. And of wicked angels consists not in is it credible that it was this termi-annihilation, but torment. Such nation of torment that our Lord is their present punishment in a held up to his disciples as an ob- degree, and such in a greater degree ject of dread? Can this be the de-will be their punishment hereafter. struction of body and soul in hell? They are "cast down to hell;" Is it credible that everlasting de-they "believe and tremble;" they struction from the presence of the are reserved in chains under darkLord, and from the glory of his ness, to the judgment of the great power, should constitute only a day; they cried, saying, What have part, and a small part, of future we to do with thee? Art thou come punishment; and such, too, as to torment us before our time ?" after a series of torment, must Could the devils but persuade next to being made happy, be the themselves that they should be anmost acceptable thing that could nihilated, they would believe and befal them? Can this be the ob-be at ease rather than tremble. ject threatened by such language, 5. The scriptures explain their as recompensing tribulation, and own meaning in the use of such taking vengeance in flaming fire? terms as death, destruction, &c. 2d Thess. i. Is it possible that The second death is expressly said God should threaten them with to consist in being cast into the lake putting an end to their miseries? of fire and brimstone, and as havMoreover, this destruction is not ing a part in that lake, Rev. xx, 14. described as the conclusion of a xxi, 8; which does not describe succession of torments, but as tak- annihilation, nor can it be made to ing place immediately after the consist with it. The phrase cut last judgment. When Christ shall him asunder, Matt. xxiv, 51, is as come to be glorified in his strong as those of death, or destrucsaints, then shall the wicked be tion; yet that is made to consist destroyed. of having their portion with hypo3. Everlasting destruction from crites, where shall be weeping and the presence of the Lord, and from gnashing of teeth.

the glory of his power, cannot 6. The happiness of the righteous mean annihilation, for that would does not consist in eternal being,

but eternal well-being; and as thefeed and live upon the supposed inpunishment of the wicked stands firmities of others; they allow exevery where opposed to it, it must cellence to none; they depreciate consist not in the loss of being, but every thing that is praise-worthy; of well-being, and in suffering the and, possessed of no good themcontrary." selves, they think all others are The great Dr. Watts may be like them. "O! my soul, come considered, in some measure, a thou not into their secret; unto destructionist; since it was his their assembly, mine honour be opinion that the children of un-not thou united."

godly parents who die in infancy DEVIL, AtaCox, calumniator, are annihilated. See ANNIHILA- or slanderer; a fallen angel, espeTION, HELL; Bourn's Sermon's; cially the chief of them. He is Dr. Edwards on the Salvation of called Abaddon in Hebrew, Apolall Men strictly examined; Adams's lyon in Greek, that is, destroyer. View of Religions. -Angel of the bottomless pit, DETRACTION, in the native Rev. ix, 11.-Prince of the world, importance of the word, signifies John xii, 31.-Prince of darkness, the withdrawing or taking off from Eph. vi, 12.-A roaring lion, and a thing; and as it is applied to the an adversary, 1st Pet. v, 8.—A reputation, it denotes the impair-sinner from the beginning, 1st John ing or lessening a man in point of iii, 8.-Beelzebub, Matt. xii, 24. fame, rendering him less valued-Accuser, Rev. xii, 10.-Belial, and esteemed by others. Dr.2d Cor. vi, 15.-Deceiver, Rev. Barrow observes (Works, vol. i, xx, 10.-Dragon, Rev. xii, 3.ser. 19) that it differs from Liar, John viii, 44.-Leviathan, slander, which involves an imputa- Isa. xxvii, 1.-Lucifer, Isa. xiv, tion of falsehood; from reviling 12.-Murderer, John viii, 44.which includes bitter and foul Serpent, Isa. xxvii, 1.-Satan, language; and from censuring, Job ii, 6.-Tormentor, Matt. xviii, which is of a more general pur-34.-The god of this world, 2d port, extending indifferently to Cor. iv, 4. See SATAN. all kinds of persons, qualities, and DEVOTEE, in the primary actions; but detraction especially sense of the word, means a person respects worthy persons, good qua- wholly given up to acts of piety and lities, and laudable actions, the devotion; but it is usually underreputation of which it aimeth to stood, in a bad sense, to denote a destroy. It is a fault opposed to bigot, or superstitious person. candour. DEVOTION, a religious and

Nothing can be more incon-fervent exercise of some public act gruous with the spirit of the gos-of religion, or a temper and dispel, the example of Christ, the position of the mind rightly af command of God, and the love of fected with such exercises. It is mankind, than a spirit of detrac-also taken for certain religious tion; and yet there are many who practices which a person makes never seem happy but when they it a rule to discharge regularly. are employed in this work: theyli Wherever the vital and unadulte.

rated spirit of christian devotion canon, or by reason of some disprevails, its immediate objects will pute as to their canonicity. The be to adore the perfections of God; word is Greek, being compounded to entertain with reverence and of Murigos, second; and xavovinos, cacomplacence the various intima-nonical.

tions of his pleasure, especially The Jews, it is certain, acknowthose contained in holy writ; to ledged several books in their caacknowledge our absolute depend-non, which were put there later ence on and infinite obligations to than the rest. They say, that unhim; to confess and lament the der Esdras, a great assembly of disorders of our nature, and the their doctors, which they call, by transgressions of our lives; to im-way of eminence, the great synaplore his grace and mercy through gogue, made the collection of the Jesus Christ; to intercede for our sacred books which we now have brethren of mankind; to pray for in the Hebrew Old Testament; the propagation and establishment and they agree that they put of truth, righteousness, and peace, books therein which had not been on earth; in fine, to long for a so before the Babylonish captivity; more entire conformity to the such are those of Daniel, Ezekiel, will of God, and to breathe after Haggai, &c.; and those of Esdras the everlasting enjoyment of his and Nehemiah. And the Romish friendship. The effects of such a church has since added others to spirit habitually cherished, and the canon, that were not, and feelingly expressed before him, could not be, in the canon of the must surely be important and hap-Jews, by reason some of them were py. Among these may be reckon- not composed till after. Such is ed a profound humility in the sight the book of Ecclesiasticus, with of God, a high veneration for his several of the apocryphal books, presence and attributes, an ardent as the Maccabees, Wisdom, &c. zeal for his worship and honour, Others were added still later, by a constant imitation of our Sa- reason their canonicity had not viour's divine example, a diffusive been yet examined; and till such charity for men of all denomina-examen and judgment they might tions, a generous and unwearied be set aside at pleasure. But self-denial, a total resignation to since that church has pronounced Providence, an increasing esteem as to the canonicity of these books, for the gospel, with clearer and there is no more room now for firmer hopes of that immortal life her members to doubt of them, which it has brought to light." than there was for the Jews to DEUTEROCANONICAL, doubt of those of the canon of in the school of theology, an ap- Esdras. And the deuterocanonical pellation given to certain books of books are with them as canonical holy scripture, which were added as the proto-canonical; the only to the canon after the rest, either difference between them consisting by reason they were not wrote in this, that the canonicity of the till after the compilation of the one was not generally known, ex

amined, and settled, so that of the others. The deutero-Trent. The emperor demanded soon asing the decisions of the council of canonical books in the modern that the management of that affair canon are, the book of Esther, should be referred to him; and it either the whole or at least the was resolved, that every one should seven last chapters thereof; the conform to the decisions of the epistle to the Hebrews; that of council.-3. The diet of AugsJames, and that of Jude; the se-burgh, in 1548, was assembled to cond of St. Peter, the second and examine some memorials relating third of St. John, and the Re-to the confession of faith; but, the velation. The deuterocanonical commissioners not agreeing toparts of books are, the hymn of the gether, the emperor named three three children; the prayer of Aza-divines, who drew the design of riah; the histories of Susannah, that famous interim, so well of Bel and the Dragon; the last known in Germany and elsewhere. chapter of St. Mark; the bloody See INTERIM.-4. The diet of sweat; and the appearance of the Augsburgh, in 1550. In this asangel related in St. Luke, chap.sembly the emperor complained xxii, and the history of the adulte-that the interim was not observed, rous woman in St. John, chap. viii. and demanded that all should subSee CANON. mit to the council, which they

DIET, an assembly of the states were going to renew at Trent; of Germany. We shall only take which submission was resolved notice, in this place, of the more upon by a plurality of votes.-5. remarkable of those which have The diet at Nuremburgh, in 1523. been held on the affairs of reli- Here pope Adrian VIth's nuncio gion. 1. The diet of Augsburgh, demanded the execution of Leo in the year 1530, was assembled to Xth's bull, and Charles the Vth's re-unite the princes of the empire edict against Luther. But the asin relation to some religious mat-sembly drew up a list of grievanters. The emperor himself pre-ces, which were reduced to an sided in this assembly with the hundred articles, some whereof greatest magnificence imaginable. aimed at the destruction of the The elector of Saxony, followed pope's authority, and the discipline by several princes, presented the of the Romish church; however, confession of faith, called the they consented that the Lutherans confession of Augsburgh The should be commanded not to write emperor ended the diet with a de-against the Roman Catholics.-€. cree that no alteration should be The diet of Nuremburgh, in 1524. made in the doctrine and cere- In this assembly, the Lutherans monies of the Romish church till having the advantage, it was dea council should order it other-creed that the pope should call a wise.-2. The diet of Augsburgh, council in Germany; but that, in in 1547, was held on account of the mean time, an assembly should the electors being divided concern-be held at Spire, to determine what

was to be believed and practised; one should have liberty of conbut Charles V prohibited the hold-science.-11. The diet of Spire, in ing this assembly.-7. The diet of 1529, decreed, that in the counRatisbon, in 1541, was held for tries which had embraced the new re-uniting the protestants with the religion, it should be lawful to Roman Catholics. The emperor continue in it till the next council; named three Roman Catholics and but that no Roman Catholic should three Protestant divines, to agree be allowed to turn Lutheran. upon articles. The Roman ca- Against this decree six Lutheran tholics were, Julius Phlug, John princes, viz. the elector of Saxony, Gropper, and John Eckius; the the marquis of Brandenbourg, the Protestants were Philip Melanc-two dukes of Lunenbourg, the thon, Martin Bucer, and John landgrave of Hesse, and the prince Pistorius; but after a whole of Anhalt, with the deputies of month's consultation, they could fourteen imperial towns, protested agree upon no more than five or in writing; from which solemn six articles; which the emperor protestations came the famous consented the Protestants should name of Protestants, which the retain, forbidding them to solicit Lutherans presently after took. any body to change the ancient 12. The diet of Worms, in 1521. religion.-8. The diet of Ratisbon, In this assembly, Luther being in 1546, decreed that the council charged by the pope's nuncio with of Trent was to be followed, heresy, and refusing to recant, the which was opposed by the Protest-emperor, by his edict of May 26, ant deputies; and this caused a before all the princes of Germany, war against them.-9. The diet of publicly outlawed him. Ratisbon, in 1557, demanded al DIFFIDENCE, distrust, want conference between some famous of confidence in ourselves. Diffidoctors of both parties; which dence, says Dr. Johnson, may conference was held at Worms, in check resolution and obsruct perSeptember, between twelve Ro-formance, but compensates its man Catholic and twelve Lutheran embarrassment by more important. divines; but was soon dissolved advantages; it conciliates the by the Lutherans being divided pround, and softens the severe; among themselves.-10. The dietaverts envy from excellence, and of Spire, in 1526. In this as-censure from miscarriage. sembly (wherein presided the arch- DIGGERS, a denomination duke Ferdinand) the duke of which sprung up in Germany, in Saxony, and the landgrave of the fifteenth century; so called beHesse, demanded the free exer-cause they dug their assemblies cise of the Lutheran religion: under ground in caves and forests. upon which it was decreed, that They derided the church, its mithe emperor should be desired to nisters' and sacraments. call a general, or national, council DILIGENCE, christian, is conin Germany within a year, and stancy in the performance of all that, in the mean time, every those duties enjoined us in God's