DESCENT, de-cent-the motion of a thing downward; the act of passing from a higher to a lower place; slope of a hill in opposition to ascent; the family from which a person has his birth.

DESERT, dez-ert-a large, wild, waste part of a country where no people live.

· DESIRE, de-zire-a longing of the soul for some spiritual or bodily good things, of which it feels a want; which longing or desire is made known by request or prayer. Sinful lusts and affections are called desires, Eph. ii. 3.

DESPAIR, de-spáre-a state of wretchedness or misery without hope; loss of confidence in the mercy of God, 2 Cor. iv. 8.

DESPITE, de-spite-that scorn, contempt, or pride, which the mind feels when it undervalues, or sets at nought any person or thing.

DEVICE, de-vice-a plot, or feigned story; a design with words on a seal.

DEVIL, dev-il-a fallen angel; the implacable enemy and spiritual tempter of the human race, called the prince and god of this world, from his power and influence, John xii. 31. 2 Cor. iv. 4. He has various titles given him in scripture, expressive of his influence and character, as leviathan, or serpent, Isaiah xxvii. 1.; Satan, Job ii. 6.; Beelzebub, Matt. xii. 24.; Belial, 2 Cor. vi. 15.; Lucifer, Isaiah xiv. 12.; Dragon, Rev. xii. 7, ; a roaring lion and an adversary, 1 Peter v. 8. ; prince of darkness, Eph. vi. 12.; Appolyon, or destroyer, Rev. ix. 11.; angel of the bottomless pit. He is represented as a sinner from the beginning, 1 John iii. 8.; a liar, John viii. 44.; a deceiver, Rev. xx. 10.; an accuser, Rev. xii. 10.; a murderer, John viii. 44. ; and lastly, a tormentor, Matt, xviii. 34.

DINNER, din'-ner-the chief meal of the day, which is usually eaten about noon.

DISEASE, diz-éaze-a distemper, sickness, or any

disorder which prevents the body from performing its proper natural functions, in the office of secre

tion.

DISTRESS, dis-tress-calamity, misfortune, want with misery also the act of making a legal seizure. DOCTOR, doc'-tor-a master or teacher; but principally applied to one who has passed through all the degrees of a faculty, as divinity, law, physick, &c. and is allowed to practise or teach the

same.

DOCTRINE, doc'-trin-knowledge or learning; the leading matter in a discourse; the truths of the Gospel in general, Tit. ii. 10. It signifies a tenet or opinion, Matt. x. 12.; divine institutions, Matt. XV. 9.; instruction, information, and confirmation in the truths of the Gospel, 2 Tim. iii. 16.

DRAGON, drag-on-a winged serpent; the devil, so called for his great strength and bloody cruelty, Rev. xii. 9.

DROPSY, drop'-sy—a collection of water in some part of the body.

DRUNKARD, drunk'-ard-a person who is often drunk; one wito is in the habit of taking strong liquor to excess.

DUNGEON, dun'-jon—a dark, dismal, and loathsome cell in a prison, generally under ground.

DUNGHILL, dung-hill-a heap of dung laid by for manure:

DUTY, du-ty-whatever we are obliged or bound to do, by nature, law, or reason: also a public tax. DWELLING, dwel-ling-habitation; the place where a person lives or abides.

EAGLE, ea-gel-the largest, strongest, and swiftest among the birds of prey, remarkable for its quick sight and courage.

EARNEST, er'-nest—a serious event, pledge, or first fruit. It is money given in hand to confirm

an agreement, or bind a contract; and is applied to signify the assurance, which the spirit of adoption gives believers of their inheritance in heaven. So the earnest of the Spirit, 2 Cor. i. 22. is a proof that the bargain will be made good, if the person be faithful to the grace given; and the first fruits of the Spirit, Rom. viii. 13. or the graces wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God, as love, joy, peace, &c. are sure pledges of that abundance of felicity and fulness of joy, of which believers shall partake in heaven. Being sealed by the Spirit, Eph. i. 13. is connected with the same subject, and implies assurance, yet with this difference-sealing refers to the understanding, earnest to the affections. Though the seal assures us, yet it is no part of the inheritance; but the earnest so assures us, that it gives a part of the inheritance. It works that holy joy in the heart, which is a foretaste of heaven.

EARTHQUAKE, erth'-quake—a great shaking or trembling of the earth, or of some part of it. Two remarkable earthquakes are recorded in Scripture— one in the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah, Amos i. 1. and Zech. xiv. 5.; and the other at the time of our Saviour's crucifixion, Matt. xxvii. 51. which so affected the centurion and those who were with him, that they were induced to acknowledge the injustice of our Saviour's condemnation, Matt. xxvii. 54.

EASTER, e'as-ter--a festival or solemn religious day, observed by the church, in commemoration of our Saviour's resurrection, or rising from the dead; which is held on the first Sunday after the first full moon, following the vernal equinox, or the 21st day of March, when the sun rises and sets at six o'clock.

EFFECT, effect-the issue or end of a thing, proceeding or coming from a cause; reality, or the chief point of a matter.

ELDERS, el-derz-the most considerable per

sons for age, experience, and wisdom among the Jews, who were the magistrates; heads, or rulers of the people. In the New Testament, it is a general name for apostles, pastors, teachers, or other church officers, 1 Tim. v. 17. Tit. i. 5. Peter calls himself an elder, 1 Peter v. 1.

ELECT-see Quality.

ENTRANCE, en'-trance-the door or passage to any house, &c.; the act of entering; the commencement or beginning of any thing, as to learn any art, science, &c.

ENVY, en'-vy-vexation or pain at another's good, which leads to hatred and malice. It is an evil affection or inclination of the heart, which makes a man grieve and fret at the prosperity or good fortune of others, and engenders malice, which is a deep pollution of spirit, contrary not only to supernatural grace, but to natural conscience. It alienates man from the nature and life of God, and changes him into a devil. Besides, it stops the descent of divine blessings, and turns the petitions of the envious into imprecations against themselves.

ERROR, error a mistake or oversight; any thing said or done wrong; false doctrine, 1 John iv. 6.; sins, Psalm xix. 12. Heb. ix. 7. The error of Balaam, Jude 11. was covetousness.

ESTATE, e-state-the possessions or goods of any private person, but chiefly landed property: also the state or condition any thing is in; a person of high rank, Mark vi. 21. It means an empire, kingdom, or extent of lands under one government or dominion, and also the several ranks or classes of persons having legislative influence, which in England are three-kings, lords, and commons, who have the power of redressing all grievances, and doing all acts of authority, obliging or binding the people.

EVIL, e-vil-sin and wickedness; an action con、

trary to the law of God; any injury or wrong done by one man to another, Prov. xvii. 13. Matt. v. 39. It is put for the afflictions or punishments which God sends upon a person or people, Job ii. 10. Isaiah xlv. 7. Amos iii. 7.; for dangers or calamities, Prov. xxii. 3.; for sin and all its sufferings, both corporal and spiritual, temporal and eternal, Matt. vi. 13. To have an evil eye, Prov. xxiii. 6. is to be covetous, and secretly grudge the meat which is set before a person; and in Matt. xx. 15. it means, that a person is envious because the grace of God is dispensed to others. The evil of sin arises from its very nature, being in direct enmity to God and contrary to his holiness. It violates his laws, denies his truth, despises his goodness, slights his threatenings, disregards his promises, and treats with contempt all his divine attributes. It is no wonder then, that God inflicts such dreadful judgments and punishments upon sinners, which are the just and full recompence of sin, as sometimes fall upon them in this life, but which most assuredly await them in the world to come.

EXCESS, ek-cess-superfluity, or that which is more than enough; plenty beyond use or necessity; a going beyond just bounds.

EXCHANGE, ex-chandje-the act of bestowing or giving one thing for another; the thing given in return for something received, as well as the thing received in return for something given: also the balance of money between different nations, and the place where merchants meet to negotiate their affairs, or have intercourse on business.

EXCUSE, ex-cu'se-an endeavour to defend or justify something done; any attempt to prove right or harmless any fault or neglect of duty.

FABLE, fd-bela feigned tale invented to de⚫eive or amuse a person; vain talk: also an amusing