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Origen makes mention of the Elcefaites, in one of his Homilies, as a Herefy newly rifen. The Retainers hereto, fays he, don't admit all the Books of the Canon, but only fome of them. They allow fome Paffages out of the Old Teftament and the Evangelifts, but rejeft all the Epiftles of St. Paul. Add, that they have produced a Book, which they pretend to have defcended to them from Heaven ; and maintain, that whoever perform what is enjoyn'd therein, /hall obtain Pardon of all their Sins. See Eufebius, Hift. Lib. VI. C. 38. who remarks, that this Herefy became extinct almoft aflbon as it was found.
St. Epiphanius is very full on the Subject of this Se£t, Hctr. 19. where he obferves, that Elxai was a Jew by Birth, and that not being able to live according to the Law of Mofes, he invented new Opinions, and got himfelf Followers. He was a profefs'd Enemy of Virginity, and obliged all who profefs'd his Doctrine, to marry. He tu- tor 'a them to Hypocrify in Times of Perfecution ; pretending it was lawful to adore Idols, provided the Heart had no Share therein.
ELDERS, Seniores, Primores, in the Jewip Hiftory, were the moil considerable Perfons for .Age, Experience, and Manners, among the antient People. Thus, Mofes, we read, affembled the Elders of the People together, and ac- quainted them with what the Lord had commanded.
Long afterwards, thofe who held the firft Rank in the Synagogues, were ufually call'd Zekennm, Elders, in Imita- tion of the 70 Elders, whom Mofes eftablifh'd for the Judges of the Sanhedrim. The President, or Chief, had in a particular Manner the Appellation of Elder, being, as it ■were, 2)ecanus feniorum, Dean of the Elders.
In the firft Affemblies of the Primitive Chriftians, thofe who were cf the firft Place, or Rank, affumed the Denomi- nation of 'Presbyters, Priefis, or Elders.
The Word Presbyteri, which^occurs fo frequently in the Old Teilamcnt, and which includes alike both Bifhops and Priefts, does likewife fignifie Elders. See Monf. Simon's Obfervations thereon, in his Supplement aiix Ceremonies des Juifs.
The Prefident, or Bifhop, as being the chief of the Elders, did likewife affume the Denomination of Elder : Whence it is, that in the New Teftament the Name Bifhop is frequently confounded with that of Prieft. For the like Reafon, the Council of the firft Affemblies, or Churches, was called Presbyterium, or Council of the Elders, where the Bifhop prefided in Quality of firft Elder, being feated in the middle of the other Elders. The Pricfts, or Elders, who fate by him, had each his Judges Chair ; for which Reafon they are called by the Fathers, AJTejfores Epifco- forum. Nothing of any Importance was done, till it had firft been examined, and re olved in this Affembly, where the Bifhop only made one Body with the other Elders or Priefts ; the Jurifdiclion which we now call Epifcopal, not being then Dependant on the Bifhop alone, but on all the Elders, over whom he was the Prefident. See Bishop.
Elders, is alfo a Denomination ftill retain'd in the Presbyterian Difcipline.
The Elders are Officers, who, in Conjunction with the Pallors, or Minifters and Deacons, compofe the Confiftories, or Kirk-Seffions, meeting to confider, infpect and regulate Matters of Religion and Difcipline. They are chofe from among the People, and receiv'd publickly with fomewhat of Ceremony. In Scotland, there are an indefinite Number of Elders in each Parifh, generally about Twelve.
Chamberlain makes mention of a Ruling Elder in each Parifh, chofe by the Kirk-Seflion ; the Congregation after- wards approving the Choice, after a ftrict Scrutiny into his Life and Manners. He adds, that the Minifter ordains him : and that his Office is for Life : His Bufinefs being to affift the Minifter in overfeeing and correcting the Manners of the People ; to attend him in Vifiting, Catechifing, Pray- ing for the Sick, in private Admonitions, and at the Com- munion Table.
But this Account we apprehend to be a Miftake ; what that Author fays of Killing Elders, belonging properly to the Simfle Elders. As to Ruling Elders, there are no fuch Things, but in the General Affemblies, where they appear as Reprefentatives of the reft. See K?V£-Sessions, Synod, Generai^/e»W^ Presbytery, &c.
ELECT, Chofen. In Theology, particularly in the Scriptures, EleB is applied to the Saints, the Predeftinated : In which Senfe, the EleB are thofe Perfons God has chofe to beftow the Glory of Heaven upon.
The Apoftles alfo apply it to the Primitive Chriftians : In which Senfe, the EleB are thofe chofen to the Favour and Bleffing of Chriftianity. God, who has predeftinated the EleB to Glory, has likewife predeftinated them to Sancrification. See Predestination.
Elect, is likewife applied to Archbifhops, Bifhops, and other Officers, who are chofe, but are not yet con-
secrated, or afluaUy invefted with their Office, or turif- diction. *
Emperor EleB, before :he is inaugarated and Crown'd • Lord Mayor EleB ; before his Predeceflbr's Mayoralty is expired, or the Sword put in his Hands.
Philip of Savoy was five Tears Archbifhop f Lyons without ever being ordain'd or confecrated ; after which he quitted his Archbifhoprick to marry the Countefs of ' Bur- gundy. All that Time he bore the Title and Quality of Archbifhop EleB of Lyons, EleBus Lugd'menfis.
ELECTION, a Choice made of any Thing, or Perfon whereby it is prefer'd to fome other. There is this Diffe- rence, however, between Choice and EleBion ; that EleBion has ufually a Regard to a Company, or Community, that makes the Choice ; whereas Choice is feldom ufed, but when a fingle Perfon makes it.
The mod folemn EleBion is that of a Pope ; which is perform'd by the Cardinals, in four feveral Manners.
The firft, as they call it, by the Holy Spirit ; when the firft Cardinal who fpeaks, having given his Vote for any one, proceeds to the Adoration, and proclaims him Pope, as by a fudden Infpiration of the Holy Ghoft. In which Cafe, he is deem'd duly EleBed, if all, or at leafl two Thirds of the Affembly be confenting thereto.
The fecond, by Compromise, when the whole College pitches on three Cardinals, to whom they give a Power of nominating the Pope; which Power expires upon the Burning out of a Candle lighted on that Occafion.
The third, by Way of Poll or Scrutiny, which laft is the moft ufual ; .the Cardinals throwing fcal'd Tickets, wherein their Votes are wrote, into a Chalice, or Cup, placed on the Altar. Two thirds of the Votes are required to determine an EleBion by Scrutiny. See Conclave.
The fourth is by Way of Accefjion ; when, the Votes being too much divided to EleB any Body, (bme of the Cardinals defift from their firft Suffrage, and lecedunt j that is, give their Voices to him, who has already the Majority by Scrutiny.
The Way of Acceflion, however, is always added to the Scrutiny ; it being the conftant Practice for all the Car- dinals, to give their Voices, after the laft Scrutiny, to hiin whom they find to have the Plurality already. So that all EleBions of Popes are, with the unanimous Confent of aU the Cardinals. See Cardinal.
EleBion of Biflops, of Members of Parliament, && See Bishop, Parliament, &c.
Election, is alfo when a Perfon is left to his own free Will to take or do either one Thing, or another, which he pleafes.
Election, in Theology, the Choice which God, of his good Pleafure, makes of Angels or Men, for the Defions of Mercy and Grace.
The EleBion of the Jews, was the Choice God made of that People to be more immediately attach'd to his Worfhip ana Service, and for the Meffiab. to be born thereof
EleBion alfo, fometimes, fignifies a Predeftination to Grace and Glory ; and fometimes to Glory only. 'Tis an Article of Faith, that Predeftination to Grace is gratuitous 5 merely and fimply fo : Gratia quia gratis data. But the Divines are divided as to the Point, whether EleBion to Glory be gratuitous, or whether it fuppofe Obedience and good Works, i. e. whether it be before, or after the Pre- vifion of our Obedience.
Some hold that it is before, and after at the fame Time t It is before the Previfion of our Obedience, as Glory is intended as antecedent to our Obedience : And it is after as this Glory is intended us as a Reward, and of Con- fequence, as a Sequel of our Obedience. See Grace Predestination, Reprobation, &c.
Election, is alfo a Part of Pharmacy; being that which teaches how to chufe fimple Medicaments, Drugs, &c. and to diftinguifh the Good from the Bad. See Pharmacy. Some diftinguifh a general EleBion, which gives the Rules and Marks for all Medicines in general ; and a par- ticular one for each Medicine in particular.
ELECTIVE, what is done by Election. The Empire of Germany was Hereditary in the Time of Charlemaign ; and did not become EleBive, till after the Death of Louis the Hid. the laft of the Race of Charlemaign in the Empire. Indeed, it was not entirely EleBive till the Time of Frederic II, in mo.
Some Benefices are EleBive, others Collative. Municipal Offices in England, are generally EleBive ; in Spain, Venal ; Poland is an EleBive Kingdom. All Prelatures in France are EleBive, fince the Concordat.
ELECTOR, a Perfon who has a Right to eleB, or choofe another to an Office, Honour, Z5c.
The EleBors of a Burgtfs, a Knight of the Shire, a Grand Matter of an Order, iSc.
The Word is fonn'd of the Latin, Eligere, to choofe. I i * Elector,
