part of China. The prince of that || arch, have, since the year 1559, been distinguished by the general denomination of Elias, and reside constantly in the city of Mousul.

country, whom the Nestorians con-
verted to the Christian faith, as-
sumed, according to the vulgar
tradition, the name of John after
his baptism, to which he add-
ed the sirname of Presbyter, from
a principle of modesty; whence, it
is said, his successors were each of
them called Prester John until the
time of Gengis Khan. But Mo-
sheim observes, that the famous
Prester John did not begin to reign
in that part of Asia before the
conclusion of the eleventh cen-
tury. The Nestorians formed so
considerable a body of Christians,
that the missionaries of Rome were
industrious in their endeavours to
reduce them under the papal
yoke. Innocent IV, in 1246,
and Nicholas IV, in 1278, used
their utmost efforts for this pur-
pose, but without success. Till
the time of pope Julius III, the
Nestorians acknowledged but one
patriarch, who resided first at
Bagdad, and afterwards at Mou-
sul; but a division arising among
them, in 1551 the patriarchate
became divided, at least for a time,
and a new patriarch was conse-
crated by that pope, whose suc-
cessors fixed their residence in the
city of Ormus, in the mountain-
ous part
of Persia, where they still
continue, distinguished by the
name of Simeon; and so far down
as the seventeenth century, these
patriarchs persevered in their com-
munion with the church of Rome,
but seem at present to have with-
drawn themselves from it. The
great Nestorian pontiffs, who form
the opposite party, and look with
a hostile eye on this little patri-

Their spiritual dominion is very extensive, takes in a great part of Asia, and comprehends also within its circuit the Arabian Nestorians, and also the Christian's of St. Thomas, who dwell along the coast of Malabar. It is observed, to the lasting honour of the Nestorians, that of all the Christian societies established in the East, they have been the most careful and successful in avoiding a multitude of superstitious opinions and practices that have infected the Greek and Latin churches. About the middle of the seventeenth century, the Romish missionaries gained over to their communion a small number of Nestorians, whom they formed into a congregation or church; the patriarchs or bishops of which reside in the city of Amida, or Diarbeker, and all assume the denomination of Joseph. Neverthe less, the Nestorians in general persevere to our own times in their refusal to enter into the communion of the Romish church,notwithstanding the earnest entreaties and alluring offers that have been made by the pope's legate to conquer their inflexible constancy.

NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH. See SWEDENBORGIANS.

NEW PLATONICS, or AMMONIANS, so called from Ammónius Saccas, who taught with the highest applause in the Alexandrian school, about the conclusion of the second century. This learned man attempted a general reconciliation

of all sects, whether philosophical || philosophy of the east: and he asor religious. He maintained that serted that his project was agreethe great principles of all philoso-able to the intentions of Jesus phical and religious truth were to Christ, whom he acknowledged to be found equally in all sects, and be a most excellent man, the that they differed from each other friend of God; and affirmed that only in their method of expressing his sole view in descending on them, in some opinions of little or earth was to set bounds to the no importance; and that by a reigning superstition, to remove proper interpretation of their re- the errors which had crept into spective sentiments they might easi- the religion of all nations, but not ly be united in one body. to abolish the ancient theology from which they were derived.

NICENE CREED. See CREED. church. Nonconformists in Eng NICOLAITANS, heretics land may be considered of three who assumed this name from Ni- sorts. 1. Such as absent them. cholas of Antioch; who, being a selves from divine worship in the Gentile by birth, first embraced Ju-established church through total daism and then Christianity; when irreligion, and attend the service his zeal and devotion recommend-of no other persuasion.-2. Such ed him to the church of Jerusalem, as absent themselves on the plea by whom he was chosen one of the of conscience; as Presbyterians, first deacons. Many of the pri- Independents, Baptists, &c.-3. mitive writers believed that Ni- Internal Nonconformists, or uncholas was rather the occasion principled clergymen, who apthan the author of the infamous plaud and propagate doctrines. practices of those who assumed his quite inconsistent with several of name, who were expressly con- those articles they promised on demned by the Spirit of God him- oath to defend. The word is self, Rev. ii, 6. And, indeed, generally used in reference to their opinions and actions were those ministers who were ejected highly extravagant and criminal. from their livings by the act of They allowed a community of Uniformity, in 1662. The number wives, and made no distinction of these was about two thousand. between ordinary meats and those However some affect to treat these offered to idols. According to Eu- men with indifference, and supsebius, they subsisted but a short pose that their consciences were time ; but Tertullian says, that more tender than they need be, they only changed their name, and it must be remembered, that they that their heresies passed into the were men of extensive learning, sect of the Cainites. great abilities, and pious conduct, as ever appeared. Mr. Locke, if his opinion has any weight, calls them "worthy, learned, pious, orthodox divines, who did not throw themselves out of service, but were forcibly ejected." Mr. Bogue thus draws their character:

NOETIANS, Christian heretics in the third century, followers of Noetius, a philosopher of Ephesus, who pretended that he was another Moses sent by God, and that his brother was a new Aaron. His heresy consisted in affirming that there was but one person" As to their public ministrations," in the Godhead; and that the Word and the Holy Spirit were but external denominations given to God in consequence of different operations; that, as Creator, he is called Father; as incarnate, Son; and as descending on the apostles, Holy Ghost.

he says, "they were orthodox, experimental, serious, affectionate, regular, faithful, able, and popular preachers. As to their moral qualities, they were devout and holy; faithful to Christ and the souls of men ; wise and prudent; of great liberality and kindness; and streNONCONFORMISTS, those nuous advocates for liberty, civil who refuse to join the established and religious. As to their intel VOL. II.

С с

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."

lectual qualities, they were learned, were prohibited from coming eminent, and laborious." These within five miles of any city, town men were driven from their houses, corporate, or borough, or any from the society of their friends, place where they had exercised and exposed to the greatest diffi- their ministry, and from teaching culties. Their burdens were great-any school. Some few took the ly increased by the Conventicle oath; others could not, conseact, whereby they were prohibited quently suffered the penalty. 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 three 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 hundred pounds; and in case they return, to suffer death without benefit of clergy. By virtue of this act, the gaols were quickly filled with dissenting Protestants, and the trade of an informer was very gainful. So great was the severity of these times, says Neale, that they were afraid to pray in their families, if above four of their acquaintance, who came only to visit them, were present some families scrupled asking a blessing on their meat, if five strangers were at table.

Such were the dreadful consequences of this intolerant spirit, that it is supposed that near eight thousand died in prison in the reign of Charles II. It is said, that Mr. Jeremiah White had carefully collected a list of those who had suffered between Charles II and the revolution, which amounted to sixty thousand. The same persecutions were carried on in Scotland; and there, as well as in England, many, to avoid persecution, fled from their country.

But, notwithstanding all these But this was not all (to say no- dreadful and furious attacks upon thing of the Test act): in 1665, an the Dissenters, they were not act was brought into the House to extirpated. Their very persecubanish them from their friends, tion was in their favour. The incommonly called the Oxford Five famous characters of their inMile Act, by which all dissenting formers and persecutors; their piministers, on the penalty of forty ety, zeal, and fortitude, no doubt, pounds, who would not take an had influence on considerate minds; oath (that it was not lawful, and, indeed, they had additions upon any pretence whatever, to from the established church, which take arms against the king, &c.)" several clergymen in this reign

bade the mayor or other magistrate to go into any meeting for religious worship with the ensigns. of his office. See Bogue's Charge at Mr. Knight's Ordination; Neale's History of the Puritans; De Laune's Plea for the Nonconformists; Pulmer's Nonconformists Mem.; Martin's Letters on Nonconformity; Robinson's Lectures; Cornish's History of Nonconfor

ter; Pierce's Vindication of the Dissenters.

deserted as a persecuting church, and took their lot among them." In addition to this, king James suddenly altered his measures, granted a universal toleration, and preferred Dissenters to places of trust and profit, though it was evidently with a view to restore popery. King William coming to the throne, the famous Toleration act passed, by which they were exempted from suffering the pe-mity; Dr. Calamy's Life of Baxnalties above-mentioned, and permission given them to worship God according to the dictates of NONJURORS, those who retheir own consciences. In the fused to take the oaths to governlatter end of queen Anne's reign ment, and who were in consethey began to be a little alarmed. quence under certain incapacities, An act of parliament passed, call- and liable to certain severe penaled the Occasional Conformity Bill, ties. It can scarcely be said that which prevented any person in there are any Nonjurors now in office under the government en- the kingdom; and it is well tering into a meeting-house. Ano-known that all penalties have ther, called the Schism Bill, had actually obtained the royal assent, which suffered no Dissenters to educate their own children, but required them to be put into the hands of Conformists; and which forbade all tutors and school-masters being present at any conventicle, or dissenting place of worship; but the very day this iniquitous act was to have taken place, the queen died (August 1, 1714).

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 for

been removed both from Papists and Protestants, formerly of that denomination, as well in Scotland as in England.-The members of the Episcopal church of Scotland have long been denominated Nonjurors; but perhaps they are now called so improperly, as the ground of their difference from the establishment is more on account of ecclesiastical than political principles.

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 lit