DOC.
names of such persons were written that the deacon might rehearse them as occasion required,
DISPENSATION. The providential dealing of GOD with his creatures. We thus speak of the Jewish Dispensation and the Christian Dispensation In ecclesiastical law by dispensation is meant the power vested in the Archbishops of dispensing on particular emergencies with certain minor regulations of the Church, more especially in her character as an Establishment.
DISCIPLE, a Scholar, or one who attends the lectures and professes the tenets of another. A disciple of CHRIST is one who, having been baptized into His Body, believes His doctrines, imbibes His spirit, and follows His example.
DISSENTERS. Those who, relying on their private judgment, have left the pale of the church.
DIVINE. Something relating to GOD ; a minister of the Gospel; a priest; a theologian,
DIVINITY. The science of Divine things ; theology; a title of the GODHEAD.
DIVORCE. A separation of a married man and woman by the sentence of an ecclesiastical judge, qualified to pronounce the same.
DOCETCE. Ancient dissenters, who taught that the actions and sufferings of our LORD were not in realitv, but only in appearance.
DOCTOR. One who has the highest degree in the faculties of divinity, law, physic, or music.
DOGMA. A word used originally to express any doctrine of religion formally stated. Dogmatic theology, is the statement of positive truths in religion. The indifference of later generations to positive truth is indicated, among other things, by the different notion which has come to be attached, in common discourse, to these words. By a dogma is now generally meant too positive or harsh a statement of uncertain or unimportant articles: and the epithet dogmatic is given to one who is rude or obtrusive, or overbearing in the statement of what he judges to be true.
DOCTRINE. A system of teaching. By Christian Doctrine should be intended the principles or positions of the Holy Church.