HELTRF' SYNOD, a respectable body of Presbyterian dissenters in Scotland, whose ground of separation from the established church was the violent exer cise of lay patronage which obtained in the latter. Though patronage, or the ap pninttuent of clergymen to church bene fices by presentations bad been establish ed by net. of Parliament in 1712, yet a minority of tho clergy were opposed to that measure; or at least to the intrusion of a minister into paroelti:tl charge con trary to the sentiments of the people. The majority of the church, however, en tortained different ciows, amt rigorously enforced the provisions of the act of 1712. With this state of things the people gene rally, but particularly in rural districts, were dissati.fiod; mind hence the origin ,,f the Soceesicn cluureh, and the hi-I sf.
REhI't11ON, that worship soil homage which is doe to find, considereI as our creator, preserver, and most bountiful benefactor. It is divided into natural and revealed. By natural rehgioa is meant, that knowledge, veneration, and love of God, and the practice of those duties to him, our fell uw-eventures, m.d ourselves, which are discoverable frn+u the right exercise of our rtationnl f.tcul ties, from considering the nature and perfections of God, and our relation to him and to one another. By revealed re ligion is meant, natural religion expLtin ed, enforced, and enlarged, from the en press declarations of Clod himself, from the mouths or pens of his prophets, •ec.—
Religion, in a more cotutmeted sense, is used for any system of thith and worship; and even for the various sects into which emoh religion is divided. Religion is dif ferent from theology, inns iii neh as the latter is apeeulatire soil Ilie former prac tical. Religion is a system of duties; theology a system of opinions. Theology inquires into the nature of the power or powers to whom ill visible things are in suh,jection; religion is the sentiment wlticl+ spriu,gs front flint inquiry. The slightest knowledge of history is sufficient to inhtrut us that. religion has ere[ had a powerful ii, llnenre in monldiug the sen timents amt uuanuers of mcn. In one region or age it has been favorable to civilization and refincutmtt; in another it his been so directed as to fetter genius or warp the human mind. That, however, depends on the purity of the doctrine and the liberality of its teachers.
htI,I'UhoRS IlO1SLS, different asyla or habitatiotus for priests, nuns, and poor, still existing is Catholic countries, and before Ilse Reformation mbouu,1lng in Rug land. 'I'bev consisted of abbeys, monas teries, priories, liospituls, friaries, and nunneries, supported by lands and be quests left them lay pious persons, which became enormous. Ns;u•ly the whole (:Lore 3000) were rliseolce and their wealth seized by henry the Righth ; the monks, nuns, and otlicers being allowed pensions.