The disciples of Zacheus, a native of Palestine, who, about the year 350, retired to a mountain near the city of Jerusalem, and there performed his devotions in secret; pretending that prayer was only agreeable to God when it was performed secretly, and in silence.
A passionate ardour for any person or cause. There are various kinds of zeal; as, 1. An ignorant zeal, Rom. x. 2, 3.--2. A persecuting zeal, Phil. iii. 6.--3. A superstitious zeal, 1 Kings, xviii. Gal. i. 14.--4. An hypocritical zeal, 2 Kings x. 16.--5. A contentious zeal, 1 Cor. xi. 16.--6. A partial zeal, Hos. vii. 8.--7. A temporary zeal, 2 Kings, xii. and xiii. Gal. iv. 15, 16.--8. a genuine zeal, which is a sincere and warm concern for the glory of God, and the spiritual welfare of mankind. This is generally compounded of sound knowledge, strong faith, and disinterested regard; and will manifest itself by self-denial, patient endurance, and constant exertion. The motives to true zeal are, 1. The divine command, Rev. iii. 19.--2. The example of Christ, Acts x. 38.--3. The importance of the service of Christ.--4. The advantage and pleasure it brings to the possessor.--5. The instances and honourable commendation of it in the Scriptures: Moses, Phineas, Caleb, David, Paul, &c. Gal. iv. 18. Rev. iii. 15, &c. Tit. ii. 14.--6. The incalculable good effects it produces on others, James v. 20. See Reynolds and Orton on Sacred Zeal; Evan's Christian Temper, ser. 37; Hughes's Sermon on Zeal; Mason's Christ. Mor. ser. 28.
An ancient sect of the Jews, so called from their pretended zeal for God's law, and the honour of religion.
A book ascribed to Zoroaster, and containing his pretended revelations, which the ancient Magicians and modern Persees observe and reverence in the same manner as the Christians do the Bible, making it the sole rule of their faith and manners. The Zend contains a reformed system of magianism, teaching that there is a Supreme Being, eternal, self-existent, and independent, who created both light and darkness, out of which he made all other things; that these are in a state of conflict, which will continue to the end of the world; that then there shall be a general resurrection and judgment, and that just retribution shall be rendered unto men according to their works; that the angel of light, with his disciples, introduced into a state of everlasting light and happiness: after which, light and darkness shall no more interfere with each other. It is evident, from these, and various other sentiments contained in the Zend, that many parts of it are taken out of the Old Testament. Dr. Baumgarten asserts that this work contains doctrines, opinions, and facts actually borrowed from the Jews, Christians, and Mahometans; whence, and from other circumstances, he concludes, that both the history and writings of this prophet were probably invented in the later ages.
A branch of the Reformers, so called from Zuinglius, a noted divine of Switzerland. His chief difference from Luther was concerning the eucharist. He maintained that the bread and wine were only significations of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, whereas Luther believed in consubstantiation.
The following tabular statement will not be void of interest to
the reader, nor entirely out of place in a work of this character.
Though but a small proportion of the population
of the globe bears the christian name, yet about one half are under christian
governments, and, in some measure subjected to wholesome laws. The following
table will show the correctness of this remark:--
Population under Christian governments --------------------387,788,000
Population under Mohammedan governments-------------------- 72,000,000
Population under Heathen governments-----------------------277,212,000
____________
Total
737,000,000
Those under Christian governments are thus divided:--
Protestant States------------------------------------------193,624,000
Roman Catholic States--------------------------------------134,164,000
Russian, or Greek Church----------------------------------- 60,000,000
_____________
Total
387,788,000
Almost one hundred and fifty millions belong to the British Empire.