aliis os sibi sublini passus est!" (Hist. Eccl. duorum prim. Sæc. p. 111. §. 12.) The story is not mentioned by any writer prior to Eusebius, nor frequently taken notice,of by writers who succeeded: Jerom (in Matt. x. 3.) mentions it, probably on the authority of Eusebius; for he says, "Ecclefiastical history informs us, that the apostle Thaddeus was sent to Edessa to Abgarus." Without remarking the internal appearances of fiction in this story, it may be sufficient to add, that this epistle of Jesus to Abgarus appears -to have been wholly unknown to the ancient Christian fathers, who were of opinion that Christ wrote nothing; that it has no place in any catalogues of canonical books in ancient authors; and that it does not appear as a part of the New Testament, where, doubtless, a letter written by Christ's own hand would have had the first place. The story was, perhaps, fabricated by some Christian at Edessa, in the time of Eusebius, who was desirous to give the people of Edessa the honour of having been early converted to the Christian faith. Lardner's Heathen Teftimonies, ch. i.-E.

ABIATHAR, a high priest of the Jews, whose father, Ahimelech, was killed in a massacre of priests by Saul, escaped the slaughter, and followed David. He succeeded his father in the priesthood, and gave many proofs of his attachment to David, especially during the revolt of Absalom. After the death of David, he attempted to place Adonijah on the throne; upon which, Solomon deprived him of his dignity, and sent him into exile: this happened about the year 1014 before Christ. 1 Sam. ch. xxii. 1 Kings, ch. ii. Jofeph. Ant. lib. viii. ch. 1.-E. ABIJAH, a king of Judah, son of Rehoboam and Maacah, began his short reign of three years, in the year 958 before Christ. In the second year of his reign he obtained a signal victory over Jeroboam, king of Israel. The writer of the book of Kings speaks of him as a wicked prince, addicted to the vices of his father. 2 Kings, xv. 2. Chron. xiii. Jofeph. Antiq. lib. viii. c. II.- —E.

ABNER, Saul's uncle, and the general of his armies, served that prince with great fidelity and courage, and after his death supported Saul's family in opposition to David. The party of David prevailing, his general, Joab, treacherously murdered Abner, in the year before Christ 1048. 2 Sam. ch. iii. Jofeph. Ant. lib. vii. ch. 1. -E.

ABOU-HANIFAH, a celebrated Mahometan doctor of the eighth century, was the founder of the sect of the Hanifites, and wrote several books in support of his tenets, which were con

trary to the popular faith. During his life he was imprisoned at Bagdat by the caliph Almansor, for refusing to subscribe to the doctrine of absolute predestination; but afterwards, Abou Joseph, supreme judge under the caliph Hadi, brought his doctrine into such credit, that, in order to be a good musulman, it was thought neceffary to be a Hanifite. He was born at Cusa in the year 700, and died in prison in the 70th year of his age. In the year 1092, a sultan of the Seljuk dynasty, in the same city in which Hanifah had been imprisoned, erected a superb mausoleum to his memory, and a college for the use of those who professed themselves of his sect. Such are the fluctuations of opinion, and of fame! The reader may be struck with some resemblance between the fate of this preceptor and that of Socrates, to whose memory a statue was erected, in the city in which he had suffered. Writers are agreed in ascribing to Hanifah the merit of strictly conforming, in his practice, to the moral precepts of Mahomet. An anecdote related concerning him is worth preserving. Having received from another a rude blow on the face, he said to the person who had the audacity to strike him, "I could return you outrage for outrage, but I will not; I could bring an accusation against you before the caliph, but I will not; I could pray to God to avenge the affront, but I will not: if the day of judgment were now come, I would pray to God that I might enter heaven with you." Vid. D'Herbelot, Biblioth. Orient. Moreri.-E.

ABOULOLA, was the surname of Ahmed ben Soliman, an Arab, born in the town of Maara, A. D. 973, who became one of the most celebrated poets of the nation. He was blind from three years old, when he lost his sight by the small-pox; but this defect was compensated by the qualities of his mind. He made a journey to Bagdat, and during a year and a half enjoyed the conversation of all the learned in its famous academy, but did not enlist himself as a disciple of any of them. He returned to his native place, which he never afterwards left; and followed the peculiar bent of his own mind. At forty-five he relinquished the use of flesh, and soon afterwards that of eggs and milk, and lived on vegetables alone. This was in consequence of his adopting the tenets of the Bramins respecting the unlawfulness of killing animals. In other respects, he was little attached to religious dogmas, and was accounted no sound musulman by the orthodox. Indeed, some of his works are explicit enough on this head. The following lines may serve as a specimen.

"The Christians wander here and there in their paths, and the Mahometans are entirely out of the way.

"The Jews are now mere mummies, and the Persian magi dreamers.

"The world is then divided between two sorts of persons; of whom some have sense without religion; others religion without sense." The Persian poets Khakani and Feleki were the disciples of Aboulola, and he read to them the principal of his works, entitled Sekth-alzend, a poem greatly esteemed through the eaft. He died in 1057. D'Herbelot.-A.

ABOU-RIHAN, a geographer and astrologer, born at Biroun, in the province of Khovarezme, was celebrated at the beginning of the eleventh century, for his knowledge of the sciences, and his skill in the art of astrology, and was honoured with the title of Al-Mohakapad, the very subtle philosopher. He was competitor in fame with Avicenna, another celebrated Arabian. He wrote a "Treatise on Geography;" a "Theory of the Fixed Stars; "Treatise on the Sphere;" and an "Introduction to Judicial Astrology." Vid. D'Herbelot, Bibl. Orient. Moreri.-E.

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ABRABANEL, ISAAC, a Jewish rabbi, whose ancestors were of Castile, was born at Lisbon, in 1437. He found means early to introduce himself into the court of Portugal, and was admitted to the council of Alphonsus V. After the death of that king, he was supected of having been concerned in a conspiracy to deliver up Portugal to the Spaniards. Whether the suspicion was well-founded, does not appear; but it is certain, that Abrabanel thought it prudent to seek his safety in flight; he took refuge in Castile, where he enjoyed the protection and favour of king Ferdinand, and queen Isabella. After a residence of several years in this country, where he was entrusted with posts of honour and profit under the crown, when, in the year 1492, the Jews were expelled from Spain, Abrabanel shared the fate of his countrymen. In the countries which he visited, particularly Sicily, Naples, and Venice, his learning and talents procured him the notice of the great. At Venice, he was employed to settle a dispute between the Venetians and Portuguese concerning the spice-trade, and gained much credit by the manner in which he conducted this business. The principal employment of his leisure hours was the study of the Hebrew scriptures, on which he wrote commentaries much esteemed among the Jews. Besides these, he wrote a treatise "On the Creation of the World," printed at Venice in 4to. in 1592, against Ari

stotle's doctrine that the world is eternal; "Sacrificium Paschatis," [The Paschal Sacrifice] printed in 4to. at Venice, in 1545; eight Dissertations, translated into Latin by Buxtorff, and printed at Basil, in 4to. in 1662; and several other works; many of which have been reprinted in Germany and Holland. The persecutions which his countrymen had suffered inflamed his indignation against the Christians; and the leading object in his writings is to cast odium upon christianity, and its professors. The Jews regard him as one of their most learned writers, and even class him with Maimonides. Abrabanel died at Venice in 1508. Acta Lips. Nov. 1686. Anton. Biblioth. Hisp. tom. ii. Simon, Hist. Crit. Bayle.-E.

ABRAHAM, at first named Abram, the founder of the Hebrew nation, was born at Ur, a city of Chaldea, about two thousand years before Christ. Of the particulars of his life, recorded in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew scriptures, the following is a brief summary. Abram was the son of Terah, who, towards the latter part of his life, left Ur, and went with his family to reside at Haran in Canaan. After his father's death, Abram, by the command of the Lord, who promised that he should be the father of a great nation, with his wife Sarah, and his nephew Lot, removed from Haran, and, traversing a part of the land of Canaan, took a temporary station at Sichem, where he erected an altar to the Lord. He was soon obliged by a famine to go into Egypt, where, to avoid the danger which he apprehended from his wife's. extraordinary beauty, he instructed her to say, that she was his sister. Returning out of Egypt into Canaan, his herdsmen quarreled with those of Lot, and a separation ensued; Lot going towards Sodom, and Abram pitching his tents on the plains of Mamre. Lot, during a contest among the neighbouring chieftains of the country, being taken prisoner by the prince of Elam, Abram armed his servants and released him. Sarah proving barren, Abram took Hagar, an Egyptian of his household, as his concubine, by whom he had a son named Ishmael. At ninety years of age, Abram received a renewed promise from the Lord, that he should be a father of many nations; and, as an expression of this promise, his name was changed to Abraham, the father of a great multitude: at the same time was instituted the ceremony of circumcision; and Abraham, though Sarah was now far advanced in age, was assured that she should bear a son. The promise was repeated by three angels, who in a human form visited Abraham, and were entertained by him in his tent; and

Mecca, this faithful friend was his sole companion. He continued to be the peculiar intimate of that extraordinary man; and at Mahomet's death, having by his moderation appeased the parties which arose on that event, the chiefs unanimously concurred in electing him the head of the new religion. This happened in the year of Christ 632, of the Hegira 11. The title by which he modestly chose to be distinguished was that of Caliph, signifying both vicar and successor, which has since been used by all who have borne the same office.

The election of Abubeker was not, however, recognised by Ali and his partisans, till the threats of Omar induced him to come and pay his homage; on which occasion Abubeker made an offer of resigning his dignity, which was not accepted. Soon after, a considerable party of Arabians threw off their subjection to the Caliph, and to the religion of Mahomet; but by the courage and activity of the famous Caled they were defeated, and their chief Malek put to death. The mild Abubeker, however, disapproved of this execution. Another pretended prophet, Moseillama, who had been one of Mahomet's first disciples, also set up for himself, but was slain in battle by Caled, and his surviving followers reduced to submission.

Having thus brought Arabia to a state of tranquillity, Abubeker determined to find employment for the turbulent spirit of his people by engaging in a war for the propagation of the faith, called by musulmans the holy war. Assembling an army from all the tribes of his subjects, he caused them to march into Syria, under the command of Yezid, and himself accompanied them some way on foot, and offered up fervent prayers for their success. Heraclius, who was then emperor, expected nothing less than such an invasion. His troops were at first defeated by the Saracens, but fortune afterwards changed in his favour. At length the formidable Caled was made commander in chief, and by the famous sieges of Bostra and Damascus, put the Mahometans in possession of the greater part of Syria. The news of the capture of the latter place never reached the Caliph, for he died on the day of its surrender, of a fever, at the age of 63, having reigned two years and three months. On finding his end approach, he dictated the following will, which deserves preservation for its picty and simplicity. "In the name of the most merciful God, I, Abubekerebn-abi-Cohasa, being ready to depart from this world to the next, do make my will, at the moment when infidels believe, when the wicked no longer doubt, and when liars speak truth. I

nominate Omar-ebn-al-Khetab to be my successor, from the good opinion I have of his integrity. I think he will rule according to justice; if he doth otherwise, he will receive according to his works. I have acted for the best, but I cannot dive into men's secret thoughts. Finally, such as do evil will surely be punished for their inisdeeds. Act uprightly, and may the blessing of God be upon you."

Abubeker is characterised by prudence, equity, and moderation. He does not seem to have been a warrior, but was properly the civil and religious head of the state. His manners were simple, his way of life frugal, and he showed great indifference for riches and honours. He was liberal to the poor, and bestowed on them and the soldiery all the money of the public treasury, taking no more for himself than the price of his simple habit, and the maintenance of a slave, and a camel to bring him water. Omar well said that he had left a difficult example for his successors to follow. He was honoured by Mahomet with two epithets; that of Seddik, or the faithful witness; and of Attik, or the delivered from hell-fire, confequently the predestinated. He was the first, according to several writers, who collected the fcattered verses of the Koran into a volume divided into chapters. To this he gave the name of Almoshaf, or the Book; and deposited it in the hands of Hafessa, the daughter of Omar, and widow of Mahomet. D'Herbelot, Bibl. Marigni, Hist. des Arabes.

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ABUCARAS, THEODORE, bishop of Caria, in the 8th century, attached himself to the party of the learned Photius, during the disputes which at that time disturbed the church of Constantinople. He undertook, with Zachary, bishop of Chalcedon, an embassy to the emperor Lewis I. to present to him a book which Photius had written against pope Nicholas, and to endeavour to persuade him to shake off the pope's yoke. On his journey he was recalled by Basil, who had usurped the empire; and, soon afterwards, finding it no longer safe to support the interest of Photius, he prudently abandoned it, and, before the council of Constantinople, entreated pardon, protesting that he had been seduced by artifice into the part he had acted. This submission answered its purpose, and the bishop was restored to his place in the council. Several treatises remain, which bear the name of Abucaras, written against Jews, Mahometans, and heretics; they have been collected by Gretser, and published in 4to, at Ingol tadt, in the year 1606. Mr. Arnold found in the Oxford Bodleian library another treatise by Abucaras, "De Unione et

Incarnatione," which he published in 8vo. at Paris, in 1685. It is disputed whether the friend of Photius, and the writer of these treatises, be the same person; but the dispute is not worth settling. Cave, Hist. Lit. Dupin. Bayle.-E.

ABU GIAFFER. See ALMANZOR. ABULFEDA, ISMAEL, an Arabian of the 14th century, governor of Hamah a city of Syria, was an eminent geographer, as appears from a valuable work entitled, "A Description of Chorasmia and Mawaralnahre, or the Regions beyond the River Oxus, from the Tables of Abulfeda Ismael, prince of Hamah," written in Arabic, and published at London, in 1650, with a Latin translation, notes, and a preface, by the learned John Grævius. At the end of the book it is said to have been written in the year of the Hegira 721, or 1321 of Christ. The tables are given in the order of the climates, with the degrees of longitude and latitude. Abulfeda discovered the true longitude of the Caspian sea, concerning which Ptolemy was mistaken. A new edition of this work was published by Hudson, at Oxford, in 1712, in the third volume of his collection of lesser Greek geographers; and another, in folio, at London, in 1732. A translation of this piece is annexed to a French work, published in 12mo. in 1727, entitled, "Voyage dans la Palestine," which was translated into English by Dr. Stroder. Abulfeda also wrote a "Life of Mahomet," published in Arabic and Latin, at London, in 1723; and a "Life of Saladin," printed in folio, at Leyden, in 1732: he died about the 733d year of the Hegira, or the 1332 of Christ. Bayle. Moreri.-E.

ABULGASI BAYADUR, chan of Charasm, was born at Urgens in Charasm, in the year 1605. He reigned 20 years, and a little before his death resigned his crown to his son. He He spent his last days in writing " A Genealogical "A History of the Tartars." This valuable work This valuable work was brought by some Swedish officers into Europe, and was translated into German by count Strahlenberg: a French translation appeared at Leyden, in 12mo. in the year 1726. Moreri.-E. ABULPHARAGIUS, GREGORY, an eminent physician and historian, of the 13th century, was born at Malatia, a town in Armenia, near the source of the Euphrates. Of his medical skill or practice little is known; but he is spoken of by contemporaries in a style of most extravagant panegyric. Among other equally splendid titles, he was called the king of the learned, the pattern of his times, the phoenix of the age, the glory of the wise, and the crown of the virtuous. We know nothing concerning him which can justify such high commendations.

He professed Christianity, and was bishop of Aleppo, and, probably, of the sect of the Jacobites. His only claim to the attention of posterity is, "An Abridgment of Universal History from the beginning of the world to his own. time." It is written in Arabic, and divided into ten parts, or dynasties. The parts which relate to the Saracens, the Moguls, and the conquests of Genghis Khan, are the most valuable. Dr. Pococke, in 1663 and 1674, published this book, in 4to. at Oxford, with a Latin translation and a supplement, continuing the history of the eastern princes, which adds greatly to the value of the work: he had before, in 1650, published an extract from this work with learned notes, under the title of, "Specimen Historia Arabum, &c." Dr. Pococke takes pains to exculpate this learned physician from the charge of having forsaken Christianity. Abulpharagius died in the year 1286, sixty years of age. Pococke, Pref. to Specimen Hist. Arab. Bayle.-E.

ABU MOSLEM, a famous Mahometan captain in the second century of the Hegira, is by some said to have been born near Meru in Khorasan, of a family of distinction; but others represent him as originally a slave, of Curd extraction. He however rose to notice so early, that he was sent by Ibrahim, head of the family of Abassides, to be his representative in Khorasan. In this province, A. D. 747, he proclaimed Ibrahim caliph, in opposition to Merwan, then the reigning caliph of the house of Ommiades; and he expelled all Merwan's commanders from Khorasan, and reduced it to the obedience of Ibrahim; and likewise distinguished himself in all the other wars on his account. After the death of Ibrahim, he continued his services to his successor the caliph Al Jaffah, and was by him confirmed in the government of Khorasan. His confidence in the services he had rendered to the house of Abbas, however, made him presumptuous; so that, being refused the office of conductor of the caravan of pilgrims to Mecca by Al Jaffah, who bestowed it on his brother Abu Giaffar, he mortally affronted this prince by setting out a day before him, with 200 camels laden with provision of all kinds, and keeping open table twice a day for all the principal pilgrims; to which munificence he added that of presenting each with a vest after every meal. After the accession of Abu Giaffar, who took the name of Almanzor, Abu Moslem was entrusted with an army against the caliph's uncle Abdallah, who had revolted, and whom he entirely defeated. But his too great services were repaid by Almanzor.with the blackest ingratitude. The caliph began with demanding of him