A Complete Christian Dictionary, Dictionary · Part CI
C I.
Cilicia]
Touching. The name of a countrcy in Asia near the sea, whereof Tharsus was. The birth-place of Paul, Act. 21. 39.
Cinnereth]
As a Candle. A City, Josh. 19. 35.
Cinneroth]
Josh. 13. 27. 1 King. 15. 20. A ….
Cinamon]
Exod. 30. 23. A spice, being the rinde of a low shrub, two cubits in height, dry, hot, odoriferous. It groweth amongst briars, thorns, bushes, and other trees, so that its not without difficulty gathered; the stalks also being folded one within another, of a saffron or black colour. When it is broken, a certain smoak issueth therefrom in the manner of a cloud. It smelleth best, when dry. It's not to be gathered either before the rising, or after the setting of the Sun, but only in the day time. Hereof read Prov. 7. 17. Cant. 4. 14. Rev. 18. 13.
Circle]
Isa. 40. 22. He sitteth upon (or above) the circle of the earth, as Soveraign Lord and Ruler of it, having heaven for his throne, and the earth for his foot-stool, chap. 66. 1. ….
Circuit]
Job 22. 14. He walketh in the circuit of heaven. The word properly signifies a circle made to keep things within compasse, Isa. 44. 13. So God made a circle for the Earth, Isa. 40. 22. and for the Sea, to keep it within …, Prov. 8. 27. So for the heaven here, which is conceived to be circular and spherical. Some understand it of guiding the Angels in the highest heaven. Others of ordering the Stars in the middle heaven. Others for a circle to keep God in, that he can meddle with nothing below, as Atheists imagine. ….
The Sun hath … circuit, Psal. 19. 6. So the Wind, Eccl. 1. 6. And of Samuel it is said, that he went srom year to year in circuite to Bethel, &c. 1 Sam. 7. 16. Heb. he circuited, marg. namely as a Judge to hear and determine the causes of the people, and as a Prophet to … and direct them. Annot.
… circumcise]
;;To cut off, or to pare away the foreskin of the flesh, to witness thereby an entrance into the Covenant of mercy with God, for forgiveness of sin, and newness of life, Gen. 17. 10, 11. This is to circumcise Sacratally.
;;2. To … and subdue the …, with the … thereof. Jer. 4. 4. Be circumcised to the Lord, and take away the foreskin of your hearts. This is to circumcise spiritually; and thus much is meant in all places where circumcision of the heart is called for: even a correcting of sinful nature, and the corrupt desires thereof.
;;3. To have the fore-skin of the flesh cut or pared away, with this opinion of obtaining righteousness and eternal life, by circumcision, being yet in force as some Jewes thought. Gal. 5. 2. If ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing. There be two reasons given in Scripture, why circumcision could not justifie sinners: One, because Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to the believers, Rom. 10. 5. The second, because Abraham was in order of time justified long before he was circumcised, Rom. 4. 10, 11. And these reasons are strong against Justification by all works of the law universally; for a man must first be justified ere he can do a good work: also the perfect righteousness commanded in the Law, is no where inherent or subjective, but in the manhood of Christ, who imputeth it to all such as believe in him, without any works required thereunto, but only that faith which worketh by love, Gal. 5. 6.
The outward or sacramental circumcision by man, was unavailable without the inward and spiritual, by God, Rom. 2. 29.
… of circumcised …, lips, and hearts]
;;Such as have the inward spiritual effect and grace of circumcision, together with the sign: as on the other side, uncircumcised lips, ears, and hearts, be affirmed of such as have the outward sign only, without the signified grace, Act. 7. 51.
…]
;;A person circumcised, or a Jew; as uncircumcision signifieth a person uncircumcised, a Gentile, Rom. 2. 28. & Rom. 15. 8. where Christ is called the Minister of circumcision: that is, of a people circumcised, and in Covenant with God; to wit, of the Jews, Gal. 2. 7, 9. Tit. 1. 10.
;;2. The whole legall ceremonious worship of God, by a Synecdoche of the part for the whole, Act. 15. 1. Except ye be circumcised, ye … be saved, Gal. 5. 6.
;;3. Those which be truly godly persons, spiritually circumcised in their heart, forsaking their own corrupt reason and will. Philip. 3. 3. We are the … which … God in the spirit. This is circumcision made without hands, of the heart, and in the Spirit, not in the Letter, Rom. 2. 29.
4. The cutting off of the foreskin of the flesh, Exod. 4. 26.
5. The Sacrament of Circumcision, Joh. 7. 22, 23.
6. The Doctrine of observing the Ceremonial Law, Gal. 5. 11.
7. The Covenant, Rom. 4. 10.
;;Circumcision assured to the Jews (as Baptism to us) their engraffing into Christ, and therefore the forgiveness of the guilt, fault, and punishment of their sins, yea the putting off the sinful body of the flesh: at a word, it signified and sealed their regeneration, justification, and sanctification through Christ. See Gen. 17. 10. Rom. 4. 11. Col. 2. 11. Deut. 30. 6. This Sacrament being set upon the shamefullest part of the body, where lust rageth most, did lively represent the whole naughtiness of our nature, that it is pardoned through Christ: and that by him the Elect are sanctified from their foulest and most unclean offence.
;;Note: As Circumcision to the Jews was not their righteousness, but a seal of it; so is Baptisme to us.
;; … is a Sacrament of the Old Testament, signifying and sealing up to the people of the Jews, their entrance into Covenant with God, for the remission of their sins, and mortification of their lusts, by faith in Christ to to come. Rom. 4. 11. He received the sign of circumcision, Gen. 17. 10, 11, 12.
Circumcision made without hands]
;;Sanctification or renewing of the minde, which because Christ alone worketh inwardly by his Spirit, thence called Circumcision of Christ, and without hands, as Jewish Circumcision was not, Col. 2. 11.
Circumspect]
Exod. 23. 13. Be circumpfect, be wary, or take … unto your selves, that ye transgresse not. Aynsw.
Circumspectly]
Eph. 5. 15. Gr. exactly, … precisely. It signifies an accurate study and diligence throughout our lives, that we offend none, but by the light of faith and good works ed ifie all. It comes of two words, foreign, or foreign) … signifie to go to the extremity of a thing. We must be willing to go to the uttermost of every command, to do things with exact diligence.
Cis]
Hard, of foreign he was hard, or foreign stub'le, straw, of foreign he gathered stu'ble, straw. The Father of Saul, Act. 13. 21. named also Kish, 1 Sam. 9. 1.
Cistern]
Taken,
1. For a vessell or place wherein to keep water, Isa. 36. 16.
2. The heart, out of which the head draweth the powers of life, Eccl. 12. 6.
3. The vain confidence or inventions of men contrary to Gods Word, Jer. 2. 13.
4. Ones own lawfull wife, Prov. 5. 15. Drink waters out of thine own Cistern; that is, Enjoy thou the lawsul pleasures and contentments of thine own wife.
Cistern]
2 King. 18. 31. or Pit. ….
City]
;;A place compassed with wals for people to dwell in. …. 9. 25. And Jesus went to all Cities and Towns. Gen. 19. 25. And overthrew those Cities and Inhabitants.
;;2. The people which dwelt in such a place. Act. 19. 29. And the whole City was full of confusion. A Metonymie. Isa 14. 31.
;;3. The Church of God upon earth. Cant. 3. 2. 3. The watch-men which went … the City.
;;4. Heaven, Heb. 11. 16. He hath prepared for them a City, …. 2. 19. A Metaphor.
;;5. Publick administration and government, Psalm 127. 1.
;;6. The rich mans wealth (or any thing wherein a man puts his trust) Prov. 10. 15.
Cities take their denomination sometime from the founders, sometime from the places where built, … from the causes why they were built, &c. And according to the quality of the inhabitants: Some are well spoken of, as, A City of righteousness, A faithful City, Isa. 1. 26. Some contrarily, as, The oppressing City, Zeph. 3. 1.
City: 1 King. 8. 37. or Jurisdiction, marg. Ruth 3. 11. Heb. gate, marg. So also 2 Chr. 6. 28. Mic. 5. 14. or Enemies, marg.
City]
;;The visible Church, (being like a City) which consists of one company, living by the same Laws, and under one … or Lord, Cant. 5. 7. The Watch-men that went about the City.
And go about the City, Cant. 3. 2. By the City understand Jerusalem the holy City, where Christ dwelt among men, and had seated his Temple, and the practise of his Ordinances, whither all Israel repaired thrice every year, which was a figure of the Church, Eccles. 10. 15. Isa. 26. 1. So amongst the people of God in his Word and Ordinances, she sought Christ for the comfort of her soul. Anysw.
It fares with devout souls in their earnest prosecutions of Christ, as it doth with ungodly, ambitious, or bloud-thirsty men in effecting their desires; they breath nothing but fury and violence; they run about the …, Psal. 59. 6. and rest not till they have brought their mischief about. Oh! is not Christ and his heaven worth as strong and as … endevours? Annot.
City]
Heb. 11. 10. He looked for a City which hath …, that is, a firm and enduring City, which the Apostle opposeth to the tents wherein Abraham dwelt, which had no foundations, but were moveable; hereby is meant heaven, wherein is immutable happiness, Psal. 16. 11. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 3. Annot.
City beloved]
;;The holy Church, here Militant upon earth, which because it is loved of God, through Christ, therefore neither the Turk from the East, nor Antichrist from the West, shall utterly destroy it, howsoever they fiercely assault it. Rev. 20. 9. And they compassed the tents of the Saints about, and the beloved City.
;;Some Divines understand this, not of the whole Church, but by an excellency, of the company of believing Jewes, which toward the end of the world shall be gathered and joyned unto the … of believing Gentiles.
City of David]
1. Chr. 11. 7. that is, Sion, marg.
City of God]
;;Jerusalem, … the people of God, Citizens of … Church, came to worship him, according to his law. Psal. 46. 4. Whose streans … glad the City of …. Psal. 47. 1, 8. Hence called the City of the great King, viz. of …, … was … worshiped there: and holy City, because it was the seat as it were of divine …, Mat. 5. 35. & 27. 53.
… of the … God]
;;The Church or company of the Elect, believers … live not after the laws, …, … of this world wherein they be sojourners: but after the laws and ordinances of God set down in his Word, Heb. 12. 22.
… of the living God]
;;The Church of God, which is like to a City, being … by one King, Christ; and according to his Laws, Heb. 12. 22. The City of the living God.
… cannot go into the City]
;;Such extreme solly to be in some inconsiderate persons (whose danger he shewed in Isa. 1. 8, 9, 10, 11. by four excellent similitudes) as they cannot rightly move one foot or direct themselves the high way into their own City, Eccles. 10. 15.
The great City]
;;Not any one Town environed with wals, the people whereof are linked together by bonds of the some Laws, but the entire and full jurisdiction of some one Town (as namely of Rome the seat and place of Antichrist) together with the whole company of them that are subject to the proud power of Antichrist. Rev. 16. 19. And the great City was divided into three parts.
The place where the remainder of the Senate and people of Rome abide; for it was destroyed under the fift Vial. Annot.
The whole Papacy. Clavis Apocal. Pag. 117.
… City]
;;Jerusalem, which is above, or the Celestial Church, whereof Jerusalem that holy City in earth was a figure. Rev. 22. 19. He shall have no part in the holy City.
;;2. The Church of Christ here on earth, consisting of holy members, sanctified by the bloud and Spirit of Christ, Rev. 21. 2.
Without the City]
Rev. 14. 20. Without the Church, the City of God, as some interpret it; so that God provideth for the safety of his Church, while her enemies are in destroying. But as others say, The great battell shall be, nor in the City of Rome, but in the territory thereunto belonging. Annot.
A City of righteousness]
;;A people which loveth and practiseth righteous and faithful dealing, in administration of Justice doing that which is just, and in commerce, or bargains imbracing fidelity and equity with incorruption. Isa. 1. 26. A City of …, a faithfull City.
Cities of Nations]
;;The company of such people as joyn to Antichrist, and fight against Christ. Rev. 16. 19. The Cities of the Nations …. These Cities some others expound to be the whole regiment of wicked men; as of Turks, Jews, Barl arians, and others, that embrace false and strange religions. All which it is certain that they must perish at the second coming of Christ, although all be not alike Christs adversaries.
Citizen]
Taken properly,
1. For one that is born, and dwelleth in a City, Act. 21. 39.
2. For one that hath the priviledge of a City, that is free thereof, though not born there, as Paul was of Rome, Act. 22. 28.
3. For people or subjects, Luk. 19. 14.
Improperly, for believers, Eph. 2. 19. Ravanel.
By Citizen in Luk. 15. 15. the Devill may be understood.