PARACLETICE

( Gr. ,) among the Greek Christians, is a book of anthems, or hymns, so called, because they chiefly tend to comfort the sinner, or because they are partly invocatory, consisting of pious addre es to God and the saints. The hymns or anthems in this book are not appropriated to particular days, but contain something proper to be recited every day, in the ma , vespers, matins, and other offices. All at i us finds great fault with this book, and says there are many things in it disrespectful to the Virgin Mary, and many things ascribed to her against all reason and equity; that it affirms that John the Baptist, after his death, preached Christ in hell; and that Christ himself, when he descended into hell, freed all mankind from the punishments of that place and the power of the devil.