BASILIDIANS

A sect of the Gnostic heretics, the followers of Basilides, who taught that from the Unborn Father was born his Mind, and from him the Word , from him Understanding ( φρόνησις ), from him Wisdom and Power, and from them Excellencies, and Princes, and Angels, who made a heaven. He then introduced a succe ive series of angelic beings, each set derived from the preceding one, to the number of 365, and each the author of their own peculiar heaven. To all these angels and heavens he gave names, and a igned the local situations of the heavens. The first of them is called Abraxas, a mystical name, containing in it the number 365: the last and lowest is the one which we see; the creators of which made this world, and divided its parts and nations amongst them. In this division the Jewish nation came to the share of the prince of the angels; and as he wished to bring all other nations into subjection to his favourite nation, the other angelic princes and their nations resisted him and his nation. The Supreme Father , seeing this state of things, sent his first-begotten Mind , who is also called Christ , to deliver those who should believe in him from the power of the creators. He accordingly appeared to mankind as a man, and wrought mighty deeds. He did not, however, really suffer, but changed forms with Simon of Cyrene, and stood by laughing, while Simon suffered; and afterwards, being himself incorporeal, ascended into heaven. Building upon this transformation, Basilides taught his disciples that they might at all times deny him that was crucified, and that they alone who did so understood the providential dealings of the Most High , and by that knowledge were freed from the power of the angels, whilst those who confe ed him remained under their power. Like Saturn in us, however, but in other words, he a erted that the soul alone was capable of salvation, but the body nece arily perishable. He taught, moreover, that they who knew his whole system, and could recount the names of the angels, ., were invisible to them all, and could pa through and see them, without being seen in return; that they ought likewise to keep themselves individually and personally unknown to common men, and even to deny that they are what they are; that they should a ert themselves to be neither Jews nor Christians, and by no means reveal their mysteries.— Epiph. Hæres. xxiv. c. 1. Cave, Hist. Liter. Sæc. Gnosticum . BASON (or BASIN) [so spelt in the sealed books] FOR THE OFFERTORY. “Whilst the sentences for the Offertory are in reading, the deacons, churchwardens, and other fit persons appointed for that purpose, shall receive the alms for the poor, and other devotions of the people, in a decent bason, to be provided by the parish for that purpose.”— Rubric. It is clear from this expre ion, “other devotions,” that our reformers did not intend to interfere with the ancient destination of alms in the holy communion; but that they intended that all our gifts, whether for the relief of the poor—to which indeed the Church a igns the first place—or for any other good purpose, should be made as an offering to God ; the word devotions signifying an act of giving up and dedicating to Almighty God , and accompanied with prayer. In Exeter cathedral, and others as we believe, the alms are still apportioned to these three purposes,—relief of the poor, support of the fabric of the church, and of the clergy. To this latter use in the early Church they were almost exclusively devoted, the clergy being the chief almoners for the poor, as the Church by her rightful office now is. It is often objected to giving largely in the Offertory that there are now poor laws; but surely the laws of the state should not cramp the free-will offerings of Christ’s people. Is it too much to make the Church the steward of our offerings for the cause of Christ ? It were much to be wished that all gifts were again made through this quiet and authorized channel. It is quite within the province of the donor to specify the object on which he wishes the gift to be expended, and the clergy will gladly aid the people in obedience to their holy mother the Church.