DIVORCE

(From the modern Latin word divorttare. tn turn or put uira;/.) The Jewish law of divorce Is founded on the directions given In the 24th chapter of Deuteronomy; but the permi ion therein contained is subject to many sand formalities in modern practice. In Greece, in cla ical times, the practice of divorce seems to bava varied in different states; at Sparta it appears to have been unusual, in Athens ureal facilities were afforded hv the law. In republican Rome great strictne in this bianch of morals prevailed (bra long period, although pat le impeded in pursuing a divorce by the difficulties impo< ed bv.he law dim I y public opinion. Bui In period of the republic, and under the emperors, divorce became extremely common, and was obtained with equal ease by either sex. Our Saviour's declaration to the Pharisee,in the 19th chapter of St. Matthew, became the foundation of the law on this subject in Christian countries, and divorces were consequently allowed in one particular case only; but after the Roman church hail et ected matrimony into a sacrament, they became, as they now are in Catholic countries, wholly impo ible: the only di olution of marriage being in cases where It Is void ab initio. In must Protestant countries, the facility of divorce has been so much restored in latter times as to approximate to the heathen practice. In England divori cido matrimonii, on the ground of adultery, can only tie obtained by act of parliament; divorce a metua et ten, commonly termed separation, by sentence of the spiritual court. See Marriagi;, Law of. DO. In Music, a syllable used by the Italians instead of ut, than which it is by ihctn considered more musical and resonant. DOCETaS. (Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) One of the earliest heretical sects; so called from the reality of our Lord's incarnation, and considering him to have acted and sutfered only in appearance. Some divines have conceived (hat the expre declarations of the nature of Christ in St. John's writings were specially directed against these opinions. [s. 373]