He was probably the father of the Moscheni, or Masians, who resided about the south parts of Armenia: and from him the mount Masius, and the river Mazecha, or Mozecha, in these quarters, seem to have had their name, Gen. x. 23. 1 Chron. i. 17.

MASONS. From the history of the temple, and the ruins of Baalbeck, Tadmor, Persepolis, and other places, it appears that their art was in as great perfection long ago as at present. These of Tyre were among the first noted; and David hired them to build his palace, 2 Sam. v. 11.

MASTS for ships. The Tyrians made theirs of cedar, Ezek. xxvii. 5. As it is dangerous to lie down in the sea, or on the top of a mast of a ship, as she sails: so he who indulges himself in drunkenness, is in danger of death and damnation, Prov. xxiii. 34. See SHIP.

MASTER; one who rules, or teacheth. It is a title applied, (1.) To Jesus Christ, who is our great lawgiver and teacher, and who alone can inwardly and powerfully instruct our soul; and in matters of faith and worship, is only to be followed, Matt. xxiii. 8, 10. (2.) To preachers and ministers, who, to assembled congregations, declare and explain the oracles of God, Eccl. xii. 11. (3.) To such as more privately teach scholars or disciples, Luke vi. 40. (4.) To such as have, and rule over servants, Eph. vi. 5. (5.) To such as proudly affect vain applause, and a superiority above others, Matt. xxiii. 10. (6.) To such as judge, condemn, censure, and reprove others, or do it beyond the merits of the cause, uncharitably wresting things to the worst meaning, or aggravating real faults; or who do it from a spirit of pride and contradiction; or who affect to be many teachers, instead of the teacher Christ, James iii. 1.

birth, a Jew by religion, and a publican by office. His ordinary residence was at Capernaum, and he had his house for gathering his toll or tax, on the side of the sea of Tiberias. Jesus called him to be one of his apostles. He directly obeyed, without taking time to settle his affairs. At his request, Jesus, perhaps some tinre after, took an entertainment at his house, along with some other publicans. As the Pharisees railed at him for eating with publicans and other like notorious sinners, he told them that it was sin-sick souls that needed the Divine Physician, and that God loved mercy more than sacrifice and pretensions to strictness. He told them he was come into the world, not to have fellowship with persons without sin, but to call sinners to repentance, Matth. ix. 9

13. Mark ii. 14-17. Grotius thinks, Matthew and Levi were two different persons; the former the clerk or servant, and the latter the master. Whether Matthew suffered martyrdom in Persia, or died in Abyssinia, after he had preached there, we know not.

It is said, he began to write his gospel about A. D. 41; but in what language, is controverted. There was, very early, a copy of it in Hebrew or Syriac, to which the judaizing pretenders to Christianity added so many interpolations of their own that it was generally condemned. As early as Origen's time, it was despised; and Epiphanius reckons it spurious. The Hebrew copies published by Munster and Tillet, are but modern translations from the Latin or Greek. It is certain, a Greek copy of this gospel existed in the apostolic age; and not long after, it was translated into Latin. We cannot therefore accede to the sentiment of the Christian Fathers, who will have its origionenal to have been the Hebrew: for, why might it not be as easily translated from Greek into Hebrew, as from Hebrew into Greck? About . D. 184, a Greek copy of it was found

MATTHEW, or LEVI, the son of Alpheus, we suppose one different from Cleophas, was a Galilean by

MATTOCK; an iron instrument for digging stones, roots, and sand; or for breaking down walls, 1 Sam. xiii. 20, 21. Isa. vii. 25. 2 Chron. xxxiv. † 6.

in the East Indies, which, it is sup- || be the apostle, was left to the decision posed, was carried thither by Bar- of God by the lot. After prayer, the tholomew. In 488, a Greek copy lots were, cast, and it fell upon Matwas found at Cyprus, which was in-thias: he was therefore numbered scribed on hard wood, and supposed with the eleven apostles, Acts i. 15. to have been most ancient. More- to 26. It is probable he preached the over, if Matthew had wrote in He- gospel somewhere in the east; but brew, with what sense could he have whether he died a violent or natural given us a literal interpretation of He- death, we know not. brew names, Emmanuel, &c ? Matthew has exhibited to us the royal descent of our Saviour, and the obvious parts of his conduct and sufferings. His order is sometimes different from that of the other Evangelists; as the Holy Ghost did not in-persmiths use. A false witness, is tend to exhibit the facts in their or- like a maul, a sword, or an arrow; der of time, but in the truth of their he wounds the reputation, he ruins performance. He is grave, without the health, and takes away the life of formal stiffness, plain, with dignity, his neighbour, Prov. xxv. 18. copious and full in his rehearsal of MAZZAROTH: whether they our Lord's divine discourses and won-be the twelve signs in the zodiac, see derful works. Whatever other works were once ascribed to him, every body capable of judging believes now to be but a forgery.

MATTHIAS; a disciple of Jesus Christ, perhaps one of the seventy. After our Saviour's ascension, Peter proposed, that one who had been a constant witness of his marvellous sufferings and conduct, should be chosen to fill the room of Judas, who, after betraying his Lord, had hanged himself. The disciples chose Barsabas and Matthias for the candidates. As the office was extraordinary, and perhaps the votes equal, the final determination, which of the two should

MAUL; a hammer, such as cop

MARE, or the chambers of the south, or the Mazzerim, stars scattered about the north pole, we know not, Job xxxviii. 32. and ix. 9. and xxxvii. 9.

MEADOW; fat and well watered ground for feeding cattle, or produ cing hay, Gen. xli. 2.

MEAL; (1.) That substance whereof bread, or like eatables, are formed, Isa. xlvii. 2. (2.) A particular diet; a dinner, supper, or the like, Ruth ii. 14.

MEASURE; (1.) That whereby the quantity, length, or breadth of any thing is adjusted. Tables of measure follow:

Scripture-measures of Length, reduced to English measure.

English feet. inch. dec.

Digit
4 Palm

Scripture-measures of Capacity for Liquids, reduced to English

Scripture-measures of Capacity for things dry, reduced to English

Corn-measure.

N. B. A Scotch pint contains three English of corn-measure, and almost

exact and heavenly, saints shall be during the Millennium, and the eternal state.

|| deer, roebuck, does, wild fowl, &c. The Jews say, 60,000 were maintained in his court: but it is more probaTO MEASURE, or METE; (1.) To ble they were not above the half, 1 take the dimensions or quantity of Kings iv. 22, 23. It does not appear, things, Numb. xxxv. 5. Ruth iii. 15. they were very nice in the seasoning (2.) To take possession of, especially or dressing of their food. Salt was in order to build, Zech. ii. 2. (3.) the only seasoning of what was preTo repay, reward, Is. lxv. 7. God's pared in the temple, if we do not add measuring the dust or waters in the the oil wherewith meat-offerings were hollow of his hand, imports, his full baken. The paschal lamb was eaten knowledge of, his absolute power o- with bitter herbs, salt, honey, butter, ver, and easy management thereof, oil; and perhaps sometimes aromatic Job xxviii. 25. Is. xl. 12. The an- herbs were used in their common ragel's visionary measuring of the tem- gouts. Anciently, it seems, every ple and city in Ezekiel and John's vi- || one of the guests used to have a table sion, imports, that every thing in the by himself: the Chinese, and other gospel-church ought to correspond eastern nations, we are told, still use with the line and reed of God's word, this fashion; and the greatest honour and in the Millennium shall do so, done a guest, was to give him a large Ezek. xl. and xli. and xlii. and xlvii. share, 1 Sam. i. 4, 5. Gen. xviii. 6— Rev. xxi. The measuring of the 8. and xliii. 43. Nations were sometemple, altar, and of them that wor- times shy of eating with one another. ship therein, under Antichrist, may The Egyptians hated to eat with denote the trials of Christ's witnes- shepherds, Gen. xliii. 31. The Jews ses; but chiefly, their enjoying the shunned to eat with Heathens, parsingular care and protection of God, ticularly the Samaritans, John iv. 9: while others are abandoned to delu- they reproached our Saviour for eatsion, Rev. xi. 1, 2. Men's measuring with publicans, Matth. ix. 11. ing themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, is foolishly to imagine themselves standards of true excellency; and reckoning every thing good that is their own, while they overlook the superior excellencies of others, 2 Cor. x. 12.

Luke xv. 2. The Jews washed their hands before they took their meals, Mark vii. Anciently they sat at tables, Prov. xxiii. 1; but in after ages, they copied after the Persian, Chaldean, and Roman manner of lying at it on beds; and hence John leaned on Jesus's bosom at his last supper, John xiii. The different sexes feasted in different apartments, as was the common manner in some places of the East, and still prevails in Italy and Spain. Perfumes on their hair, or on their beds, together with music and dancing, were common at their feasts, Luke vii. 37. and xv. John xii. Among the modern Jews, the master of the house, or the chief person pre

MEAT. The food of the Hebrews was regulated by the appointment of God. What animals they might eat, and what they ought not, was particularly marked, Lev. xi. Deut. xiv. No blood, nor flesh with the blood, nor the fat of animals offered in sacrifice, was to be eaten. What the Hebrews reckoned high living, may appear from what Solomon had at his table: his daily provi-sent, blesses the bread, and aftersion was 30 cors or measures of fine flour, with 60 cors of coarser meal; in all about 58,320 pounds weight of meal, with 10 fed oxen, 20 pasture oxen, 100 sheep, besides venison,

ward blesses the wine. Just before they take their last glass, he recites a pretty long prayer and thanksgiving, and the company recite the 9th and 10th verses of the xxxiv. psalm.

They are so superstitiously nice, and nourish the strong, that is, the that they will have no meat dressed more advanced Christians, Jer. xv. 16. by Christians or Heathens. They Heb. v. 12, 14. Ceremonial ordinannever mix any milk-meat with flesh; ces are called meats and drinks; much nor will they take milk, butter, or of them related to eatables, Heb. xiii. cheese, immediately after flesh; they 9. Col. ii. 16. The kingdom of God will not even use the same instruments consists not in meat and drink, but in or vessels in dressing or holding milk-righteousness, peace and joy in the meat, which they use for flesh-meat. Holy Ghost: the gospel-dispensation The abolishment of the ceremo- does not relate to meats and drinks; nial law, by the death of Jesus Christ, nor does true inward religion consist took away the legal distinction of in observances about these, but in apmeats; but, to avoid offence of the plying Christ's righteousness, and weak Jews who turned Christians, studying to have fellowship with, and and were hard to wean from their an- conformity to God, Rom. xiv. 17. cient customs, the synod of Jerusa-The fruit of the saints is for meat and lem required their Christian bre-medicine; their godly instructions, thren to abstain from meats offered and holy examples, are most edifyto idols, and from things strangled, ing, Ezek. xlvii. 11. Men are meat and from blood. This matter, espe- to others, when they are given up to cially that of eating things offered to be destroyed by thein, Psal. xliv. 11. idols, and which were sometimes, af- and liii. 4. Numb. xiv. 9. and xxiv. ter the oblation, sold in the public 8. Sin is meat to men; they delight markets, occasioned no small distur-in it, and promise themselves noubance. Paul determines, that all rishment from it; but it becomes the food was clean and indifferent in it-gall of asps within them, Job xx. 14. self; and that whatever was bought Sorrowful meat, is coarse provision, in the public market, might be eaten which mourners did eat, Job vi. 7. without any scruple of conscience; Tears are meat, when sorrow renders but warmly inculcates the forbear-one without appetite for meat, Psal. ance of flesh offered to idols, or of any thing indifferent, if it tended to lay a stumbling block before any person, or grieved any tender conscience; and charges such as did otherwise, with being murderers of their Christian brethren, for whom Christ died, Tit. i. 15. Rom. xiv. 1 Cor. vi. 11— 13. and viii. and x. The mediatorial work of Jesus, is represented as his meat it was more delightful to him than his necessary food, John iv. 32, 34. He in his person, righteousness, and fulness, and God in him, are re- MEDEBA; a city a considerable presented as meat, as true and satis-way eastward of Jordan, and not far fying food, the receiving and enjoy-from Heshbon. It seems Sihon took ment of which delightfully nourishes it from the Moabites, or Ammonites, up men's souls to eternal life, John vi. Numb. xxi. 30. It is certain it fell to 55. Gal. ii. 20. Psal. xxxiv. 8. The the share of the Reubenites, and was truths of God in the scripture, are one of these on their south-east bormeat; they refresh and nourish men's der. Near to it there was a delightsoul: and the more deep mysteriesful plain, I suppose along the river are strong meat, that can only edify Arnon, Josh. xii. 16. In David's

xlii. 3. The year of release was meat for the Hebrews; they did eat what grew of its own accord on it, Luke xxv. 6. Israel's ordinary food, which God diminished, was their wonted prosperity, Ezek. xvi. 27. See EAT; BREAD.

MEDDLE; (1.) To provoke to anger, 2 Kings xiv. 10. (2.) To attaek in war, Deut. xxv. 19. (3.) To be familiar with, Prov. xx. 19. and || xxiv. 21. (4.) To interfere; seek to have to do with, Prov. xxvi. 17.