A similar piece of defensive armor was the tachara' (N~nP), which is mentioned but twice — namely, in reference to the me'il or gown of the priest, which is said to have had a hole in the middle for the head, with u hem or binding round the hole " as it were the 'mouth' of an habo-geori" (N^np), to prevent the stuff from tearing (Exod. xxviii, 32). The English "haber- geon" was the diminutive of the "hauberk," and was a quilted shirt or doublet put on over the head.— Smith. See Habergeon.
In its metaphorical application, as the breastplate is a piece of defensive armor to protect the heart, so the breastplate of God is righteousness, which renders his whole conduct unassailable to any accusation (Isa. lix, 17). Christians are exhorted to take to themselves "the breastplate of righteousness" (Eph. vi, 14), and "the breastplate of faith and love" (1 Thess. v, 8). Being clothed with these graces, the}' will be able to resist their enemies, and quench all the hery darts of the wicked one ; a beautiful simile.
Brechin (Tirechiniuni), Scotland (Angusshire), the seat of a bishopric, founded about 1150 by David I. The cathedral church is now ruinous, but part of it is still used for divine service. The revenues at the Reformation amounted to about £700 per annum. The Culdees had here a conventual house, the ruins of which are said still to exist. The present incumbent is Alexander Forbes, D.C.L., consecrated 1847.
Breck, Robert, a Congregational minister, was born at Dorchester, Mass., Dec. 7th, 1682, and gradu- ated at Harvard 1700. After preaching on Long Isl- and, he settled as pastor in Marlborough, Mass., Oct. 25th, 1701, and remained until his death, Jan. Gth, 1731. He published an Election Sermon (1728); and a sermon, The Dangt r of Ft ill ling away after a Profes- sion (1728). — Sprague, Annuls, i, 25G.
Breck, Robert, Jr., a Congregational minister, was born at Marlborough, Mass., July 25th, 1713, and graduated from Harvard 1730. He was ordained pas- tor of a church in Springfield July 26, 1736, and died April 26, 17M. He published several occasional ser- mons.— Sprague, Annals, i, 385.
Breckemidge, John, D.D., a Presbyterian min- ister, was born at Cabell's Dale, Ky., July 4th, 1797. He graduated at Princeton in 1815, and was at once tutor in the college and student in the theological Bchool there from 1819 to 1821. He was licensed to preach in 1822. and was chaplain to the House of Rep- resentatives, Washington, 1822-28. In 1823 he was ordained pastor of a Presbyterian church in Lexing- ton, Ky. ; removed to Baltimore in 182G, and in 1831 became secretary of the Board of Education of the Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia). From 1836 to
1838 he was professor of theology at Princeton ; 1838 to 1840, secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. He died while on a visit to his friends in Kentucky, Aug. 4, 1841. He was a man of great vig- or of mind and force of will, and was pre-eminent as an extempore, preacher. His publications were few; among them are, Controversy with Bishop Hughes (18S0) ; Memorial of Mrs. Breckenridge (1839).
Breeches is the uniform rendering in the Auth. Vers, solely of the Heb.. Q^03:^3, miknesa'yim, tiro draioers (from 033, to wrap up), Sept. ■7ript(jKt\fi (so Ecelus. xlv, 8) or ireptGictXtc, Vulg. femincdia, made of linen, and worn by the Jewish priests to hide the parts of shame while ministering at the altar (Exod. xxviii, 42 ; xxxix, 28 ; Lev. vi, 10 ; xvi, 4 ; Ezek. xliv, 18). The description of Josephus (mairtpn aval,- vpiotc, Ant. iii, 7, 1) agrees with this, making this ar- ticle (which he Grrecizes fiavaxaoij) of sacerdotal dress to be an under-garment for the loins and thighs only. See Braun, Be Vestitu Sacerd. Ilebr. lib. ii, ch. i, p. 345 sq. See Priest ; Attire.
Breithaupt, Joachim Justus, a German theolo- gian, was born at Nordheim 1658, and educated pri- vately at Helmstadt. A visit to Spener deepened his religious convictions and gave character to his whole life. In 1685 he went to Meiningen as court- preacher and consistorial councillor. Here his labors were eminently useful, and in 1G87 he went to Erfurt to be pastor and also professor of theology in the uni- versity. In 1691 he removed to Halle as professor of theology in the new university, where he taught in happy union with Francke. lie died March IB, 1732. His writings include Jnstitt. Theologic. lib. ii (Halle, 1695, 8vo); Be Credendis et Agendis (Halle, 1716-32, 3 pts. 4to), besides minor writings. His influence all went in favor of vital piety; and he is ranked with. Spener and Francke as a pietist. — Baumgarten, Memo- via Breithaupt ; Herzog, Real-EneyMopadie, ii, 349.
Bremen QBrema), a free town of Germany, and situated on both sides of the Weser. See Germany.
I. Church. History. — Originally it was the seat of a bishopric, founded by Charlemagne in 787, and suffra- gan to the metropolitan of Cologne ; but about 850 the archbishopric of Hamburg was removed hither, the prelate, Anschar, being driven from that city by the Normans. Hermann, archbishop of Cologne, opposed this infringement of his rights, and in the Council of Tribur, 895, obtained a decree that both the united churches should be subject to him. This was after- ward annulled by Pope Sergius. In 1284 the city of Bremen threw off the rule of the archbishop and be- came a free city, while the archbif hep remained the sovereign of the duchy of Bremen (now a part of the kingdom of Hanover), and, as such, a prince of the German empire. The united archbishopric became, under Otho II and his successors, one of the most pow- erful in German}', and was loaded with gifts and priv- ileges. Under Archbishop Christopher (1511-1558) the Reformation found many adherents, and when the archbishop opposed it he was deposed by the Cathedral chapter and shut up in a convent. His successor, George (died 1560), joined the Lutheran Church him- self, and Bremen remained a Lutheran archbishopric until 1648, when its whole territory was ceded to the Swedes, and the archbishopric suppressed.