Nature to the Physical Condition of Man (Lond. 1837, 8vo). 3. By the P.ev. William Whewell, Astronomy and General Physics considered with Reference to Natu- ral Theology (Lend. 1839, 8vo). 4. By Sir Charles Bell, The Hand, its Mechanism and Vital Endowments, as evincing Des'gn (Lond. 1837, 8vo). 5. By Peter Mark Roget, M.D., Animal and Vegetable Physiology, considered with Reference to Natural Theology (Lond. 1840, 2 vols. 8vo). 6. By the Rev. Dr. Buckland, On Geology and Mineralogy (Lond. 1837, 2 vols. 8vo). 7. By the Rev. William Kirby, On the History, Habits, and Instincts of Animals (Lond. 1825, 2 vols. 8vo). 8. By William Prout, M.D., Chemistry, Meteorology, and the Function of Digestion, considered with Reference to Natural Theology (Lond. 1834, 8vo). All these trea- tises have been reprinted in a cheaper form as a por- tion of Bonn's "Standard Library," and the most of them had before this been republished in America (Phila. 7 vols. 8vo). A German translation of them has been published at Stuttgardt (1836-1838, 9 vols.). Bridle (prop. "G"!, re' sen, a halter, Isa. xxx, 28; hence generally a rein, Psa. xxxii, 9; Job xxx, 11; specially the Jaws, Job xli, 5 [13] ; also iTfO, me'theg, 2 Kings xix, 28; Prov. xxvi, 3; Isa. xxvii, 29; strict- ly the bit, as rendered in Psa. xxxii, 9; so \a\ivoc, Rev. xiv, 20; 1 Esdr. iii, C; 2 Mace, x, 29; "bit," James iii, 3; likewise \a\a>ay wy'tw , to curb, James i, 26; iii, 2; once Dionp, machsom', a muzzle, Psa. xxix, 2), the headstall and reins by which a rider governs his horse (Psa. xxxii, 9). In connection with Isa. xxxvii, 29, it is remarkable to find from Theodoret that it was customary to fix a sort of bridle or muzzle of leather on refractory slaves. Even freemen were thus treat. ed when the}' became prisoners of war. See Zede- kiah. Thus, when Cambyses conquered Egypt, the son of the Egyptian monarch, with ten thousand other youths of the highest rank, were condemned to death, and were conducted to execution in procession with ropes around their necks and bridles in their mouths (Herodotus, iii, 14). Compare the act of Benhadad's " princes" in putting halters about their heads in token of submission to Ahab (1 Kings xx, 32). According to Layard (ii, 275), the Assyrians ornamented their bridles in a high degree; but in their trappings and harness the Kouyunjik horses differ completely from those represented in the bas-reliefs of Nimroud : their heads were generally surmounted by an arched crest, and bells or tassels were hung around their necks ; or, as at Khorsabad, high plumes, general]}' three in num- ber, rose between their ears. See Horse.
Head-dress of an ancient Assyrian Riding-horse.
The restraints of God's providence are metaphori- cally called his "bridle" and "hook" (2 Kings xix, 28). The " bridle in the jaws of the people causing them to err" (Isa. xxx, 28) is God's permitting the As- syrians to be directed by foolish counsels, that they might never finish their intended purpose against Je-
BRIEF
893
BRIMSTONE
rusalem (Isa. xxxvii, 29). The restraints of law and humanity are called a bridle, and to let it loose is to act without regard to these principles (Job xxx, 11).
Brief (Lat. breve, used in later Latin for a writ- ing or letter). Briefs apostolical are pontifical letters from the court of Home, subscribed by the secre- tary of briefs, who is usually a bishop or cardinal. They differ in main' respects from bulls. Briefs are issued from the Roman court by the apostolic secre- tary, sealed by the fisherman's ring with red wax ; bulls are issued by the apostolic chancellor, under a seal of lead, having on one side impressed the likeness of St. Peter and St. Paul, and on the other the name of the reigning pope. Briefs are written on fine and white skins ; bulls on those that are thick and coarse. Briefs are written in Roman character, in a legible ami fair manner; bulls, though in Latin, are in old Gothic characters, without line or stop. Briefs are dated a die nativitatis ; bulls, a die incamationis. Briefs have the date abbreviated ; bulls have it at full length. Briefs begin with the name of the pope, thus, "Clemens, Papa XII," etc.; bulls begin with the words "(Clemens) Episenpus sermis servorum,'" by way of distinct heading. Briefs may be issued before the pope's coronation, but bulls not till afterward. Both are equally acts of the pope ; but a greater weight is generally attach- ed to the bull, on account of its more formal character. See Bull.
Brier is the rendering in the Auth. Vers, of the following words in certain passages, most of them be- ing rendered " thorn" in others. See Thorn.
1. p"in, chedek (from its slinging), Mic. vii, 4 ; "thorn," Prov. xv, 19 ; apparently the Arabic ckaddk thought to be the Melongsna spinosa, i. e. Solarium in sanum of Linn., or " prickly mad-apple"' (Abulfadli ap. Celsii Hierob. ii, 40 sq.). From both passages it appears that the Ileb. word denotes a species of thorn shrubs which were used for enclosures or hedges. Yet this characteristic is much too general to determine from it with any precision what particular species of thornj' plants is denoted by the Hebrew word. But the plant whose fruit is the love-apple or mad-apple (a species of small melon) is of the family of night- shades (solanese), and not at all suitable for making a hedge.