Burden (X1!^, massa' , a lifting up, i. e. of the voice; Sept. usually \i)iifia). This term, besides its common meaning of a load (for which several other terms were also used), frequently occurs in the pro- phetical writings in the special signification of an ora- cle from God. It was sometimes understood in the sense of a denunciation of evil (Isa. xiii, 1 ; Nab. i. 1); yet it did not exclusively imply a grievous and heavy ! burden, but a message, whether its import were joyous or afflictive (Zech. ix, 1 ; xii, 1 ; Mai. i, 1).
Burder, George, was born in London May 25 ! (O. S.), 1752. About 1773 Mr. Burder became a stu- dent in the Royal Academy ; but shortly afterward he began to preach, and at length determined to relin- quish his profession of artist, and to devote himself to the Christian ministry. In 1778 he became pastor of an Independent Church at Lancaster; in 1783 he re- moved to Coventry, during his residence in which city he took an active part in the formation of the London Missionary Society ; and in 1803 he accepted a call to the pastorship of the Congregational Church in Fetter Lane, London, and also to undertake the office of sec- retary to the London Missionary Society and editor of the Evangelical Magazine. The duties of these offices were performed by Burder with much zeal and talent, until increasing years and infirmities compelled him to resign them. He died May 29, 1832. His numer- ous publications consisted chiefly of essays and ser- mons. Of these, the Village Sermons, of which six volumes appeared at various times between 1799 and 1812 (new ed. Lond. 1838, 8 vols.), and which have been repeatedly reprinted and translated into several European languages, are perhaps the best known. Of forty-eight Cottage Sermons, Sea Sermons, and Ser- mons to the Aged, written for the Religious Tract So- ciety for gratuitous distribution or sale at a very cheap rate, the aggregate circulation during his life amount- ed to little short of a million copies. Among his other publications were Evangelical Truth defended (1788, 8vo):— The Welsh Indians, or a Collection of Pa- pers respecting a People whose Ancestor* emigrated from Wales to America, in 1710 with Prince Modoc, and u-ho arc said no/r to inhabit a beautiful Country on the rvest Sidr of the Mi.fs:ssippi (8vo, 1799): — Missionary Anec- dotes (1811, 12mo); see the Memoir by Henry For-
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sier Burder, D.D. (Lond. 1833). See Morison, Mis- sionary Fathers, 268 : English Cyclopaedia, s. v.
Burgess, Anthony, u Nonconformist divine, who held the living of Sutton, in Warwickshire, from which he was ejected at the Restoration. His writings are much valued, and have become very scarce. The most important are Vindicia Legis (Lund. 1646, lto)s — True Doctrine of Justification (Lond. 1655, 4to): — Doctrine of Original Sin (Lond. 1659, fol.): — Expository Sermons on John xvii (Lond. 1656, fol.) : — Spiritual Refining*, 161 Sermons (Lond. 1658, fol. 2d ed.).
Burgess, Daniel, an Independent divine, was born at Staines, Middlesex, 1045 ; was educated at Oxford ; from 1007 to 1674 he lived in Ireland as chap- lain and schoolmaster, and afterward was an exceed- ingly popular minister for many years in London. He died in 1712. " His piety and learning were alloyed by too much of humor and drollery. In one sermon he declared that the reason why the descendants of Jacob were named Israelites was that God would not have his chosen people called Jacobite.*. In another he ex- claimed, if you want a cheap suit, you will go to .Mon- mouth Street ; if a suit for life, you will go to the Court of Chancer}' ; but for an eternally durable suit you must go to the Lord Jesus and put on his robe of righteousness." — Darling, Cyclop. Bibliog. s. v. ; A 1 1 i- bone, Diet, of Authors, s. v.
Burgess, George, D.D., Protestant Episcopal bishop of Maine, was born at Providence, Rhode Island, Oct. 31, 1800; graduated at Brown University, and studied afterward for two years in the Lniversities of Gcittingen, Bonn, and Berlin. lie was rector of Christ Church, in Hartford, from 1831 to 1847, when he was consecrated bishop of the diocese of Maine. He publish- ed The Book of Psalms in Eng. Verse (N. Y. 12mo I ; / '. up s from tin- Ecclesiastical History of New England (Boston, 1847, limo) ; 77c last Enemy conquering ami conquered (Philad. 1850, 12mo) ; and Sermons >>n tin christian Life (Philad. 1*57, 12mo). In certain departments of literature Bishop Burgess was second to no other man in his Church. In his later years his health declined. He died while on a voyage to the West Indies, under- taken in hopes of its restoration, on board tic liri^c Jan;', April 23, 186G.—Amer. Church \Review, July, 1866.
Burgess, Thomas, I). I)., bishop of Salisbury, was born at Oldham, Hampshire, 1756, and educated at < !or- pus Christi, Oxford, of which he became fellow 1783. After various preferments, he was made bishop of St. David's 1803, and transferred to Salisbury 1825. He died 1837. Diligent as pastor and bishop, be was also very industrious as a writer. His publications number over a hundred, most of them sermons and small tract- ates. See Harford, Life of Bishop Burgess (Lond. 1*41).