Edict, the technical name of a paper read in Pres- byterian churches in Scotland, "as a species of guard on the purity of the Christian ministry. It is a public invit:ition to all who can say anything against the minister elect to come forward for the purpose. The form of the document authorized bj' the United Pres- byterian Church is as follows: 'Whereas the presbv-
tery of of the United Presbyterian Church have
received a call from this congregation, addressed to A. B., preacher (or minister) of tlie Gosjiel, to be their minister, and the said call lias been sustained as a reg- ular Gospel call, and l)een accepted of by the said A. B., and he has undergone trials for ordination ; and whereas the said presbyterj^ having judged tiie said A. B. qualified for the ministry of the Gospel and the pas- toral charge of this congregation, liave resolved to pro- ceed to his ordination on the day of , un- less something occur which m:iy roasonalily impede it, notice is hereby given to all concerned that if they, or
any of them, have anything to object whj' the said A. B. should not be ordained pastor of this congregation, they may repair to the presbj^tery, which is to meet at on the said day of ; with certifica- tion, that if no valid objection be then made, the pres- bytery will proceed without farther delay. By order of the presb3'ter3'.' " — Eadie, Eccles. Cyclopcedia, s. v.
Edict of Nantes. See Nantes ; France, Re- formed Cauncii OF.
Edicts, Imperial. See Persecutions.
Edification, " the process by which believers are built up, that is, progressively advanced in knowledge and holiness. (1.) The ' sacred writers perpetually emi)loy this figure as their favorite illustration of the condition of Christians, as forming collectively the temple, succeeding that literal one on Mount Sion ; the temple in which the Lord dwells bj' his holy Spirit ; and as being, individually, " living stones, builded up into an habitation for the Lord." ' 'The words "edify" and "edification" have so completely lost their literal signification in our tongue, that it would be reckoned even an improprietj' to use them in speaking of the building of a literal edifice, and thus the reader loses the force and significance of tlie Ian* guage of the sacred writers.' The word 'edify,' es- pecially when applied to individual Christians, has of- ten the sense of instruct ; though in the ' Pi'eface' to the ' Order of Confirmation' in the English Prayer-book.
' To the end to the more edifying, ' tlio word is
probably used in the sense already explained, not in the especial sense of 'instruct' " (Eden).
(2.) "To perceive the full force and propriety of the term as used by the apostles, it is quite necessary to keep in mind the similitudes by which they generally describe a Christian church. All those spiritual gifts, which were bestowed on the Christians were for the building and edifying of the members of the Church. The apostolic<;l power in Church censures was for edi- fication, not for destruction (2 Cor. x, 8) ; to build, and not to pull down ; that is, to preserve the unity of the Church entire, and its communion pure. And we may observe that this edification is primarily applied to the Churcli: that the Ciuirch may receive edifying; that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church; for the edifying of the body of Christ (1 Cor. xiv, 5, ]2; Ephes. iv, 12). And it is very observable wherein the apostle places the edification of the body of Christ, viz. in uni- ty and love : till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephes. iv, 12, 13). Till we are united i>y one faith unto one body, and perfect man. And speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom tlie whole body fitly joined together, and compacted 113' that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual work- ing in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Ephes. iv, 15, 16). This is an adunr.ible description of the nnitj' of the Church, in which all the parts are closely united and compacted together, as stones and timber are to make one house; and thus they grow into one body, and increase in mutual love and charity, which is the ver}' Ijuildiiig and edilication of the Church, which is edified and built up in love, as the apostle adds, that knowledge piiffoth up, but charity edifieth (1 Cor. viii, 1). This liuilds up the Church of Christ ; and that not such a common charity as mc have for all mankind, but such a love and sympathy as is peculiar to the meiiil)ers of the same body, and which none but mem* bers can have for each other" (Hook, Ch. Did. s. v.).
(3.) " Many professors, and even teachers of religion, not greatly' likiu_g such union and its f)bvioiis consC' quences, yet linding much said in the New Testameni of the attaiumeiits and comforts of the first Christians have studied to devise means of enjoying these com