Lay Abbots or Abbacomites. Prior to the period nf ('harlemagne the court ajipointed its favorites to the office of abbot: rich abbacies were given to the higher secular clergy in commendam, i. e. simply to en- joy its revenues, or else to counts and military chiefs m reward for their services. These lay abbots occupied the monasteries with their families, or with their friends and retainers, sometimes for months, converting them into baiH|ucting halls, or using them for hunting expe- ditions or for military exercises. The wealthiest abba- cies the kings either retained for themselves or bestow- ed on tlieir sons and daughters, their wives and mis- tresses. Charlemagne corrected this abuse: he insisted on strict discipline, and made it a ride that schools should be planted in connection with the various monas- teries, and that literary labors sliould be prosecuted with- in their walls.— Eadie, F.ccles. Diet. See also Abbot.
Layard, Ciiaislks Pktkk. D.D., an English theolo- gian, grandfather of Austm Henry Layard, the cele-
brated traveller, and himself a descendant of an an- cient French family, was bom about 1748. He was ed- ucated at Westminster Sc^iool and St. John's College, Cambridge; was then appointed minister of Oxendon Chapel, and librarian to Tenison's Librarj', Westminster; and in 1800 was promoted to the deanery of Bristol, and to the royal chaplaincy. He died April 11, 1803. Be- sides an essay on Charity and Duelling (1774 and 1776), he published several of his Sermons. Layard was one of the most popular preachers of his day. See Allibone, Diet, of Brit, and A 7ner. A uthors, ii, 1071 ; Hoefer, Nouv. Bioff. Generale, xxx, 39.
Lay Baptism. See Baptism, Lay.
Lay Brothers, a name for a class of Romish iUit- erate persons who in convents devote themselves to the service of the monks. They wear a different habit from the monks, but never enter the choir, nor are present at the chapters. The only vow they make is of obedience and constancy. They were first employed in the 11th century. In the nimneries there are also lai/ sisteis, or siste7-s converse, who hold a similar relation in the ser- vice of the nuns. See Farrar, Ecdes. Diet. s. v.
Lay Chancellors. This office is found in the Church at an early period. Bishops Avere often appeal- ed to in civil causes, especially when both parties agreed to refer any dispute to them ; and in this case their sen- tence was valid, but its execution was left to the civil power. When civil causes began to multiply, the bish- ops were compelled to devolve some part of this service on others, in whose fidelity and integrity they could con- fide. Some bishops selected laymen for this purpose, and this, according to Bingham, probably originated the office of lay chancellor. — Farrar, Eccles. Diet. s. v.
Lay Elders. See Elder.
Laying on of Hands. See Hands, Imposition
OF.
Layish. See Lion.
Laymann, Paul, a German Jesuit, was born at Innsbruck in 1576, and died of the plague at Constance Nov. 13, 1635. He was distinguished in life for a re- markable knowledge of canonical law, so that he be- came an oracle in these matters. His Morallheologie, published first at Munich (1625, 4to), passed through many editions (one of the best at Mayencc, 1723). His work, Justa defensio Sanciissimi Romani Pontifcis, etc., in. causa il/onasteriorum et honorum ecclesiastic, vacaniinm, etc. (Diling. 1631), was replied to by the Benedictine Ro- man Ha}'', in Aster inextinctus, and led to an answer by Laymann, entitled Censura A strolog. ccclesiasticcv, et A s- tri inexlincti. After his death appeared his Jus canon- icuin (Diling. 1643) a.w\. Repertorium (Diling. 1644). See Wetzer u. Welte, Kirchen-Lex. vi, 383.
Layuez. See Lainez.
Lay Preaching. In order to form just views of this subject, it is well to consider that primary design of Christianity which contemplates world-wide diffu- sion. For the accomplishment of that design, preach- ing is the grand and divinely ajipointed agcncj-. But the true idea of preaching, as instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ, is not n'arrow and exclusive. It is com- prehensive and manifold. It demands adaptation to all men and all circumstances. Preaching warns, pro- claims, invites, teaches. Although made the special work of certain representative disciples, it is, in fact, enjoined upon the Church as a whole, and upon its members in particular, '-as of the ability which God giveth" (1 Pet. iv, 10, M). There is no Christian so humble as to be beneath the application of the follow- ing and many kindred precepts : '• Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt, v, 16) ; " Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John xv. 8) : " Who- soever shall confess me before men. him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God" (^Luke xii,
LAY PKEACHING
297
LAY PREACHIXG
8). These tieclaration:, of the Saviour have a special sig- nificance when viewetl in comparison witli various other passages which indicate that an important element of preacliing consists in bearing witness of things seen, heard, and experienced in reference to Christ and his kingdom (see Luke xxiv, 48 ; Acts i, 21, 2 ; ii, 32 ; iv, 20; xxii, 15).
When considered in the plain light of Christian his- tory and obligation, the subject of lay preaching be- comes relieved from both the difficidties and the tech- nicalities with which it has sometimes been invested by a pretentious ecclesiasticism. None of our Lord's disci- ples were priests, and yet, from the moment of their call to his discipleship, he proceeded to instruct them in the matter and duty of preaching. At an early period of their instruction they were sent out to preach experi- mentally (see Matt, x, 5-42; Luke ix, 1-G). Not only Avere the twelve thus sent forth to preach, but " other seventy also." The number seventy was symbolic both of multiplicity and completeness, and the a<-"t of sending out seventy (lay) disciples, " two by two, before his face, into every city and place whither he himself would come," was in itself significant of our Lord's purpose to employ all his true disciples in spreading the truth and establishing his kingdom upon tlie earth.