" We know," says Farrar, " that God cannot literally feel anger, or any other passion ; nor can he be literally grieved and pained at anything man can do, since (as the 1st article of our [Anglican] Church expresses it) he is without body, parts, or passions ; though in Script- ure hands and eyes and other bodily members are figu- ratively attributed to him, as well as anger, repentance, and other passions. But all these are easily understood as spoken in reference to their effects on us, which are the same as if the things themselves were literally what they are called. It is well known to astronomers that the sun keeps its place, and yet they, as well as the vulgar, speak familiarly of the sun's rising and setting without any mistake or perplexity thence arising, be- cause the effects on this earth — the succession of light
and darkness — are exactly the same as if the sun did literally move round it daily. In like manner, when the Scriptures speak of God's wrath, fierce anger, etc., against sinners, it is meant not that he literally feels angry passions, but that the effect on men will be the same as if he did. And, similarly, when 'reconcilia- tion' with God is spoken of, it is to be understood as meaning that the effects of the death of Christ are such as to cause men to be regarded by God with that favor with which he would regard them if literally returned from a state of enmity to a state of reconciliation."
See Nitzsch, Practise///- Tin ologie ; Fletcher, Works (see Index) ; Presbyterian Confessions ; Pearson, on the Creed; Goodwin, Works ; Knapp, Christian Theology; Reynolds [John], On Reconciliation ; Kitschl, Critical History of the Christian Doctrine of Justification and Reconciliation (Edinb. 1872) ; Pope, Compendium of Christian Theology (Lond. 1875, 12mo), p. 196-200.
Recordare Sanctis Crucis is the beginning of a passion-hymn composed by the "Seraphic Doctor," St. Bonaventura (q. v.). This is his best poem, and con- sists of fifteen stanzas, the last bearing a strong resem- blance to the next to the last of the Stabat Mater Dolo- rosa. There are two English translations of this hymn — one by Dr. H. Harbaugh in the Mercersburg Review, 1858, p. 481 ("Make the Cross your Meditation") ; another by Dr. J. W.Alexander, of which the first stanza runs thus:
"Jesus' holy cross and dying, Oh, remember! ever eying
Endless pleasure's pathway here; At the cross thy mindful station Keep, and still'iu meditation
All unsated persevere."
It has also been translated into German by Simrock, in his Lauda Zion Salvatorem, p. 269 ; by Rambach, in his Anthology, i, 315, "An des Herm Kreuz zu denken," which is now generally found in German hymn-books ; by Stadelmann, in Bassler's AuswaJil altchristlicher Hymnen, p. 118, " Woll des heiligen Kreuzes denken;" by Kbnigsfeld, in his collection of Latin Hymns, i, 151, " An des Herrn Kreuzesleiden." The English of Alex- ander is given in Sehaff's Clwist in Song, p. 165. (B. P.)
Recorder (T,3iO> mazkir', a remembrancer; Sept. dvafiifivrjGKwv, v—o^i')]fiaToypa(j)0£), an officer of high rank in the Jewish state, exercising the functions, not simply of an annalist, but of chancellor or president of the privy council (Isa. xxxvi, 3, 22). The title itself may, perhaps, have reference to his office as adviser of the king; at all events, the notices prove that he was more than an annalist, though the superintendence of the records was without doubt intrusted to him. In David's court the recorder appears among the high of- ficers of his household (2 Sam. viii, 16; xx, 24; 1 Chron. xviii, 15). In Solomon's he is coupled with the three secretaries, and is mentioned last, probably as being their president (1 Kings iv, 3). Under Hezekiah, the recorder, in conjunction with the prefect of the palace and the secretary, represented the king (2 Kings xviii, 18, 37). The patronymic of the recorder at this time, Joah the son of Asaph, makes it probable that he was a Levite. Under Josiah, the recorder, the secretary, and the governor of the city were intrusted with the super- intendence of the repairs of the Temple (2 Chron. xxxiv, 8). These notices are sufficient to prove the high po- sition held by him. — Smith. The same office is men- tioned as existing in the Persian court, both ancient and modern, where it is called waka nuivish ; and also in the time of the Roman emperors Arcadius and Honorius, under the name of magister memories. In Ezra iv, 15, mention is made of " the book of the records," and in Esth. vi, 1 ; x, 2, of " the book of records of the chron- icles," written by officers of this nature. Many of the royal annals of Egypt and Assyria were sculptured on the obelisks, slabs, and monuments, and are still in fine preservation; and already they have contributed to the illustration of the inspired records. See Scribe.
RECORDS
960
RECUSANT
Records, a frequent name for the books and papers of a Church, which contain a record or account of the history and temporal business of the parish. In these books arc written, from time to time, all such transac-
relate to the election of officers, the purchase or sale etc, of ( Ihurch property, the erection of buildings,