COPING (1 Ki. vii. 9)-the top course or finish of a wall. It is usually of flat or semicircular bricks or hewn stone, projecting beyond the face of the wall, and forming an ornament similar in effect to the capital of a column.

COPPER (Ezra viii. 27)- a well-known metal, but not now, as it was once, precious as gold. The word translated copper in this passage is uniformly, save in Jer. xv. 12, elsewhere rendered brass; coppersmith (2 Tim. iv. 14) is a general term. (See BRASS.) Palestine abounded in copper, and David amassed a large quantity of it for the building and furniture of the temple. Some peculiar compositions, such as bronze, were also early known.

Anciently copper was employed for all the purposes for which we now use iron. Arms and tools for husbandry and the mechanic arts were all of this metal for many ages. Job speaks of bows of copper (xx. 24); and when the Philistines had Samson in their power, they bound him with fetters of copper.

In Ezra viii. 27 are mentioned "two vessels of copper, precious as gold." The Septuagint renders it okeún XaλKOU σTiλBOVTOS; the Vulgate and Castalio, following the Arabic, "vasa aris fulgentis," and the Syriac, vases of Corinthian brass. It is more probable, however, that this brass was not from Corinth, but from Persia or India, which Aristotle describes in these terms, -"It is said that there is in India a brass so shining, so pure, so free from tarnish, that its colour differs nothing from that of gold. It is even said, that among the vessels of Darius there were some respecting which the sense of smelling alone might determine whether they were gold or brass." Bochart is of opinion that this is the chasmal of Ezek. i. 27, the Xaλkolißavov of Rev. i. 15, and the electrum of the ancients. It is, however, generally thought to be a compound substance; and those who speak of it as such distinguish it into three kinds-in the first, gold was the prevailing metal; in the second, silver; in the third, gold, silver, and copper were equally blended. This composition was very famous; extolled for its beauty, its solidity, its rarity; it was even preferred to gold itself. It was capable of receiving an exquisite polish; and might be the metal used for the mirrors mentioned in Exod. xxxviii. 8; Job xxxvii. 18; Isa. ii. 3.

Ezekiel (xxvii. 13) speaks of the merchants of Javan, Jubal, and Mesech as bringing vessels of copper to the markets of Tyre-people situated towards Mount Caucasus, where copper mines are worked at this day.

COR. (See MEASURES.)

CORAL (Ezek. xxvii. 16) was an article of Tyrian merchandise, and is well known as a marine production, found in almost every variety of shape and size, and some increasing to such an extent as to form the basis of islands, or to stretch out in dangerous reefs for many miles. It is capable of being worked up

the red species is the most valuable. Job mentions it in connection with pearls (Job xxviii. 18).

This production is the work of an insignificant animal, which secretes from its own substance a rocky dwelling, which is afterwards its tomb. Myriads of myriads untold of these united form reefs and islands. The animalcule itself is scarcely so large as a pin's head; it is starshaped, is of a soft gelatinous structure, and myriads of them unite in their operations to form a single branch of coral. By examining a piece of coral, its surface will be found dotted with small star-like openings: each of these tains a single animal, and the space which severs them from each other is covered by a very thin membrane. These animalcules have the power of secreting limy matter

con

from the waters of the ocean; they are incessantly at action, and many of the reefs rise several feet in the course of a few years. They do not commence their labours at great depths, but attach their structures to rocks from 60 to 100 feet below the surface; and thus the coral reefs partake of the shape of the submarine ridges on which they are founded.

"They are sometimes found in one unbroken chain near the coast, sometimes they run in parallel lines into the sea. These reefs are most numerous on the Arabian coast, halfway down the Red Sea. All coral banks in the Red Sea are flat, and run parallel with the surface of the water. Large fields of coral reef have a striking and pleasing effect when seen under favourable circumstances, at low water and in a quiet sea. They appear like meadows covered with flowers, in the midst of which the bark is gliding along, without one knowing, indeed, which of these flowers to contemplate most, and of which to take a drawing and fix in colours, as the next often seems to be more brilliant than its neighbour."

Pliny, in his Natural History, says of it"The Indians value coral as highly as we value pearls. Their priests and predictors attribute to it even something sacred, and affirm that it has the virtue of protecting from dangers those who carry it; so that two things contribute to render it valuable-superstition and beauty."

CORBAN (Mark vii, 11). This Hebrew

Corinth was at the time of the apostle's visit the residence of the Roman proconsul, and Gallio, the brother of Seneca, held the office. In its best days it had been depraved in the extreme. Its obscene impurities had passed into a proverb, and from its very name a word was coined to denote wanton indulgence. The Isthmian games in its vicinity brought crowds of dissolute strangers to it, and a thousand priest

CORDS. (See ROPES.) CORIANDER SEED (Exod. xvi. 31). The coriander plant is a native of China and the south of Europe, but naturalized in England, principally in Essex. The seeds are globular, and when dry are pleasant to the taste and smell, and are often sold by confectioners encrusted with sugar. We are told that the particles of manna were shaped like coriander seed.

CORINTH (Acts xviii. 1)-a renowned and voluptuous city of ancient Greece, in which Paul resided a year and a half, and where he founded a famous church to which he afterwards addressed two of his longest epistles. The "city of the two seas" lay about 45 miles west from Athens, on an isthmus, with a seaport on each side-Lechæum, about a mile distant, on its western, and Cenchrea, about 8 miles distant, on its eastern shore. It was a thriving entrepot for the commerce between northern and southern Greece, and it had been in other days a strong military post, the key of the Peloponnesus. The famous isthmus was about 3 miles in breadth at its narrowest point; and boats being sometimes conveyed across it from the Ionian to the Egean sea, it resembled in this respect those necks of land in Scotland called Tarbet-from two words meaning, "to draw the boat." Thus, in 1203, the Norwegians sailed up Loch Long, dragged their boats over the isthmus of Tarbet, under 2 miles in breadth, and launching them upon Loch Lomond, slew and plundered the natives, who had taken refuge on its islands, and had never dreamed of such a stratagem. But the importance of Corinth as a military station had almost ceased when it passed under the Roman yoke. Its citadel, Acrocorinthus, 2,000 feet high, rising as abruptly as the rock of Dumbarton, and not unlike it, still remains a prominent feature in the landscape.

temple of Venus. The basest passions were consecrated in this city, which has given to architecture its most florid order; and the tub in which Diogenes kenneled in the principal promenade, was a surly protest against surrounding pomp and luxury. Many changes had passed over it, but its immoral character was unaltered: it still delighted in show and pleasure. The consul Mummius had burned it, but Julius Cæsar rebuilt it, and peopled it as a Roman colony. The spoils of the citythe work of the potter and silversmith-were prized at Rome as far surpassing anything that Italy could produce. If Athens was wholly given to idolatry, Corinth was wholly given to lust and revel, and one of the famous of its abandoned women had a splendid tomb in the outskirts. Nor had it been in reality less idolatrous than Athens. Neptune was the presiding deity of the maritime city; it had its sacred fountain, where Bellerophon had captured the winged steed Pegasus; temples and gods were abundant; chariots of Phaethon and the Sun, with statues of Apollo and Venus. The splendour of its arts and its architecture was almost incredible. Profane historians speak of it as the light and ornament of all Greece. It was not less remarkable, however, for its corruption and licentiousness. Vice reigned without molestation, and luxury had corrupted all classes of the population. Female modesty was almost banished. Indeed, so proverbially profligate did the city become, that the very name of Corinthian, applied to a female, was infamous.

This was its corrupt state when Paul arrived there, not far from A. D. 52, as a Christian missionary. In this city he laboured with great success, and with many tokens of the divine blessing.

A traveller who visited Corinth in 1821 says, it had hardly any occupants except soldiers; and that though a few ruins remain to attest the ancient magnificence of the city, they are rapidly disappearing. The fragments of capitals and columns are employed to build the houses of the Turks; and the wrought side of the richest specimens of architecture are found turned inwards!

During the revolutionary war of Greece Corinth was frequently taken and burnt, so that not a column of the Corinthian order exists in the place from which it derives its name. Seven columns of the old temple are still standing, fluted and of the Doric order, though wanting in height the usual proportion to the diameter; built probably before that

order had attained its perfection, and long before the Corinthian order was invented; though when it was built, by whom, or to what god it was consecrated, antiquaries cannot agree in deciding. Contrasted with these solitary columns of an unknown antiquity are ruins of yesterday. The old name has been corrupted into Gortho.

The story that Corinthian brass originated here, from the accidental fusion of different metals, when the city was first taken and destroyed by fire, is fabulous. The composition so called was known long before that event. (See BRASS, COPPER.)

CORINTHIANS, I. EPISTLE TO. During his first missionary tour in Europe the apostle abode a year and six months in Corinth, labouring in the preaching of the Gospel and in the conversion of sinners. His exertions were successful chiefly among the poorer classes, and not among the wise men, the mighty and the noble. At Corinth he found Aquila and Priscilla, who were without doubt very useful assistants in the work of evangelization. Tumults were occasioned in the city by Paul's spiritual industry; the vengeful and malignant spirit of his own countrymen was roused against him, and he was dragged without warrant to the tribunal of the Roman Proconsul. (See GALLIO.) Paul seems to have been succeeded in Corinth by Apollos, whose eloquence and scriptural power must have aided the infant cause. If Paul planted, Apollos watered. But the church, so highly favoured, did not long retain its purity, its unity, its sincere attachment to evangelical doctrine. Tidings of this woful change had been brought to the apostle by them of the house of Chloe," perhaps by Apollos himself,

and also by Fortunatus, Stephanas, and Achaicus. The heart of Christ's honoured servant was deeply grieved by such reports; but he did not idly bewail them, he at once resolved to correct the errors and reform the inconsistent practices of the Corinthian church.

The apostle had heard that the church at Corinth was broken into various contending parties. "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ" (1 Cor. i. 12). Such disastrous schism was fatal to improvement and prosperity, and could not but meet with Paul's severe censure and reprobation. The precise character and opinions of these jealous factions are not easily understood. Some suppose that the party who named themselves after Paul were not only attached to his person, or to his style of thought and utterance, but especially to his peculiar views and modes of illustrating divine truth in all its noble freedom and universal adaptations, while those who took Peter for their watchword might be more inclined to receive Christianity in connection with a Jewish element, and might boldly claim for their patron the apostle of the circumcision. Perhaps the Apollos party set themselves in array against the Pauline party on account of some foolish preference for the personal appearance and fluent elocution of Apollos, for Paul's bodily presence was weak, and his speech contemptible." But how should any party give themselves the name of Christ? Was it because remaining neutral in the midst of unseemly wranglings, and discarding all human authority and predi lections, they held by Him as their one Master, the only King and Head, or did they merely

first letter of Paul to the Corinthian church had not been without fruit. Titus had given him the desired information as to its results (2 Cor. vii. 14). Several evils had been reformed, and a better spirit among many had sprung up. "For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season" (2 Cor. vii. 8). Still there lingered in the breasts of many a deep hostility against the apostle. But of them he was not afraid, for he had nothing to conceal and nothing to explain away. Conscious of his integrity, he heeded not the reproaches of his foes; only he was wishful that Christ's cause should not suffer. The intelligence communicated by Titus led to the composition and transmission of the second epistle. Its general contents are a reference to his sufferings, and particularly his late perils in Asia (2 Cor. i. 16); then to his repeated purpose of coming to them through Macedonia, which purpose remained always unaltered, although he had been obliged to delay its execution out of tenderness to them, and partly, also, that he might not come sorrowing, but with joy. He forgives the individual who had most grieved him, and wishes him to be again received in love (2 Cor. ii. 12). He then opens up the state of his mind at Troas, and speaks of the consolations afforded him by God, (2 Cor. iii.) He stood in need of no letters of recommendation to them; their conversion and his ministry, to which God had called him, are bis recommendation; not a Mosaic ministry, but one which was spiritual: on which account he preaches with plainness, and none find his doctrine obscure but those who shut their eyes against the light (2 Cor. iv. 7). He is indeed a man, as he deeply feels from the troubles which encompass him, which, however, he can endure, being supported by the hopes of a future life (2 Cor. v. 11). His conscience acquits him; he had conducted himself towards them in love; and, as Christ by his death had reconciled the world to God, he had always kept in mind that he was an ambassador for the purpose of reconciliation, and in all things he had approved himself a servant of God (2 Cor. vi. 14). Here he inserts a warning against idolatry. He then makes a transition to Titus, and the consolation which he had brought him. He now laments that he had caused them sorrow; still, the result has been a joyful one (2 Cor. vii. 16). The Macedonians had outstripped them in the work of benevolence; he hopes they will not remain behind-hand; wherefore he sends Titus to them, with two very estimable companions. He doubts not their readiness to relieve the necessities of their poorer brethren, (2 Cor. ix.)

In chapter x. he recurs to his own justification, and defends himself against the charges of his enemies-viz., that Paul, when present, was indulgent, and had courage to be severe only when he was at a distance; that, though he took no stated recompense, he yet collected

money in the churches. He then draws a parallel between himself, in his apostolic office, and these false teachers, which he pursues with much spirit as far as ch. xii. 19. He even fears, he continues (ie., from this quarter), scandalous conduct, which, however unwillingly, he must treat with severity. He concludes with the customary salutations. (See Hug's Introduction to the New Testament.) This epistle was written from some place in Macedonia, and but a short period after the first, being probably carried to Corinth by Titus.

The style of this letter is exceedingly eloquent. It is replete with feeling feeling of earnest sympathy, profound attachment, and keen reprehension. It combines the tender and the terrible the vehemence of invective and the mild and suasive expressions of affectionate regard. Paul had indeed promised to visit them, but the promise had not been fulfilled. How solemnly he rebuts the charge of inconsistency which his enemies had on this account brought against him! They laughed at his reproofs, which, in their opinion, he had given by letter, but durst not have uttered in person. How powerfully, and with what withering energy, does he repel the insinuation! His apostleship had been impugned; and in what glowing terms does he magnify his office, enumerate his sacrifices, recount his disinterested toils, and detail his successes! "I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me. Yet with all his excitement, we cannot but admire his dignity and pru dence. He is magnanimous in his severity and compassionate in his rebukes.

CORMORANT (Lev. xi. 17) was of the unclean class of birds; and its presence is used in the prophetic writings as an emblem of ruin and desolation (Isa. xxxiv. 11; Zeph. ii. 14), though the original word in these passages is elsewhere translated pelican.

The reference is probably to some sea bird; and the Greek name given it by the Alexandrian translators may have an allusion to its swift and impetuous flight. It seems to be a member of one of the pelican tribes.

CORN (Mark iv. 28). This word, in the Scriptures, is the general name for all sorts of grain, including even some species of pulse.