I 
OFF 
fins of commiffion ; others think the former atoned for 
fins committed through ignorance of the law, and the 
latter for fins which one committed through inattention 
to his conduft. Except in the-cafe of the leper, the tref- 
pafs-oftering was ordered precifely in the manner of the 
fin-offering. 
5. The meat-offerings, and fuch as follow, were not fa- 
crifices, but gifts. Meat-offerings were always to attend 
burnt-oft’erings and peace-offerings, and the fin-offering 
and trefpafs-offering of the leper; but whether they at¬ 
tended other fin-offerings and trefpafs-ofterings, we can 
hardly determine. In cafes wherein the meat-offering 
was ftated, three omers or tenth-deals of fine flour attended 
the facrifice of a bullock ; two, that of a ram ; and one, 
that of a lamb or kid. Frankincenfe was alfo an ingre¬ 
dient in this offering; and fait was added to it. Some¬ 
times the materials were baken into unleavened cakes, and 
fometimes were offered unbaken. In thank-offerings, fome 
cakes of leavened bread were to be offered along with it; 
and to this the two leavened loaves offered at Pentecoft 
may be reduced ; but no leaven was laid on the altar. 
When a meat-offering was prefented, the prieft took part 
of the meal, or of the bread crumbled down ; and, having- 
poured oil, fait, wine, and frankincenfe, on it, burnt it on 
the altar; and the prieff had the refidue for himfelf and 
his fons, to be eaten in the facred court; but a meat-of¬ 
fering for the priefts was wholly burnt. 
6. Drink-offerings were never, that we know of, offered 
by themfelves, but were an attendant of the meat-offer¬ 
ing. The proportion of wine was to be the fame with 
that of oil. Part of the' wine was poured on the meat- 
offering, and that was burnt, and the reft was the prieft’s ; 
and, if the whole meat-offering was burnt, no doubt the 
wine went along with it. 
7. The haif-fhekel of money, which every Jew come to 
manhood was to give, it feems yearly, for the ranfom of 
his foul, to the fervice of the tabernacle or temple, is the 
laft kind of offering to be mentioned. No man, however 
rich, was to give more, or, however poor, to give lefs. 
The heave and wave offerings were not different in their 
matter from what have been already mentioned ; but were 
fo called, becaufe they were heaved or lifted up towards 
heaven, and waved towards the four quarters of the world, 
as a token they belonged to Him, whole throne is in heaven, 
and isCreatorand Governor of all the ends of the earth. "The 
Levites, at their confecration, were Inch an offering, being 
lifted up or chofen from among the congregation, and per¬ 
haps walking to and fro towards every quarter. The fat, 
kidneys, caul, bread,and right-flioulder, of the prieft’s con- 
fecration-offering, together with a loaf and wafer of un¬ 
leavened bread, and a cake of oiled bread, were heaved 
and waved, and all burnt on the altar, except the bread; 
(Lev. viii. ii. Exod. xxix.) the bread, right-fhoulder, and 
perhaps the fat, off all peace-offerings, and leavened cake 
of the thank-offerings; (Lev. vii. 13, 14, 30. x. 15.) the 
leper’s trefpafs-offering, with its log of oil; (Lev. xiv. 12, 
14..) the jealoufy-oftering; (Numb. vi. 20.) the flieaf or 
omer of ripe ears; (Lev. xxiii. 15.) the two lambs of 
Pentecoft, with their attendant peace-offering; (Lev. xxiii. 
19, 20.) the oblation of dough ; (Numb. xv. 19, 21.) the 
tithes of the Levites and priefts ; (Numb, xviii. 24, 28, 30.) 
the Lord’s tribute of the fpoil of Midian ; (Numb. xxxi. 
29, 41.)—all thefe were waved, and probably alfo heaved. 
OF'FERTORY,y! [offertoire, Fr.] An anthem chanted 
during the offering, a part of the mafs ; and, ffnee the 
reformation, applied to the fentences in the communion- 
office read while the alms are collefted ; arid hence the 
aft of offering.—Then ftiall the pried return to the Lord’s 
table, and begin the offertory. Com. Pr. Rubrick, Comm. 
Office. —He went into St. Paul’s church, where he made of¬ 
fertory of his dandards, and had onions and Te Deum 
fung. Bacon. 
Wei coude he rede a leflbn ora done, 
But alderbed he fang an offertorie. 
OFF 423 
A name anciently given to the linen whereon the oder¬ 
ings were laid. Dr. Harris fays, it was properly a piece 
of (ilk, or fine linen, wherein the occafional oblations or 
offerings of each church were wrapped up. 
OF'FERTURE, f. Offer; propofal of kindnefs. Not 
notv in vfe. —Thou haft prevented us wdth offertnres of 
thy love, even when we were thine enemies. King Charles. 
—The people’s good fhould be firff confidered ; not bar¬ 
gained for, and bought by inches with the bribe of more 
offertnres. Milton's Eiconoclajl. 
OF'FICE, f. [Fr. of officium, Lat.] A public charge or 
employment; magiftracy.—Is it the magiftrate’s office, to 
hear caufes or fuits at law, and to decide them ? Kettle- 
worth. 
You have contriv’d to take 
From Rome all feafon’d office, and to wind 
Yourfelf into a power tyrannical. Shakejpeare's Coriol. 
Agency; peculiar ufe.—In this experiment the feveral 
intervals of the teeth of the comb do the office of fo 
many prifms, every interval producing the phenomenon 
of one prifin. Newton's Optichs. 
All things that you fhould ufe to do me wrong, 
Deny their office. S/iakefpeare's K. Lear. 
Bufinefs; particular employment: 
The fun was funk, and after him the ftar 
Of Hefperus, whole office is to bring 
Twilight upon the earth. Milton s P. L. 
Aft of good or ill voluntarily tendered.— I would I could 
do a good office between you. ShalieJ’peare. 
You who your pious offices employ, 
To fave the reliques of abandon’d Troy. Dry den's Virg. 
Aft of worlhip: 
This gate 
Inftrufts you how to adore the heavens, and bows you 
To morning’s holy office. Shakejpeare's Cymbeline. 
Formulary of devotions.—Wholoever hath children or 
fervants, let him take care that they fay their prayers 
before they begin their work : the Lord’s prayer, the ten 
commandments, and the creed, is a very good office for 
them, if they are not fitted for more regular offices. Bp. 
Taylor.— Rooms in a houfe appropriated to particular bu- 
linefs.—Let offices Hand at diltance, with fome low gal¬ 
leries to pals from them to the palace itfelf. Bacon. 
What do we but draw anew the model 
In fewer offices 1 at lealt delift 
To build at all. Shakejpeare's Hen. IV. 
Place where bufinefs is tranfafted.—Empfon and Dudley, 
though they could not but hear of thefe fcruples in the 
king’s conlcience, yet, as if the king’s foul and his money 
were in feveral offices , that the one was not to intermeddle 
with the other, went on with as great rage as ever. Bacon s 
Hen. VII.—He had fet up a kind of office of addrels ; his 
general correfpondencies by letters. Bell. 
What ftiall good old York fee there, 
But empty lodgings and unfurnifh’d walls. 
Unpeopled offices, untrodden ftones ? Shakefpcare. 
To OF'FICE, v. a. To perform ; to difeharge ; to do : 
I will be gone, although 
The air of Paradife did fan the houfe, 
And angels offic'cl all. Shakejpeare's All's well. 
OF'FICER, f. [officier, Fr.] A man employed by the 
public.—The next morning there came to us the fame of¬ 
ficer that came to us at firff, to conduft us to the ft ranger’s 
houfe. Bacon —As a magiftrate or great officer, he locks 
himfelf up from all approaches. South .—Birds of prey are 
an emblem of rapacious officers. A fuperior power takes 
away by violence from them that which by violence they 
took away from others. L'Ejlrange. 
Chaucer. 
