It is called the Lord’s supper because it was both instituted by our Lord at supper, and was designed to succeed into the place of the paschal supper of the Jews. (Matt. xxvi. 26, &c.; Mark xiv. 22; 1 Cor. xi. 23–25, &c.)—Abp. Wake.
LORD’S TABLE. One of the names given to the altar in Christian churches. (See Altar.)
LOUD VOICE. A term in our liturgy which may be considered technical; as not merely meaning audible, (though this expression is also used,) but as being a contradistinction to the secretò of the unreformed service, and the mystic voice (μυστικῶς) of the Greek Church: certain prayers and part of the service having been repeated in an inaudible whisper. (See Secretò, and Mystic Voice, also Lord’s Prayer.)
LOVE-FEASTS. (See Agapæ.) Feasts held in the apostolic age before the celebration of the eucharist, and discontinued on account of the abuse of them.
LOVE, THE FAMILY OF. A sect of enthusiasts, which arose in Holland, and being propagated across the Channel, appeared in England about the year 1580.
These sectaries pretended to a more than ordinary sanctity, which gained upon the affections of the common people. They affirmed, that none were of the number of the elect, but such as were admitted into their family, and that all the rest were reprobate, and consigned over to eternal damnation. They held, likewise, that it was lawful for them to swear to an untruth before a magistrate, for their own convenience, or before any person, who was not of their society. In order to propagate their opinions, they dispersed books, translated out of Dutch into English, entitled, The Gospel of the Kingdom. Documental Sentences. The Prophecy of the Spirit of Love. The Publishing of Peace upon Earth, &c.
These Familists could by no means be prevailed upon to discover their author: nevertheless it was afterwards found to be Henry Nicholas of Leyden, who blasphemously pretended that he partook of the Divinity of God, and God of his humanity. Queen Elizabeth issued a proclamation against these impious sectaries, and ordered their books to be publicly burnt.
LOW SUNDAY. Upon the octave of the first Sunday after Easter day, it was the custom of the ancients to repeat some part of the solemnity which was used upon Easter day; whence this Sunday took the name of Low Sunday, being celebrated as a feast, though of a lower degree than Easter day itself.
It was also called Dominica in albis, [or rather, post albas depositas, according to some ritualists, as Wheatly remarks,] because it was the day on which those who had been baptized on Easter eve put off their white garments.
LUCIFERIANS, in ecclesiastical antiquity, is the name of those Christians who persisted in the schism of Lucifer, bishop of Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia.