a borough town of Hampshire, thirty miles south-west of Winchester, near the sea-coast: W. long. 2°, N. lat. 50° 40'. It sends two members to parliament.

CHRIST thorn, in botany. See RHAMNUS. CHRISTIAN king, one of the titles of the king of France.

The French antiquaries trace the origin of this appellation up to Gregory the Great, who, writing a letter to Charles Martlet, occasionally gave him that title, which his successors have since retained.

CHRISTIAN religion, that instituted by Jesus Christ. See RELIGION.

CHRISTIANS, those who profess to believe the Christian religion. See RELIGION.

CHRISTIANS of St John, a sect of Christians very numerous in Balsara and the neighbouring towns: they formerly inhabited along the river Jordan, where St John baptized, and it was from thence they had their name. They hold an anniversary feast of five days, during which they all go to the bishop, who baptizes them with the baptism of St John. Their baptism is also performed on rivers, and that only on Sundays; they have no notion of the third person in the Trinity, nor have they any canonical book, but abundance full of charms, &c. Their bishoprics descend by inheritance; as our estates do, though they have the ceremony of an election.

CHRISTIANS of St Thomas, a sort of Christians in a peninsula of India, on this side of the gulf: they inhabit chiefly at Cranganor, and the neighbouring country: these admit of no images, and receive only the cross, to which they pay a great veneration: they affirm, that the souls of the saints do not see God till after the day of judgment: they acknowledge but three sacraments, viz. baptism, orders, and the eucharist: they make no use of holy oils in the administration of baptism, but after the ceremony anoint the infant with an unction composed of oil and walnuts, without any benediction. In the eucharist, they consecrate with little cakes made of oil and salt, and instead of wine make use of water in which raisins have been infused.