a more particular sense, denotes the manner in which princes and ambassadors use to receive and to treat one another. There are endless disputes among sovereigns about the ceremonial; some endeavouring to be on a level, and others to be superior; inasmuch that numerous schemes have been proposed for settling them. The chief are, 1. To accommodate the difference by compromise or alternation; so that one shall precede now, the other the next time; or one in one place, and the other in another; 2. By seniority; so that an elder prince in years shall precede a younger, without any other distinction.

These expedients, however, have not yet been accepted by any, except some alternate princes, as they are called, in Germany.

Ceremonial is more particularly used in speaking of the laws and regulations given by Moses relating to the worship of God among the ancient Jews. In this sense it amounts to much the same with what is called the Levitical law, and stands contradistinguished from the moral as well as judicial law.