in church history, a branch of Arians, who, to the doctrines of that sect, added some peculiar dogmas of their own; as, that there is no difference between bishops and priests; a doctrine maintained by many modern divines, particularly of the presbyterian and reformed churches. The sect received its denomination from Aerius an Armenian priest of the fourth century. He founded his doctrine chiefly upon some passages in St Paul; and, among others, upon that in 1 Tim. iv. 14, where the apostle exhorts him not to neglect the gift he had received by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. Here, observes Aerius, is no mention of bishops: on the contrary, Timothy evidently received his ordination from the presbyters or priests.—Epiphanius zealously maintains the superiority of bishops against the Aerians. The word presbytery, used by the apostle, he observes, includes both bishops and priests; the whole senate or assembly of the ecclesiastics of the place.

FLOS ÆRIS, among alchemists, small scales procured from copper melted by a strong heat; it is sometimes used for arugo or verdigris.