INCENSE, Censers. Incense is an aromatick and odoriferous gum. It issues out of a tree, surnamed by the antients Thurifera, the leaves whereof are like those of a pear-tree, according to Theophrastus. They make incisions in it in the dog-days, in order to draw out the gum. Male Incense is the best; it is round, white, fat within, and kindles into a flame as soon as it is put upon the fire. It is likewise called Oliban. Female Incense is soft, more gummy, and less agreeable to the smell than the other. That of Saba was the best, and most esteemed by the ancients; they speak of it with great approbation.
Virgil. Georg. 1. & 2. Vide & Æneid. 1. Theophrast. Hist. Plant. l. 9. c. 4. & alii passim.India mittit ebur, molles sua thura Sabæi.
To offer incense was an office peculiar to the Priests; they entered twice every day into the Holy, namely, morning and evening, to burn Incense there. Upon the great day of Expiation, the High Priest took up with a spoon Incense or Perfume pounded, and ready to be put into the Censer, and threw it upon the fire the moment he went into the Sanctuary; that so the smoke which rose from the Censer, might prevent his looking with too much curiosity on the Ark and Mercy-seat: God threatens him with death upon failing to perform this Numb. xvi. 13.ceremony. The Levites were not to touch the Censers; and we know what a terrible punishment Corah, Dathan, and Abiram suffered, for imprudently arrogating to themselves this honour. The Censers of the ancient Ibid. 31, 32, 33. Rev. v. 8.Hebrews were very different from those made use of at this day; they did not hang by great chains; they were a sort of chafingdishes, or perfuming-pans, with, or even without, handles; which the High Priest placed upon the Altar of Incense, or carried into the Sanctuary. S. John in the Revelations, speaking of the Censers held by the four Beasts and four and twenty Elders, calls them by the name of dishes only, or gold cups full of Incense; Phialas aureas plenas odoramentorum: which give us an idea of Censers very different from those used at present. In the medals of Simon Maccabæus, we see smoking Censers like a cup, or a chalice with a foot to it. See the Medals which we have taken care to have engraved at the end of this Dictionary.