LATRIA, a Term peculiar to Theology and the Language of the Church, denoting that supreme Worship which is due to God Aug. de Civit. l. x. c. 1. iv. 2only . Saint Austin, Latreia secundum consuetudinem qua locuti sunt, qui nobis divina eloquia condiderunt, aut semper, aut tam frequenter, ut penè semper, ea dicitur servitus, quæ pertinet ad colendum Deum. But in the Greek Text of Scripture, Latreia is likewise made Use of to signify the external Service of the Priests in the Temple, the Ceremonies, Worship, and the whole Religion of the Jews. For Example, speaking of the Paschal Ceremonies : Keep this Service (Latreian) and when your Children shall say unto you, what mean you by this Service (Latreia.) It answers to the Hebrew Abodah1, which St. Jerom translates Cæremonia, cultus, religio, mos, servitus. The Author of the first Book of Maccabees2 speaking of the Idolatry which Antiochus Epiphanes resolved to introduce in Israel, says, that many consented to this Worship, Latria, to this false Religion; and that Mattathias said to his Sons3, God forbid that we should forsake our Religion, which is a right Way, to follow any other Way. In the New Testament4 Jesus Christ tells his Disciples, that they who persecute them, shall think that they do God Service, Latreian.
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