the apostle Paul. If Peter was never at Rome, the supremacy of the pope falls to the ground. On this important subject see Barrow on "The Supremacy; Faber on "Transubstantiation;" Elliott's "Delineation of Roman Catholicism." The attempt to prove Peter's supremacy from Matt. xvi. 18, 19, is an utter failure. The notion of his being the first bishop of Rome is a silly conceit, for which there is not the shadow of an argument. He was a "foundation," but this was an honour shared by his fellow-apostles: Ephes. ii. 20: he was qualified "to bind and loose," to declare what was binding, and that from the obligation of which men are loose, but every apostle and inspired writer had the same authority. Matt. xviii. 18; John xx. 23; 1 Cor. v. 3-5.

ÉPISTLES OF ST. PETER. The first Epistle of Peter was probably written about A.D. 60. It was written from Babylon. Some have supposed that the word Babylon is used symbolically for Rome; and that this is proof that Peter was there, and bishop. Dr. Campbell stigmatises this as "poor, not to call

wonderful change on the apostle's mind. Ever afterwards he appears to assume a new aspect. On the day of Pentecost he was among the principal persons to testify for Christ. In company with John, he healed a lame man at the gate of the temple, addressed the assembled crowd, was imprisoned, and boldly vindicated himself before the Sanhedrim. Acts iv. 19, 20. We find him afterwards announcing the judgment of God on a guilty couple who had dared to lie unto the Holy Ghost, Acts v. 1-11; visiting Samaria, and rebuking Simon Magus, who supposed that the miracles of the apostle were the result of magic, which he was desirous to purchase, chap. viii. 14-24; by vision taught the superseding of the distinction between Jew and Gentile, and thus prepared to preach words whereby he might be saved to Cornelius, chap. x.; apprehended by Herod Agrippa, and delivered by the interposition of an angel. Chap. xii. 3-19. See also Acts xv. 7; Gal. ii. 11-14. It is quite uncertain where Peter died. It is generally supposed that it was at Rome, and that he was crucified.it ridiculous." Even if it were adThe question whether Peter was ever at Rome has been warmly discussed. The Scripture testimony on this subject is only inferential. Popish writers have asserted that Peter was bishop of Rome from the year 43 to 68. Now, during this period Paul wrote once to the Romans, six times from Rome to other churches, was once at least in the city and remained two whole years; but there is no hint given that Peter was there during any of these times, and it is incredible that he should be there and Paul take no notice of the fact. St. Paul governed the affairs of the church of Rome, gave directions for their conduct, and mentioned by name all the principal Christians in the city, men and women. Still he says not one word about Peter, who, according to the Romanists, had his throne there, and governed the church, before Paul's arrival, during his residence, and after his departure. Certainly, if Peter had been at Rome, some mention of the fact would have been made by

mitted that Rome is, in prophetical language, designated Babylon, it would require explanation why, in such a matter-of-fact affair as the communication of the friendly salutations of one church to another, the obscure and symbolical language of Scripture should have been employed, when his meaning would have been conveyed much more distinctly by a simple statement. Hug maintains that Babylon on the Euphrates is the place where the Epistle was written. The New Testament is silent as to the fact; but as there are fourteen years of Peter's life concerning which we have no information, this mention of Babylon has induced some expositors to suppose that he may have paid a visit to the Parthians. Others have fixed upon Babylon in Egypt, a place near to Memphis. The Epistles were addressed to strangers scattered abroad in Asia Minor. They were probably composed of Jews and Gentiles who had been converted. The frequent

an imperfect and dilapidated state. | encompassed, but of the numerous It is on the south bank of the river, ravines and recesses which radiate near the western side of the valley, on all sides from this enclosed area. and seems to have been a palace ra- They exist, too, in great numbers of ther than a temple. It is called the precipitous rocks which shoot out Pharaoh's house, and is thirty paces from the principal mountains into square. The walls are nearly entire, the southern and still more into the and on the eastern side are still northern part of the site; and they surmounted by a handsome cornice. are seen all along the approaches to The front, which looks toward the the place, which, in the days of its north, was ornamented with a row of prosperity, were perhaps the suburbs columns, four of which are standing. of the overpeopled valley. Were An open piazza, behind the colonnade, these excavations, instead of followextended the whole length of the ing all the sinuosities of the mounbuilding. In the rear of this piazza tain and its numerous gorges, ranged are three apartments, the principal of in regular order, they probably would which is entered under a noble arch, form a street not less than five or thirty-five or forty feet in height. six miles in length. They are often It is an imposing ruin, though seen rising one above the other in the not in the purest style of archi- cliff; and convenient steps, now much tecture, and is the more striking worn, cut in the rock, lead in all dias the only edifice now standing in rections through the fissures, and Petra. A little east of this, and in along the sides of the mountains, to a range with some of the most beau- the various tombs which occupy these tiful excavations in the mountain lofty positions. Some of them are apon the east side of the valley, are rently not less than from two hundred the remains of what appears to have to three or four hundred feet above been a triumphal arch. Under it the level of the valley. A most strikwere three passages; and a number of ing, an almost magical, effect is given pedestals of columns, as well as other to these wonderful excavations by the fragments, would lead to the belief great variety of colours in the sandthat a magnificent colonnade was stone rock in which they are formed. connected with it. A few rods south Most of them are adorned with very are extensive ruins, which probably lively hues. Red, purple, black, white, belonged to a temple. The ground is deep azure, and bright yellow, are covered with fragments of columns blended together, so as to form the five feet in diameter. Twelve of most charming and brilliant colourthese, whose pedestals yet remain in ing; as brilliant as is observed in the their places, adorned either side of colouring of flowers, or when the sky this stately edifice. There were also is illumined with a glorious sunset. four columns in front and six in the See Dr. Olin's "Travels," vol. ii., rear of the temple. Still further chap. 1. The present condition of Petra south are piles of ruins, columns, and furnishes a remarkable fulfilment of hewn stones, parts, no doubt, of im- Scripture prophecy. Its downfal is portant buildings. They indicate the declared in several passages of the great wealth and magnificence of this prophetical Scriptures. Isai. xxxiv. portion of the site of ancient Petra. 5-15; Jer. xlix. 7-10, 15-18; The mountain-torrents, which at times Ezek. xxxv.; Joel iii. 19; Amos i. sweep over the lower parts of the 11, 12. A careful comparison of ancient site, have undermined many the existing state of this place with foundations, and carried away many the particular and detailed descripa chiselled stone, and worn many a tions of the prophets, affords a strong finished specimen of sculpture into confirmation of the truth of God's a shapeless mass. The excavations word, and shows that it is an evil are the most surprising, from their and bitter thing to sin against God. vast number and extent. They not Keith has explained several of these only occupy the front of the entire prophecies, and pointed out their fulmountain by which the valley isfilment. See EDOM.

PHARAOH. The title of the the customs of the fathers. If they kings of Egypt in the Old Testament. sprung from the Assideans, the pious, It is the Egyptian word for sun, which persons "voluntarily devoted to the from its hieroglyphic use became law," they had a good origin. It is equivalent to king. In Osburn's generally supposed that whatever "Ancient Egypt" there is given a genuine piety remained in the Jewish list of the ancient Pharaohs or kings church after the return from the of Egypt, the descendants of Amosis, Babylonish captivity, was embodied who formed the eighteenth dynasty in this sect. That they had generally of Manetho. All the Pharaohs of degenerated into formality, superstithis epoch wrote their names in two tion, and hypocrisy, is evident both rings or cartels, the first of which from the writings of the evangelists contains the inaugural and distinctive and from contemporary history. On title of each on his accession; the the doctrines of the resurrection of other is the proper name. He gives the dead and the immateriality of the names of sixteen Pharaohs be- the soul, they were more orthodox longing to this dynasty, which lasted than the Sadducees: but they interthree hundred and forty-eight years. preted the prophecies concerning the PHARAOH-HOPHRA. A king of Messiah in a gross and worldly sense; Egypt, against whom several of Eze-placed religion in ceremonies; turned kiel's prophecies were uttered. Ezek. it into an instrument of gaining poxxix. xxxii. He reigned over Egypt pular applause; made a show of their twenty-five years, and Zedekiah prayers and alms; affected not only formed an alliance with him against to keep the law, but to go beyond the Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. requirements of its ceremonial preHe was unfortunate in an expedition cepts in their obedience, paying tithe against Cyrene, and his army was of "anise, mint, and cummin," pracdiscontented. Amasis, one of his tising more frequent ablutions than generals, was sent to suppress a re- the law required, fasting twice a bellion which had broken out; but, week, and in some instances submitinstead of submitting to his expostu- ting to painful austerities and mortilations, the army made him king, fications; but with all this show of and he marched at their head against strictness they neglected the purificaPharaoh, and finally took him pri- tion of the heart, and the practice soner. Amasis was disposed to save of moral virtue. They were proud, him, but the enraged soldiers strangled arrogating to themselves the favour him. of heaven; contemptuous of others, PHARAOH-NECHO. See NECHO. especially of the body of the people, PHARISEES, separatists. A from whom they exacted an abject Jewish sect, who had a dominant in-reverence; and covetous, for under fluence in the time of Jesus Christ, and at whose door lies the principal sin of having crucified the Lord of life and glory. A knowledge of the tenets and practices of the Pharisees is of great importance to a student of the New Testament, as many of our Lord's discourses have an immediate reference to their several opinions and practices. The name of this sect is from a Hebrew word signifying to separate, because they assumed to themselves a superior sanctity. Josephus tells us that they valued themselves for their exactness in keeping, and their skill in interpreting, the law, and seemed to excel all others in the knowledge and observance of

the pretext of sanctity they made a prey of the ignorant and unwary. To colour all these evils, they adopted a delusive system of casuistry, and pleaded, in justification, traditions of the elders, to which they not only gave an authority equal with the law of God, but often interpreted the law by them, contrary to its true meaning, so that they made the law void through their traditions. Josephus, who belonged to the sect, has described them in various parts of his work on the "Antiquities of the Jews." He of course would give the most favourable view of their principles and practice. In the Gospel they are tried by a higher standard and a loftier

morality; and by Him who knew | montory Carmel, the most southerly of what was in man, they are denounced the maritime places. It lies between the as hypocrites and deceivers. There degrees of north latitude 33° and 35o, are about fifty references in the Gos- and under east longitude 35° to 36°. pels to their principles or practice, in The Phenicians were descendants of all of which they are utterly con- the Canaanites, and a Syro-Phenician demned. Some were happily res- was a Phenician of Syria. In the cued from the system and from its time of our Saviour Phenicia was sins by the power of truth. such as under Greek government. Phenicia Nicodemus; and others, while they may be considered as the birthplace remained its adherents, occasionally of commerce, if not also of letters exhibited a candour and consistency and arts. Solomon was indebted altogether at variance with the prin- to the Phenicians, in building the ciples of the sect, such as Gamaliel. temple. Phenician pilots guided his In the time of our Lord, there were vessels; and, before other nations had two leading parties among the Phari- ventured to lose sight of their shores, sees, that of Hillel, and that of Sham-colonies of Phenicians were established mai; one exhibiting a moderate Pharisaism, and the other "the straitest

sect.

PHARPAR. A river of Damascus, probably the Barrada, or a branch of it. See ABANA.

in the most distant parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Heeren states that the numerous towns, which were crowded together in the narrow space of Phenicia, covered almost the entire coast, and, together with their har

PHEBE. Rom. xvi. 1. A distin-bours and fleets, must have presented guished member of the church at Cenchrea, recommended to the kind attention of the church of Rome by St. Paul, who had received hospitable treatment from her. She was probably a deaconess, and in that capacity had been employed in ministrations suitable to her sex. It is thought that she was the bearer of the Epistle which Paul wrote to the church at Rome.

PHENICE. A city on the southern coast of Crete, in the attempt to reach which the ship in which St. Paul sailed was driven out of its course, and ultimately wrecked on the island of Melita. Acts xxvii. 12.

an aspect which has scarcely ever been equalled, and which was calculated to impress every stranger on his arrival with the ideas of power, wealth, and enterprise. Carthage was a Phenician colony, which soon became important by commerce with the interior of Africa. From Spain the Phenicians exported gold, silver, iron, tin, and lead. Several names of places in Spain have a Phenician origin. They also brought tin from the British isles, and amber from the coasts of Prussia. Phenicia flourished most in the period from David to Cyrus, B.C. 1050-550. Many of their principal colonies were

PHENICIA, PHOENICIA. Acts xxi. 2. The word is generally sup-founded during this time. posed to have originated with the circumstance, that the chief article of merchandise among the people was pouvós, purple. The word means blood red. Strabo derives the name from their having come originally from the shores of the Red Sea; Reland from poivi, the palm-tree. The name is used in a wider and in a narrower sense. In the larger acceptation, the country included the whole coast of the Mediterranean between the river Orontes and Pelusium. In the restricted sense, the river Eleutheros was its northern boundary, and Dora, a town south of the pro

PHILADELPHIA, brotherly love. A city of Lydia, in Asia Minor, about seventy miles east of Smyrna, and one of the seven to which the epistles of the Apocalypse were addressed. Rev. iii. 7-13. It took its name from king Attalus Philadelphus, who built it. The site is reputed to have been very liable to earthquakes. It still exists as a Turkish town, under the name of ALLAH SHEHR, town of God, or high town. The town, though spacious, is miserably built and preserved, the edifices being remarkably mean, and the streets filthy. It contains three thousand houses, five churches, and