show that we are not to interpret such circumstances as special judgments. SILVANUS. See SILAS.

SILVER. This metal is not mentioned before the time of Abraham. Till then, brass and iron appear to have been the only metals in use. Gen. iv. 22. Abraham was rich in gold and silver. These metals were not coined, but were estimated by weight. See MONEY. Silver was largely used in the ornamental part of the tabernacle. Exod. xxvi. 19, 32. The thirty pieces of silver which Judas received as the price of his treachery, were shekels, about 2s. 3 d. each, equal to a little more than £3. 88. The silverling, Isai. vii. 23, was of the value of the shekel.

SIMEON, hearing. 1. The second son of Jacob and Leah, Gen. xxix. 33, and the progenitor of the tribe of that name. He was concerned with Levi in the cowardly and base slaughter of the Shechemites; and, in consequence, the prediction was uttered, I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." This was fulfilled; for Levi had no lot or portion, and Simeon only received a canton that was cut off from the tribe of Judah, and some other lands they went to seize in the mountains of Seir. Josh. xix. 1, et seq.; 1 Chron. iv. 27, 39-42. The tribe, at the time of the exodus, contained fifty-nine thousand three hundred able-bodied men, but was reduced to twenty-two thousand two hundred before entering Palestine. 2. A devout man who, when Jesus was presented in the temple by his mother, recognised him as the Messiah, took him in his arms, and blessed God. Luke ii. 25-35. A general expectation of Christ appearing had spread through the land; and this good man had been favoured with the assurance that he should not taste of death till he had seen the Lord's Christ.

SIMON. The same in origin and meaning as SIMEON. We have several persons of this name mentioned in Scripture and in Jewish history::

1. SIMON PETER. See PETER. 2. SIMON ZELOTES. One of the apostles, called also the Canaanite. Luke vi. 15; Matt. x. 4. The word

"Canaanite," from the root KANA, to be zealous, seems to express the same signification as ZELOTES. These words do not refer to his zeal, but mean that he belonged to a club or company called Zealots, or Sicarii. Others think he was of Cana.

3. SIMON, son of Cleophas and Mary. He was the cousin-german of our Lord, his mother and Christ's mother being sisters. Matt. xiii. 55. 4. SIMON, the father of Judas Iscariot. John vi. 71.

5. SIMON, a Pharisee who invited Christ to his house. Luke vii. 40, 43.

6. SIMON, THE LEPER, so called from his having been afflicted with this disease. Matt. xxvi. 6. He was of Bethany, and probably a friend of Lazarus; for he gave a feast immediately after the raising of Lazarus, and Christ and Lazarus were both there.

7. SIMON, THE CYRENIAN, who was compelled to assist in bearing the cross of Christ. Matt. xxvii. 32; Mark xv. 21. His two sons, Alexander and Rufus, were disciples of Christ, and it seems likely that the family afterwards removed to Rome. In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul says, (chap. xvi. 13,) "Salute Rufus, and his mother and mine."

8. SIMON, THE TANNER, with whom Peter lodged at Joppa. Acts ix. 43. Here Peter was in a trance. The house was by the seaside; for tanners were not allowed to carry on their occupation within the walls.

9. SIMON MAGUS. Acts viii. 9. A famous sorcerer, who professed to be a convert to the Christian faith, and was baptized by Philip. Afterwards, under the influence of mercenary motives, he desired the apostolic gifts, and met with the rebuke of Peter. His name has been perpetuated in the term "simony," the buying or selling ecclesiastical rights, benefits, or privileges.

10. SIMON MACCABEUS. See JEWS and MACCABEES.

SIN. Sin is any want of conformity to the law of God. "Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John iii. 4. Original sin is defined in the ninth article of the church of England: "Original sin standeth not in the following" (or imitation) "of Adam,

as the Pelagians do vainly talk; but it is the fault or corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil," &c. The phrase longissime, "very far gone," is as strong an expression as the Latin language can furnish, and cannot be interpreted of a partial defection from original righteousness. The consequences of the sin of Adam did not terminate in himself; nor are we to suppose that they only affected his posterity incidentally, as the conduct of an ordinary parent might affect the circumstances of his children. He was the head and representative of the race, who, in consequence of his fall, have fallen with him, and received direct injury both in body and in mind. See Romans v. Adam and Christ are contrasted in their federal character: the hurt which mankind derived from the one, and the healing they have received from the other, are contrasted in various particulars which are equally represented as the effects of the sin of Adam, and of the obedience of Christ. Adam was the figure, "the type," of Him that was to come. The phrases, "the first Adam,' """the second Adam," refer to the same truths. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Cor. xv. 22. The condition in which this federal connection between Adam and his posterity has placed the latter, is that of guilt and depravity. The guilt of original sin does not mean the imputation of the actual commission of Adam's sin to his descendants, but rather their consequent liability to punishment. When a man is guilty of high treason, his children participate in his punishment; they forfeit their property, the sin of the father is imputed to them, and they bear the punishment. The penalty of sin is death, temporal, spiritual, and eternal. As to the depravity of man, the moment that sin infected Adam's moral nature, it spread through his whole character. The understanding became darkened, the will rebellious, the affections vitiated.

The race has shared in Adam's loss. His nature became corrupt, and the corruption extends to every descendant of Adam. This is proved by the experience of every man and of every child. We go astray from the womb. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh;" that is, that which is born of sinful man is sinful. They that are in the flesh cannot please God." The Bible is full of this doctrine. If it is not true, redemption is unnecessary: both stand or fall together. The Scripture testimony, which our limited space prevents us from adducing, is fully corroborated by such facts as the following:-In all times and in all countries, there has been a general corruption of manners; the tendency to this general wickedness has been so strong as to bear down all counteracting restraints;-it is early developed in children, before they could copy the example, or be influenced by the teaching, of others;it is proved by every man's consciousness-and any attempt on the part of man to live in conformity with the requirements of God's word, is met by a resistance of the passions and inclinations of his own heart. SIN is sometimes used for a sin-offering. Hosea iv. 8; Rom. viii. 3; 2 Cor. v. 21. See BLASPHEMY. See also Wesley on "Original Sin."

"the

SIN, clay. Ezek. xxx. 15, 16. A city of Egypt, described as strength of Egypt," showing it to have been a fortified place. It is the Pelusium of the Greeks. The word Pelusium (πηλòç, mud) is of cognate signification with SIN, and with the modern name TINEH, clay. It lay among swamps and morasses, on the most easterly estuary of the Nile. The site is now only accessible by boats when the Nile is high, or over the mud at other times. The ruins are not extensive.

SIN, DESERT OF. The wilderness on which the Israelites entered immediately after they had passed through the Red Sea. Exod. xvi. 1; xvii. I.

SINAI. A mountain in Arabia Petræa, on which God gave the law to Moses; a circumstance which has rendered the place one of special and

sionally found in the valleys where springs of water or rain supply the necessary moisture. There is great difference of opinion among travellers and geographers as to the precise spot where the law was given. The question is discussed at great length and with great ability in Robinson's "Researches," and he arrives at the conclusion that the summit, called by the Arabs Ras-Sufsafeh, is the Sinai of the Scriptures. He says, "This cliff rises five hundred feet above the basin, and the distance to the summit is more than a mile. The extreme difficulty, and even danger, of the ascent was well rewarded by the prospect that now opened before us. The whole plain Er-Rahah lay spread out beneath our feet, while Wady Esh-Sheikh on the right, and the recess on the left, both connected with, and opening broadly from, ErRahah, presented an area which serves nearly to double that of the plain. Our conviction was strengthened that here, or on some one of the adjacent cliffs, was the spot where the Lord descended in fire, and proclaimed the law. Here lay the plain where the whole congregation might be assembled; here was the mount that might be approached and touched, if not forbidden; and here the mountain-brow where alone the lightnings and the thick cloud would be visible, and the thunders and the voice of the trump be heard, when the Lord came down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai." Vol. i., p. 158. gave ourselves up to the impressions

lasting interest. It is situated between the two gulfs of the Red Sea, about two hundred and sixty miles from Cairo. The whole of the district is considerably elevated above the rest of the country; the ascent to it is rocky and difficult, and leads to a sort of table-land of considerable extent. There is a difference, in the Pentateuch, between the book of Deuteronomy and the books preceding, as to the name of the place where the law was given. In Deuteronomy it is called Horeb; in other places generally Sinai. A careful comparison of the various places where the names occur will show that Horeb and Sinai are not two different mountains, as geographers generally describe, but Horeb is the general name for the whole mountainous district, and Sinai the designation of a specific part. The usual form of expression in the Scriptures is, in Horeb, upon Sinai. Deut. i. 6; Exod. xix. 18-20. See Robinson's "Researches," vol. i., note 15. The whole range of mountains, of which Sinai is a particular summit, spreads over a district of country said by travellers to be forty miles in diameter. From the top of the highest the eye discerns nothing but a wilderness of wild sterility and grandeur. The ravines are partially concealed from a person in such a position; so that the cluster of mountains has the appearance of vast piles of granite rocks, surmounted by lofty pinnacles. Vegetation is not absolutely unknown: a few stunted trees and shrubs are occa

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Acra on the north, and Moriah on the north-east. Solomon's palace was built upon it, and afterwards the magnificent palace of Herod, destroyed by the Romans. The temple and its courts on Mount Moriah were called Mount Zion. Psal. lxv. 1; lxxxiv. 7. The word is symbolically applied to the church, both on earth and in heaven. Isai. ii. 3; Heb. xii. 22; Rev. xiv. 1. 2. A hilly tract forming part of the lower range of Mount Hermon. Deut. iv. 48; Psal. cxxxiii. 3. SIRION. The Sidonian name for Mount Hermon. Deut. iii. 9.

SINCERITY. Literally, without wax, without mixture. The entire conformity of the heart with the expression of the lips: it is opposed to dissimulation and hypocrisy. The Greek word Eiλikρiveia, 2 Cor. i. 12, means that which is judged of by the light of the sun. The idea of looking at anything attentively in the full light of the sun's rays, and diligently examining it, was a frequent one. When Augustus complained of the dark hue of some purple which he had bought, the seller exclaimed, "Erige altius et suspice." "Raise it higher and look at it."

SINIM. The "land of Sinim" is mentioned Isai. xlix. 12. The context implies a remote region, situated in the east or south. Some expositors fix upon Sin (Pelusium). The general opinion, however, favours China. SIN and CHIN are the names given to China by the Arabs. The Turks also have CHIN-00-MACHIN.

SIN-MONEY, sin-offering money. Money was sent by a person at a distance with which to buy the required offerings. The surplus was the perquisite of the priest, and was called sin-money. 2 Kings xii. 16.

SION, ZION, sunny. 1. The hill on the south of Salem, applied principally to the hill or castle called "the castle of Zion," which was taken from the Jebusites by Joab, one of David's chief captains. 1 Chron. xi. 5-7. It was called "the city of David." 2 Sam. v. 9; vi. 10. It formed a part of Jerusalem, having the valley of Kidron on the east, and the valley of

SISERA, a field of battle. The captain of the army of Jabin, king of Canaan, slain by Jael. Judges iv. See JAEL.

SISTER. This word, in Hebrew style, is used with considerable latitude. It is employed not only for a sister by natural relation, but for a sister by the same father only, or by the same mother, and for a near relation. Sarah is called Abraham's sister, though she was probably his niece. In the Gospels the cousins of Christ are called his brethren and sisters. Matt. xiii. 55, 56; Mark vi. 3.

SIVAN. The ninth month of the civil year of the Hebrews, and the third of the ecclesiastical, answering to the latter part of May and the beginning of June. Esth. viii. 9.

SLAVERY. Among the Greeks and Romans, slavery expressed the legal condition of captives taken in war, or the victims of the existing slavetrade, or the offspring of female slaves. These slaves were held to be the absolute property of their masters, and their slavery was perpetual and hereditary. The master had the uncontrolled power of life and death. He might, and frequently did, kill, mutilate, and torture his slaves, for any or for no offence. Instead of the perpetual obligation of marriage, temporary unions were formed and dissolved at his command, families and friends were separated, and no obligation existed to provide for the wants of sickness or old age. Jewish servitude bears no resemblance to either ancient or modern slavery. See SERVANT.