RELIGION. 161 



elements for consecration. In the communion service of 

 the Church of P]n2;land, the sentences read while the alms 

 or offerincs are collected. 



Or'dmances of the Gos'pel. — Institutions of divine authority 

 relating to the worship of God, such as baptism. 



Ordination. — The act of conferring holy orders, or of initiating 

 a person into the priesthood by prayer and the laying on 

 of hands. 



Pantheol'ogy (Gr. pas, all, and theology). — A system of the- 

 ology which comprises all known religious beliefs. 



Pa'parchy. — Papal rule. 



Paradise. — -The garden of Eden, in which Adam and Eve 

 were placed. It is also used to denote heaven. 



Pass'over. — -A solemn festival of the Jews, instituted in com- 

 memoration of their coming out of Egypt. 



Pen'ance. — A punishment, either voluntary or imposed by au- 

 thority, for the faults a person has committed. It is one 

 of the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. 



Pentecost. — A solemn festival of the Jews, so called because 

 it was celebrated fifty da^'s after the feast of the passover. 

 It corresponds with the Christians' Whitsuntide. 



Physlco-Theorogy. — Theology illustrated or enforced by phys- 

 ios or natural philosophy. 



Pontificate. — Signifies tlie state or dignity of a pontiff or 

 high-priest ; but more particularly, in modern writers, the 

 reign of a pope. 



Pri'macy. — The office or dignity of an archbishop. 



Purg'atory. — A supposed place or state after death, in which 

 the souls of persons are purified, or in which they expiate 

 such offences committed in this life as do not merit eternal 

 damnation. 



Rit'ual. — A book in which the different rites or services of the 

 church are contained. 



Sa'bianism. — That .species of idolatry which consisted in wor- 

 shipping the sun, moon, and stars. 



Sacraments. — The sacraments of the Eoman Catholic Church 

 are seven, viz. : Baptism, the Eucharist, Confirmation, Pen- 

 ance, Extreme Unction, Ordination, and Matrimony, which 

 see. 



Skep'ticism. — A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a de- 

 nial of the divine origin of the Christian religion or of 

 the beins, perfections, or truth of God. 

 14* 



