ecessors by a special privilege, desired that a monu- ment should be erected "to testify the singular con- sideration which he had for his episcopal virtues." — Biog. Univ. torn, iv, p. 128 ; Landon, Eccles. Dictionary, s. v.
Belly (usually "US, be'ten, KoiMa, especially the womb; also D',""5, me'im' , yaari'ip, especially the bow- els'). Among the Hebrews and most ancient nations, the belly was regarded as the seat of the carnal affec- tions, as being, according to their notions, that which first partakes of sensual pleasures (Titus i, 2; Phil, iii, 9; Rom. xvi, 18). It is used likewise symbolically for the heart, the innermost recesses of the soul (Prov. xviii, 8 ; xx, 27 ; xxii, 18). The expression embitter- ing of the belly signifies all the train of evils which may come upon a man (Jer. iv, 19; ix, 15; comp. Num. xviii, 27). The " belly of hell" signifies the grave, or the under world. It is a strong phrase to express Jonah's dreadful condition in the deep (Jon. ii, 2).
Bel'maim (BAOf/i v. r. Kt\ftaif.i, Vulg. Belmd), a place which, from the terms of the passage, would appear to have been south of Dothaim (Judith vii, 3). Possibly it is the same as Belmen (q. v.), though whether this is the case, or, indeed, whether either of them ever had any real existence, it is at present im- ' possible to determine. See Judith. The Syriac has A bel-meehola.
Belmas, Louis, bishop of Cambray, was born at Montreal (Aude). At the time of the Revolution he was one of the priests who took the oath demanded by "the Civil Constitution of the Clergy." In 1801 he was appointed coadjutor to the "constitutional" bishop of Carcassonne, and in 1802 bishop of Cambray. When Napoleon was crowned, Belmas signed a formula of retractation. His pastoral letters during the reign of Napoleon showed him to be a very devoted partisan of imperialism. When, according to the Concordat of 1817, Cambray was to be made an archbishopric, the pope opposed it on account of the former views of Bel- mas. After the Revolution of 1830 the government again intended to make him an archbishop, but the design was once more abandoned on account of the op- position of Rome. In 1811 he issued a pastoral letter strongly urging sincere submission to and recognition of the government of Louis Philippe. This letter made a profound sensation in France, and greatly offend- ed the Legitimists. Belmas died on July 21, 1811, at Cambray. He was the last of the "constitutional" bishops. — See Hoefer, Biognqdiie Generate, v, 290.
Bel'men (R^A/ifi/ v. r. Be\^aiv and BtX/zai'/t ; Vulg. omits), a place named among the towns of Sa- maria as lying between Bethhoron and Jericho (Judith iv, 4). The Hebrew name would seem to have been A bel-maim, but the only place of that name in the O. T. was far to the north of the locality here alluded to. See Abel-maim. The Syriac version has Abel-meho- lah, which is more consistent with the context. See Abel-meholaii ; Belmaim.
Belomancy. See Divination.
Belpage, Henry, D.D., a minister of the Seces- sion Church of Scotland, was born at Falkirk, May 24, 1774, where his father was minister of the Associate Church. He entered the University of Edinburgh in 17*0, and made his theological studies under Dr. Law- son, at the secession seminar}' in Selkirk. He was licensed to preach at 19, and was ordained as colleague to his father in 1794, whom he succeeded as full pas- tor in 1798. His pulpit labors were very successful ; he was one of the most popular and useful ministers of the day in Scotland. In 1814 he published Sacra- mental Addresses and Meditations (12mo, 5th edition, 1841, Edinb.); in 1817, Practical Discourses for the Young (8vo ; several editions issued) ; in 1821, Sacra-
BELSIIAM
740
BELSHAZZAR
mental Discourses, 2d series ; 1822, Sketches of Life and •'.• 1823, Discourses on Domestic Life (12mo) ; 1826, Discourses to the Aged; besides a number of smaller works, catechisms, etc. He died Sept. 16, 183 L— Jamieson, ( yclopadia ofRelig. Biography, p. 42.
Belsham, Thomas, a Socinian divine of note, was born at Bedford, England, April 15, 1750. In 1778 he was settled as pastor of a dissenting congregation at "Worcester, from which, however, he removed in 1781 to take charge of the Daventry Academy. Here his Bentiments underwent a change so far that, in 1789, In' avowed himself a Unitarian of the school of Priestley. He resigned his station, and immediately took charge of Hackney College, a Unitarian institu- tion, which in a few years sunk for want of funds. In 1805 he became minister of Essex Street Chapel, London, where he remained during the rest of his life, lie died at Hampstead, Nov. 11, 1820. After Dr. Priestley he was regarded as the leader of Unitarian- ism in England. The "Unitarian Societ}' for pro- moting Christian Knowledge" was founded at his sug- gestion. He aided largely in preparing the Improved Version of the N. T. (Unitarian; Lond. 1808, 8vo). His principal writings are, A Calm Inquiry into the Scripture Doctrine concerning the Person of Christ, etc. (Loud. 1811, 8vo): — Evidences of Christianity : — Epis- tles of Pan! translated, with Exposition and Xotes (Lond. 1822, 2 vols. 4to) ; Discourses Doctrinal and Practical ; Review of American Unitarianism (1815, 8vo): Letters to >h Bishop of London in Vindication of the Unitarians (1815, Svo). His Life and Letters, by J. Williams, was published in 1833 (Lond. 8vo). — Darling, Cyclop. Biblio- graphica, i, 238; Allibone, Dictionary of Author?, i, 1G3 ; Christ/nn Examiner, xv, GO; Bennett, Hist, of Dissent- ers (Lond. 1830, 8vo).