taken care to confine him, this made a difference ; for then, to the man whose ox had been pushed, he was obliged to give another, and the dead ox he got him- self (Exod. xxi, 36). If a man dug a pit and did not cover it, or let an old pit belonging to him remain open, and another man's beast fell into it, the owner of the pit was obliged to pay for the beast, and had it for the payment (Exod. xxi, 33, 34). When a fire was kindled in the fields, and did any damage, he who kindled it was obliged to make the damage good (Exod. xxii, 6). See Punishment.
Finer (^"^il, tsorepl/,), a gold and silver worker (Prov. XXV, 4). See Refiner. In Judg. xvii, 4, our version renders the word "founder;" in Isa. xli, 7, "goldsmith." It refers especially to the melting of fine metal. See Furnace. The Egyptians carried the working of metals to a very extraordinary de- gree of perfection, as their various articles of jewellery preserved in our museums evince ; and there is no doubt the Hebrews derived their knowledge of these arts from this source, though there is at the same time reference to their Iteing known before the Flood (Gen. xiv, 19-22). See Metal.
Finger ("3:JX, etsba, SctKrvXao), besides its ordi- nary meaning, is used in Scripture to denote the spe- cial and immediate agency of any one. See Arm. The Egyptian magicians, terrified by the numerous plagues inflicted upon their countrj', at length said, "This is the finger of God," i. e. this is done by the power of God himself (Exod. viii, 19). Moses gave the tables of the law written by the finger (personal direction) of God to the Hebrews (Exod. xxxi, 18). The heavens are said to be the work of God's fingers, i. e. his power (Psa. viii, 3). Christ cast out devils with the finger or power of God (Luke xi, 20). "To put forth the finger"' is a bantering, insulting gesture (Isa. Iviii, 9). Some take this for a menacing gesture, as Nicanor stretched out his hand against the Temple, threatening to burn it (2 Mace, xiv, 3.3). "Four fin- gers thick" occurs as a measure in Jer. Iii, 21. See King.
Finial, the cluster of foliage that is frequently used to ornament the top of pinnacles, canopies, pedi- ments, etc., in Gothic architecture. The term is also often used as synonymous with the pinnacle of a spire, roof, or canopy. (G. F. C.)
rinials (Cliainbers). 1, frnm Bisliop Bridporfs Monument, S.ilisbury Cathedral, '2, York :\Iinstev; .B, Maulbroun, Germany ; 4, Crew Hall, Clie-liiri'; 5, Augsburg.
Fining-pot (~'n:i'^, matsreph^), a cractWe or melt- ing-pot (Prov. xvii, 3; xxvii, 21). See Metallur- gy. The use of these for reducing gold was familiar to the ancient Egj-ptians. " Much cannot, of course, be expected from the objects found in the excavated
FINLAND
562
FINLEY
tombs to illustrate the means employed ia smelting the ore, or to disclose any of the secrets they possessed in metallurgy ; and little is given in the paintings be- yond the use of the blow-pipe, the forceps, and the mode of concentrating heat by raising cheeks of metal round three sides of tlie tire in which the crucibles were placed. See Furnace. Of the latter, indeed, there is no indication in these subjects, unless it be in the accompa- nying woodcut ; but tlieir use is readily suggested, and some which have been found in Egypt are pre- Furuitfc. — An Ly:ypii:iii Dinwnig tlie served in the nuiseum File for melting Gold (Wilkinson), of Berlin. Thev are nearly five inches in diameter at the mouth, and about the same in depth, and present the ordinary form and appearance of those used at the j^resent daj-" (Wilkin- son, .Inc. Eg. abridgm. ii, 138). See Handicraft.
Finland, when first mentioned in history, was in- habited b}' savage tribes belonging to the Finnish na- tions, which hy piracy and frequent inroads became especially formidable to the Swedes. The latter sub- jugated with difficulty and only for a short time the coast of Finland, while the republic of Novgorod ex- tended its rule over the southern branches of the Finns. The frequent robberies of the pagan Suomi induced king Eric of Sweden to conquer them, and compel them to adopt Christianit3% Accompanied bj' bishop Henr}', of Upsala, an Englishman, he landed in 1157 on the south-western coast, and at first met with but little resistance. The first church was built at Een- damecki, near the town of Abo, the foundation of which had likewise been laid by Eric. "When Eric re- turned to Sweden, bisliop Henry remained in the coun- try, but the progress of Christianity was very slow, as the Finns had j'ielded only to compulsion ; the mis- sionaries had a verj' imperfect knowledge of the lan- guage, and the poverty of the language presented the greatest obstacles to an adequate designation of the new Christian ideas. While outwardly professing Christianity, most of the converts remained secretlj' addicted to their old pagan ideas, or at least mixed up Christian doctrines with pagan mj'thology. Bishop Henry baptized a large number, established an epis- copal see at Kendamecki, and finally lost his life (1160) in consequence of his zeal in enforcing Church discipline. After the complete triumph of Cliristiani- ty, the Finns venerated him as their apostle and patron saint. He was commemorated on the 19th of January and the 18th of June ; his picture, exhibiting his full episcopal ornament, with an axe by his side and the murderer at his feet, ^vlas hung up in every church, and many miracles were ascribed to his relics (see Henry, apostle of the Finns). His successor, Ru- dolphus, was carried off by the Courlanders and kill- ed. The progress of Christianity was considerably delaj'cd by the opposition of the Russians to the ad- vance of the Swedes, on whom tlic existence of the feeble Christian Church was wholh' dependent. In 1198, Abo was burned by the Russians, and the fourth bishop, also an Englishman, had to seek a refuge upon the island of Gotliland. In 1249, the brother of the king of Sweden, Birger Magnusson, the first yarl of the kingdom, landed on the southern coast of Aster- bothnia, routed the tribe of tlic Tavasti, established the fortress of Tavasteborg, subsequently called Ta- vastehus, built several churches, and compelled the inhabitants to accept Christianit}' and to pay taxes to the bishop. These taxes the fifth bishop, Bero, of his own accord, ceded to the king. Another great Swed- ish expedition was undert^xkcn in 1"293 l)y Thorkel Kuutson, the guardian of the minor king, Birger II. The pope not only sanctioned tliis expedition, but granted to the knights and warriors who took part in