Pen (l^'J, et. Job xix, 24; Psa. xlv, 1 ; Jer. viii, 8; xvii, 1 ; and LJ^in, chiret, Isa. viii, 1) properly means a style or reed. The instruments with which characters were formed in the writing of the ancients varied with the materials to be written upon. The proper pen was made of reed, calamus, hence a reed pen (Jer. xxxvi, 4; 3 John, 13). This was perhaps the most ancient pen for writing on soft materials ; and it is still used by the Turks, Syrians, Persians, Abyssinians, Arabs, and other Orientals, as their languages could not be written with- out difficulty with pens made like ours from quills. Upon tablets of wax a metallic pen or stylus was em- ployed. In engraving upon hard substances, such as stone, wood, or metallic plates, " an iron pen," or graver of iron or copper, was employed (Job xix, 24). See Ink; Eked; Wuiting. From the size and general appearance of some of the ancient reeds, as preserved in pictures found at Herculaneum, we may perceive how easily the same word (133^;, skebet) might denote the sceptre or badge of authority belonging to the chief of a tribe, and also a pen for writing with. For although the two instruments are sufficiently distinct among us, yet, where a long rod of cane, or reed per- haps, was (like a general's truncheon, or baton, in mod- ern days) the ensign of command, and a lesser rod of the same nature was formed into a pen and used as such, they had considerable resemblance. This may accoinit for the phraseology and parallelism in Judges V, 14: "Out of Machir came down governors (legislators) ; Out of Zebulun they that hold the shcbet of writers."
The ancients also used styles to write on tablets cover- ed with wax. The Psalmist says (Psa. xlv, 1), "My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." The Hebrew signifies rather a stjde, which was a kind of bodkin, made of iron, brass, or bone, sharp at one end, the other formed like a little spoon, or spatula. The sharp end was used for writing letters, the other end expunged them. The writer could put out or correct what he disliked, and j'et no erasure appear, and he could write anew as often as he pleased on the same place. On this is founded that advice of Horace, of often turning the style, and blotting out, "Sa;pe stylum vertas iterum, quae digna legi sint scripturus." Scripture alludes to
PENAL LAWS
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PENALTIES
the same custom (2 Kings xxi, 13), " I will blot out Jerusalem as men blot our writing I'rom tlieir writing tablets." I will turn the tablets, and draw tlie style over the wax, till nothing appear — not the least trace. Isaiah (viii, 1) received orders from the Lord to write in a great roll of parchment, with the style of a man, what should be dictated to him. It is asked, What is meant by this style of a man V It could not be one of these styles of metal; they were not used for writing on parchment. It is probable that the style of a man signifies a manner of writing which is easy, simple, natural, and intelligible. For generally the prophets expressed themselves in a parabolical, enigmatical, and obscure style. Here God intended that Isaiah should not speak as the prophets, but as other men used to do. Jeremiah says (viii, 8) the style of the doctors of the law is a style of error; it writes nothing but lies. Lit- erally, " The pen of the scribes is in vain." They have promised you peace, but behold war. He says, " The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond. It is graven upon the table of their heart," or engraven on their heart, as on writing tablets. The Hebrew says, a graver of shamir. — Calmet.
Penal La^ws are statutes enacted for the secular punishment of those who are supposed to be in religious error. Thus the laws against Nonconformists in Eng- land were as follows :
"1. An act for Avell governing and regulating corpora- tions, 13 Car. II, c. 1. By this act all who bore olilce in any city, corporation, town, or borough were required to take the oaths and subscribe tlie declaration therein mentioned, and to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper accord- ing to the rites of the Church of England. This turned the dissenters out of the government of all corporations. 2. The Act of Uniformity, 14 Car. II, c. 4. By it all parsons, vicars, and ministers, who enjoyed any preferment in the Church, were obliged to declare their unfeigned assent and consent to everything contained in the Dook of Com- mon Prayer, etc., or be ipso facto deprived ; and all school- masters and teachers were prohibited from teachingyouth without license from the archbishop or bishop, under pain of three months' imprisonment. 3. An act to prevent and suppress seditious conventicles, 16 Car. 11, c. 4, in which it was declared unlawful to be present at any meeting for religious worship, except according tn the usage of the Church of England, where live besides the family should be assembled. The tirst and second ofi'enees were made subject to a certain fine, or three months' imprisonment, on conviction before a justice ofthe peace on the oath of a single witness ; and the third oflence, on conviction at the sessions, or before the justices of assize, was punish- al)le by transportation for seven years. 4. An act for re- straining Nonconformists from inhabiting in corporations, 17 Car. If, c. 2. By it all dissenting ministers who would not take an oath therein specified against the lawfulness of taking up arms against the king on any pretence what- soever, and that they would never attempt any alteration of government in Church and State, were banished five miles from all corporation towns, and subject to a line of X40 in case they should preach in any conventicle. 5. Another act to prevent and suppress seditious conven- ticles, 22 Car. II, c. 5. Any persons who t.uight in such con- venticles were subject to a penalty of £20 for the first, and £iO for every subseqneut oflence; and any person who permitted such a conventicle to be held in his house was liable to a fine of £20; and justices of peace were empow- ered to break open doors where they were informed such conventicles were held, and take the offenders into cnstodv. 6. An act for preventing daii2;er.* which u-.ight happen from popish recusants, commonly called tl;e 'I'est Act, whereby every person was incapacitated fiom holding a place o'f trust mider the K'>veninuMit. w ithont tnkin£: the sacrament according to the rites of ilie Church of Englaiid."