Perseus, the name of a Grecian character in my- thology, was the son of Zeus and Danae, and grand- son of Acrisius. Acrisius had been warned by an oracle that he should be killed by the hand of the son of Danai', so he shut her up in a brazen tower. Zeus visited her there in the form of a shower of gold, and became the father of Perseus. Hence he is called Au- rigena. When Acrisius discovered the birth of the boy, he put both him and his mother into a chest and cast it into the sea, l)ut Zeus carried it ashore at Seri- phos (und there Perseus was brought up), one of the Cyclades, where Polydectes reigned, who, wishing to get rid of him to Ije free in his approaches to Danaii, with whom he hqd become enamoured, sent Perseus, when yet a youth, to bring the head of the Gorgon Medusa, on the pretence that he wanted to present it as a bridal gift to Hippodamia. Perseus set forth un- der the protection of Athena and Hermes, the former of whom gave him a mirror, by which he could see the monster without looking at her (for that would have changed him into stone) ; the latter, a sickle ; while the nymphs provided him with winged sandals, and a helmet of hades, or invisible cap. After numerous wonderful adventures, he reached the abode of Medu- sa, who dwelt near Tartessus, on the coast of the ocean, and succeeded in cutting off her head, which he put into a bag and carried off. On his return he visited Ethiopiii, where he liberated and married Andromeda, bj' whom he subsequently had a numerous family, and arrived at Seriphos in time to rescue his mother from the annoj'^ance of the too ardent addresses of Poly- dectes, whom, along with some of his companions, he
changed into stone. After this he went to Argos, from which Acrisius fled to Thessaly, but Perseus fol- lowed him in disguise, hoping to persuade him to re- turn. While taking part in the games there, he threw the discus in such a way that Acrisius was killed by it, without Perseus's intention. Then Perseus assumed the vacant throne. Perseus was worshipped as a hero in various parts of Greece, and according to Herodo- tus in Egypt too. In ancient works of art the figure of Perseus much resemldes that of Hermes. See VoU- mer, ifythologisches Wurterlmch, s. v. ; Mrs. Clement, Sacred and Legenlarg Art and Mythol. p. 478, 479.
Per'seus {llfpati'c, the name originally of a myth- ological Greek character, Vulg. Perses), the eldest (il- legitimate or supposititious.') son of Philip V and last king of Macedonia. After his father's death (B.C. 179) he continued the preparations for the renewal of the war with Home, which was seen to be inevitable. Tlie war, which broke out in B.C. 171, was at first ably sustained by Perseus ; but in 168 he was defeated Uy L. ,'Emilius Paullus at Pj'dna, and shortly afterwards surrendered with his f.iniih' to his conquerors. He graced the triumph of Paullus, and died in honorable retirement at Alba. The defeat of Perseus put an end to the independence of Macedonia, and extended even to Sj'ria the terror of the Roman name (1 Mace, viii, 5).
Tetrndrachm of Perseus (Attic talent).
Obv. Head of king, bound with flllet ; liev. i!A2lAE£i2
niii'iEas, eagleon thunderbolt, all within wreath.
Perseverance is the continuance in anj' design, state, opinion, or course of action. In theological sci- ence the perseverance of the saints is a doctrine so named which teaches that those who are truiy con- verted i)y the Hoi)' Spirit shall never finalh^ and to- tally fall from grace, but shall hold out to the end and be saved. This doctrine has afforded considerable matter for controversy between the Calvinists and Arminians, the former maintaining this doctrine of Final Perseverance, the latter den^-ing it. We shall brietlj' state the arguments of the Calvinists and the objections made by the Arminians.
The advocates of the doctrine of Final Perseverance found their belief upon the decree of God, whereby he has predestinated the elect to grace and glory; in- ferring that therefore thej' will certainly persevere; and arguing that their perseverance is a part of their election, for God has decreed to keep such persons that they should not fall. (The Bible passage very generally quoted to prove the perseverance of the saints, in connection with foreordination, uncondi- tional election, etc., is Rom. viii, 28-30.) It is thus stated in the Westminster Assemblj^'s Confession of Faith: "They whom God hath accepted in his be- loved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totality nor finally fall awav from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved." According.to the Cal- vinistic theory of regeneration, the soul is chosen by God from eternitj', its conversion and regeneration are wholly the work "of the Holy Spirit, and the work, hav- ing been begun by God for his own good pleasure, will not and cannot be abandoned by him. Or, to quote again the words of the Westminster Assembly's Con- fdssion of Faith, " This perseverance of the saints de- pends not upon their own free-will, but upon the im-
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