consistencj' and backsliding, and also that those cases in which seeming Christians abandon their Christian profession and hope altogether, are explained by the declaration that the conversion in such cases was a spurious one. The Calvinists go even so far as to claim that " the difference between Arminian and Cal- vinist on this subject, though very considerable, is lefs, practically, than has sometimes been supposed, since both agree that one may give all the external eviden- ces of having commenced a Christian life, and j'et fall away and be finallj' lost. The real difference between them is that the Arminians hold that in such a case the professor of religion was really a Christian, but lost his religion b^' turning his back upon Christ; while the Calvinist holds that the appearances were deceitful, and the professed Cliristian was never really a child of God" (Dr. Lyman Ablott); or, as Mr. Ed- wards saj'S of all apostates, "They had no root, no oil in their vessels." To this mode of arguing the ques- tion Arminians take decided exception, since the fact that professed saints do not persevere does not prove that all real ones will do so. More properly expressed, the Calvinistic proposition stands thus: " J'ntfcssed saints do not persevere. Therefore all real saints will 2Jersevere." The exposure of the h3'pocrite the Armin- ian denies to be proof that the real saint cannot apos- tatize, and though David and Peter were finally re- stored, it does not prove that either liad grace in his heart at the. time of his fall. "To assert this," saj'S Nash, "in the case of David, is to assert that a mur- derer and an adiiltor^'r hath eternal life abiding in him ; and to assart it in the case of Peter, is to assert that a person may be in a state of grace and j'et pro- fanely deny Christ." Besides, this doctrine absolutely places the Christian higher than Adam stood in his primeval state. See I'erfectiox. Even in his first trial Adam could fall. According to Calvinism, the Christian has reached a point where he can no more be liable to fall from God. It also removes the de- cision of a question from its proper jurisdiction — the final jiidgnT'nt — and places it at the point of conver- sion. It teaches that when a person becomes truly converted he is absolutely assured of eternal life, and of course his meetness for heaven is prospectively set- tled, and therefore, granting the conversion to lie gen- uine, the judgment-da}' becomes a farce. But the most common objection raised bj' the Arminians is that the doctrine of final perseverance makes men cai-eless con- cerning virtue and holiness, and supersedes the use of means and renders exhortation unnecessar}'. Its advocates, however, reply that this ofijection is not valid against them, "the true doctrine of Persever- ance of Saints being one of perseverance in holiness, and giving an encouragement to a confidence of final salvation which is not connected with a present and even an increasing holiness," or, as Abtiott puts it: "Both Calvinist and Arminian agree in urging all professed Christians to exercise diligence in making their calling and election sure, the one that the}' be not deceived, the other that they lose not what they have gained." Tiie Church of England, without pro- nouncing any authoritative opinion on this question, declares in the IGth Article that " after we have received the Holy Ghost, we jHrf// depart from grace given, and fall into sin ; and by the grace of God ma>/ rise again." " To our own safety our own sedulity is required," is the sentiment of Hooker, in iiis sermon on 7'he Certainty and Perpduity of Faith in the Elect. See Beza, Principles ; "Whitby and Gill, On the Fire Points; Calvin, Institutes, bk. iii, clu 23; "Williston, Ilarmont/ of Divine Truth (art. on Persev.) ; Cole, Sov- ereie/ntji of God; Booth, Reign of Grace; Dod<l ridge, Lectures, lect. 179; Turretin, Cump. Theologitr, loc. 14, p. 156; Witsius, (Fcnnomia, lib. iii, cli. 13; Toplady, Works, v, 476; Riilgley, Hodi/ of Divinity, qu. 79; AVesley, Wo7-ks, vi, 50; Fletcher, Works; AVatson, Institutes; Halt, Help to Zion's Travdlers; Newton,
PERSIA
975
PERSIA
Works; Edwards, Works, iii, 509-532; Dwiglit, Tke- ologtj, serm. 87; Fuller, Works; Goodwin, Works, p. 238, 280 ; Cunningham, Hist. Theol. i, 355 sq. ; ii, 490 sq. ; WoAgQ, Doctrinal Thcoloffy (see Index); Whate- l}'-, -b7. Paid (essay iv) ; Browne, Jixpos. of the XXXIX Articles ; Brit, and For. En. Rev. xxxv, 222 ; Christian Remembr. Jan. 185G, p. 158; Christian Journal, vol. viii ; Nevin, in Mercersb. Rev. 1857, p. 73, 197 ; Grif- fin, Park Street Lectures; Scott, Synod of Dort, p. 220; Olivers, Pars vt runce ; Nash, Perseverance. (J. H. W.)
Persia (Heb. Paras', CHS ; native Fajs, thought to be either from the Zend Pais, "pure" or "'splen- did," or from Farash [d^Q], "a horse," that animal being abundant there; Sept. Ilfpffit,' ; Yuhj;. Pei-ses), the name of one of tiie interior countries of Hither Asia, varying greatly in application according to time and circumstances. (The following account of it is based upon that of Rawlinson, in Smith's Diet., with material additions from other sources.) See Persian.
I. Extent and Physical Features. — The name is used in two or three senses geographically and historically.