rectly opposite to Constantinople. The gospel was introduced into this province at an early period. (Comp. Acts ii. 9, and 1 Peter i. 1.) There is a remarkable testimony in ecclesiastical history, to the purity and firmness of the Christians of Bithynia, at the close of the first and the beginning of the second century.

CILICIA. (Acts xxi. 39.) A province in the southeastern district of Asia Minor, lying on the northern coast, at the eastern extremity of the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital city was Tarsus, the birth-place of Paul. The synagogue of "them of Cilicia" (Acts vi. 9,) was a place of Jewish worship at Jerusalem, appropriated to the use of Jews who might be at Jerusalem, from the province of Cilicia. A similar custom in modern times is the fitting up of public houses to accommodate strangers from particular States or countries. Paul, being of this province, was probably a member of this synagogue, and perhaps one of the defeated opposers and controvertists of Stephen. (Comp. Acts vi. 10,

and vii. 58.)

COLOSSE. (Col. i. 2.) A city of Phrygia in Asia Minor, on the river Lycus, [now the Gorduk.] About a year after Paul's epistle was written to the church at this place, it was destroyed by an earthquake. The former site of Colosse is now occupied by the castle and village of Chonos.

CAPPADOCIA. A province in the north-eastern part of Asia Minor, peopled by the descendants of Togarmah, and once forming part of the kingdom of Lydia. It was famous for horses, mules and flocks; and traded in these with the Tyrians. (Ezek. xxvii. 14.) According to Herodotus, it submitted to the Medes, and then to the Persians, parts of whose worship the inhabitants incorporated with their own idolatry. It afterwards formed a part of the vast Roman empire. Christianity was introduced here in the days of the apostles, (Acts ii. 9,) and continues to this day. At the village of Dacora, in this. province, was born Eunomius the Arian. Some of its early pastors were very distinguished for piety and learning.

DERBE, (Acts xiv. 6.) A town of Lycaonia, east of Iconium, whither Paul and Barnabas fled when expelled

from Lystra, and where they preached the gospel with success. (Acts xiv. 20.) Derbe was the native place of Gaius. (Acts xx. 4.)

EPHESUS. (Acts xix. 35.) A celebrated city of Asia Minor, said to have been built by Ephesus, an Amazon lady, as early as the days of David. It was situated on the river Cayster, near its mouth about 30 miles south of Smyrna, and was the ornament and metropolis of proconsular Asia, and celebrated for a magnificent temple of Diana. This temple was 425 feet in length, 220 in breadth, and was supported by 100 columns, each 60 feet in height. The building of it occupied 200 years. When Paul came to the city, A. D. 54, he commenced preaching in the Jewish synagogue. The blessing of God attended his ministry.

GALATIA. (Acts xvi. 6.) A province of Asia Minor, lying east of Phrygia, and called Galatia by the Gauls, who were the original settlers of it. Christianity was introduced into this province by the apostle Paul, who was there once with Silas and Timothy, (Acts xvi. 6,) about the year 53, and again four or five years afterwards, on his return from Corinth. -(Acts xviii. 23.)

HIERAPOLIS. A city near Colosse, early blessed with gospel light. (Col. iv. 13.) It was destroyed by an earthquake in the time of the apostles. The ruins are still visible, and the place is called by the Turks, Pambuk Kalasi.

ICONIUM. (Acts xiii. 51.) A city of ancient Lycaonia, in Asia Minor, at the foot of Mt. Taurus, now called Conia, or Cogni, the capital of Caramania, and residence of a pacha. It contains at present about 15,000 inhabitants. It was visited by Paul and Barnabas, who preached the gospel there, and were so persecuted in consequence of it, as to be obliged to leave the place. -(Acts xiv. 1. 6.) Iconium is mentioned by several ancient historians. Strabo says it was well built, and situated in the richest part of the province; a place of some consequence, and strongly fortified by walls four miles in extent. Multitudes were here converted to Christianity, A. D. 45 or 46.(Acts xvi. 1-3.) The church thus planted may be traced through eight succeeding centuries.

LYCAONIA. (Acts xvi. 6-11.) A province of Asia

Minor, which the apostle Paul twice visited. It was separated from Phrygia, and created into a Roman province, by Augustus, and was bounded north by Galatia, east by Cappadocia, south by Cilicia, and west by Pisidia and Phrygia. Its chief towns were Iconium, Derbe and Lystra. It is now a part of Caramania, and subject to the Turks. The speech of this province, (Acts xiv. 11,) is supposed to have been either the old Assyrian language, or a corruption of the Greek.

MILETUS, or Miletum. A seaport of Caria, in Lesser Asia, and the capital of both Caria and Ionia. It stood about 36 miles south-west of Ephesus, and is said to have been built by Miletus, the son of the god Apollo, whose temple here was exceedingly magnificent. Here were four harbors, sufficient to hold all the Persian fleet. Here Thales and Anaximenes, the philosophers, and Timotheus, the musician, were born.

MESECH, (Ps. cxx. 5,) or Mesech, (Ezek. xxxii. 26.) A country in the north-eastern angle of Asia Minor, şupposed to have been settled by the posterity of Mesech, the son of Japheth. They had considerable commerce with Tyre. (Ezek. xxvii. 13.) Some suppose the Muscovites were of this race. The terms Mesech and Kedar, in the above passage from Psalms, is supposed to denote northern and southern barbarians generally.

MYSIA. (Acts xvi. 7.) A province of Asia Minor, and at this day a beautiful and fertile country. It has the sea of Propontis on the north, Lydia on the south, Bithynia on the east. In the northern section of Mysia was the province in which the ancient city of Troy was situated, and not far distant was the Troas mentioned by Paul. ·(Acts xvi. 8; xx. 6; 2 Cor. ii. 12; 2 Tim. iv. 13.)

PHILADELPHIA. (Rev. iii. 7-13.) A city of the province of Lydia, about 70 miles east of Smyrna. Its modern name is Allah-shehr, or Alah-sher, [city of God.] It contains a population of about 15,000, one twelfth of whom are nominal Christians. This church was highly commended; more than any of the seven churches of Asia, and while her sister cities have fallen into decay, she still survives, with the remains of her Christian temples and worship. Her population is said to be the purest in Asia Minor. Even Gibbon says of her:

"Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect a column in a scene of ruins." PISIDIA. (Acts xiii. 14.) A province of Asia Minor, north of Pamphylia. Antioch, though within the province of Phrygia, belonged to Pisidia, and was called Antioch in [or of] Pisidia, to distinguish it from Antioch in Syria. Paul labored in the gospel, not only at Antioch, but throughout the province. (Acts xiv. 24.)

PONTUS. (1 Pet. i. 1.) The north-eastern province of Asia Minor, lying along the Black Sea, having Colchis on the east, Cappadocia south, and Paphlagonia west. Many Jews resided here in the time of Christ, (Acts ii. 9,) and the gospel was early introduced, and entertained by many, whom Peter addresses in his first epistle. Aquila, Paul's companion, was of this province. -(Acts xviii. 2.) It became a province of Rome in the time of Pompey.

PHRYGIA. (Acts ii. 10.) The largest province of Asia Minor, having Bithynia north, and Lysia south. Its chief towns were Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. Some of the inhabitants were at Jerusalem, and among the converts on the day of Pentecost. The province was more than once visited by the apostle Paul.

PATARA. (Acts xxi. 1.) A large, rich, seaport town of Lysia, lying over against Rhodes, at the mouth of the Xanthus, called, by Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, Arsinoe, in honor of his queen. Here Paul took ship for Phoenicia, when going from Philippi to Jerusa

lem.

PERGAMOS. The ancient metropolis of Mysia, and the residence of the Attalian kings. It stands on a rích and spacious plain, near the banks of the Caicus, and was famous for its extent and grandeur; for a temple to Esculapius; for a library of 200,000 volumes, which was removed to Egypt by Cleopatra; and for its being the birth place of the celebrated Galen. Parchment was invented here, and received its name from the place.

SARDIS. (Rev. i. 11.) A city of Ancient Lydia, and the site of one of the seven churches of Asia. Its modern name is Sart, and it lies about 30 miles south-east of Thyatira. It is, however, but a miserable village, in

habited chiefly by shepherds, though it is one of the stopping-places of the Persian caravans. The original city was plundered by Cyrus, and afterwards desolated by an earthquake, the ruins of it being still visible a little distance to the south of the present town.

TELABIB. (Ezek. iii. 15.) A town on the river Chebar, where Ezekiel and many of the Jewish exiles dwelt. Its site is supposed to be occupied by the modern Thelabar.

TROAS. (Acts xvi. 8.) A maritime city of Mysia, on the Mediterranean, near the mouth of the Hellespont, four miles from the ancient Troy, and built chiefly with materials from its ruins. The celebrated siege and capture of Troy occurred, according to Sir Isaac Newton, about 904 years B. C. or during the reign of Jehosaphat. Paul visited Troas repeatedly. (Acts xx. 5-12; 2 Cor. ii. 12; 2 Tim. iv. 13.)

THE CITIES OF PERSIA AND MEDIA.

PERSIA. (Ezek. xxvii. 10.) An ancient kingdom of Asia, whose limits have varied considerably at different periods. The kingdom, as such, was founded by Cyrus, its inhabitants having been anciently called Elamites, from their ancestor Elam, the son of Shem, and in later times Parthians. The thrones of Media and Persia were united under Cyrus, B. C. 536, (Comp. Dan. vi. 8, 12;) and indeed the whole country, from Egypt to the Ganges, became incorporated in what was called the Persian empire.

The celebrated city of PERSEPOLIS. The following is a correct view of the celebrated ruins of Persepolis, the ancient capital of Persia, which, in the days of its prosperity, was one of the wealthiest and most ancient cities of the world. The magnificent pile of ruins, which remains after the lapse of so many ages, was the palace of Darius. This grand and stately structure was surrounded with a triple wall; the first wall was 16 cubits high, and adorned with many splendid buildings and lofty towers; the second, wall was built in the same manner, but was as high again; the third was drawn like a