united in the feat of Rome.

But it is faid

of the image particularly, that "as many as would not worship this image, fhould be killed by it," and that it should cause all perfons of every rank and condition, which are exprefsly enumerated, either to receive a mark, acknowledging their fubmiffion or attachment, or to be deprived of their civil rights and privileges.-Now it is declared by an angel in the following chapter, that "if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the fame fhall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation: and he fhall be tormented with fire and brimftone in the prefence of the holy angels, and in the prefence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment afcendeth up for ever and and they have no reft day nor night, who worship the beaft and his image, and whofoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the faints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jefus."

ever;

It is worthy notice, that the angel who thus

Rev. xivi 9, 10, 11, 12.

1

denounced

denounced the wrath of God against the worshippers of the beast and his image, followed two others; the first of whom "flew in the midft of heaven, having the everlafting-Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and calling upon them to fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment was come."- And the fecond of whom declared "the fall of Babylon." Now the first of these angels is generally understood to reprefent the preaching of the Gofpel, which was brought forth from its concealment at the time of the Reformation; and which certainly did produce the fall, or decline of the power of Babylon; which is proclaimed by the fecond angel.—And as it is according to the merciful dispensations of God's Providence to give his fervants warning of a near and imminent danger, it may be fuppofed that the third angel precedes the time of the greatest danger, and most severe trial; and thus the period of the most tremendous tyranny of the IMAGE, is fixed to be after the Reformation.—It should also be remarked, that between the defcriptions of the two beasts we find the following call to particular attention to the justice of the judgments of God in making his enemies inftruments in his hand to punish each other; while

the true church, his faithful fervants, fometimes afflicted, and fometimes protected, wait "with patience and faith," to see the accomplishment of the myfteries of his word-for it is in this fenfe I understand thefe words, If any man hath an ear to hear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity; he that killeth with the sword, fhall be killed by the fword. Here is the patience and faith of the faints *.'

t

This interpretation does certainly contradict the common opinion, that the fecond beaft is to fupport and advance the authority of the Church of Rome; but it must be acknowledged to harmonize with the true fpirit of Christianity, and with the information which Scripture and Hiftory afford us concerning the moral government of the world; and, I think, it will be found to explain many of the difficulties attending the common application of this Prophecy. But, it will be asked, how can this interpretation be made confiftent with the twelfth verfe of this chapter? " And he exercifeth all the power of the first beast before him, and caufeth all the earth, and them that dwell therein, to worship the first beast

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* Compare Rev. xiii. 9, 10. with Dan, xii. 10.

whofe

In an

whofe deadly wound was healed.” fwer to this objection, I beg to obferve, that the two verfes which immediately follow this fummons to attention, contain the whole defcription of the beaft and his power in general terms-the fucceeding verfes being an account of the manner in which he exerciseth his power, and are in fome fort, both an amplification, and a detailed repetition of the former defcription. - Thefe two verses therefore (the eleventh and twelfth) extend from the beginning to the end of the reign of the fecond beaft; and, confidering a great part of this reign as yet future, I muft alfo confider it as impoffible to ascertain the precife meaning of a Prophecy relating to that future.→→→ All that can be done, and indeed all that ought to be attempted, is, to offer an explanation of this passage, and a conjecture respecting it, which will be found to accord with this interpretation and with my general view of the Prophecy itself",

The

"In the description of the Beaft and the Image two things are obfervable. Ift. The fecond Beast " caused the earth to worship the Beaft" whofe deadly wounds were healed. This, it is obferved by a Friend, feems to be expreffed differently when it is faid, he " caufed the world to make an Image to the fame Beaft whofe deadly wound

The form and nature of this beast have been already confidered; but the Reader will

par

was healed. 2dly, Certain falfe miracles or wonders, are moreover faid to be an efpecial inftrument in occafioning this great delufion among the inhabitants of the world. It is agreed that fix of the heads of the first Beast are the fix different Conftitutions of Pagan Rome; and that the fixth or Imperial was in existence when St. John wrote, and afterwards received its deadly wound when the western empire became extinct. The 7th and 8th (" which is of the 7th") are evidently of the fame nature, fince they appear as one upon the Beast though diftinguished from each other with hiftorical accuracy in the explanation given by the Angel; and these, or rather this head is allowed to be the papal Government of Rome. It is remarkable that the "Mouth fpeaking great words of blafphemy" is not men tioned till after it is faid" the deadly wound given to the 6th head was healed;" obviously pointing out this, the last head, to be in a peculiar manner antichriftian; and agreeing with "the little horn" defcribed by Daniel as " divers from the ref" of the powers of the Earth. The second Beaft with horns" like a Lamb," caufed the Image to be made to the firft Beaft, and made all them that dwell on the earth to worship the firft Beast whose deadly wound was healed." Hence it follows that this Image must be a vifible Form of Government; having feven or eight political heads, all of which are antireligious or antichriftian; but the latter fupereminently fo. This Image must be endued with the Spirit of the second Beast which " spake like the Dragon," and it must fedulously ape the political Infiitutes of the first which it represents in outward political Forms, and in temporal and fpiritual antichriftian tyranny, and thus perhaps it may be faid to caufe the world to worship

the