The Image of the Beast by John Norton Loughborough

Publishing Committee · ROCHESTER, N. Y. · Sep 20, 1853

The Image of the Beast.

By John Norton Loughborough

"Saying to them that dwell on the Earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." Rev. xiii, 14.

My limits will not allow me to give a lengthy exposition of the two-horned beast, and his work, but merely to make some inquiries, and state a few existing facts relative to the text. The first inquiry that arises is relative to "the beast which had the wound by a sword, and did live." I believe all are agreed that this is the Papacy which received its wound in 1798, when Napoleon took away the Pope's civil power. What was that beast that "received the wound?" A Church which caused the people either to believe and obey its institutions, or suffer the penalty of their laws. An image then, would be a Church doing the same work, forcing people to obey or suffer the vengeance of the law. The two-horned beast is to "say to them that dwell on the earth, make an image," or in other words, grant the Church the privilege of defending its rights and institutions by law.

The two-horned beast is said to arise out of the earth, and it "says to them that dwell on the earth," (where it rose,) in its dominion of course, "Make an image." I call the attention of all to this point as settling what form of government the two-horned beast is. It is a government whose work is done by the people; this one feature would forever exclude the idea of the two-horned beast being France or any other power than Republican. That the United States, Civil and Ecclesiastical, is the two-horned beast is a point established by an abundance of testimony, but this one feature we wish to notice. United States laws are made by the people, or what is the same, their representatives, and it remains for the people to say what laws they will have, while those under the rule of Despots, must meekly bow to their ruler, no matter how tyrannical his reign. France never appeals to the people to make laws; on the contrary, Napoleon considers himself fully competent to take the lead of affairs without the aid of the people, except by their purse and the military.

The two-horned beast says "make an image;" sustain the church by your laws. It is a fact that every organized church in the United States is tolerated in their faith by law; the government grants them their charter, and they lean on the government for protection and support. On one great institution they are nearly all agreed, (viz., Sunday-keeping).—Government tries to protect them in this institution. Already do we find them uneasy because a few observers of God's Sabbath do not take heed to their darling institutions. God's children who take heed to that institution which requires six days labor and one of rest, the seventh day, pay no regard to the institution of the church for Sunday-keeping. The church appeals to the law for support and protection; but the answer comes, we require men to observe only one seventh part of time; these men keep the seventh day; we cannot touch them. But what is to be done? The church has leaned on the government for support; they have pledged themselves to support her and she must be supported. Why, all that is necessary is just to speak to them that dwell on the earth, or their representatives, and they will soon be legislating.

Well, says one, I think you will fail in your expectations. Why? Because the United States only requires men to observe one seventh part of the time, and you never need expect them to infringe upon you because you work Sunday; for you keep the seventh day. This government allows all men to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. But they bind men's consciences on other subjects, why not on this? The government of the United States requires us to deliver up to his master the slave that is escaped from him, whether we believe God on the point or not, and a heavy fine if we do not do it. God says, "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant that is escaped from his master unto thee." Deut. xxiii, 15. I suppose, however, the objector is not aware of what is going on around us in the United States. Pennsylvania, for several years, has had strict laws relative to Sunday-keeping, but no one has dreamed that the United States, as a mass, would pass such a law.

Not long since, an individual in Pennsylvania, who kept the Sabbath, was arrested for breaking Sunday. He was tried, fined and imprisoned! His friends thinking it unjust, carried the case up to a higher court. The case finally came before the United States' court, and the constitutionality of the Pennsylvania law was questioned, and there it was decided that the decision of Pennsylvania was constitutional. And immediately a discussion ensued on the propriety of a more strict law for Sunday-keeping. We leave the reader to imagine where this will end. Suffice it to say, we doubt not the image-makers will complete their image.

In the revised statutes of the State of Wisconsin, the claims of Sunday-keeping are very strict. I subjoin the following notice, published in the Northern Republic, Portage city, Fort Winnebago township, Columbia Co., Wisconsin.

"NOTICE.—Whereas by the 21st section of chapter 139, of the revised statutes of the State of Wisconsin, it is enacted among other things, that, 'No person shall open his shop, ware-house or work-house on the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday.' And whereas Justices of the peace have jurisdiction of offences mentioned in said section, Now therefore, we the undersigned Justices of the peace, in and for the town of Fort Winnebago, Columbia Co., give notice that we shall take judicial notice of all offences against the provisions of said section 21, as specified above, without respect to persons, from and after the date of the publication of this notice. L. VANSLYK, ANDREW DUNN, H. R. PETTIBONE, WM. E. WAITE. Dated, Fort Winnebago, July 21st, 1852."

An individual in the above mentioned State who strictly observed the Sabbath, was laid under a heavy fine for opening his shop on the first day of the week. The city law of Chicago is twenty-five dollars fine for working on First-day, and in nearly all the principal cities of the United States, action is being taken to suppress Sunday desecration.

Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 14th, 1853.