Rev. xiii. This beast of the sea can be no other power on earth than the Papal Hierarchy. It must be evident that this beast cannot be the symbol of a merely temporal power, such as the secular Roman empire; but a mixed power; clothed with temporal and spiritual authority. For it has a name of blasphemy, is worshiped itself, and even his image is worshiped, and the second beast acquires the name of false prophet on that very account, because he deludes the people to worship the first beast and his image. Moreover this book surely contains a prophetic account of Antichrist somewhere, and where will you meet with him in all this prophecy, except in this beast? The more ancient Asiatic writers on religious subjects, represent nations, tribes, kingdoms, empires, and even ecclesiastical communities, by the hieroglyphics of certain beasts. In the selection of these beasts, they are guided by a knowledge of their qualities and dispositions, by which they express the most remarkable achievements, and distinguishing characteristics of those nations, tribes, or governments whom they represent. When this character cannot be fully expressed by the qualities and known dispositions of one beast, the writer forms a compound hieroglyphic, and describes it as performing extraordinary actions, in order to complete all the prominent features of his object. This manner of writing has been adopted by most of the inspired writers of the Old Testament, particularly by Daniel, who drew the contour of the principal parts of different beasts, in order to represent the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, and the Roman empire; and the Lord has here adhered to his ancient mode of revelation, in depicting the Romish hierarchy. As we are now entering upon the investigation of a most important point, I would caution the reader, never to assist in classing the righteous with the wicked. Charity demands that we should make a distinction between the Romish church and Papacy. That community is still considered a Christian church, but the Papal hierarchy is an infernal offspring; and the names of those who breathe that spirit are not written in the book of life. There are yet many children of God in that church, who have not entered into the spirit of the Papacy, nor devoted themselves to its views, whom the Lord will call from thence in due season. Rev. xviii. 4. [The controversy always has been, and still is, with the rulers of the darkness of this world with spiritual wickedness in high places. On the poor, ignorant, deluded followers of a false religion we should "have compassion, making a difference."]—R. F. C During the first century of the Christian era, the bishop of Rome was no more than a common minister of the gospel; all ordained pastors of the church at the head of a congregation, being called bishops at that time. He was even considered inferior in point of reputation, to the bishop of Jerusalem; she being the mother and pattern of all other Christian churches, planted by the Saviour's own hand, and nursed by the apostles. Even at the close of the third century, he had only the charge of one congregation, to which he was elected by the suffrages of the common people; though he seems to have then enjoyed a pre-eminence of order in synods and provincial councils, on account of age, or respectability of the church of Rome. Shortly afterwards the bishops of Rome, Antioch and Alexandria assumed the title of patriarchs, to which the bishop of Constantinople was added A. D. 381. This so incensed the arrogant prelates at Rome, who now met with formidable rivals in the bishops of Constantinople, that these patriarchs opposed each other in their growing authority, by every means in their power, until they caused a total separation of the Latin and Greek churches. These ambitious contentions kindled that Antichristian spirit in the minds of the Roman pontiffs, which caused them to aspire to universal supremacy in the whole Christian church.