Review and Herald, Vol. 10, No. 10. (7/9/1857)

Review and Herald

Jul 9, 1857

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 9, 1857

THE TWO-HORNED BEAST

By John Norton Loughborough

OF REV. XIII, A SYMBOL OF

THE UNITED STATES.

(Continued.) The next point to which we will now call attention, is

THE IMAGE

Of the first beast, which this power is said to make.

Verse 14. "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." An image to the Papal beast, must resemble that beast in some respects. As this verse contains testimony that clearly shows the form of government of the two-horned beast, we will now notice it. We should be led to conclude from the fact that this two-horned beast has no crowns, either on head or horns, that it was a different form of government from its predecessors. Our understanding of it would be that it was neither kingly nor imperial power. Verse 14 sets it forth clearly.

The two-horned beast says to them that dwell on the earth, Make an image. The dwellers on the earth, or the territory of this beast, it seems, have a part to act in this work. This clearly marks the United States as the scene of action. This is the manner in which laws are made here; by the representatives of the people. As all men by the declaration are declared to be "equal," it became necessary that some course should be taken by which all could have equal privileges in the construction of the laws. If the whole mass were called together, there would be an endless discussion and no laws made. Therefore, the people were to elect such representatives as would carry out their principles; and they were to meet and make laws, which, when passed, should be considered the laws of the people. The image is to be formed by the people or their representatives.

But to return to the subject of the image. The Papal beast we have already seen was a church clothed with civil authority, having power to put to death heretics, (or those who would not obey its teachings.) We have seen by verse 12, that the two-horned beast is to "exercise all the power of the first beast." A church or ecclesiastical body is again to have power to pass decrees to put the saints to death. But, peradventure, God may deliver his people just as the decrees of the beast are to be executed. The faith of God's people will doubtless be tried as sorely as Abraham's was, when he was called upon to offer his only son, Isaac. God delivered him; and he declares to the Philadelphia church, (this is the sixth state of the gospel church, which had heard the proclamation of the Lord's coming; and before whom the open door of the Sanctuary was placed,) "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold I come quickly." When the decree is out against God's people, it will be a solemn and fearful hour, whether the decree formed is executed or not.

We do not understand that this image is yet completed, but that it is a work to be performed in the closing scenes of the career of the two-horned beast. Some doubtless start at the idea of such a work as this being done in these United States. But as we have already seen that the United States is the two-horned beast, we conclude with definiteness that the image will be formed here. Here will Protestants, notwithstanding their high profession, do the very work the prophecy states.

The observer of the movements of the United States for a few years past, with an understanding of the principles of the constitution, will not be startled at the idea advanced. Notwithstanding Protestants are so mild in their profession, we see they abuse power when in their hands. Who can tell unless guided by the prophecy, what Protestants would do with laws on their side. Look at the Puritans who themselves crossed the great water to flee oppression, persecuting the Quakers even unto death.

All organized religious bodies in these United States are tolerated by law, and government pledges them protection. All that is wanting to complete an image to Papacy, is simply a union of action in Church and State, and for the churches to have control of the laws so as to inflict penalties on heretics, or those who do not obey their sentiments. It may not appear strange to the reader that we look for such a union as we already see moves that point strongly in that direction. We have already shown, that in several States Sunday-keeping is established by law. The ministry will teach that Sunday is to be kept holy, and if you violate the Sabbath (Sunday) openly, you will be pointed to the law, and informed that if you do not rest you must suffer the penalty therein attached.

It seems from verse 14, on which we have already made remarks, that before the making of the image there is a saying among the people that one should be made. We understand such a saying is already before the people. A secret political organization has been working in our midst for a short time past, whose object seems to be the suppression of Roman Catholics. Concerning the ground-work of this party's organization we will not speak at length, but will give two quotations to illustrate the character of what they propose to accomplish. The first quotation is from Mr. Havens' (an American) speech delivered in Erie Co., N. Y. He says:

"For my own part, I wait to see the day when a Luther shall spring up in this country who shall found a great American Catholic church instead of a great Roman Catholic church; and who shall teach men that they can be good Catholics without professing allegiance to a Pontiff on the other side of the Atlantic."

The second quotation is from Mr. James L. Smith, said to be a gentleman of high respectability, who published in the Washington Union his renunciation of the American party, to which he had belonged. He says,

"My objections are that a union of politics and religion or Church and State never worked well."

We do not claim from this that this political party will form an image to the beast, but their acts certainly look like desiring to unite Church and State.

Doctor Durbin, in the Christian Advocate and Journal, seems to think there is a time coming when civil power will enforce the sentiments of the church at least by one law. "I infer therefore that the civil magistrate may not be called upon to enforce the observance of the Sabbath (Sunday) as required in the spiritual kingdom of Christ; but, when Christianity becomes the moral and spiritual life of the State, the State is bound through her magistrates to prevent the open violation of the holy Sabbath, as a measure of self preservation. She cannot without injuring her own vitality, and incurring the divine displeasure, be recreant to her duty in this matter." When this time spoken of by the Dr. comes, we shall have an image to the beast surely.

It appears probable to us that this Sunday institution is the very point on which this union will finally be effected. Here is a point on which nearly all the Protestant sects can unite. A point which we may safely say is the important item in the faith of Protestants is their Sunday worship. And a thing which increases our suppositions concerning a union on this point is that we see the sects already reaching forward and urging the importance of more stringent laws for Sunday-keeping.

Verse 15. "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." From this text we may draw two conclusions:

1. The image of the beast is to be made in the same territory where the two-horned beast rules; for the two-horned beast can exercise that authority in no territory but its own. 2. That it already has it in its "power to give life to the image of the beast," or cause the decree to be made and executed. Is it not in the power of the United States to pass such laws? They declare by their constitution, "all men shall be protected in worshiping God according to the dictates of their own consciences." We see the mass hold the first day of the week as a holy day. If a memorial should be sent into congress with 1,000,000 names signed to it, declaring that their rights were infringed upon, and praying them to pass a solemn enactment that the first day should not be profaned by labor, how soon the result would be a law upon the point.

Were the United States as a body to pass a law that Sunday should be kept holy, or not profaned by labor,

there would be, I conceive, an image to Papacy; for the law would then be in the hand of the church, and she could inflict penalties on those who did not obey the Sunday institution.

Matters are moving here similar to the way they moved in the formation of the Papal beast. In A. D., 321, laws were passed prohibiting labor in cities and towns; but in 538, when the Pope was made supreme head of all the churches, this law was made universal. We claim that then commenced the union of church and State. Here we already have several stringent State statutes, and in most of our incorporated cities laws as rigid. Read the following concerning the law of Texas.

"The legislature of Texas, has passed a bill to establish 'the Christian Sabbath' which provides for the punishment, by fine, or imprisonment of such persons as may perform any labor or procure any to be done on Sunday."—Watchman and Reflector.

The American Baptist copies the above with the following note:

"An oppressive enactment corresponding in character with the legislation, or edicts which in some Catholic countries demand conformity to the dominant Religion. Laws to enforce the observance of the 'Christian Sabbath' are no less repugnant to the principles of religious liberty, and violative of the right of the people, upon whom they are imposed, than would be laws to enforce the observance of Easter, good Friday, or the practice of infant baptism."

We understand that all that remains undone to form an image to the first beast is a universal law on Sunday keeping. This two-horned beast, as we see from the above, after completing the image, is to enforce under severe penalties.

THE WORSHIP

Of the image, and, as stated in verse 12, the worship of the beast. "And causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." It is not said that this power causes men to worship God, but causes them to worship the first beast: Papacy. What is this worship? We shall claim that it is homage paid to the first beast; the keeping of commandments which he may have made, which are contrary to God's commandments.

"Whenever any civil or ecclesiastical enactment conflicts with the requisitions of Jehovah, that power is worshiped, which is obeyed in preference to the other. Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey? Rom. vi, 16." Bliss on the Apocalypse, p. 233.

If we obey strictly all the precepts of the Bible, we are looked upon as worshipers of the true God. The worshiper of the false god can only be shown as such by those precepts which the true God we worship has laid down. As a tree is known by its fruit, so is it known whom a worshiper honors and adores, by the commandments he keeps.

That the above conclusions are correct we think may be clearly learned by reading the Third Angel's Message. Rev. xiv, 9-12. After pronouncing its warning against the worship of the beast and image it says, "Here are they they keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." From this we learn that the attention of the people is to be aroused to the decrees to be enforced by the two-horned beast. and it clearly shows that this worship conflicts with God's commandments and Jesus' testimony.

As strict conformity to God's commandments is the worship of him, if Papacy institutes commandments contrary to them, and individuals leave God's commandments and keep those of the Papal beast, we must conclude that they honor that beast above God. And should we see those who had understanding of the matter thus act, we should at once pronounce them worshipers of the beast. But an individual might have no inclination to keep those commandments, but be desirous of obeying God. Just then, we will say, the two-horned beast passes a law obliging its subjects to keep those very institutions, or pay a heavy penalty: the individual now commences to keep those institutions. Would he not be a worshiper of the beast, and that caused by the two-horned beast?

But you inquire, has any such thing been done by the Papal beast? and is there any danger of those institutions made by that beast being enforced upon us? Yes. The Papal church has not only made commandments contrary to God's commandments, but has thought "to change laws." See Dan. vii, 25. Even the laws of the Most High. He, (the little horn) has not in reality changed God's laws, although he has thought to do it. But he teaches a law to his subjects, as the law of God, which is but an imposition in some of its parts, as may be seen by comparing it with the original law of God. Ex. xx. We copy the following, the ten commandments of God as taught by Catholics contrasted with the ten commandments of Ex. xx, 3-17.

CATHOLIC	BIBLE
1. I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange gods before me.	1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.	2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day	3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4. Honor thy father and thy mother.	4. Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. (Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it.
5. Thou shalt not kill.	5. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.	6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not steal.	7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.	8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.	9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.	10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's

Reader, compare the above carefully with the ten commandments in your Bible. Where is the second commandment? It is gone. This you will see changes the numbering of all the commandments which follow. The Pope, to make out the complete number, ten, divides the tenth commandment into two parts. But we call particular attention to what the Catholics have laid down here as the 2d commandment, but which is in fact a part of the 4th commandment. The person who is instructed by this catechism, cannot find out by that commandment as it stands what is required by it. They need an explanation of it, and as it is considered dangerous for the common people to have the Bible, they must receive the information through their medium of instruction, the catechism.

Well here is the desired information from the catechism. What is commanded by the third commandment? Ans. To spend the SUNDAY in prayer and other religious duties.—Butler's Catechism, Lesson xvii.

We see at once that Papacy has made an attack upon God's Sabbath, and attempts to give us a substitute, Sunday, the first day of the week. This we know is not the day God appointed to be kept holy by the fourth commandment. The question is, has God authorized this change that has been made in his Sabbath? He declared [Ex. xxxi, 17.] "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever." The word forever signifies, As long as a thing, considering the surrounding circumstances, can exist.—Clarke. If the Bible then does not teach that the Sabbath was to cease, it will be a sign eternally. Christ declares, [Matt. v, 17, 19.] "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." Again, unless it can be shown that God has removed the sanctity from the seventh day, the same reason exists now for keeping it that ever did. God has made it holy. No testimony can be found to show that God has ever removed that sanctity from the day; therefore it is holy still. We must beware how we do our own pleasure on his holy day, lest we pollute it. God's fourth commandment is still binding upon us, and no Bible authority can be found for keeping the first day of the week. First-day keepers themselves are obliged to admit, that they have no precept for their Sunday institution. They only claim apostolic example, which the Word does not contain. See works on the Sabbath published at the Review Office, Battle Creek Mich.

The Protestants also claim that the fathers of the church have kept that day. The Catholic, however, is willing to show the matter in its true light, and places the honor of the change where it belongs. Read the following from The Catholic Christian Instructed.

"Ques. What warrant have you for keeping Sunday, preferably to the ancient Sabbath which was the Saturday? "Ans. We have for it the authority of the Catholic Church, and apostolic tradition. "Q. Does the Scripture say where command the Sunday to be kept for the Sabbath? "A. The Scripture commands us to hear the Church. Matt. xviii, 17; Luke x, 16."

Again we read in an antidote or treatise of Thirty Controversies. "The word of God commandeth the seventh day to be the Sabbath; you [Protestants] without any precept of scripture, change it to the first day of the week only authorized by our tradition."

We find that the keeping of Sunday as a Sabbath originated with the mystery of iniquity, (Papacy) which had commenced to work in the days of the apostle Paul. 2 Thess. ii. The man who with understanding on this subject leaves the fourth commandment and keeps Sunday, honors the Pope not God. The two-horned beast has already begun this work, as we have shown, of causing men to keep the Sunday. Not only in several States of this union are laws passed prohibiting labor on Sunday, but in States where there are no statutes to affect the observer of the seventh day, there are city laws that do bind all within their incorporations.

Thus, we see, the two-horned beast is causing them that dwell on the earth to worship the first beast. And not only so, but the soil itself must rest (be neither tilled nor sown) upon the first day; not because God has said it, but the Pope.

A point is stated in verse 16 in regard to the class that are to have these stringent laws passed against them, ("And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads,") which is also conclusive evidence as to where this work is to be accomplished; viz., where there is slavery.

The position of the world in regard to slavery, may be learned by the following quotation from an article on the Nebraska bill, in the New York Tribune, of Feb., 18th 1854.

"Franklin Pierce has lived to the age of fifty years. In addition to all, he professes faith in the doctrine and precepts of Jesus Christ." "At this critical moment the astounding proposition comes from the citizen who is now president, to repeal the statute which secures the immeasurable blessings of

freedom to Nebraska, and to establish therein the dire institution of African Slavery."

"The whole world has been steadily advancing toward the overthrow of African Slavery for more than a century. Nations have abolished it. England has emancipated her black populations. France has done the same. Even Russia herself has abolished serfdom in every territory, she has added to her empire since the beginning of the present century. The trade in slaves has been denounced as piracy by all nations. The remains of the barbarism of slave-holding now linger in the world under the protection of the decaying kingdom of Spain and a portion of the States of the Union."

Bondmen and free are under the dominion of the two-horned beast. Let the above quotation settle the question firmly as regards the locality of the two-horned beast. We see all other nations have abolished slavery, or declared it to be piracy, and the traffic is dying away, while in this nation we see it steadily increasing.

Since the appearance of the above extract in 1854, the sacred compact, and solemn Missouri Compromise of 1820 which it was supposed would forever exclude slavery from North of 36 30, has been set aside as a thing of naught, and slavery has extended its dominions to territory that, by this act would forever have been guarded. The result of this has been a mad rushing forward of the friends of slavery, holding spurious elections, choosing a bogus Legislature who form for themselves a constitution that declares "death to the man that takes a slave out of this territory." "Five years imprisonment to the man that gives a slave information that causes him to leave Kansas." "Two years imprisonment to the man that expresses his opinion in Kansas that it is wrong to hold slaves."

But the scene does not stop here. The decision of the Supreme Court on the Dred Scott case which was pronounced by Judge Taney, March 6th, 1857, for aught we can see may open the way for Senator Toombs to "call the roll of his slaves at the foot of Bunker Hill." It is 1. That "Africans are regarded wholly as property, in the constitution, and are incapable under that instrument of ever attaining the position of citizens." 2d. That "a slave taken into a Free State is not therefore entitled to his freedom." 3d. That "Congress has no rightful power to prohibit slavery in the Territories; hence the Missouri Restriction is unconstitutional."

Here slavery is likely to continue, and we consider will, till the fearful decree goes forth against the people that will not worship the beast, and till bond men and free shall "hide themselves from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb."

Another specification we will notice here before passing to the decree of verses 16, 17, which is the # NUMBER OF THE BEAST. Verse 18. "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred three score and six." Previous verses state, that men are also to be required to receive the number of the name of the beast, as well as the mark and name. On this subject we adopt the following:

The beast numbered is a definite beast.
It is a definite number: i. e., 666, hence it cannot refer to man's mode of reckoning.
It is a definite man who is numbered. It is the number of a man, not of man or men; hence it cannot refer to the ancient mode of reckoning by letters; because that makes the number indefinite; as there have lived more than one man whose name numbered 666. Some have referred this number to the first Pope, others to Latinus, and others to Napoleon Buonaparte.

But if, as Adventists profess to believe, the Bible be its own expositor, we must find a clue to the man here spoken of, in some part of that book. What saith the Scriptures! Ans. They distinctly bring to view two definite men, as the heads of the two great antagonistical churches—the Christian and the Anti-christian. The one represented by the Man, Christ Jesus, and the other by the "man of Sin." 2 Thess. ii, 3. That this man represents the Papal Anti-christian church, we all believe. And he will represent that church until the revelation of Christ. Verses 8, 9. The church represented by this man, continued a unit nearly a thousand years after its foundation, when it commenced breaking up under Luther and Calvin, and these divisions have continued dividing and subdividing until, according to their own admissions, they now number about six hundred three score and six. We may trace the lineage of every Protestant church back to the mother of harlots, [Rev. xvii, 5.] and we can go no farther. Not only are they daughters by natural descent, but by imitation. And their number is the number of a man, (the man of sin,) and his number is six hundred three score and six. Those churches collectively or individually, have that number. The decree of this two-horned beast against which the third angel of Rev. xiv, gives his solemn warning is to enforce also

THE MARK OF THE BEAST.

Verse 17. "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." The two-horned beast is to cause all to receive "the mark of the beast." We inquire, what is the mark of the beast! Many have been the speculations in regard to it. While one has supposed the mark of the beast to be an unscriptural connection of the church with government affairs, another has thought it to be sprinkling as baptism. The Revelator does not say a mark, but it is "the mark of the beast;" and he also defines it as "the mark of his name." Rev. xiv, 11. The beast assumes the title of God: "Most holy Lord God the Pope." He claims to be at the head of the work of God on earth. He was to think to change times and laws. This he has already done. See the quotation of the commandments from the catechism. The mark of his name, we shall claim, is the mark of his name as a God, or as a reviser of the law of God. Before we can be prepared to state with definiteness, what this mark is, our attention shall be called to the law of God, to decide what the mark of his name is. This beast has assumed authority, and as a matter of course assumes a mark which designates him from the true Law-giver. The third angel (Rev. xiv) warns against the mark of the beast, and says, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God." The class, who take heed to the call of that message are keeping the commandments of God. This is one of their striking peculiarities. From it we may infer that those who are giving heed to the decrees of the beast are not keeping them. The commandments of God are held out in opposition to the mark of the beast, and by them it can be detected. The ten commandments are the great constitution of Jehovah, and says the Apostle, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." 1 Pet. iv, 11. Oracles of God, ten commandments. Acts vii, 38.

The law of an earthly monarch, to be of force, must bear the name of the monarch, his signature of royalty, and also the impress of his seal, which is the sign or mark of his name. If the emperor of Russia should at the present time write out commands for his subjects to follow, and sign his name Alexander, the people might be at a loss to know where the document came from; for there are Alexanders many. But he signs his name, Alexander-Emperor of Russia. This shows at once the extent of his government: Russia; also his right to reign—Emperor. When the document is thus signed, and bears the impress of the seal of that monarch, it is valid. When the subjects behold it they at once take heed to it. Why, say they, we are in his realm, subject to his reign, he has power to make laws to govern us, we must take heed to his enactments. A law without a signature of royalty, and seal, is good for nothing. The true Law-giver is known by his title of royalty, and seal, which is the sign, or mark of his name. There is no danger, while his subjects retain the knowledge of his title and seal, of their being imposed upon.

If the law of an earthly monarch, is but a dead letter, without the signature of royalty, and seal of the law-giver, how must it be with the law of the Most High, if his signature of royalty, and seal, have been removed from his law? If it has been done by himself, he has rendered his own law inactive; but if it has been removed by a foreign hand, as taught by them, it must be faulty. The loyal sanction of the Most High, must be something connected with his law, that discovers to us the extent of his dominion, and right to reign; which is a sign between him and his loyal subjects, that they may know his genuine laws, and be guarded against all imposition. That the living God has a seal, we learn from Isa. viii, 16; and we also learn by the same text, that that seal has been taken off. "Bind up the testimony seal the law among my disciples." No necessity for such a proclamation, if the law seal had not been broken. Therefore in this time, when men are saying to us "Seek unto them that have familiar spirits," we are to seal God's law; restore to it his royal sanction which he attached to it when he gave it; which, like the seal of an earthly monarch, stamps his right to reign, and extent of dominion, as expressed in his royal title, as genuine, and shows to his subjects, that they are not imposed upon.

We wish to call attention to the law God, and if possible find his seal. We begin and read. The first three commandments are prohibitions, and in each of them the name "thy God" is mentioned; but the uniformed might say, "there are gods many and lords many." We do not gain the desired information, from these three commandments. We pass on. We will skip the fourth commandment, as it is thought by some to be a Jewish institution, which has served its time out and ceased. The fifth commandment teaches the duty to parents, with a promise of long life in the land, to those who obey. The other five commandments are each prohibitions; but neither of them mention the name of God. We will now look at the fourth commandment, and see if we can get any light there.

"Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it." Here we get, 1st. "The Lord." 2d. Signature of royalty; Creator of heaven and earth. 3d. Right to reign and extent of dominion. As he is the creator of heaven and earth, and all that is therein, nothing can exist unless supplied from his bounty. Therefore as he is our creator and sustainer, he has a right to reign over all. Heaven and earth is the extent of his dominion. The seal or sign between him and his people, the Lord himself has declared is what this commandment enforces.

"Moreover, also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify them." Eze. xx, 12, 19, 20. "I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and hallow my Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." See Ex. xxxi, 13-18.

Sign and seal are synonymous terms. See Rom. iv, 11. Paul speaking of Abraham says, "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised." The Sabbath is a sign between God and his people; hence it seals his law as genuine. As the seal of an earthly monarch is a sign between him and his subjects, so the Sabbath is a sign between the Lord and his subjects, that they may know him from all others. Take this fourth commandment from the ten, and the seal of the living God is gone, and the knowledge of their author is taken from us. Here is where Papacy has aimed a blow. The Pope has taken away the seal of the living God, and the ten commandments as taught by him do not contain it. Read the following portion of the fourth commandment as given by the Pope, and by him called the third commandment. From Doctor James Butters catechism.

"Say the third commandment. Ans. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day."

Here is all that the Pope gives of the Sabbath commandment. Where is that part of it that pointed out to us the true God, his right to reign,

extent of dominion, &c? It is gone. Read again from the catechism and see what we have in place of the seal of the living God.

"What is commanded by the third commandment? Ans. To spend the SUNDAY in prayer and other religious duties."

In place of God's seal or mark, we have Sunday attached to the law. It does not point out the living God, but claims to be instituted on the authority of the Papal church, and is claimed by that church to be their signature of royalty; in confirmation of which, read the following from the "abridgment of Christian Doctrine"—p. 58.

"Q. How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days? "A. By the very act of changing Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of; and therefore fondly contradict themselves, by keeping Sunday so strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church."

The two-horned beast is to cause all "to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads." We do not suppose that this is a mark, visible in the forehead; but as we have already shown, it is Sunday. The forehead is the seat of the mind. There the decision is made by men whether they will keep this institution or not. This mark is also to be received in the right hand. The reception of the mark in the hand is probably some act accomplished with the hand by which (during the time of the war by the two-horned beast on commandment keepers) men become incorporated into the ranks of the beast worshipers. (To be Continued.)

HOPE.

Then why should I in sadness grieve o'er flow'ry seasons past, When I'm but nearing all the joys I would possess at last? When Autumn comes the golden fruit we gather home with joy; Why suffer then our darksome fears life's harvest to alloy.

Oh, seems it not an idle thing to talk of yon bright Heaven As our blest home, while to this earth our clinging love is given? I will not shudder to lie down beneath the clay cold sod— The grave is blessed since there reposed the glorious Son of God.

Another spring shall bud and bloom, where wintry snow wreaths lie; So from the darkness of the tomb, to realms beyond the sky, My joyful flesh, at God's command, to nobler life shall rise, And in eternal summer wear, the bloom that never dies.

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