"But independent of the question as to what extent we are a Christian nation, it may well be doubted whether, if the gentlemen who are agitating this question should succeed, they would not do society a very great injury. Such measures are but the initiatory steps which ultimately lead to _restrictions of religious freedom_, and to commit the government to measures which are as foreign to its powers and purposes as would be its action if it should undertake to determine a disputed question of theology."

The _Weekly Alta Californian_ of San Francisco, March 12, 1870, said:--

"The parties who have been recently holding a convention for the somewhat novel purpose of procuring an amendment to the Const.i.tution of the United States recognizing the Deity, do not fairly state the case when they a.s.sert that it is the right of a Christian people to govern themselves in a Christian manner. If we are not governing ourselves in a Christian manner, how shall the doings of our government be designated? The fact is, that the movement is one to bring about in this country that union of church and State which all other nations are trying to dissolve."

The N.Y. _Independent_, Feb., 1870, spoke of the movement as having the same chance of success that a union of church and State would have.

The Champlain _Journal_, speaking of the incorporating the religious principle into the Const.i.tution, and its effect upon the Jews, said:--

"However slight, it is the entering wedge between church and State.

If we may cut off ever so few persons from the right of citizenship on account of difference of religious belief, then with equal justice and propriety may a majority at any time dictate the adoption of still further articles of belief, until our Const.i.tution is but the text book of a sect beneath whose tyrannical sway _all liberty of religious opinion will be crushed_."

For a union of church and State, strictly so-called, we do not look. In place of this, we apprehend that what is called "the image," a creation as strange as it is unique, comes in--not a State controlled by the church, and the church in turn supported by the State, but an ecclesiastical establishment empowered to enforce its own decrees by civil penalties; which, in all its practical bearings, amounts to exactly the same thing. The direct aim of the movement is undoubtedly a union of church and State; a result which it will so nearly accomplish as to secure, by way of compromise, the erection of the image.

Some one may now say, As you expect this movement to carry, you must look for a period of religious persecution in this country; nay, more, you must take the position that all the saints of G.o.d are to be put to death; for the image is to cause that all who will not worship it shall be killed.

There would, perhaps, be some ground for such a conclusion, were we not elsewhere informed that in this dire conflict G.o.d does not abandon his people to defeat, but grants them a complete victory over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name. Rev. 15:2. We further read respecting this earthly power, that he causeth all to receive a mark in their right hand or their foreheads; yet chapter 20:4, speaks of the people of G.o.d as those who do not receive the mark or worship the image.

If, then, he could "cause" all to receive the mark, and yet all not actually receive it, in like manner his causing all to be put to death who will not worship the image does not necessarily signify that their lives are actually to be taken.

But how can this be? Answer: It evidently comes under that rule of interpretation in accordance with which verbs of action sometimes signify merely the will and endeavor to do the action in question, and not the actual performance of the thing specified. George Bush, Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Literature in New York City University, makes this matter plain. In his notes on Ex. 7:11, he says:--

"It is a canon of interpretation of frequent use in the exposition of the sacred writings that verbs of action sometimes signify merely the _will_ and _endeavor_ to do the action in question. Thus in Eze. 24:13: 'I have _purified_ thee, and thou wast not purged;'

_i.e._, I have endeavored, used means, been at pains, to purify thee. John 5:44: 'How can ye believe which _receive_ honor one of another;' _i.e._, endeavor to receive. Rom. 2:4: 'The goodness of G.o.d _leadeth_ thee to repentance;' _i.e._, endeavors, or tends, to lead thee. Amos 9:3: 'Though they be _hid_ from my sight in the bottom of the sea;' _i.e._, though they aim to be hid. 1 Cor.

10:33: 'I _please_ all men;' _i.e._, endeavor to please. Gal. 5:4: 'Whosoever of you are _justified_ by the law;' _i.e._, seek and endeavor to be justified. Ps. 69:4: 'They that _destroy_ me are mighty;' _i.e._, that endeavor to destroy me. Eng., 'That _would_ destroy me.' Acts 7:26: 'And _set them at one_ again;' _i.e._, wished and endeavored. Eng., '_Would_ have set them.'"

So in the pa.s.sage before us: He causes all to receive a mark, and all who will not worship the image to be killed; that is, he wills, purposes, and endeavors, to do this; he makes such an enactment, pa.s.ses such a law, but is not able to execute it; for G.o.d interposes in behalf of his people; and then those who have kept the word of Christ's patience are kept from falling in this hour of temptation, according to Rev. 3:10; then those who have made G.o.d their refuge are kept from all evil, and no plague comes nigh their dwelling, according to Ps. 91: 9,10; then all who are found written in the book are delivered, according to Dan. 12:1; and, being victors over the beast and his image, they are redeemed from among men, and raise a song of triumph before the throne of G.o.d, according to Rev. 14:4; 15:2.

The objector may further say: You are altogether too credulous in supposing that all the skeptics of our land, the spiritualists, the German infidels, and the irreligious ma.s.ses generally, can be so far brought to favor the religious observance of Sunday that a general law can be promulgated in its behalf.

We answer: The prophecy must be fulfilled; and if the prophecy requires such a revolution, it will be accomplished. But we do not know that it is necessary. Permit us to suggest an idea, which, though it is only conjecture, may show how enough can be accomplished to fulfill the prophecy without involving the cla.s.ses mentioned. This movement, as has been shown, must originate with the churches of our land, and be carried forward by them. They wish to enforce certain practices among all the people; and it would be very natural that, in reference to those points respecting which they wish to influence the outside ma.s.ses, they should see the necessity of first having absolute conformity among all the evangelical denominations. They could not expect to influence non-religionists to any great degree on questions respecting which they were divided among themselves. So, then, let union be had on those views and practices which the great majority already entertain. To this end coercion may first be attempted. But here are a few who cannot possibly attach to the observance of the first day, which the majority wish to secure, any religious obligation; and would it be anything strange for the sentence to be given, Let these few factionists be made to conform, by persuasion if possible, by force, if necessary. Thus the blow may fall on conscientious commandment-keepers, before the outside ma.s.ses are involved in the issue at all. And should events take this not improbable turn, it would be sufficient to meet the prophecy, and leave no ground for the objection proposed.

To receive the mark of the beast in the forehead, is, we understand, to give the a.s.sent of the mind and judgment to his authority in the adoption of that inst.i.tution which const.i.tutes the mark. By parity of reasoning, to receive it in the hand would be to signify allegiance by some outward act.

The number, over which the saints are also to get the victory, is the number of the papal beast, called also the number of his name, and the number of a man, and said to be six hundred threescore and six. The pope wears upon his pontifical crown in jeweled letters, this t.i.tle: "_Vicarius Filii Dei_," "Vicegerent of the Son of G.o.d;" the numerical value of which t.i.tle is just six hundred and sixty-six. The most plausible supposition we have ever seen on this point is that here we find the number in question. It is the number of the beast, the papacy; it is the number of his name; for he adopts it as his distinctive t.i.tle; it is the number of a man; for he who bears it is the "man of sin." We get the victory over it by refusing those inst.i.tutions and practices which he sets forth as evidence of his power to sit supreme in the temple of G.o.d, and by adopting which we should acknowledge the validity of his t.i.tle, by conceding his right to act for the church in behalf of the Son of G.o.d.

And now, reader, we leave with you this subject. We confidently submit the argument as one which is invulnerable in all its points. We ask you to review it carefully. Take in, if thought can comprehend it, the wonderful phenomenon of our own nation. Consider its location, the time of its rise, the manner of its rise, its character, Satan's masterpiece of lying wonders which he has here sprung upon the world, and the elements which are everywhere working to fulfill in just as accurate a manner every other specification of the prophecy. Can you doubt the application. We know not how. Then the last agents to appear in this world's history are on the stage of action, the close of this dispensation is at hand, and the Lord cometh speedily to judge the world. Then an issue of appalling magnitude is before us. It is no less than this: To yield to unrighteous human enactments soon to be made, and thus expose ourselves to the unmingled wrath of an insulted Creator, or to remain loyal to our G.o.d and brave the utmost wrath of the dragon and his infuriated hosts.

In reference to this issue, the third angel now utters his solemn and vehement warning. To aid in sounding over the land this timely note of alarm, to impress upon hearts the importance of a right position in the coming issue, and the necessity of pursuing such a course as will secure the favor of G.o.d in the season of earth's direst extremity, and a share at last in his glorious salvation, is the object of this effort. And if with any it shall have this effect, the prayer of the writer will not be utterly unanswered, nor his labor be wholly lost.