REVELATIONS XIV((.)) 9, 10, 11. AND THE THIRD ANGEL FOLLOWED THEM WITH A LOUD VOICE: IF ANY MAN WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND RECEIVED HIS MARK IN HIS FOREHEAD, OR IN HIS HAND; THE SAME SHALL DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD, WHICH IS POURED OUT, WITH-+ OUT / MIXTURE, INTO THE CUP OF HIS INDIG-+ NATION; / AND HE SHALL BE TORMENTED WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY ANGELS, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LAMB: AND THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT ASCENDETH UP FOR EVER AND EVER: AND THEY HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT, WHO WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND WHOSOEVER RE-+ CEIVETH / THE MARK OF HIS NAME. IN ORDER PERFECTLY TO COMPREHEND THE FORCE AND DRIFT OF THESE WORDS, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO CAST OUR EYES A LITTLE BACKWARDS. IN THE VERSE IM-+ MEDIATELY / PRECEEDING MY TEXT, THE FATE OF A GREAT CITY IS DECLARED, BABYLON IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN; THAT GREAT CITY: AND WHY? BECAUSE SHE MADE ALL NATIONS DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION. NOW THE WORD WHICH THE TRANSLATORS HAVE

RENDERED FORNICATION, IS IN THE ORIGINAL ((GREEK)) AND SIGNIFIES ANY PROSTITUTION FOR HIRE. IT IS PRIMITIVELY DERIVED FROM ((GREEK)) TO SELL; ACCORDINGLY, XENOPHON SAYS, WHO-+ EVER / SELLS HIMSELF FOR HIRE, IS CALLED ((GREEK)) AND ST ATHANASIUS USES THE FEMININE IN THE SAME SENSE: BUT AS FORNICATION WAS THE COMMONEST, AND, PERHAPS, EARLIEST PROSTITU-+ TION, / THE NAME OF THE GENUS ITSELF MIGHT BE APPLIED TO THIS SINGLE SPECIES: A GREAT AND ABOMINABLE SIN, NO DOUBT IT IS: YET SUCH AS WOULD HARDLY BRING DOWN THE JUDGMENT OF GOD ON A WHOLE PEOPLE. NOR IS THE PHRASE, TO DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION, EASILY, I THINK, TO BE COMPREHENDED. INDEED, THE WORD WINE IS FREQUENTLY UNDERSTOOD IN A STRONGLY META-+ PHORICAL / SENSE; AS THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD, IN THE TEXT; AND AGAIN, CHAP((.)) ((XVI . 19 .)) SO HERE, AND IN CHAP((. XVIII . 3 .)) WHERE THE TRANSLATORS ERRONEOUSLY READ FORNICATION, THE SENSE IS DOUBTLESS EX-+ TREMELY / FIGURATIVE; BUT AGREEABLE TO THE SCRIPTURE LANGUAGE. IF WE WILL RECEIVE ANY IDEA, THEREFORE, FROM THIS PASSAGE, WE MUST TRANSLATE IT THUS: BECAUSE SHE HATH WATERED ALL NA-+ TIONS, / WITH THE WINE OF THE VIOLENCE OF HER PROSTITUTION. THE GREEK IS,((GREEK)) ((GREEK)) ((GREEK)) BUT((GREEK)) WHICH THE TRANSLATORS

HAVE RENDERED WRATH, AS PROPERLY SIGNIFIES VIOLENCE; AND ST((.)) PAUL HIMSELF,((I)) COR((. III .)) ((6 .)) HATH TAUGHT US TO EXPRESS WATERING, BY THE VERB((GREEK)): AND THUS THE WISE MAN, PROV((. IV . 17 .)) THEY EAT THE BREAD OF WICKED-+ NESS, / AND DRINK THE WINE OF VIOLENCE: WHERE WE MAY OBSERVE THE WORD WINE USED IN A SENSE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT IT HERE BEARS. AND THE FIRST VERSE OF THE TEXT ITSELF DI-+ RECTS / US TO THIS EXPOSITION: FOR WHAT CAN BE MEANT BY WORSHIPPING THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND RECEIVING HIS MARK IN THEIR HAND, UNLESS PROSTITUTION FOR HIRE? THE ANTIENTS EXPRESS BEASTS AND MONEY BY THE SAME WORDS. THE ATHENIANS CALLED THEIR MONEY BY THE NAME OF AN OX, BECAUSE IT WAS MARKED WITH THE FIGURE OF ONE, AND THE LATINS IMMEDIATELY DERIVE THE WORD, WHICH WE TRANSLATE MONEY, FROM THAT WHICH RE-+ PRESENTS / BEASTS IN GENERAL. THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND NOTHING BUT MONEY BY THE MARK OF THE BEAST, IS PLAIN FROM THE ((16TH)) AND ((17TH)) VERSES OF THE PRECEDING CHAPTER; WHERE, SPEAKING OF THE WORKS OF THE BEAST, IT IS SAID OF HIM, THAT HE CAUSETH ALL, BOTH GREAT AND SMALL, RICH AND POOR, FREE AND BOND, TO RECEIVE A MARK IN THEIR RIGHT HAND, OR IN THEIR FORE-+ HEADS, / 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. AND FOR A FARTHER COMMENT ON THE WORD ((GREEK)), LET US RETURN TO THE ((XIIITH)) CHAPTER AND ((3D)) VERSE, WHERE IT IS WRITTEN, ALL NA-+ TIONS / HAVE DRANK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION; AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH HAVE COMMITTED FORNICATION WITH HER, AND THE MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH ARE WAXED RICH, THROUGH THE ABUNDANCE OF HER DELICA-+ CIES. / HERE IT IS EVIDENT, THAT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ANY IDEA FROM THE WORDS, IT IS NE-+ CESSARY / TO SUBSTITUTE PROSTITUTION IN THE ROOM OF FORNICATION IN BOTH PLACES. THE TEXT, THEREFORE, BEING RESCUED FROM THE ERRORS OF TRANSLATORS, AND CONSIDERED WITH THE CONTEXT, CONVEYS TO US VERY PLAIN-+ LY / THIS LESSON, THAT BABYLON OWED HER DE-+ STRUCTION / TO THE PROSTITUTION AND CORRUPTION OF HER CITIZENS; AND THAT WHOEVER SHALL HEREAFTER BE SO CORRUPT IN HIS HEART, SO PROSTITUTE IN HIS SOUL, AS TO WORSHIP ANO-+ THER / FOR GAIN, AND DO ALL HIS VILE PURPOSES FOR HIRE; THIS MAN SHALL DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD, WHICH IS POURED OUT WITHOUT MIXTURE, INTO THE CUP OF HIS INDIG-+ NATION; / AND HE SHALL BE TORMENTED WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS HOLY ANGELS, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LAMB) AND THE SMOKE OF HIS TORMENT SHALL ASCEND

FOR EVER AND EVER, AND HE SHALL HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT. THE INSPIRED WRITER CON-+ CLUDES / IN A VERY REMARKABLE MANNER, WITH A REPETITION OF THE CRIME. THEY (SAYS HE) WHO WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND WHOSOEVER RECEIVETH THE MARK OF HIS NAME. IN MY ENSURING DISCOURSE I SHALL ENDEA-+ VOUR, / ((I .)) TO FIX AND PLAINLY POINT OUT TO YOU THE NATURE OF THAT PROSTITUTION, WHICH IS LEVELLED AT IN THE TEXT. ((II .)) TO DISSUADE YOU FROM IT, BY MANY WORLDLY MOTIVES; BUT ABOVE ALL, BY THE FEAR OF THAT JUDGMENT HERE DE-+ NOUNCED / AGAINST IT. ((III .)) TO APPLY THE WHOLE TO THE PRESENT OCCASION. AND, ((I .)) FOR THE NATURE OF THIS PROSI-+ TUTION. / WE ARE NOT TO SUPPOSE, THAT BY RECEIVING THE MARK OF THE BEAST CAN BE MEANT RECEIVING MONEY BY LAWFUL AND HO-+ NEST / MEANS. WE MUST NOT IMAGINE, THAT WE ARE FORBID THE EXERCISE OF COMMERCE, WHICH IS USEFUL TO A WHOLE SOCIETY AS WELL AS PROFITABLE TO THE MERCHANT HIMSELF. ON THE CONTRARY, ST((.)) PAUL, IN HIS EPISTLE TO TITUS, CHAP((. III . 14 .)) ADVISES THE CHRISTIANS

TO LEARN TO PROFESS HONEST TRADES; AND MER-+ CHANDIZE / AND TRADING ARE OFTEN VERY HO-+ NOURABLY / MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE. MONEY THEREFORE MAY BE TAKEN IN EX-+ CHANGE / FOR WARES: SO LIKEWISE FOR LA-+ BOUR. / ST((.)) LUKE TELLS US, CHAP((. X . I .)) THE LABOURER IS WORTHY OF HIS HIRE; WHICH PAUL TO TIMOTHY, CHAP((. V . 18)), CONFIRMS: SO THAT THE SERVANT MAY SAFELY RECEIVE HIS WAGES FROM HIS MASTER, WHILE HE DOTH THAT ONLY WHICH IS LAWFUL FOR THEM. NOR INDEED CAN THE ACCEPTING A REWARD FOR DO-+ ING / WELL, BE SUPPOSED WITHIN THE DANGER OF SO TERRIBLE A SENTENCE. NO; IT MUST BE THE RECEIVING MONEY UNLAWFULLY; THE RE-+ CEIVING / MONEY TO DO ILL; WHICH CAN BE CONSIDERED AS RECEIVING THE MARK OF THE BEAST, IN THE LANGUAGE AND MEANING OF MY TEXT. NOW MONEY IS CERTAINLY RECEIVED UNLAW-+ FULLY, / WHEN WE GIVE THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR IT, WHICH IS NOT OUR OWN; OR WHICH, THO' PERHAPS ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE, OR EVEN USE, IS NOT HOWEVER IN OUR POWER TO DIS-+ POSE / OF. ((I .)) WHEN WE ACCEPT OF IT ON CONDITION OF DOING SOMETHING FORBIDDEN BY THE LAWS OF GOD OR OUR COUNTRY.

I SHALL NOT DESCEND MINUTELY TO PRIVATE INSTANCES, BY WHICH MEN ENTITLE THEM-+ SELVES / TO THIS DREADFUL CUP WHICH CONTAINS THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD: BUT AS THE TEXT RESPECTS CHIEFLY PUBLICK CORRUP-+ TION / AND PROSTITUTION, I SHALL CONFINE MY-+ SELF / TO INSTANCES OF THAT KIND ONLY. IF IT BE NECESSARY THEN FOR EVERY MAN BE-+ FORE / HE BARTERS, STRICTLY TO EXAMINE WHETHER HE HATH A LAWFUL CAPACITY OF DISPOSING OF THAT FOR WHICH HE RECEIVES THE MARK; SURELY, NO ONE CAN SUSPECT THAT HE HAS THE LEAST RIGHT TO SELL THE LIBERTIES OF HIS COUNTRY. WE ARE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AS SERVANTS ARE MEMBERS OF A FAMILY, TO LABOUR IN OUR SEVERAL CALLINGS FOR THE GOOD OF THIS GREAT MISTRESS, BUT WITHOUT THE LEAST POWER OF GIVING OR SELLING ANY OF HER POSSESSIONS. WHEN WE BETRAY HER INTEREST, WE ARE GUILTY OF A BREACH OF A TRUST; AND BY HOW MUCH HIGHER THE PLACES ARE IN WHICH WE ARE EM-+ PLOYED, / BY HOW MUCH GREATER THE CONFI-+ DENCE / IS WHICH SOCIETY REPOSES IN US, SO MUCH GREATER IS OUR BREACH OF TRUST, SO MUCH THE MORE PERNICIOUS TRAYTORS WE BECOME: BUT HE WHO IN THE LOWEST AND MEANEST OFFICE PERVERTS HIS DUTY, AND COR-+ RUPTLY / SELLS THAT LITTLE SHARE OF THE PUBLICK INTEREST, WHICH IS COMMITTED TO HIS CHARGE, RECEIVES THE MARK OF THE BEAST WITHIN THE

LETTER OF THE TEXT, AND MAY ASSURE HIM-+ SELF / OF THE REWARD PROMISED IN IT, NAMELY, THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD. 2NDLY. IT IS NO LESS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO CONCEIVE, WE HAVE ANY RIGHT TO SELL THE LIBERTIES OF OUR CHILDREN. THE POWER OF FATHERHOOD IS THE POWER OF PRESERVA-+ TION, / NOT DESTRUCTION. LET HIM LOOK TO IT, WHO SQUANDERS THE PATRIMONY LEFT HIM BY HIS ANCESTORS, AND ENTAILS BEGGARY UPON HIS PROSPERITY; BUT LET HIM LOOK NEARER TO IT, WHO PROSTITUTES THEIR LIBERTIES FOR HIRE, AND ENTAILS SLAVERY ON THEM. WHAT OUR ANCESTORS BEQUEATHED TO THEIR POSTERITY, WE SHOULD CAREFULLY TRANSMIT TO OURS. THE USE, NOT THE DISPOSAL OF THE BLESSING BE-+ LONGS / TO US; AND HE WHO INFAMOUSLY BARTERS IT AWAY, WHATEVER PRICE HE MAY RECEIVE ON THIS SIDE THE GRAVE, WILL FIND SOME FARTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THO' PERHAPS SUCH AS HE MAY NOT GREATLY LIKE, REMAINING DUE, AND FAITH-+ FULLY / PAID HIM ON THE OTHER. 3RDLY. WE CANNOT ABSOLUTELY SELL OUR-+ SELVES. / WE CANNOT GIVE AN ABSOLUTE POWER OVER OUR OWN LIVES TO ANOTHER.; FOR THIS IS A POWER WHICH THE ALMIGHTY RETAINS HIMSELF, AND HATH NOT ENTRUSTED US WITH. NEITHER CAN WE GIVE ANOTHER AN AUTHORITY OVER US, SUFFICIENT TO CONTROUL OUR RELIGION, OUR CONSCIENCE, OUR HONOUR, OR OUR HONESTY.

AS THEREFORE TO DEPART WITH OUR WHOLE LI-+ BERTIES, / TO DELIVER OURSELVES TOTALLY AND AB-+ SOLUTELY / UP TO ANY MAN, IS TO GIVE HIM A POWER OVER OUR LIVES, AND ALL OUR ACTIONS; AND AS SUCH A POWER IS NOT PROPERLY IN US TO DISPOSE OF, IT FOLLOWS, THAT THIS BARTER LIKEWISE IS RECEIVING THE MARK OF THE BEAST. IF THEN WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO SELL THE LI-+ BERTIES / OF OUR COUNTRY, OUR CHILDREN, OR OURSELVES; IF THIS BE PROSTITUTION FOR HIRE; SURELY NO MAN WILL CONTEND, THAT IT CAN BE LESS INFAMOUS, LESS CRIMINAL, TO RECEIVE THE DETESTABLE PRICE, WHEN THE CONDITION IS CERTAINLY IMPLIED, AND PERFECTLY WELL UN-+ DERSTOOD, / THAN IF IT WAS OPEN AND EXPRESS'D; NOR THAT THE WRETCH, WHO WILFULLY SELLS THE POWER OF BETRAYING OUR LIBERTIES TO THE PERSON WHOM HE KNOWS WILL BETRAY THEM, IS LESS GUILTY THAN THE LAST BETRAYER HIMSELF. HE THAT DELIVERS HIS FRIEND TO A ROBBER, OR PUTS A DAGGER INTO THE HANDS OF ONE WHO WILL (HE KNOWS OR SUSPECTS) PLUNGE IT INTO THE BOSOM OF HIS FATHER, IS HE NOT THE ROBBER OF HIS FRIEND, AND THE MURTHERER OF HIS PARENT? HIS HANDS PERHAPS IN THE LAST INSTANCE MAY BE LESS BLOODY, THAN HIS WHO COMMITS THE FACT; BUT HIS HEART IS MORE TAINTED, AND HIS SOUL MORE GUILTY. IF THEN WE ARE INDUCED BY ANY PROMISE OR RE-+ WARD, / TO DELIVER OUR COUNTRY INTO THE

HANDS OF TRAYTORS, WHO, WE ARE ASSURED, WILL STRIP HER OF HER LIBERTIES. IF WE ARE BRIBED TO ARM VILLAINS WITH A SWORD WHICH WE KNOW, NAY BUT SUSPECT, THEY WILL RIP UP HER BOWELS WITH, WE ARE PATRICIDES IN THE UT-+ MOST / EXTENSIVE SENSE; WE HAVE RECEIVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST, HAVE DRANK THE WINE OF PROSTITUTION, AND MAY ASSURE OURSELVES A TASTE OF THAT BITTER CUP OF THE WRATH OF GOD. HAVING THEREFORE WITH THAT BREVITY, WHICH SO OBVIOUS AND PLAIN A PROPOSITION REQUIRES, DEMONSTRATED TO YOU THE NATURE OF THIS PUBLICK PROSTITUTION, I COME NOW IN THE SECOND PLACE TO DISSUADE YOU FROM SO BLACK A CRIME. AND FIRST FROM THE CONSIDERATION OF YOUR OWN WORLDLY INTEREST: INDEED, IF THERE WAS NO OTHER RESTRICTION, THIS ALONE MIGHT WELL BE DEEMED SUFFICIENT; FOR VIEWING IT IN THE LIGHT OF PRUDENCE ONLY, I SHOULD CONCEIVE THE SHORTEST DELIBERATION WOULD DETERMINE A REASONABLE BEING TO REJECT ANY PRICE FOR THE INVALUABLE BLESSING OF LIBERTY; THAT ALL THE FALSE GLOSSES WHICH VANITY OR LUXURY, AVARICE OR AMBITION COULD CAST ON THE RICHEST BRIBE WOULD BE DISSIPATED BY A MO-+ MENT'S / REFLECTION. WE MAY SAY OF LI-+ BERTY, / COMPARED TO ALL OTHER WORLDLY POSSESSIONS, AS THE SCRIPTURE DOTH OF A

MAN'S SOUL. WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT US IF WE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD BY SUCH A LOSS? WHAT PLEASURES OR PROFITS CAN WE SECURE THE ENJOYMENT OF, OR WHAT PAINS OR MISERIES CAN WE FLATTER OURSELVES TO BE SAFE FROM WITHOUT IT? THOSE VERY PASSIONS, WHICH EXPOSE US TO THE BAITS OF CORRUPTION, WOULD, IF WE SAW THE HOOK, OR CONSIDERED THE FATAL CONSEQUENCE, DETER US FROM IT. FEAR WOULD ALARM US WITH DANGER, AVARICE WITH ARBITRARY RAPINE, AND PRIDE WITH DE-+ PENDENCE. / FOR WHAT SLAVE CAN CALL HIS LIFE, OR HIS RICHES HIS OWN? WHAT SLAVE WHO REFLECTS, BUT MUST FEEL THEM DEPEN-+ DING / ON THE PLEASURE AND CAPRICE OF HIS MASTER! HOW MEAN AND DESPICABLE A STATE THE DEPENDENCE ON THE WILL OF ANOTHER IS, A MOMENT'S THOUGHT WILL SUGGEST TO THE MAN OF SPIRIT; HOW DREADFUL AND HOW WRETCHED A STATE IT IS, A LITTLE KNOW-+ LEDGE / IN HISTORY WILL CONVINCE US. FOR ON THE ONE SIDE, CAN ANY THING BE MEANER THAN TO BE THE SLAVE OF SUCH A CREATURE AS OUR-+ SELVES, / WHOM GOD AND NATURE HAVE RANKED IN NO HIGHER AN ORDER OF BEING, PERHAPS A LOWER DEGREE OF THE SAME ORDER; AND ON THE OTHER PART, WHAT PAINTER, WHAT ORATOR CAN DESCRIBE WITH SUITABLE HORROUR, THE DREADFUL SCENES WHICH ABSOLUTE POWER HATH ACTED IN THE WORLD'S THEATRE; THE CRUELTIES WHICH TY-+ RANTS / HAVE INFLICTED, AND SLAVES ENDURED! NOR ARE THESE TRAGICAL INSTANCES CONFINED TO ONE

COUNTRY, TO ONE PERIOD, THEY ATTEND SLAVERY WHEREVER THE MONSTER GOES, AND ARE INSEPA-+ RABLE / FROM HER. A LITTLE REFLECTION THERE-+ FORE, / A LITTLE REASON, A LITTLE WISDOM WILL PROTECT US FROM SO WEAK, SO MAD A BARGAIN, ON THE CONSIDERATION OF OUR OWN WELFARE ONLY: FOR IT IS A BARGAIN, WHICH HE MUST NOT ONLY BE A VILLAIN, BUT A FOOL TOO, WHO MAKES. AND SURELY THE LEAST GRAIN OF GOODNESS, THO' IT WERE NO LARGER THAN A MUSTARD-SEED, WILL PREVENT US FROM BRINGING SUCH MISERY ON OTHERS: THE SMALLEST DEGREE OF PATER-+ NAL / AFFECTION, WILL INSPIRE US TO ABHOR THE THOUGHT OF BEQUEATHING SUCH A LEGACY TO OUR CHILDREN. BUT IF THEIR GOOD, THEIR ADVANCEMENT BE INTENDED BY ANY SUCH WRETCHED ACQUISITION; IF IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM RICH, WE MAKE THEM SLAVES; IF WE BUILD FINE HOUSES FOR THEM, TO HOLD BY SLAVISH TENURES; IF WE PURCHASE FOR THEM VAIN AND LIGHT TITLES, TOGETHER WITH REAL AND HEAVY CHAINS, LET US ASSURE OUR SELVES, THEY WOULD BE MORE OBLIGED TO US, IF, LIKE THE INHABITANTS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND DE-+ SERTS, / WE LEFT THEM THEIR FREEDOM AND DENS FROM AN INHERITANCE. HOWEVER GREAT THE PRAEMIUM BE, FOR WHICH WE GIVE UP THEIR LIBERTY, THEY WILL NOT THINK IT AN EQUIVALENT, AND WILL, WITH REASON, CURSE

OUR CHOICE, AT LEAST, IF IT WAS FOOLISHLY IN-+ TENDED / FOR THEIR WELFARE. BUT, IF NEITHER A DUE UNDERSTANDING OF, NOR REGARD TO OUR OWN, OR OUR CHILDREN'S INTEREST IN THIS WORLD, CAN HAVE ANY SWAY WITH US; YET LET THE DREADFUL DENUNCIATION IN THE TEXT, FRIGHTEN US FROM THIS HORRID VICE: LET US SHUDDER AT THE APPREHENSION OF DRINKING THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD, POURED OUT WITHOUT MIXTURE, INTO THE CUP OF HIS INDIGNATION; OF BEING TOR-+ MENTED / FOR EVER AND EVER WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS. A DREADFUL SENTENCE, INDEED, AND WHICH, HE MUST HAVE MORE THAN MORTAL BRAVERY, OR FOLLY, WHO CAN HEAR UNMOVED. BUT IF THERE BE A PERSON, THE HARDNESS OF WHOSE HEART OR HEAD, WILL RECEIVE NO IMPRESSION FROM THIS JUDGMENT, CONSIDERED AT A DIS-+ TANCE, / AND APPLIED TO A CRIME, NOT A PER-+ SON / YET WILL IT NOT FAIL TO AFFECT THE MOST FOOL-HARDY, WHEN THE VOICE OF GOD SHALL PRONOUNCE IT IN HIS PRESENCE, AND AGAINST HIMSELF. TO GO ABOUT TO EXAGGERATE SUCH PUNISH-+ MENTS, / AS THE WRATH OF GOD, AND ETERNAL MISERY, WOULD SEEM STRANGE AND ABSURD. LET A MAN ATTEND BUT A MOMENT, LET HIM OPEN HIS EARS ONLY, AND HE WILL RECEIVE AN IDEA FROM THE WORDS I HAVE READ, NOT TO

BE HEIGHTEN'D BY ANY OTHER. CAN SO COLD AN INDIFFERENCE THEN SEIZE US IN A MATTER OF SUCH INFINITE CONCERN? WILL MEN, WHOM THE WIND RUFFLES, WHOM A FLY CAN DISORDER, PROVOKE THE WRATH OF GOD? CAN A CREA-+ TURE, / WHO TREMBLES AT THE MOMENTARY PU-+ NISHMENTS / INFLICTED BY AN EARTHLY JUDGE, LAUGH AT THE SENTENCE OF AN ETERNAL? CAN HE WHO STARTS AT A WHIPPING-POST, LOOK CONFIDENTLY AND STEDFASTLY IN THE FACE OF DAMNATION? OR IS IT THAT WE DISBELIEVE THESE THINGS; THAT WE HAVE DRANK OF THE INFIDELITY OF THE AGE? A CUP TOO LIBERALLY DISTRIBUTED A-+ BROAD: / BUT IT IS A POISONOUS ONE, AND OF-+ FERS / US THE WINE OF IGNORANCE, NOT OF KNOWLEDGE; A DRAUGHT, HOWEVER DELICIOUS IT MAY SEEM, WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THAT BITTER POTION METNIONED IN THE TEXT, NAME-+ LY, / THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD. INDEED THIS INFIDELITY IS MORE THAN CRE-+ DIBLE, / FROM THE VICE WHICH I WOULD CAU-+ TION / YOU AGAINST; MEN OF SUCH DARKENED UNDERSTANDINGS, AS ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE A LITTLE FORWARD INTO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THINGS, WHO CAN BE HOOD-WINKED, AND BLINDED BY THE GLITTERING OF A LITTLE BRIBE TO GIVE UP WHAT IS MOST VALUABLE TO THEM HERE, AND WHICH, COULD THEIR SPECULATIONS REACH A FEW YEARS ONLY INTO FUTURITY, THEY

COULD NEVER BE SEDUCED TO PART WITH, CAN HARDLY BE IMAGINED TO HAVE INTELLECTUALS CLEAR ENOUGH TO PENETRATE INTO ETERNITY. SUCH A DISTANCE MAY EASILY BAFFLE THEIR WEAK SIGHT, MAY MISREPRESENT THE BRIGHT-+ EST / TRUTHS TO THEIR MINDS, AND MAKE THEM PREFER THE TRASH AND TRIFLES, THE BRIBES AND BAWBLES, WHICH CORRUPTION LAYS BEFORE THEM, TO ALL THE GLORIES WHICH GOD SHALL UNVEIL HEREAFTER; AND EMBOLDEN THEM TO SNATCH THE PRESENT TOY AT THE HAZARD OF ALL THE PUNISHMENTS WHICH HE HATH THREATNED, AND WILL SURELY INFLICT ON THEM. BUT LET US, MY BELOVED, HEAR THESE THINGS WITH OPEN EARS, AND CONSIDER THEM WITH A LIVELY FAITH: FOR THO' THE PUNISH-+ MENT / OF THE WICKED IS NOT PRESENT, (AND PROBABLY NOT FAR OFF NEITHER) LET US BE AS-+ SURED / IT IS CERTAIN. AND, GOD GRANT SUCH AN ASSURANCE MAY HAVE SO GOOD AN EFFECT ON ALL WHO HEAR ME THIS DAY, THAT THEY MAY NEVER HEREAFTER BE IN DANGER OF HEAR-+ ING / SO DREADFUL A SENTENCE. I PROCEED NOW TO MY THIRD PURPOSE: TO APPLY WHAT HATH BEEN HERE SAID TO THE PRESENT OCCASION. YOU WILL NOW WITHIN A FEW DAYS ELECT REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE YOU IN THE ENSUING PARLIAMENT. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE TO COMMIT THE CARE OF YOUR LIBERTIES, AND

PROPERTIES; THE INTEREST AND SAFETY OF YOURSELVES, YOUR WIVES, AND YOUR CHIL-+ DREN, / TO TRUSTEES, WHO WILL HAVE IT ACTU-+ ALLY / IN THEIR POWER TO PRESERVE OR BETRAY WHAT OUGHT TO BE SO DEAR TO YOU; FOR THE WHOLE RESERVE OF POWER ON THE PEOPLE'S SIDE, ALL THE BARRIER BETWEEN THEM AND AB-+ SOLUTE / DOMINION, IS ACTUALLY DEPOSITED IN, OR AT LEAST THE EXECUTION OF IT ENTRUSTED TO, THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. THE DELEGATION OF SUCH A TRUST SURELY REQUIRES THE UTMOST CAUTION; THE STRICTEST ENQUIRY INTO THE CHARACTER, THE ABILITIES, BUT ABOVE ALL, THE INTEGRITY OF HIM WE DE-+ PUTE. / ANY HASTE OR LEVITY IN OUR DETER-+ MINATION, / IN A MATTER OF SUCH VAST CONSE-+ QUENCE, MUST BE, IN THE HIGHEST DEGREE, INEXCUSABLE: BUT OPENLY AND DELIBERATELY TO DELIVER THE KEYS OF OUR LIBERTIES TO MEN, WHO, WE ARE CERTAIN, WOULD SOLICIT OR AC-+ CEPT / THE TRUST ON NO OTHER MOTIVE THAN THAT OF BETRAYING IT; TO FIX ON PERSONS WHO (FAR FROM HAVING GIVEN GOOD AND SUBSTAN-+ TIAL / REASONS FOR OUR CONFIDENCE IN THEIR INTEGRITY) HAVE, BY UNDENIABLE PROOFS, ASSURED US OF THEIR READINESS TO CONCUR IN MEASURES CALCULATED FOR OUR RUIN. THIS, MY BELOVED, IS A CONDUCT TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR, TO BE RECONCILED WITH THE LOWEST SHARE OF HUMAN UNDERSTANDING, FROM CORRUPTION ONLY, FROM WEARING THE MARK OF THE BEAST.

LET US NOT DECEIVE OUR SELVES; LET US NOT AFFECT AN IGNORANCE OF THOSE SCHEMES, WHICH THE DEVIL AND HIS EMISSARIES HAVE LAID AGAINST US, AND WHICH, UNLESS TIMELY, UNLESS NOW OP-+ POSED, / MUST END IN OUR DESTRUCTION. CAN A MAN OPEN HIS EYES, HIS EARS, AND HIS UNDERSTANDING, WITHOUT PERCEIVING MANY EVIDENCES OF THE CONTRIVANCE AND OPERA-+ TIONS / OF SATAN, WHO IS ALWAYS MANIFEST IN HIS WORKS. SO OBVIOUS ARE THESE MACHI-+ NATIONS, / THEY NEED NOT NAMING; SO FAR AD-+ VANCED, / THEY REQUIRE THE MOST IMMEDIATE RESISTANCE; SO DEEPLY LAID IN HELL, THAT THE MOST POWERFUL OPPOSITION CAN ONLY OVERCOME THEM. IT GREATLY CONCERNS US, THEREFORE, TO FLY ON THIS OCCASION, TO ALL THE MEANS OF PRE-+ SERVATION / WHICH ARE LEFT US. AND, FIRST, LET US HUMBLE OUR SELVES BEFORE THE THRONE OF THAT ALMIGHTY BEING, WHOSE INFINITE POWER IS AT ALL TIMES ABLE, WHENEVER IT SHALL PLEASE HIM, TO EXECUTE HIS WILL; WHO CAN PROTECT THE WEAK, RE-+ STORE / THE FALLEN, AND DEFEAT THE PURPOSES OF THE WICKED, HOW ARTFULLY SOEVER CONTRI-+ VED, / OR HOW NEAR SOEVER BROUGHT TO PER-+ FECTION. / BEFORE HIM, THEREFORE, LET US FALL WITH TEARS AND PRAYERS, ACKNOWLEDGING

OUR FAULTS, LAMENTING OUR UNWORTHINESS, AND BESEECHING THAT ASSISTANCE OF HIM, WHICH HE IS READIER TO GIVE THAN WE TO ASK; BE-+ ING / INFINITELY MORE SENSIBLE OF OUR MISERIES AND INFIRMITIES, THAN WE OUR SELVES. SECONDLY, LET US LOOK UP WITH LOYAL HEARTS TO THE EARTHLY THRONE OF A GOOD AND GRACIOUS PRINCE, WHO IS READY TO HEAR AND REDRESS HIS SUBJECTS, WHENEVER THEIR CRIES CAN COME UNTO HIM. LASTLY, LET US BE TRUE AND HONEST TO ONE ANOTHER, LET US FAITHFULLY AND JUSTLY DIS-+ CHARGE / THIS GREAT AND IMPORTANT DUTY, WHICH WE OWE TO OUR SELVES, OUR WIVES, OUR CHILDREN, OUR NEIGHBOURS, AND OUR COUNTRY; BUT COMMITTING THE CARE AND GUARDIANSHIP OF THEIR LIBERTIES AND PROPER-+ TIES / TO MEN, WHO, WE HAVE REASON TO BE MOST CONFIDENT, WILL, TO THEIR UTMOST POWER, PRESERVE AND DEFEND THEM. THIS IS THE DAY GOD HATH ONCE MORE COMMITTED OUR FREEDOM TO OUR HANDS, LET US REJOICE AND BE WISE IN IT. NO MAN, WHO WOULD NOT DIRECT A KNIFE TO HIS OWN THROAT; WHO WOULD NOT ADMINISTER POISON TO HIS FRIEND, OR APPLY A FIREBRAND TO HIS CITY; NO SUCH MAN CAN HESITATE A MOMENT, WHETHER HE SHALL REFUSE HIS VOTE, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY CONSIDERATION, TO A REPRESENTATIVE WHOM ENCE, / HE SUSPECTS, MUCH LESS KNOWNS BY EXPERI-+

WILL BETRAY HIS TRUST, AND DELIVER UP HIS COUNTRY TO THAT ENEMY, WHICH THE DEVIL HATH RAISED UP AGAINST US; AND THIS AT A SEASON TOO, WHEN THE GATES OF HELL ARE OPEN, WHEN THE DEVICES OF THE EVIL ONE ARE RIPE, AND WHEN IT IS THE LAST TIME WE SHALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF STRUGGLING AGAINST THEM. I CONJURE YOU THEREFORE, DEALY BELOVED, AS YOU HAVE ANY REGARD FOR YOUR WORLDLY, OR ETERNAL INTEREST; AS YOU ARE MEN; AS YOU ARE BRITONS, AND AS YOU ARE CHRISTIANS; AS YOU LOVE, OR DESIRE THE WELFARE AND PRE-+ SERVATION / OF YOUR COUNTRY; AS YOU LOVE YOUR WIVES, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR NEIGH-+ BOURS, / NAY YOUR SELVES; AS YOU WOULD BE THOUGHT WORTHY OF YOUR BRAVE AND FREE ANCESTORS, AND AS YOU RESPECT THE ESTEEM AND HONOUR OF POSTERITY. LASTLY, AS YOU WOULD AVOID THE DREADFUL SENTENCE DE-+ NOUNCED / IN THE TEXT AGAINST SUCH PROSTI-+ TUTION; / WHICH HE WHO IS GUILTY OF IT, MUST EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE TREMENDOUS THRONE, AND VOICE OF GOD AT THE LAST DAY, WHEN HIS RAVISHED DAUGHTERS AND MURTHERED SONS; HIS RUINED, IMPOVERISHED, ENSLAVED CHILDREN, AND CHILDREN'S CHIL-+ DREN, / SHALL APPEAR IN PERSON AGAINST HIM, AND DEMAND JUSTICE AT THE HANDS OF GOD AGAINST THE PROSTITUTE - BY ALL THESE, I CONJURE YOU REJECT THE MARK OF THE BEAST

WITH SCORN; LET NO CORRUPT MOTIVES INDUCE YOU TO DELIVER UP YOUR COUNTRY INTO THE POWER OF MEN, WHO WILL CERTAINLY BETRAY YOU INTO FINAL SLAVERY AND RUIN. BE CONVINCED THAT YOU ARE PLAYING YOUR LAST STAKE, AND PLAY IT WISELY; SINCE YOU MAY ASSURE YOUR SELVES, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A FUTURE OPPORTUNITY OF RETRIEVING YOUR CORRUPT CONDUCT HERE, OR OF AVOIDING THE JUST PUNISHMENT OF IT HEREAFTER. NOW MAY THE GREAT GOD WHO SEARCHES ALL HEARTS, AND IN HIS OWN GOOD TIME RE-+ STRAINS, / AND DIRECTS THE PERVERSE WILL OF MAN, LEAD YOU ALL INTO THE WAYS OF TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND PUT A TIMELY STOP TO THAT TORRENT OF CORRUPTION, WHICH THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS HAVE LET LOOSE OVER THIS LAND, AND WHICH GOD ONLY CAN PRE-+ VENT / FROM OVERWHELMING US: TO HIM THEREFORE WHO BESTOWETH FREEDOM, AND DE-+ LIGHTETH / IN IT, MAY FREEDOM LIFT UP HER VOICE, AND ASCRIBE, AS IS MOST DUE, ALL HONOUR, PRAISE, GLORY, MIGHT, MAJESTY AND DO-+ MINION / FOR EVERMORE. AMEN. ((FINIS.)) //// $ ****