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fave he that bad the Mark, or the Name of the Beast, or the Number of his Name.

And for a farther Comment on the Word wovela, let us return to the xiiith Chapter and 3d Verfe, where it is written, All Nations 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 Delicacies. Here it is evident, that in order to receive any Idea from the Words, it is neceflary to fubftitute Proflitution in the room of Fornication in both Places.

The Text, therefore, being rescued from the Errors of Tranflators, and confidered with the Context, conveys to us very plainly this Leffon, that Babylon owed her Destruction to the Prostitution and Corruption of her Citizens; and that whoever fhall hereafter be fo corrupt in his Heart, fo proftitute in his Soul, as to worship anether for Gain, and do all his vile Purpofes for Hire; this Man fhall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God, which is poured out without Mixture, into the Cup of his Indignation; and he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimftone, in the Prefence of his holy Angels, and in the Prefence of the Lamb; and the Smoke of his Torment fhall afcend

for

for ever and ever, and he shall have no Reft Day nor Night. The infpired Writer concludes in a very remarkable manner, with a Repetition of the Crime. They (fays he) who worship the Beast and his Image, and whosoever receiveth the Mark of his Name.

In my enfuing Difcourfe I fhall endea

vour,

I. To fix and plainly point out to you the Nature of that Proftitution, which is levelled at in the Text.

II. To diffuade 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
Occafion.

And, I. For the Nature of this Proftitution. We are not to fuppofe, that by receiving the Mark of the Beast can be meant receiving Money by lawful and honeft 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 Chriftians

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