thought and principle of obedience. The shape which it assumed or had in this history, was the dominant power of the Roman empire, not in its apostasy, but in its self-will[1] and self-aggrandizement—Satan’s power without reference to God, as the Apostle expresses it: “the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Whether this arrives to any formal open act at the close, is comparatively immaterial, save as an open act bringing down open judgment. They worshipped also the beast—honoured it, as the place, and holder, and depositary of power; God being thus really put out of sight. Pride here was the characteristic—personal pride and power; “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” There seems to me to be an analogy here, or contrast, in falsehood, with the gift of power and glory by the Father to the Son. On the dazzling influence of this false glory and power the world hangs, and takes it as that which holds the only place of power in it, shutting practically, as we have said, God out of it,—“the inheritance ours.”— And they hang on this evil power, to hold and keep
- ↑ This, however, is the apostasy of power.
