They also receive the “name of the beast.”  Here again “beast” refers to the Papacy.  The Papal beast was represented as being full of the names of blasphemy, which blasphemy was shown to signify the usurpation of prerogatives and rights belonging to God alone.  The greatest ecclesiastical usurpation reached by the Romish hierarchy was that of claiming to be the head of the church and the right to prescribe and enforce their doctrines, naming their organization the Holy Catholic Church.  In making their sect organizations in imitation, Protestants, as above stated, have transferred the same principle and make the same blasphemous claim of a right to make disciplines to govern God’s people, and then name their sect machinery a church of God.  The name may be Methodist, Baptist, Mennonite, Episcopalian, or what not, it is only a beast name, yet a name that you must accept if you desire to become one of them.

They not only receive the name of the beast, but also receive the “number of his name.”  It will be necessary first to explain what is meant by the number of a name.  “The modern system of notation by the nine digits and the cipher, was not introduced until the tenth century, but on account of its superior excellence, has since superseded every other.  Previous to this great discovery, the letters of the alphabet were used to denote numbers, each letter having the power of a number as well as a sound.  The same system is still retained among us for certain purposes.  The Roman letters I. V. X. L. C. D. M., have each the power of expressing a number.  This, however, was the common and the best mode of notation that the ancients possessed.”  The number of a name, therefore, was merely the number denoted by the several letters of that name.

The number of the name of the beast—­the first beast—­is said to be the number of a man.  When we enter the Romish hierarchy and search for a man the number of whose name will be six hundred and sixty-six, where could we go more appropriately than to the Pope himself, its authorized head?  The Scriptures point him out particularly as the “man of sin,” “the son of perdition.” 2 Thes. 2:3, 4.  Has the Pope of Rome a name the letters of which, used as numerals, make six hundred and sixty-six?  Yes.  He wears in jeweled letters upon his miter the following blasphemous inscription:  Vicarius Filii Dei—­Vicar of the Son of God.  Taking out of this name all the letters that the Latins used as numerals, we have just six hundred and sixty-six.  U and V were both formerly used to denote five.

V ..... 5     F ..... 0
I ..... 1     I ..... 1
C ... 100     L .... 50
A ..... 0     I ..... 1
R ..... 0     I ..... 1
I ..... 1     D ... 500
U ..... 5     E ..... 0
S ..... 0     I ..... 1
—–­
666

In some manner the worshipers of Protestant images also receive the number of this name—­six hundred and sixty-six.  The name is that of “Vicar