Note 64 — Chapter III · TRADITIONARY AND POETICAL AGES OF THE WORLD.

The character of the present age, which is remarkable for vulgar Infidelity, and the entire worship of Mammon, especially in the metropolis, has made many of the people of God sigh and cry for the abominations of the land, and fear that the Apocalyptic vials of wrath are about to be poured out upon this devoted country; for to whom much is given, of them much will be required. The crying sin, in our estimation, is that which makes a gain of godliness, and which puts men into the priest’s office for a piece of bread; for by this craft they have their ἐυπορια, wealth, Acts xix. 25; or, as it might be rendered, respectability. This age indeed makes vast pretensions to respectability, but it is only that which arises from wealth. Now it is very remarkable that the letters of the Greek word ἐυπορια, which was used by the craftsmen who made silver shrines for Diana, when they complained of the spread of the Gospel, and set Ephesus in an uproar for two hours, added up according to their value in the Greek system of notation, make the sum of 666, the well-known number of the Beast! Thus:—

Ε Υ Π Ο Ρ Ι Α

5 + 400 + 80 + 70 + 100 + 10 + 1 = 666.

What does this indicate, but that the beast reigns triumphant in the present age; for the whole world has gone a wondering after him, and the image which he has set up? And what is this image but wealth or respectability, which all are so anxious to acquire and maintain? Let Christians beware of falling into this snare, and let them attend to the warning voice of the beloved Apostle; Rev. xviii. 4. For the discovery of the above singular numerical coincidence, we are indebted, through the publisher, Mr. Bagster, to the author of a work just published, entitled “Wealth, The Name and Number of the Beast, &c.”