While this beast, as before observed, represents the developed religious and political power of the Papacy combined, still the actions ascribed to it show plainly that it is in its character as an _ecclesiastical_ beast that its terrible features are here delineated. No one would suppose that a mere political power would set itself up as an object to be worshiped, exalting itself above the God of heaven, and then single out and slaughter the saints for not complying therewith. As far as rendering obedience to civil governments is concerned, the Christians of all ages have been the most peaceful and obedient servants of all. So we shall hereafter refer always to the _beast_ as an ecclesiastical power, unless otherwise stated. This beast all the world admired. "And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" The people worshiped the established hierarchy, and they also worshiped the dragon from which the beast obtained so much of his power. The expression "_worshiped_ the dragon" shows plainly that it is the dragon as a religious system that is referred to, and not the old civil empire. How, then, could the old heathen worship be perpetuated in the church of Rome and form a part of her religious services? By adopting rites and ceremonies purely Pagan in their origin. Since I have already stated that the beast and the dragon as temporal powers were about the same in reality, except the change of sovereignty from the heads to the horns, it will now be necessary to show the remarkable similarity in spirit that existed between them as religious powers, the one being the successor of the other. 1. The high-priest of the Pagan religions was called Pontifex Maximus, and he claimed spiritual and temporal authority over the affairs of men. The Pope of Rome possesses the same title and makes the same claims, and he is clad in the same attire as the Pagan Pontiff. 2. The heathen were accustomed to wear scapulars, medals, and images to shield them from the common ills and dangers of life. Romanists wear the same and for the same purpose. 3. The Pagans, by an official process called _deification_, frequently exalted men who had lived among them to a position worthy of special honor and worship. Papists, by a similar process called _canonisation_, raise their former men of prominence to the dignity of _saints_ and then offer up prayers to them. The foregoing practises are derived from Paganism; also from Judaism or Paganism came their practise of burning incense in public worship, the use of holy water, burning wax candles in the daytime, and votive gifts and offerings. Other heathen principles are: 4. Adoration of idols and images, a practise expressly forbidden by the Mosaic law and unsanctioned by primitive Christianity; 5. Road gods and saints (in Catholic countries);