ly the will and endeavor to do the action in question, and
not the actual performance of the thing specified. George Bush,
Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Literature in New York City University,
makes this matter plain. In his notes on Ex. 7:11, he says:--

"It is a canon of interpretation of frequent use in the exposition
of the sacred writings that verbs of action sometimes signify
merely the _will_ and _endeavor_ to do the action in question. Thus
in Eze. 24:13: 'I have _purified_ thee, and thou wast not purged;'
_i.e._, I have endeavored, used means, been at pains, to purify
thee. John 5:44: 'How can ye believe which _receive_ honor one of
another;' _i.e._, endeavor to receive. Rom. 2:4: 'The goodness of
God _leadeth_ thee to repentance;' _i.e._, endeavors, or tends, to
lead thee. Amos 9:3: 'Though they be _hid_ from my sight in the
bottom of the sea;' _i.e._, though they aim to be hid. 1 Cor.
10:33: 'I _please_ all men;' _i.e._, endeavor to please. Gal. 5:4:
'Whosoever of you are _justified_ by the law;' _i.e._, seek and
endeavor to be justified. Ps. 69:4: 'They that _destroy_ me are
mighty;' _i.e._, that endeavor to destroy me. Eng., 'That _would_
destroy me.' Acts 7:26: 'And _set them at one_ again;' _i.e._,
wished and endeavored. Eng., '_Would_ have set them.'"

So in the passage before us: He causes all to receive a mark, and all
who will not worship the image to be killed; that is, he wills,
purposes, and endeavors, to do this; he makes such an enactment, passes
such a law, but is not able to execute it; for God interposes in behalf
of his people; and then those who have kept the word of Christ's
patience are kept from falling in this hour of temptation, according to
Rev. 3:10; then those who have made God their refuge are kept from all
evil, and no plague comes nigh their dwelling, according to Ps. 91:
9,10; then all who are found written in the book are delivered,
according to Dan. 12:1; and, being victors over the beast and his
image, they are redeemed from among men, and raise a song of triumph
before the throne of God, according to Rev. 14:4; 15:2.

The objector may further say: You are altogether too credulous in
supposing that all the skeptics of our land, the spiritualists, the
German infidels, and the irreligious masses generally, can be so far
brought to favor the religious observance of Sunday that a general law
can b