Popery condemned by scripture and the fathers - End Time Deception

SCRIPTURE A^D THE FATHERS. 73
church at Rome, though they could not agree
about this particular. By consulting the Ecclesiastical
History of Socrates Scholasticus, he will
find that neither the observation of Easter, nor
many other nonsensical rites, which the Romish
Church have imposed upon the ignorant, as essentials
of religion, had any other origin than
the will-worship of men. As it may be gratifying
to the reader to hear the opinion of this historian,
I will transcribe a few of his observations
on this subject.
*•
The apostles, therefore, and the gospels,
" have no where imposed the yoke of servitude
" on those who have approached the preaching
*'
of the faith, but have left the feast of Easter,
" and the other festivals, to be honoured by the
*'
gratitude and benevolence of those who have
" had benefits conferred upon them on those
" days. Wherefore, because men love festivals,
" on account of the cessation from labour which
'•
they enjoy at such times, they have, accord-
" ing to their own pleasure, in every place, ce-
" leb rated, by a certain custom, the memory of
" the saving passion. For neither our Saviour
" nor his apostles have enjoined us by any law
" to 'observe this festival, nor have the gospels.
*
or the apostles threatened us with any fine,
" punishment, or curse, as the Mosaic law does
''•
the Jews. . . . Moreover, it was not the a-
'*
postles' design to make laws concerning festi-
" val