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History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week - John N. Andrews

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harmony with <strong>the</strong> facts already adduced from <strong>the</strong><br />

fa<strong>the</strong>rs, <strong>and</strong> with o<strong>the</strong>rs yet to be presented.<br />

Moreover, it is confirmed by <strong>the</strong> express testimony<br />

<strong>of</strong> Tertullian. He says:--<br />

"By us (to whom <strong>Sabbath</strong>s are strange, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

new moons, <strong>and</strong> festivals formerly beloved by<br />

God) <strong>the</strong> saturnalia <strong>and</strong> new year's <strong>and</strong> midwinter's<br />

festivals <strong>and</strong> Matronalia are<br />

frequented."[44]<br />

And he adds in <strong>the</strong> same paragraph, in words<br />

already quoted:--<br />

"If any indulgence is to be granted to <strong>the</strong> flesh,<br />

you have it. I will not say your own days, but more<br />

too; for to <strong>the</strong> hea<strong>the</strong>ns each festive day occurs but<br />

once annually; you have a festive day every eighth<br />

day."[45]<br />

Tertullian tells his brethren in plain language<br />

that <strong>the</strong>y kept no <strong>Sabbath</strong>s, but did keep many<br />

hea<strong>the</strong>n festivals. If <strong>the</strong> Sunday festival, which was<br />

a day <strong>of</strong> "indulgence" to <strong>the</strong> flesh, <strong>and</strong> which he<br />

505

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