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

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<strong>the</strong> Jewish festivals, <strong>the</strong> Gentile Christians<br />

observed also <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Passover, (1<br />

Cor. 5:6-8) with reference to <strong>the</strong> last scenes <strong>of</strong><br />

Jesus' life, but without Jewish superstition. In<br />

addition to <strong>the</strong>se, Sunday, as <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> Christ's<br />

resurrection, was devoted to religious services."[3]<br />

The statement <strong>of</strong> Mosheim may be thought to<br />

contradict that <strong>of</strong> Giesler. Thus he says:--<br />

"The seventh day <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> week was also<br />

observed as a festival, not by <strong>the</strong> Christians in<br />

general, but by such churches only as were<br />

principally composed <strong>of</strong> Jewish converts, nor did<br />

<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r Christians censure this custom as criminal<br />

<strong>and</strong> unlawful."[4]<br />

It will be observed that Mosheim does not deny<br />

that <strong>the</strong> Jewish converts observed <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>. He<br />

denies that this was done by <strong>the</strong> Gentile Christians.<br />

The pro<strong>of</strong> on which he rests this denial is thus<br />

stated by him:--<br />

"The churches <strong>of</strong> Bithynia, <strong>of</strong> which Pliny<br />

571

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