13.04.2018 Views

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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

designated it as a hea<strong>the</strong>n, <strong>and</strong> not as a Christian,<br />

festival, thus establishing a hea<strong>the</strong>n <strong>Sabbath</strong>. It was<br />

now <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> popery authoritatively to effect its<br />

transformation into a Christian institution; a work<br />

which it was not slow to perform. Sylvester was<br />

<strong>the</strong> bishop <strong>of</strong> Rome while Constantine was<br />

emperor. How faithfully he acted his part in<br />

transforming <strong>the</strong> festival <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sun into a Christian<br />

institution is seen in that, by his apostolic authority,<br />

he changed <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day, giving it <strong>the</strong><br />

imposing title <strong>of</strong> LORD’S DAY.[43] To<br />

Constantine <strong>and</strong> to Sylvester, <strong>the</strong>refore, <strong>the</strong><br />

advocates <strong>of</strong> first-day observance are greatly<br />

indebted. The one elevated it as a hea<strong>the</strong>n festival<br />

to <strong>the</strong> throne <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> empire, making it a day <strong>of</strong> rest<br />

from most kinds <strong>of</strong> business; <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r changed it<br />

into a Christian institution, giving it <strong>the</strong> dignified<br />

appellation <strong>of</strong> Lord’s <strong>Day</strong>. It is not a sufficient<br />

reason for denying that Pope Sylvester, not far<br />

from A.D. 325, authoritatively conferred on<br />

Sunday <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> Lord’s <strong>Day</strong>, to say that one <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>rs, as early as A.D. 200, calls <strong>the</strong> day by<br />

that name, <strong>and</strong> that some seven different writers,<br />

between A.D. 200 <strong>and</strong> A.D.325, viz., Tertullian,<br />

596

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!