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

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in any preceding ecclesiastical writer, it is certain<br />

that he was <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> doctrine. This new<br />

doctrine was not put forth without some motive.<br />

That motive could not have been to bring forward<br />

some neglected passages <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Scriptures; for he<br />

does not quote a single text in its support. But <strong>the</strong><br />

circumstances <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> case plainly reveal <strong>the</strong> motive.<br />

The new doctrine was exactly adapted to <strong>the</strong> new<br />

order <strong>of</strong> things introduced by Constantine. It was,<br />

moreover, peculiarly suited to flatter that emperor's<br />

pride, <strong>the</strong> very thing which Eusebius was under <strong>the</strong><br />

strongest temptation to do.<br />

It is remarkable, however, that Eusebius, in <strong>the</strong><br />

very connection in which he announces this new<br />

doctrine, unwittingly exposes its falsity.<br />

He first asserts that Christ changed <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>,<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n virtually contradicts it by indicating <strong>the</strong><br />

real authors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> change. Thus he says:--<br />

"All things whatsoever that it was duty to do on<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>, <strong>the</strong>se WE have transferred to <strong>the</strong><br />

Lord’s <strong>Day</strong>."[56]<br />

610

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