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

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Sunday festival entered <strong>the</strong> church, not as a divine<br />

institution, but as a voluntary observance. Even as<br />

late as A.D. 200, Tertullian said that it had only<br />

tradition <strong>and</strong> custom in its support.[63]<br />

But in A.D. 372, this human festival had<br />

become <strong>the</strong> sister <strong>and</strong> equal <strong>of</strong> that day which God<br />

hallowed in <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>and</strong> solemnly<br />

comm<strong>and</strong>ed in <strong>the</strong> moral law. How worthy to be<br />

called <strong>the</strong> sister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sunday festival<br />

actually was, may be judged from what followed.<br />

When this self-styled sister had gained an<br />

acknowledged position in <strong>the</strong> family, she expelled<br />

<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>and</strong> trampled her in <strong>the</strong> dust. In our days,<br />

<strong>the</strong> Sunday festival claims to be <strong>the</strong> very day<br />

intended in <strong>the</strong> fourth comm<strong>and</strong>ment.<br />

The following testimonies exhibit <strong>the</strong> authority<br />

<strong>of</strong> church councils in its true light. Jortin is quoted<br />

by Cox as saying:--<br />

"In such assemblies, <strong>the</strong> best <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> most<br />

moderate men seldom have <strong>the</strong> ascendant, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y<br />

are <strong>of</strong>ten led or driven by o<strong>the</strong>rs who are far<br />

616

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