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

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aside, in order that <strong>the</strong> people may not be<br />

prevented from attending church.'"[9]<br />

Observe <strong>the</strong> reason assigned. It is not lest <strong>the</strong>y<br />

violate <strong>the</strong> law <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>, but it is that <strong>the</strong>y<br />

may not be kept from church. Ano<strong>the</strong>r authority<br />

states <strong>the</strong> case thus:--<br />

"Labor in <strong>the</strong> country [on Sunday] was not<br />

prohibited till <strong>the</strong> council <strong>of</strong> Orleans, A.D. 538. It<br />

was thus an institution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church, as Dr. Paley<br />

has remarked. The earlier Christians met in <strong>the</strong><br />

morning <strong>of</strong> that day for prayer <strong>and</strong> singing hymns<br />

in commemoration <strong>of</strong> Christ's resurrection, <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>n went about <strong>the</strong>ir usual duties.[10]<br />

In A.D. 588, ano<strong>the</strong>r council was holden, <strong>the</strong><br />

occasion <strong>of</strong> which is thus stated:--<br />

"And because, notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing all this care, <strong>the</strong><br />

day was not duly observed, <strong>the</strong> bishops were again<br />

summoned to Mascon, a town in Burgundy, by<br />

King Gunthrum, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re <strong>the</strong>y framed this canon:<br />

'Notice is taken that Christian people, very much<br />

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