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

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servant do any work on Sunday by his master's<br />

orders, he shall be free, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> master pay thirty<br />

shillings; but if he went to work on his own head,<br />

he shall be ei<strong>the</strong>r beaten with stripes, or ransom<br />

himself with a price. A freeman, if he works on this<br />

day, shall lose his freedom or pay sixty shillings; if<br />

he be a priest, double.' "[19]<br />

The same year that this law was enacted in<br />

Engl<strong>and</strong>, <strong>the</strong> sixth general council convened at<br />

Constantinople, which decreed that,<br />

"If any bishop or o<strong>the</strong>r clergyman, or any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

laity, absented himself from <strong>the</strong> church three<br />

Sundays toge<strong>the</strong>r, except in cases <strong>of</strong> very great<br />

necessity, if a clergyman, he was to be deposed; if<br />

a layman, debarred <strong>the</strong> holy communion."[20]<br />

In <strong>the</strong> year 747, a council <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> English clergy<br />

was called under Cuthbert, archbishop <strong>of</strong><br />

Canterbury, in <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> Egbert, king <strong>of</strong> Kent,<br />

<strong>and</strong> this constitution made:--<br />

"It is ordered that <strong>the</strong> Lord’s <strong>Day</strong> be celebrated<br />

648

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