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.

were instituted for this purpose, that faithful<br />

Christians abstaining from external work, might<br />

more freely, <strong>and</strong> with greater piety devote<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves to God's worship."[71]<br />

They did not seem to be aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fact<br />

however that when <strong>the</strong> fear <strong>of</strong> God is taught by <strong>the</strong><br />

precepts <strong>of</strong> men such worship is vain. (Isa. 29:13;<br />

Matt. 15:9) The council <strong>of</strong> Rheims, which sat <strong>the</strong><br />

next year, made this decree:--<br />

A.D.1533. "Let <strong>the</strong> people assemble at <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

parish churches on <strong>the</strong> Lord’s <strong>Day</strong>, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

holidays, <strong>and</strong> be present at mass, sermons <strong>and</strong><br />

vespers. Let no man on <strong>the</strong>se days give himself to<br />

plays or dances, especially during service." And<br />

<strong>the</strong> historian adds: "In <strong>the</strong> same year ano<strong>the</strong>r synod<br />

at Tours, ordered <strong>the</strong> Lord’s <strong>Day</strong> <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

holidays to be reverently observed under pain <strong>of</strong><br />

excommunication"[72]<br />

A council which assembled <strong>the</strong> following year<br />

thus frankly confessed <strong>the</strong> divine origin <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Sabbath</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> human origin <strong>of</strong> that festival<br />

684

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!