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

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western world for a thous<strong>and</strong> years, <strong>the</strong>y were<br />

naturally ignorant <strong>of</strong> many novelties introduced by<br />

<strong>the</strong> councils <strong>and</strong> decrees <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lateran; <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

conformity with <strong>the</strong> faith <strong>and</strong> practice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first<br />

ages, laid <strong>the</strong>m open to <strong>the</strong> unpardonable guilt <strong>of</strong><br />

heresy <strong>and</strong> schism as estimated by <strong>the</strong> church <strong>of</strong><br />

Rome. 'We are Christians <strong>and</strong> not idolators,' was<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir expressive reply when required to do homage<br />

to <strong>the</strong> image <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Virgin Mary. ... La Croze states<br />

<strong>the</strong>m at fifteen hundred churches, <strong>and</strong> as many<br />

towns <strong>and</strong> villages. They refused to recognize <strong>the</strong><br />

pope, <strong>and</strong> declared <strong>the</strong>y have never heard <strong>of</strong> him;<br />

<strong>the</strong>y asserted <strong>the</strong> purity <strong>and</strong> primitive truth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

faith since <strong>the</strong>y came, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir bishops had for<br />

thirteen hundred years been sent from <strong>the</strong> place<br />

where <strong>the</strong> followers <strong>of</strong> Jesus were first called<br />

Christians."[85]<br />

The Sabbatarian character <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se Christians is<br />

hinted by Mr. Yeates. He says that Saturday<br />

"amongst <strong>the</strong>m in a festival day, agreeable to <strong>the</strong><br />

ancient practice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church."[86]<br />

"The ancient practice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church," as we<br />

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