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

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till men began to look into <strong>the</strong> errors <strong>and</strong> abuses in<br />

<strong>the</strong> Roman church with a more serious eye than<br />

before <strong>the</strong>y did."[1]<br />

Such was <strong>the</strong> state <strong>of</strong> things when <strong>the</strong> reformers<br />

began <strong>the</strong>ir labors. That <strong>the</strong>y should give up <strong>the</strong>se<br />

festivals <strong>and</strong> return to <strong>the</strong> observance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ancient<br />

<strong>Sabbath</strong>, would be expecting too much <strong>of</strong> men<br />

educated in <strong>the</strong> bosom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Romish church.<br />

Indeed, it ought not to surprise us that, while <strong>the</strong>y<br />

were constrained to strike down <strong>the</strong> authority <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>se festivals, <strong>the</strong>y should never<strong>the</strong>less retain <strong>the</strong><br />

most important <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong>ir observance. The<br />

reformers spoke on this matter as follows:--The<br />

Confession <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Swiss churches declares that,<br />

"The observance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord's <strong>Day</strong> is founded<br />

not on any comm<strong>and</strong>ment <strong>of</strong> God, but on <strong>the</strong><br />

authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church; <strong>and</strong>, That <strong>the</strong> church may<br />

alter <strong>the</strong> day at pleasure."[2]<br />

We fur<strong>the</strong>r learn that,<br />

"In <strong>the</strong> Augsburg Confession which was drawn<br />

760

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