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

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embraced Judaism, in order to be allowed to exist<br />

in connection with one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 'received religions.'<br />

"[16]<br />

The probability is that as <strong>the</strong> laws <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Austrian Empire bear very heavily upon all<br />

religious bodies not belonging to some one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

tolerated sects or orders, <strong>the</strong>se "Seventh-day<br />

Christians" on "being refused tolerance" in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

own name, secured <strong>the</strong> privilege <strong>of</strong> observing <strong>the</strong><br />

seventh day by allowing <strong>the</strong>ir doctrine to be<br />

classed by <strong>the</strong> civil authorities under <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong><br />

Judaism, <strong>and</strong> so bringing <strong>the</strong>mselves under <strong>the</strong><br />

tolerance accorded to <strong>the</strong> "received religions." We<br />

do not say that this was right, even as a<br />

technicality, but it is evidently <strong>the</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> what<br />

<strong>the</strong>y did. There is no reason to believe that <strong>the</strong>y<br />

abjured Christ. We also learn that <strong>the</strong>re are<br />

<strong>Sabbath</strong>-keepers in <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> Asia:--<br />

"There is a sect <strong>of</strong> Greek Christians in Siberia<br />

who keep <strong>the</strong> Jewish <strong>Sabbath</strong> (Saturday). Such<br />

sects already exist in <strong>the</strong> United States, in<br />

Germany, <strong>and</strong> we believe in Engl<strong>and</strong>."[17]<br />

884

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