按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
they may be led into the truth。 Although priding themselves on their
enlightenment； they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of
God。 They must have some means of quieting their consciences； and they seek
that which is least spiritual and humiliating。 What they desire is a method
of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering Him。 The
papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these。 It is prepared for
two classes of mankind； embracing nearly the whole worldthose who would be
saved by their merits； and those who would be saved in their sins。 Here is
the secret of its power。
A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the
success of the papacy。 It will yet be
573
demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for
its success。 In past ages； when men were without God's word and without the
knowledge of the truth； their eyes were blindfolded； and thousands were
ensnared； not seeing the net spread for their feet。 In this generation there
are many whose eyes become dazzled by the glare of human speculations；
〃science falsely so called；〃 they discern not the net； and walk into it as
readily as if blindfolded。 God designed that man's intellectual powers
should be held as a gift from his Maker and should be employed in the
service of truth and righteousness； but when pride and ambition are
cherished； and men exalt their own theories above the word of God； then
intelligence can accomplish greater harm than ignorance。 Thus the false
science of the present day； which undermines faith in the Bible； will prove
as successful in preparing the way for the acceptance of the papacy； with
its pleasing forms； as did the withholding of knowledge in opening the way
for its aggrandizement in the Dark Ages。
In the movements now in progress in the United States to secure for the
institutions and usages of the church the support of the state； Protestants
are following in the steps of papists。 Nay； more； they are opening the door
for the papacy to regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she has
lost in the Old World。 And that which gives greater significance to this
movement is the fact that the principal object contemplated is the
enforcement of Sunday observancea custom which originated with Rome； and
which she claims as the sign of her authority。 It is the spirit of the
papacythe spirit of conformity to worldly customs； the veneration for
human traditions above the commandments of Godthat is permeating the
Protestant churches and leading them on to do the same work of Sunday
exaltation which the papacy has done before them。
If the reader would understand the agencies to be employed in the
soon…coming contest； he has but to trace the record of the means which Rome
employed for the same
574
object in ages past。 If he would know how papists and Protestants united
will deal with those who reject their dogmas； let him see the spirit which
Rome manifested toward the Sabbath and its defenders。
Royal edicts； general councils； and church ordinances sustained by secular
power were the steps by which the pagan festival attained its position of
honor in the Christian world。 The first public measure enforcing Sunday
observance was the law enacted by Constantine。 （A。D。 321； see Appendix。）
This edict required townspeople to rest on 〃the venerable day of the sun；〃
but permitted countrymen to continue their agricultural pursuits。 Though
virtually a heathen statute； it was enforced by the emperor after his
nominal acceptance of Christianity。
The royal mandate not proving a sufficient substitute for divine authority；
Eusebius； a bishop who sought the favor of princes； and who was the special
friend and flatterer of Constantine； advanced the claim that Christ had
transferred the Sabbath to Sunday。 Not a single testimony of the Scriptures
was produced in proof of the new doctrine。 Eusebius himself unwittingly
acknowledges its falsity and points to the real authors of the change。 〃All
things；〃 he says； 〃whatever that it was duty to do on the Sabbath； these we
have transferred to the Lord's Day。〃Robert Cox； Sabbath Laws and Sabbath
Duties； page 538。 But the Sunday argument； groundless as it was； served to
embolden men in trampling upon the Sabbath of the Lord。 All who desired to
be honored by the world accepted the popular festival。
As the papacy became firmly established； the work of Sunday exaltation was
continued。 For a time the people engaged in agricultural labor when not
attending church； and the seventh day was still regarded as the Sabbath。 But
steadily a change was effected。 Those in holy office were forbidden to pass
judgment in any civil controversy on the Sunday。 Soon after； all persons； of
whatever rank； were commanded to refrain from common labor on pain of a fine
for freemen and
575
stripes in the case of servants。 Later it was decreed that rich men should
be punished with the loss of half of their estates； and finally； that if
still obstinate they should be made slaves。 The lower classes were to suffer
perpetual banishment。
Miracles also were called into requisition。 Among other wonders it was
reported that as a husbandman who was about to plow his field on Sunday
cleaned his plow with an iron； the iron stuck fast in his hand； and for two
years he carried it about with him； 〃to his exceeding great pain and
shame。〃Francis West； Historical and Practical Discourse on the Lord's Day；
page 174。
Later the pope gave directions that the parish priest should admonish the
violators of Sunday and wish them to go to church and say their prayers；
lest they bring some great calamity on themselves and neighbors。 An
ecclesiastical council brought forward the argument； since so widely
employed； even by Protestants； that because persons had been struck by
lightning while laboring on Sunday； it must be the Sabbath。 〃It is
apparent；〃 said the prelates； 〃how high the displeasure of God was upon
their neglect of this day。〃 An appeal was then made that priests and
ministers； kings and princes； and all faithful people 〃use their utmost
endeavors and care that the day be restored to its honor； and； for the
credit of Christianity； more devoutly observed for the time to
come。〃Thomas Morer； Discourse in Six Dialogues on the Name； Notion； and
Observation of the Lord's Day； page 271。
The decrees of councils proving insufficient； the secular authorities were
besought to issue an edict that would strike terror to the hearts of the
people and force them to refrain from labor on the Sunday。 At a synod held
in Rome； all previous decisions were reaffirmed with greater force and
solemnity。 They were also incorporated into the ecclesiastical law and
enforced by the civil authorities throughout nearly all Christendom。 （See
Heylyn； History of the Sabbath； pt。 2； ch。 5； sec。 7。）
576
Still the absence of Scriptural authority for Sundaykeeping occasioned no
little embarrassment。 The people questioned the right of their teachers to