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little embarrassment。 The people questioned the right of their teachers to
set aside the positive declaration of Jehovah； 〃The seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God；〃 in order to honor the day of the sun。 To
supply the lack of Bible testimony； other expedients were necessary。 A
zealous advocate of Sunday； who about the close of the twelfth century
visited the churches of England； was resisted by faithful witnesses for the
truth； and so fruitless were his efforts that he departed from the country
for a season and cast about him for some means to enforce his teachings。
When he returned； the lack was supplied； and in his after labors he met with
greater success。 He brought with him a roll purporting to be from God
Himself； which contained the needed command for Sunday observance； with
awful threats to terrify the disobedient。 This precious document as base a
counterfeit as the institution it supportedwas said to have fallen from
heaven and to have been found in Jerusalem； upon the altar of St。 Simeon； in
Golgotha。 But； in fact； the pontifical palace at Rome was the source whence
it proceeded。 Frauds and forgeries to advance the power and prosperity of
the church have in all ages been esteemed lawful by the papal hierarchy。
The roll forbade labor from the ninth hour； three o'clock； on Saturday
afternoon； till sunrise on Monday； and its authority was declared to be
confirmed by many miracles。 It was reported that persons laboring beyond the
appointed hour were stricken with paralysis。 A miller who attempted to grind
his corn； saw； instead of flour； a torrent of blood come forth； and the mill
wheel stood still； notwithstanding the strong rush of water。 A woman who
placed dough in the oven found it raw when taken out； though the oven was
very hot。 Another who had dough prepared for baking at the ninth hour； but
determined to set it aside till Monday； found； the next day； that it had
been made into loaves and baked by divine power。 A man who baked bread after
the ninth hour
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on Saturday found； when he broke it the next morning； that blood started
therefrom。 By such absurd and superstitious fabrications did the advocates
of Sunday endeavor to establish its sacredness。 （See Roger de Hoveden；
Annals； vol。 2； pp。 528…530。）
In Scotland； as in England； a greater regard for Sunday was secured by
uniting with it a portion of the ancient Sabbath。 But the time required to
be kept holy varied。 An edict from the king of Scotland declared that
〃Saturday from twelve at noon ought to be accounted holy；〃 and that no man；
from that time till Monday morning； should engage in worldly
business。Morer； pages 290； 291。
But notwithstanding all the efforts to establish Sunday sacredness； papists
themselves publicly confessed the divine authority of the Sabbath and the
human origin of the institution by which it had been supplanted。 In the
sixteenth century a papal council plainly declared： 〃Let all Christians
remember that the seventh day was consecrated by God； and hath been received
and observed； not only by the Jews； but by all others who pretend to worship
God； though we Christians have changed their Sabbath into the Lord's Day。〃
Ibid。； pages 281； 282。 Those who were tampering with the divine law were not
ignorant of the character of their work。 They were deliberately setting
themselves above God。
A striking illustration of Rome's policy toward those who disagree with her
was given in the long and bloody persecution of the Waldenses； some of whom
were observers of the Sabbath。 Others suffered in a similar manner for their
fidelity to the fourth commandment。 The history of the churches of Ethiopia
and Abyssinia is especially significant。 Amid the gloom of the Dark Ages；
the Christians of Central Africa were lost sight of and forgotten by the
world； and for many centuries they enjoyed freedom in the exercise of their
faith。 But at last Rome learned of their existence； and the emperor of
Abyssinia was soon beguiled into an acknowledgment of the pope as the vicar
of Christ。 Other concessions followed。
578
An edict was issued forbidding the observance of the Sabbath under the
severest penalties。 （See Michael Geddes； Church History of Ethiopia； pages
311； 312。） But papal tyranny soon became a yoke so galling that the
Abyssinians determined to break it from their necks。 After a terrible
struggle the Romanists were banished from their dominions； and the ancient
faith was restored。 The churches rejoiced in their freedom； and they never
forgot the lesson they had learned concerning the deception； the fanaticism；
and the despotic power of Rome。 Within their solitary realm they were
content to remain； unknown to the rest of Christendom。
The churches of Africa held the Sabbath as it was held by the papal church
before her complete apostasy。 While they kept the seventh day in obedience
to the commandment of God； they abstained from labor on the Sunday in
conformity to the custom of the church。 Upon obtaining supreme power； Rome
had trampled upon the Sabbath of God to exalt her own； but the churches of
Africa； hidden for nearly a thousand years； did not share in this apostasy。
When brought under the sway of Rome； they were forced to set aside the true
and exalt the false sabbath； but no sooner had they regained their
independence than they returned to obedience to the fourth commandment。 （See
Appendix。）
These records of the past clearly reveal the enmity of Rome toward the true
Sabbath and its defenders； and the means which she employs to honor the
institution of her creating。 The word of God teaches that these scenes are
to be repeated as Roman Catholics and Protestants shall unite for the
exaltation of the Sunday。
The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented by the
beast with lamblike horns shall cause 〃the earth and them which dwell
therein〃 to worship the papacy there symbolized by the beast 〃like unto a
leopard。〃 The beast with two horns is also to say 〃to them that dwell on the
earth； that they should make an image to the beast；〃 and；
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furthermore； it is to command all； 〃both small and great； rich and poor；
free and bond；〃 to receive the mark of the beast。 Revelation 13：11…16。 It
has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast
with lamblike horns； and that this prophecy will be fulfilled when the
United States shall enforce Sunday observance； which Rome claims as the
special acknowledgment of her supremacy。 But in this homage to the papacy
the United States will not be alone。 The influence of Rome in the countries
that once acknowledged her dominion is still far from being destroyed。 And
prophecy foretells a restoration of her power。 〃I saw one of his heads as it
were wounded to death； and his deadly wound was healed： and all the world
wondered after the beast。〃 Verse 3。 The infliction of the deadly wound
points to the downfall of the papacy in 1798。 After this； says the prophet；
〃his deadly wound was healed： and all the world wondered after