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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
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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。）
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Still the absence of Scriptural authority for Sundaykeeping occasioned no
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 fo