The Origin and Growth of Sunday Observance in the Christian Church

CATHOLIC FRAUDS FOR SUNDAY

The Papacy is always best prepared to meet such emergencies, and this was met in its own peculiar way. In the year 1201 was produced the law, in the form of a letter sent down from Heaven. Absurd as was this pretense, and ridiculous as was the law itself, it had more to do with establishing Sunday-keeping on a permanent basis in England and Scotland than any other cause. And Protestant churches are eating the fruit of this shameful deception at the present time. OGSO 72.2

This law did not stand alone. Miracles, such as the Papal Church always has on hand for times of need, were freely produced, in the line of terrible calamities which befell those who neglected to obey this letter, in not keeping Sunday and the other festivals of the church. But the want of truly divine, of scriptural, authority for keeping the Sunday-sabbath still remains. OGSO 72.3

From this flood of falsehood and wickedness of worldly power, we turn, as has been said, with just satisfaction to the record of the Sabbath of the Lord, and to the means of its proclamation. Its history is untainted by deception, unstained by crime. No contradictions, no subterfuges, are found in its advocates. Resting upon the broad and solid basis of the commandment of God, it needs no emperors, no Popes, no councils to add to its dignity, its sacredness, or its authority. OGSO 73.1

Although I have noticed but a small part of the edicts, canons, exactions, and especially of the penalties, with which the history of Sunday abounds, I have done all that is necessary to meet my present purpose. I did not propose to give an extended view of these matters; it is enough that I have furnished the most incontestible proof that the Catholic Church, and it alone, changed the Sabbath. And I will repeat what I affirmed, that of all the unscriptural institutions foisted upon the church, none is so distinctively Papal as the Sunday-sabbath,-the preceptive rest of the so-called Lord’s day. No other institution of human origin can so clearly be traced to the Papal power. If anyone doubts this statement I shall be pleased to see a comparison of evidences instituted. If this were not the case-if other traditional precepts could be more clearly traced to that source-that would not invalidate a single point of my argument. Whatever may be said of other innovations, our position stands strong; our proof is clear and well defined. The question, Who changed the Sabbath? is sufficiently answered. OGSO 73.2

And now I appeal to the reader; of all the proofs presented, how much have I relied upon the Catholic catechism? Who that reads the mere culling of proofs that I have furnished, can give any credit to the statement that Sabbatarians, in searching two hundred years, have not been able to find an item of reliable history to prove their position-that their sole reliance is the Catholic catechisms? I truly pity the man who has had the ability and opportunity to read, who can find it in his heart to make such a reckless statement. OGSO 74.1

It will be noticed that the writer from whom we quoted in the beginning entirely concealed from his readers the arguments and evidences which have been presented by the advocates of the Sabbath. And I ask him to give me the credit of following his example. All the testimonies that I have presented, all the decrees or canons of councils, all the edicts of emperors, all historical statements, are from the pens of those who were not favorable to the Sabbath. And while I have given but a small part of the evidence of this kind, what an array is presented! How can the friends of Sunday withstand the facts and the evident conclusion? OGSO 74.2