Part 24 (1/2)

Our Saviour did not die To render null and void The law of the Most High, Which cannot be destroyed; But, bruised for us, our stripes He bore,-- We'll go in peace and sin no more.

--_R.F. Cottrell._

[Ill.u.s.tration: CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES IN THE CORN-FIELDS

”The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.” Matt. 12:8.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: RETURNING FROM THE SAVIOUR'S TOMB

”They returned,... and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” Luke 23:56.]

GLIMPSES OF SABBATH KEEPING AFTER NEW TESTAMENT TIMES

Not at once did the innovation of Sunday observance set aside the Sabbath of the Lord in the practice of even the general church. And through history, when the general church had fallen away, we catch glimpses here and there of faithful witnesses to G.o.d's holy Sabbath truth.

First Centuries

An old English writer, Professor Brerewood, of Gresham College, London, put in shortest phrase what many writers say:

”They know little who do not know that the ancient Sabbath did remain and was observed by the Eastern churches three hundred years after our Saviour's pa.s.sion.”--_”Treatise on the Sabbath,” p. 77._

Fourth Century

Canon 29, of the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 364), shows that the ecclesiastical system was laboring to put an end to Sabbath keeping:

”Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Sat.u.r.day [the Sabbath], but shall work on that day; but the Lord's day [as they called Sunday] they shall especially honor, and, as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they be found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.”--_Hefele, ”History of the Councils of the Church,”

Vol. II, book 6, sec. 93, canon 29._

Fifth Century

Sozomen's Ecclesiastical History shows Rome evidently leading in the effort to abolish any recognition whatever of the Sabbath:

”The people of Constantinople, and of several other cities, a.s.semble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the next day; which custom is never observed at Rome, or at Alexandria.”--_Book 7, chap. 19._

Seventh Century

There were true Sabbath keepers in Rome itself, teaching the truth of G.o.d among the people, and bringing upon themselves the denunciation of Pope Gregory the Great, who wrote ”to his most beloved sons the Roman citizens:”

”It has come to my ears that certain men of perverse spirit have sown among you some things that are wrong and opposed to the holy faith, so as to forbid any work being done on the Sabbath day. What else can I call these but preachers of Antichrist?”--_”History of the Councils” (Labbe and Cossart), Vol. V, col. 1511; see also ”Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers,”

Vol. XIII, book 13, epistle 1._

Eleventh Century