The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 458

The European Union in Prophecy
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 honoured 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 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 endeavours and care that the day be restored to its honour, and, for the
credit of Christianity, more devoutly observed for the time to come."--Thomas Morer,
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