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 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 .)
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
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