The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 53
work it was not slow to attempt. To afford converts from heathenism a
substitute for the worship of idols, and thus to promote their nominal
acceptance of Christianity, the adoration of images and relics was
gradually introduced into the Christian worship. The decree of a general
council (see Appendix) finally established this system of idolatry. To
complete the sacrilegious work, Rome presumed to expunge from the
law of God the second commandment, forbidding image worship, and
to divide the tenth commandment, in order to preserve the number.
The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still
further disregard of Heaven’s authority. Satan, working through
unconsecrated leaders of the church, tampered with the fourth
commandment also, and essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the
day which God had blessed and sanctified (Genesis 2:2, 3), and in its
stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as “the venerable day
of the sun.” This change was not at first attempted openly. In the first
centuries the true Sabbath had been kept by all Christians. They were
jealous for the honor of God, and, believing that His law is immutable,
they zealously guarded the sacredness of its precepts. But with great
subtlety Satan worked through his agents to bring about his object. That
the attention of the people might be called to the Sunday, it was made a
festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ. Religious services were
held upon it; yet it was regarded as a day of recreation, the Sabbath being
still sacredly observed.
To prepare the way for the work which he designed to accomplish,
Satan had led the Jews, before the advent of Christ, to load down
the Sabbath with the most rigorous exactions, making its observance
a burden. Now, taking advantage of the false light in which he had thus
caused it to be regarded, he cast contempt upon it as a Jewish institution.
While Christians generally continued to observe the Sunday as a joyous
festival, he led them, in order to show
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