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 .)
575