THE INTRODUCTION OF FIRST-DAY OBSERVANCE.
By Wm. Pepper
It is a question with many how Sunday came to be so generally adopted, or how its observance was introduced, if it is not the proper day to observe. The following from a work entitled, “History of Denominations in the United States,” will, we think, throw light upon the subject:— “Passing from inspired history to that which is uninspired, we find frequent notices of Sabbath-keepers during the first six centuries of the church. Mosheim mentions persons of this class in the second century. Indeed, the notion that a change had been introduced as to the day on which the Sabbath should be observed, seems not then to have been entertained. In process of time, however, a custom arose of celebrating the resurrection of Christ by a religious meeting on the first day of the week. No historical record, sacred or profane, has informed us of the first celebration of this day; nor is there any certain evidence that it was at first observed weekly. It seems to have been introduced as a voluntary festival to commemorate the resurrection, just as the sixth day was observed to commemorate the crucifixion, and the fifth day to commemorate the ascension. Though not regarded as the Sabbath, it gradually grew in the estimation of Christians during the first three centuries. “In the fourth century, the emperor Constantine embraced Christianity; and in his zeal to magnify those institutions which were regarded as peculiarly Christian, and to bring into disrepute those which were in any way connected with the Jews, he set himself at work to give importance to the first day of the week. He required his armies, and the people generally, to spend the day in devotional exercises. No courts of judicature were to be held on this day, and no suits or trials in law prosecuted. Certain works of necessity or mercy, however, were declared lawful; such, for instance, as the emancipation of slaves, and the labor of the husbandman in pleasant weather. His decrees were subsequently confirmed and extended by Christian emperors, and similar decrees were passed and enforced by the various ecclesiastical councils.”—Page 251. “The Reformation in the sixteenth century introduced an important era in the history of Sabbath-keeping. The great point upon which that movement turned, was the doctrine of justification by faith,—a doctrine which had been nearly lost to the world. The unfolding of it necessarily led to the discussion of many kindred topics, among which was the subject of festivals. The Church of Rome had multiplied her festivals to a burdensome extent, and had taught that the days on which they occurred were inherently more holy than other days, and that there was great merit in observing them. In their zeal to oppose this doctrine, the leading Reformers went to the other extreme of maintaining that under the gospel all days are alike. Accordingly they rejected the Sabbath. They soon discovered, however, that it was necessary to have some fixed times and public occasions for bringing the truths of religion into contact with the minds of the people. They could not go back to the ancient Sabbath, because that might subject them to the charge of Judaizing. Hence they advanced the doctrine, that the church itself has power to appoint such festivals as are necessary to its prosperity and may alter them to suit its convenience.”—Page 253. How many there are today who are ever ready to sacrifice the truth of God for the sake of convenience! Reader, how is it with you? Remember the testimony of the Lord is, “In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”