p. 45 | BLACKSTONE ON SUNDAY

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 8, 1862

BLACKSTONE ON SUNDAY.

THE Encyclopedia Americana, under the article Sabbath, gives the following marginal note:

"In the fourth volume of Blackstone's Commentaries, p. 63, the commentator says that the profanation of the Lord's day is vulgarly, but improperly called Sabbath-breaking, and is punished by the municipal law, by a fine of three shillings and four pence; and that, by the laws of England, no fair or market is allowed to be held on any Sunday, except the four Sundays in harvest, on pain of forfeiting the goods exposed for sale. The law, however, does not prohibit (the commentator adds), but rather allows, any innocent recreation or amusement on the Lord's day, after service is over. But it prohibits work on that day, or exposure of goods for sale, except mackerel, milk, meat, &c., under the penalty of five shillings. He considers Sunday as a civil institution, to be regulated by the municipal law."