In this ongoing study of the book "The Great Controversy" reportedly by Ellen G. White, the works of Henry Melvill, an English cleric, were used in at least four of the chapters. This chapter of Volume 2, Sermon IV entitled "Protestantism and Popery" was used in the following works of Ellen White without credit.
The usage was extensive as the study will show and what was not taken from Melvill in "Great Controversy" was taken from J. N. Andrews, "History of the Sabbath" published from his articles in the Review of 1850 and onward which were put in book form in 1860-1861.
In the original "Spirit of Prophecy", Volume 4, six Bible texts were used and two references were acknowledged. In the expanded addition of "Great Controversy" sixteen references and twelve Bible texts were used in the eighteen pages. All of the references can be traced back to J. N. Andrews and his book and in most cases in the same order and flow that they are given in "Great Controversy", but never once giving credit to Andrews, but using his original source material so as not to give not to give any idea that Andrews was the source of the information. Notice also that in addition to the references which were used by Andrews, thus showing that they knew well concerning footnoting and credits as far back as 1850, and gave such credits in the review that carried Andrews original articles, no such attempt was made to do the same honor or give the same credits to Melvill or Andrews from whence most of the material came for the 35 chapters of "Great Controversy".
In one of those touching addresses which Christ delivered to his disciples shortly before his crucifixion, He bequeathed them, as you will remember, the legacy of peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you."…"Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth; I am not come to send peace, but a sword." …that which Christ bequeathed and for which we pray, is not a peach which is necessarily to banish all divisions, but which is rather to subsist in the midst of divisions…for without were wars and fightings, the opposition of avowed enemies, and the coldness and suspicion even of friends. …We may safely declare of Christ, that He never purchased peace by any thing like compromise. Though his heart overflowed with love towards the whole human race, He was far from being indulgent to their sins; …by compromising principles… He was too much their friend to be any thing but the stern reprover of their vices… by leaving them unrebuked… peace is too dearly purchased, if purchased by the least surrender of principle.
Henry Melvill, Sermons, Volume 2, Pages 95-100 - 1851
In one of his confidential talks with his disciples, a short time before his crucifixion, Jesus bequeathed to his followers his legacy of peace. He said; "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you… " I came not to send peace, but a sword."… The peace that Christ gave to his disciples, and for which we pray, is the peace that is born of truth, a peace that is not to be quenched because of division. Without may be wars and fightings, jealousies, envies, hatred, strife; but the peace of Christ is not that which the world giveth or taketh away. …Christ did not for an instant seek to purchase peace by a betrayal of sacred trusts. Peace could not be made by a compromise of principles… to the people's sins… The heart of Jesus was overflowing with love to every human being that he had made, and this love should have been discerned by those he came to save.
Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, July 24, 1894
…there has been amongst Protestants a growing ignorance and indifference with regard to points in dispute between the Reformed Church and the Papal: and a strengthening opinion that the two, after all, differ in little that is vital. And this degeneracy of Protestantism has given encouragement to Popery. …You are told, moreover, and this is one of the most specious of the deceits through which Popery carries on its work that the Roman Catholic religion is not what it was; that it took its complexion from the times; and that tenets, against which Protestants loudly exclaim, and principles which they indignantly execrate were held only in days of ignorance and barbarism, and have long since fled before the advance of civilization. And very unfair and ungenerous we are told it is, to rake up the absurdities and cruelties of a rude and uninformed age, and to charge them on the creed of men in our own generation.
…be it so; we are at all events dealing with an infallible Church; and unless the claim to infallibility be amongst the things given up, we are at a lose to know how this Church can so greatly have changed… And the Roman Church is not suicidal enough to give up her claim to infallibility.
…we believe that the roman Catholic religion has been rapidly gaining ground in this country… It is easy to meet statements in regard to the growing number of Papal Chapels and Colleges, by saying that the growth is but proportioned to the growth of population.
…Men would indeed persuade you, that the enlarged intelligence of the times, the diffusion of knowledge; and the increase of liberality, are an ample security against the revival, to any great extent, of a system so absured and repulsive as Popery. But they quite forget, when they hastily pronounce that Popery has no likelihood of being revived in an enlightened age; that it is emphatically the religion of human nature.
…The inflated and self-sufficient generation will feel the need of some specific for quieting conscience …Too wise to seek God prayerfully and humbly in the Bible, they will be as open to the delusion which can believe a lie, as the ignorant to the imposition which palms off falsehood for truth. They will not want God, but a method of forgetting Him, which shall pass at the same time for a method of remembering Him.
…Hence, if a day of great intellectual darkness be favourable for Popery, so may be a day of great intellectual light.
…You are told, moreover, and this is one of the most specious of the deceits through which Popery carries on its work
…But there is no change in Popery. The system is the same, intrinsically, inherently the same.
Henry, Melvill, Sermons IV, Protestantism and Popery, Pages 95-130 - 1851
Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. There is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining round that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome.
…The defenders of popery declare that she has been maligned; and the Protestant world is inclined to accept the statement. Many urge that it is unjust to judge the Romish Church of to-day by the abominations and absurdities that marked her reign during the centuries of ignorance and darkness. They excuse her horrible cruelty as the result of the barbarism of the times, and plead that civilization has changed her sentiments.
…Have these persons forgotten the claim of infallibility for eight hundred years put forth by this haughty power?
…Catholicism is gaining ground in our country upon every side. Look at the number of her churches and chapels. Look at her colleges and seminaries, so widely patronized by Protestants. These things should awaken the anxiety of all who prize the pure principles of the gospel.
…It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth that Catholicism is now almost like Protestantism. There has been a change; but the change is in Protestants, not in Romanist, Catholicism indeed resembles the Protestantism that now exists; but it is far removed from Protestantism as it was in the days of Cranmer, Ridley, Knox and other reformers.
…Many urge that the intellectual and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages favored the spread of her dogmas, superstitions, and oppression, and that the greater intelligence of modern times, the general diffusion of knowledge, and the increasing liberality in matters of religion, forbid a revival of intolerance and tyranny. The very thought that such a state of things will exist in this enlightened age is ridiculed. It is true that great light, intellectual, moral, and religions, is shining upon this generation… But it should be remembered that the greater the light bestowed the greater the darkness of those who pervert or reject it.
A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy, and would cause them to abhor and to shun it… seeking God that they may be led into truth… They must have some means of quieting their consciences; and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering him.
…A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the success of popery. It will yet be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for its success.
Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, Pages 380-390 - 1884
…there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which had been so dearly purchased.
…The defenders of the papacy declare that the church has been maligned, and the Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement. Many urge that it is unjust to judge the church of today by the abominations and absurdities that marked her reign during the centuries of ignorance and darkness. They excuse her horrible cruelty as the result of the barbarism of the times and plead that the influence of modern civilization has changed her sentiments.
…Have these persons forgotten the claim of infallibility put forth for eight hundred years by this haughty power?
…Catholicism is gaining ground upon every side. See the increasing number of her churches and chapels in Protestant countries. Look at the popularity of her colleges and seminaries in America, so widely patronized by Protestants. Look at the growth of ritualism in England and the frequent defections to the ranks of the Catholics. These things should awaken the anxiety of all who prize the pure principles of the gospel.
…It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth in Protestant countries that Catholicism differs less widely from Protestantism than in former times. There has been a change; but the change is not in the papacy. Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism that now exist, because Protestantism has so greatly degnerated since the days of the Reformers.
…Many urge that the intellectual and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages favored the spread of her dogmas superstitions, and oppression, and that the greater intelligence of modern times, the general diffusion of knowledge, and the increasing liberality in matters of religion forbid a revival of intolerance and tyranny. The very thought that such a state of things will exist in this enlightened age is ridiculed. It is true that great light, intellectual, moral, and religious, is shining upon this generation. In the open pages of God's Holy Word, light from heaven has been shed upon the world. But it should be remembered that the greater the light bestowed, the greater the darkness of those who pervert and reject it.
A prayerful study of the bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy and would cause them to abhor and to shun it… seeking God that they may be led into the truth… They must have some means of quieting their consciences, and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering Him.
…A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the success of the papacy. It will yet be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for its success.
Ellen G. White, Great Controversy, Pages 563-573 - 1911
The following quotations were all taken from J. N. Andrews or from his book History of the Sabbath. The book was published in 1860-1861, while the articles were begun in the December edition of the 1850 review. No credits were ever given in the Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4 or The Great Controversy, but rather the footnotes taken were quoted from the original sources that J. N. Andrews used so that the reader would not know that all of them came in their exact order from Andrews.
This was nothing less than an edict from the throne of the Roman empire in behalf of "the venerable day of the sun." It was issued by the emperor Constantine in A. D. 321, and is thus expressed; "Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty attend to the business of agriculture."
J. N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, Page 252 - 1860
The first public measure enforcing Sunday observance was the law enacted (A.D. 321) by Constantine, two years before his profession of Christianity. This edict required towns-people to rest on the venerable day of the sun, but permitted countrymen to continue their agricultural pursuits.
Ellen White, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, Page 391 - 1884
The first public measure enforcing Sunday observance was the law enacted by Constantine. (A.D. 321; see Appendix) This edict required townspeople to rest on "the venerable day of the sun," but permitted countrymen to continue their agricultural pursuits.
Ellen White, Great Controversy, Page 574 - 1911
Thus it is seen that a law enacted in support of a heathen institution after a few years came to be considered a Christian ordinance;…Sylvester was the bishop of Rome while Constantine was emperor. How faithfully he acted his part in transforming the festival of the sun into a Christian institution is seen in that he changed the name of the day, giving it the imposing title of Lord's day. …Eusebius says…
J. N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, Page 259, R. & H., December 1850
The royal mandate not proving a sufficient substitute for divine authority, the bishop of Rome soon after conferred upon the Sunday the title of Lord's day.
Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, Page 391 - 1884
The royal mandate not proving a sufficient substitute for divine authority, Eusebius, a bishop who sought the favor of princes, and who was the special friend and flatterer of Constantine, advanced the claim that Christ had transferred the Sabbath to Sunday…Eusebius himself…Robert Cox, Sabbath Laws and Sabbath Duties, page 538.
Ellen G. White, Great Controversy, Page 574 - 1911
(Sabbath Laws & Sabbath Duties,)… Rich men were to be punished with the loss of a moiety of their estates, and the poorer sort with perpetual banishment…it was declared that "No bishop or other person in holy orders should examine or pass judgment in any civil controversy on the Lord's day.'…But if any man presumed to disobey this canon he was to be fined if a freeman, and if a servant, severely lashed…(Historical and Practical Discourse on the Lord's Day, Francis West.)
J. N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, Pages 265-276 - 1861
Soon after, persons of all 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 class were to suffer perpetual banishment.
Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, Page 392 - 1884
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. (Francis West, Historical and Practical Discourse on the Lord's Day, Page 174
Ellen G. White, Great Controversy, Pages 574-575 - 1911
Mr. Francis West (Historical and Practical Discourse on the Lord's Day) an old English first-day writer gravely adduces one of these miracles in support of firs-day sacredness:
"Gregory of Tours reporteth, 'that a husbandman, who, upon the Lord's day went to plough his field, as he cleaned his plough with an iron, the iron stuck so fast in his hand that for two years he could not be delivered from it, but carried it about continually, to his exceeding great pain and shame."
Andrews, History of the Sabbath, Page 276 - 1861
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."
Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, Page 392
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
Ellen G. White, Great Controversy, Pages 575 - 1911
…gave directions that the parish priest should admonish such offenders and wish them to go to church and say their prayers, lest otherwise they might bring some great calamity on themselves and neighbors…that several country-men following their husbandry on this day have been killed with lightning…it is apparent how high the displeasure of God was upon their neglect of this day…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. (famous first day argument now so familiar to all)
J. N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, Pages 280-281 - 1861
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, that because persons had been struck by lightning while labouring 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 than 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 time to come."
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 labouring 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 27)
Ellen White, Great Controversy, Page 575 - 1911
…though backed with the authority of the church…were not yet sufficient to enforce the sacred day…more terrific statute than any yet issued…to strike terror into their subjects, and force them to forbear…a synod was called at Rome…afterwards incorporated as it was into the body of the canon law…in most parts of Christendom: (Heylyn, History of the Sabbath, )
J. N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, Pages 281-282
The decrease 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 that 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.
Ellen White, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, Page 393 - 1884
The decrease 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.)
Ellen G. White, Great Controversy, Page 575 - 1911
In the middle of the twelfth century…It seems that the sacredness of Sunday was not yet sufficiently established, a divine warrant being still unprovided. …In the very entrance of the thirteenth age, Fulco, a French priest and a notable hypocrite, lighted upon a new Sabbatarian fancy; but finding opposition to his doctrines, he went back again…The next year after, being 1202, he comes better fortified…they had to show a warrant sent from God himself,… A holy mandate, …which came down from heaven unto Jerusalem, found on St. Simeon's altar in Golgotha…Matthew Paris, after relating the story of the fall of this epistle from the throne of God to the altar of St. Simeon in Golgotha, and the terrible consternation which possessed those who took it up… This testimony shows that Eustachius was commissioned by the pope to set forth this precious document in England. And thus the shameless fraud is traced directly to the head of the Romish church. …charge you that from the ninth hour (i.e., three o'clock, P.M.,) on Saturday, until sunrising on the Monday, no man presume to do any work…The mission of Eustachian was attested by miracles, which may be read at length in Matthew Paris, Binius, Heylyn, and others.
…"A carpenter making a wooden pin and a woman making up her web, both after three on Saturday in the afternoon…are suddenly smitten with the palsy. A certain man of Nasserton baking a cake on Saturday night and keeping part until the morrow, no sooner brake it for his breakfast but it gushed out blood. A miller of Wakefield, grinding corn on Saturday after three of the clock, instead of meal found his binn full of blood: his mill-wheel standing still of its own accord." (Morer, pages 290-291)
"To that end it was again produced and read in a council of Scotland… who passed it into a law that Saturday from twelve at noon ought to be accounted holy, and that no man shall deal in such worldly business as of feast days were forbidden."
… A council which assembled the following year thus frankly confessed the divine origin of the Sabbath, and the human origin of that festival which has supplanted it:
A.D. 1534. "Let all Christians remember that the seventh day was consecrated by God, and hath been received and observed, not only by the Jews, but by all others who pretend to worship God; though we Christians have changed their Sabbath into the Lord's day… The festival of Sunday, like all other festivals, was always only a human ordinance."
… With the accession of the roman bishop to supremacy began the dark ages… the gloom of darkness… The difficulty of tracing the true people of God through this period is well set forth in the following language of Benedict: "As scarcely any fragment of their history remains, all we know of them is from accounts of their enemies"…(See G. C. page 61)
… Among the dissenters from the Romish church in the period of the dark ages, the first place perhaps is due to the Waldenses, (See G. C. chapter 4, pg 61- for the copy work on the Waldensees)
,,, We are now to search for the Sabbath among those who were never subjected to the Roman pontiff. In Central Africa from the first part of the Christian era--perhaps from the time of the conversion of the Ethiopian officer of great authority… have existed the churches of Abyssinia and Ethiopia…The Ethiopians slept near a thousand years, forgetful of the world, by whom they were forgotten… In the early part of the next century the emperor of Abyssinia was induced to submit to the pope in these words: "I confess that the pope is the vicar of Christ…prohibiting all his subjects upon severe penalties to observe Saturday any longer". …But the tyranny of the Romanists after a terrible struggle caused their overthrow and banishment and the restoration of the ancient faith.
…"the creed which these representatives of an ancient line of Christians cherished was not in conformity with papal decrees, and has with difficulty been squared with the thirty-nine articles of the Anglican episcopacy. Separated from the western world for one thousand years they were naturally ignorant of many novelties introduced by the councils and decrees of the Lateran; and their conformity with the faith and practice of the first ages, laid them open to the unpardonable guilt of heresy and schism…(see Michael Gades, Church History of Ethiopia, pages 311, 312)
J. N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, Pages 286-311 - 1861
A zealous advocate of Sunday, who about the close of the twelfth century visited the churches of England, was resisted by faithful witnesses for the truth, and so fruitless were his efforts that he departed from the country for a season and cast about him for some means to enforce his teachings. When he returned, the lack was supplied, and in his after labors he met with greater success. He brought with him a roll purporting to be from God Himself, which contained the needed command for Sunday observance, with awful threats to terrify the disobedient. This precious document--as base a counterfeit as the institution it supported--was said to have fallen from heaven and to have been found in Jerusalem, upon the altar of St. Simeon, in Golgotha. The pontifical palace at Rome was the source whence it proceeded. Frauds and forgeries to advance the power and prosperity of the church have in all ages been esteemed lawful by the papal hierarchy.
The roll forbade labor from the ninth hour, three o'clock, on Saturday afternoon, till sunrise on Monday; and its authority was declared to be confirmed by many miracles. It was reported that persons labouring beyond the appointed hour were stricken with paralysis. A miller who attempted to grind his corn, saw, instead of lour, a torrent of blood come forth, and the mill-wheel stood still, notwithstanding the strong rush of the water. A woman who placed dough in the oven, found it raw when taken out, though the oven was very hot. Another who had dough prepared for baking at the ninth hour, but determined to set it aside till Monday, found the next day that it had been made into loaves and baked by divine power. A man who baked bread after the ninth hour on Saturday, found, when he broke it the next morning, that blood started therefrom. By such absurd and superstitious fabrications did the advocates of Sunday endeavor to establish its sacredness.
In Scotland, as in England, a greater regard for Sunday was secured by uniting with it a portion of the ancient Sabbath. A law was passed that Saturday from twelve at noon ought to be accounted holy, and that no man, from that time till Monday morning, should engage in worldly business.
But notwithstanding all the efforts to establish Sunday sacredness, papists themselves publicly confessed the divine authority of the Sabbath, and the human origin of the institution by which it had been supplanted. In the sixteenth century a papal council plainly declared: "Let all Christians remember that the seventh day was consecrated by god, and hath been received and observed, not only by the Jews, but by all others who pretend to worship God; though we Christians have changed their Sabbath into the Lord's day." Those who were tampering with the divine law were not ignorant of the character of their work.
A striking illustration of Rome's policy toward those who honor the Sabbath was given in the long and bloody persecution of the Waldenses. Others suffered in a similar manner for their fidelity to the same truth. Amid the gloom of the Dark Ages, the Christians of Central Africa were lost sight of and forgotten by the world, and for many centuries they enjoyed freedom in the exercise of their faith. But at last Rome learned of their existence, and the emperor of Abyssinia was soon beguiled into an acknowledgment of the pope as the vicor of Christ. Other concessions followed. An edict was issued forbidding the observance of the Sabbath under the severest penalties. But papal tyranny soon became a galling yoke, and the Abyssinians determined to break it from their necks. After a terrible struggle, the Romanists were banished from their dominions, the ancient faith was restored.
…The churches of Africa held the Sabbath as it was held by the papal church before her complete apostasy. While they kept the seventh day in obedience to the commandment of God, they abstained from labor on the Sunday in conformity to the custom of the church. Upon obtaining supreme power, Rome had trampled upon the Sabbath of god to exalt her own; but the churches of Africa, hidden for nearly a thousand years, did not share in this apostasy.
Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, Pages 393-396 - 1884
A zealous advocate of Sunday, who about the close of the twelfth century visited the churches of England, was resisted by faithful witnesses for the truth; and so fruitless were his efforts that he departed from the country for a season and cast about him for some means to enforce his teachings. When he returned, the lack was supplied, and in his after labor he met with greater success. He brought with him a roll purporting to be from God Himself, which contained the needed command for Sunday observance, with awful threats to terrify the disobedient. This precious document--as base a counterfeit as the institution it supported--was said to have fallen from heaven and to have been found in Jerusalem, upon the altar of St. Simeon, in Golgotha. But, in fact, the pontifical palace at Rome was the source whence it proceeded. Fraud and forgeries to advance the power and prosperity of the church have in all ages been esteemed lawful by the papal hierarchy.
The roll forbade labor from the ninth hour, three o'clock, on Saturday afternoon, till sunrise on Monday; and its authority was declared to be confirmed by many miracles. It was reported that persons labouring beyond the appointed hour were stricken with paralysis. A miller who attempted to grind his corn, saw, instead of flour, a torrent of blood come forth and the mill wheel stood still, notwithstanding the strong rush of water. A woman who placed dough in the oven found it raw when taken out, though the oven was very hot. Another who had dough prepared for baking at the ninth hour, but determined to set it aside till Monday, found, the next day, that it had been made into loaves and baked by divine power. A man who baked bread after the ninth hour on Saturday found, when he broke it the next morning that blood started therefrom. …(See Roger de Noveden, Annals, vol. 2, pp 528-530)
In Scotland as in England, a greater regard for Sunday was secured by uniting with it a portion of the ancient Sabbath. But the time required to be kept holy varied. An edict from the king of Scotland declared that "Saturday from twelve at noon ought to be accounted holy," and that no man, from that time till Monday morning should engage in worldly business. Morer, pp 290-292.
But notwithstanding all the efforts to establish Sunday sacredness, papists themselves publicly confessed the divine authority of the Sabbath and the human origin of the institution by which it had been supplanted. In the sixteenth century a papal council plainly declared; "Let all Christians remember that the seventh day was consecrated by God, and hath been received and observed, not only by the Jews, but by all others who pretend to worship God; though we Christians have changed their Sabbath into the Lord's Day." Ibid., pp 281, 282.
…A striking illustration of Rome's policy toward those who disagree with her was given in the long and bloody persecution of the Waldenses, some of whom were observers of the Sabbath. …The history of the churches of Ethiopia and Abyssinia is especially significant. Amid the gloom of the Dark Ages, the Christians of central Africa were lost sight of and forgotten by the world, and for many centuries they enjoyed freedom in the exercise of their faith. But at last Rome learned of their existence, and the emperor of Abyssinia was soon beguiled into an acknowledgment of the pope as the vicar of Christ. Other concessions followed. An edict was issued forbidding the observance of the Sabbath under the severest penalties. (See Michael Geddes, Church History of Ethiopia, pages 311, 312) But papal tyranny soon became a yoke so galling that the Abyssinians determined to break it from their necks. After a terrible struggle the Romanists were banished from their dominions, and the ancient faith was restored.
…The churches of Africa held the Sabbath as it was held by the papal church before her complete apostasy. While they kept the seventh day in obedience to the commandment of God, they abstained from labor on the Sunday in conformity to the custom of the church. Upon obtaining supreme power, Rome had trampled upon the Sabbath of God to exalt her own; but the churches of Africa, hidden for nearly a thousand years, did not share in this apostasy. (See Appendix)