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Character and Aims of the Papacy
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As the papacy became firmly established, the work of Sunday
exaltation was continued. For a time the people engaged in agricul-
tural labor when not attending church, and the name Sabbath was
still attached to the seventh day. But steadily and surely a change
was effected. Those in holy office were forbidden to pass judgment
in any civil controversy on the Sunday. 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 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.”
Later, the pope gave directions that the parish priest should ad-
monish 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 ar-
gument since so widely employed, 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
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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.”
The decrees of councils proving insufficient, the secular au-
thorities 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.
Still the absence of scriptural authority for Sunday-keeping oc-
casioned no little embarrassment. The people questioned the right
of their teachers to deny the positive declaration of Jehovah, “The