We have every reason to believe, however, that from the first, or, indeed, at a very early period, a superstitious veneration was paid in some places to the first day of the week. It is certain that, before the close of the first century, the original purity and simplicity of Christianity had become greatly defaced and deplorably corrupted by the introduction into its doctrines of the monstrous tenets of a preposterous philosophy, and into its ceremonies of a multitude of heathen rites. Identical with this was the appointment of various festivals to be observed on particular days. These days were those on which the martyrs had laid down their lives for the truth, the day on which the Saviour had been crucified, and that also on which he rose from the dead. We have no reason to suppose that the observation of the first day dates back any earlier than that of Friday, or those anniversary festivals which were introduced to commemorate the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, and the feast of Easter. All were the fruits of as dark, fabulous, and superstitious times, as have ever been since the resurrection of Christ. It seems to have been the policy of the rulers of the church at this period, to assimilate Christianity in its rites and festivals to the manners of Paganism, and in its doctrines to the tenets of a corrupt yet seducing philosophy. For such a course of conduct various reasons may be assigned. In the first place they were pleasing to the multitude, who were more delighted with the pageantry and circumstance of external ceremonies, and the frequency of holidays, than with the valuable attainments of rational and consistent piety, or with a sober and steady course of life.