We have proved that the Sunday festival in the Christian church had no
Sabbatical character before the time of Constantine. We have also shown
that heathenism, in the person of Constantine, first gave to Sunday its
Sabbatical character, and, in the very act of doing it, designated it as
a heathen, and not as a Christian, festival, thus establishing a heathen
Sabbath. It was now the part of popery authoritatively to effect its
transformation into a Christian institution; a work which it was not
slow to perform. 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, by his apostolic
authority, he changed the name of the day, giving it the imposing title
of LORD’S DAY.[749] To Constantine and to Sylvester, therefore, the
advocates of first-day observance are greatly indebted. The one elevated
it as a heathen festival to the throne of the empire, making it a day of
rest from most kinds of business; the other changed it into a Christian
institution, giving it the dignified appellation of Lord’s day. It is
not a sufficient reason for denying that Pope Sylvester, not far from
A. D. 325, authoritatively conferred on Sunday the name of Lord’s day,
to say that one of the fathers, as early as A. D. 200, calls the day by
that name, and that some seven different writers, between A. D. 200 and
A. D. 325, viz., Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Anatolius, Commodianus,
Victorinus, and Peter of Alexandria, can be adduced, who give this name
to Sunday.
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