“‘THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE TO HELPIDIUS

“‘On the venerable day of the sun, let the magistrates and people living in towns rest, and let all workshops be closed. Nevertheless, in the country, those engaged in the cultivation of land may freely and lawfully work, because it often happens that another day is not so well fitted for sowing grain and planting vines; lest by neglect of the best time, the bounty provided by Heaven should be lost. Given the seventh day of March, Crispus and Constantine being consuls, both for the second time.’”—P. 228.ASLD 98.3

The man who can see in the life of Constantine any evidences of conversion, possesses a degree of penetration truly wonderful; equal, indeed to that which can discern “transient elements” where it demonstrates that there are none. The one act of Constantine which is most nearly consistent with the idea of conversion, was performed in March, A. D. 313, eight years before the earliest date we have ever heard claimed for his conversion. That act was the edict of Milan, “the great act of toleration,” which “confirmed to each individual of the Roman world the privilege of choosing and professing his own religion,” and stopped the persecution of Christians. But even this one act that was consistent with conversion, was undone by his “conversion,” for soon after his “conversion” the edict of Milan was revoked. We shall name here some of his principal acts after his “conversion:” March 7, A. D. 321, he issued an edict in honor of the venerable day of the sun. The very next day, March 8, 321, he issued an edict commanding the consultation of the soothsayers. In 323 Licinius was murdered by his orders, in violation of a solemn oath given to his own sister, Constantia. In 325 he convoked, and presided at, the Council of Nice. In 326 he was guilty of the murder of his own son, Crispus, his nephew, Licinius, and his wife, Fausta, to say nothing of others. In 328 he laid the foundation of Constantinople according to “the ancient ritual of Roman Paganism,” and in 330 the city was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Afterward he set up in the same city the images of the deities of Paganism—Minerva, Cybele, Amphitrite, Pan, and the Delphic Tripod of the oracle of Apollo—“and of all the statues which were introduced from different quarters none were received with greater honor than those of Apollo.” But above all, as though he would give to the whole world the most abiding proof of his Paganism, he erected a pillar, over a hundred and twenty feet high, and on the top of it he placed an image in which he “dared to mingle together the attributes of the Sun of Christ, and of himself.”—Milman, History of Christianity, book 3, chap. 3, par. 7ASLD 99.1

To the end of his life he continued to imprint the image of Apollo on one side of his imperial coins, and the name of Christ on the other. In view of these things it may be safely and sincerely doubted whether he was ever converted at all. And we most decidedly call in question the Christian principle that could dwell consistently with a life so largely made up of heathen practices, and stained with so much blood.ASLD 100.1

But to say nothing further on the subject of the “conversion” of Constantine, it is evident from Mr. Elliott’s argument that the “influences of government and society which were essential to the complete sanctity of the “Christian Sabbath,” and for which it was compelled to wait nearly three hundred years, were embodied in an imperial edict of such a man, in honor—not of the Lord’s day, nor of the Christian Sabbath, nor of Christ, but—of the venerable day of the sun; that the legislation which was to enforce theASLD 100.2

“Christian Sabbath,” and make its observance universal, was a piece of legislation that enforced the “venerable day of the sun,” and made its observance partial, that is, obligatory upon only the people who lived in towns, and such as worked at trades; while country people might “freely and lawfully work.” However, on the nature of this legislation, we need ourselves to make no further comment. The author of “The Abiding Sabbath” exposes it so completely that we can better let him do it here. He says:—ASLD 101.1

“To fully understand the provisions of this legislation, the peculiar position of Constantine must be taken into consideration. He was not himself free from all remains of heathen superstition. It seems certain that before his conversion he had been particularly devoted to the worship of Apollo, the sun-god.... The problem before him was to legislate for the new faith in such a manner as not to seem entirely inconsistent with his old practices, and not to come in conflict with the prejudices of his pagan subjects. These facts serve to explain the peculiarities of this decree. He names the holy day, not the Lord’s day, but the ‘day of the sun,’ the heathen designation, and thus at once seems to identify it with his former Apollo-worship; he excepts the country from the operation of the law, and thus avoids collision with his heathen subjects.”—P. 229.ASLD 101.2

Now as he had been particularly devoted to the worship of Apollo, the sun-god; as he shaped this edict so as not to be inconsistent with his old practices, and not to conflict with the prejudices of this pagan subjects; as he gives the day its heathen designation, and thus identifies it with his former Apollo-worship; and as in it he avoids collision with his heathen subjects; then we should like to know where in the edict there comes in any legislation for his Christian subjects. In other words, if he had intended to legislate solely and entirely for his heathen subjects, and to enjoin a heathen practice, could he have framed an edict that would more clearly show it than does the one before us? Impossible. Therefore, by Mr. Elliott’s own comments, it is demonstrated that the famous edict of Constantine was given wholly in favor of the heathen, enjoining the observance of a heathen institution, Sunday, in honor of the great heathen god, the sun. And if that was to favor Christianity, then so much the worse for the Christianity(?) which it favored. At the very best it could only be heathenism under the name of Christianity. And in fact that is all it was.ASLD 101.3

Such is the command, and such its source, that it is seriously proposed shall be observed instead of the holy commandment of the living God, spoken with a voice that shook the earth, and twice written with his own blazing finger upon the enduring stone. Such is the day, and such its sanctions, that it is proposed shall wholly supplant the day to which have been given “the highest and strongest sanctions possible even to Deity,”—the day upon which God rested, which he blessed, which he sanctified, and which he has distinctly commanded us to keep, saying, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work.” The observance of the seventh day is that which we, by the word of God, urge upon the conscience of every man. But if we had no better reasons for it than are given in this five-hundred-dollar-prize essay, or than we have ever seen given, for the observance of Sunday, we should actually be ashamed ever to put our pen to paper to advocate it.ASLD 102.1