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The Change of the Sabbath - Contents
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    Sabbath-keepers in Africa

    The gospel extended its influence all through Northern and Central Africa in the early part of the Christian dispensation. There were many Christian churches on that continent. Africa indeed “stretched out her hands to God.” But after the conquest of the northern portions of that country by the Mohammedans, and for a long time before that, the Christians of Abyssinia were lost to the rest of the Christian world. Says Gibbon:ChSa 144.6

    “Encompassed on all sides by the enemies of their religion, the Ethiopians slept near a thousand years, forgetful of the world, by whom they were forgotten.”-Decline and Fall, chap. 47, par. 38.ChSa 145.1

    But after the great discoveries of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, they became known again to the Christian world. They were found observing the ancient Sabbath, although they were greatly affected by the pagan and Mohammedan errors so long surrounding them, as might be expected. Yet it is a fact of no little significance in the consideration of this subject, that this large body of Christians, which had been so long separated from the influence of the Catholic Church, were found after a thousand years still observing the seventh day. At the time of their separation from the rest of the Christian world they, with others, were observing both Sunday and Sabbath. When found nearly a thousand years later, they were doing the same, as Mr. Geddes says:ChSa 145.2

    “They deny purgatory, and know nothing of confirmation and extreme unction; they condemn graven images; they keep both Saturday and Sunday.”-Church History of Ethiopia, pp. 34, 35.ChSa 145.3

    The ambassador of the king of Ethiopia, at the court of Lisbon, gave the following reasons for keeping the Sabbath:ChSa 145.4

    “Because God, after he had finished the creation of the world, rested thereon. Which day, as God would have it called the holy of holies, so the not celebrating thereof with great honor and devotion seems to be plainly contrary to God’s will and precept, who will suffer heaven and earth to pass away sooner than his word. And that, especially, since Christ came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. It is not, therefore, in imitation of the Jews, but in obedience to Christ and his holy apostles, that we observe that day.”-Church History of Ethiopia, pp. 87, 88.ChSa 145.5

    This account was given by the ambassador in 1534. In the beginning of the next century the emperor of Abyssinia was induced to submit to the pope in these words:ChSa 146.1

    “I confess that the pope is the vicar of Christ, the successor of, St. Peter, and the sovereign of the world. To him I swear true obedience, and at his feet I offer my person and kingdom.”-Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chap. 47, par. 39.ChSa 146.2

    Let the reader now mark what followed: As soon as the emperor had thus submitted himself, he was obliged to put forth a decree forbidding the observance of the Sabbath. Geddes says he:ChSa 146.3

    “Set forth a proclamation prohibiting all his subjects, upon severe penalties, to observe Saturday any longer.”-Church History of Ethiopia, pages 311, 312.ChSa 146.4

    Gibbon expresses the edict thus:ChSa 146.5

    “The Abyssinians were enjoined to work and play on the Sabbath.”-Decline and Fall, chap. 47, par. 39.ChSa 146.6

    Thus we see the Roman Church never missed a chance to give the ancient Sabbath a thrust when the opportunity presented itself. This one desire has marked its course throughout. After a space of time the tyranny of the Catholics brought a terrible struggle, which caused their overthrow, and the Abyssinians returned to the observance of the Sabbath, and have continued to do so ever since. These facts present a striking evidence of the hatred of the Roman Church toward the Sabbath. It also conclusively proves the existence of the Sabbath in the church where the popish power could not abrogate it.ChSa 146.7

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