ve changed their Sabbath
into the Lord's day."(1014) Those who were tampering with the divine law
were not ignorant of the character of their work. They were deliberately
setting themselves above God.

A striking illustration of Rome's policy toward those who disagree with
her was given in the long and bloody persecution of the Waldenses, some of
whom were observers of the Sabbath. Others suffered in a similar manner
for their fidelity to the fourth commandment. The history of the churches
of Ethiopia and Abyssinia is especially significant. Amid the gloom of the
Dark Ages, the Christians of Central Africa were lost sight of and
forgotten by the world, and for many centuries they enjoyed freedom in the
exercise of their faith. But at last Rome learned of their existence, and
the emperor of Abyssinia was soon beguiled into an acknowledgment of the
pope as the vicar of Christ. Other concessions followed. An edict was
issued forbidding the observance of the Sabbath under the severest
penalties.(1015) But papal tyranny soon became a yoke so galling that the
Abyssinians determined to break it from their necks. After a terrible
struggle, the Romanists were banished from their dominions, and the
ancient faith was restored. The churches rejoiced in their freedom, and
they never forgot the lesson they had learned concerning the deception,
the fanaticism, and the despotic power of Rome. Within their solitary
realm they were content to remain, unknown to the rest of Christendom.

The churches of Africa held the Sabbath as it was held by the papal church
before her complete apostasy. While they kept the seventh day in obedience
to the commandment of God, they abstained from labor on the Sunday in
conformity to the custom of the church. Upon obtaining supreme power, Rome
had trampled upon the Sabbath of God to exalt her own; but the churches of
Africa, hidden for nearly a thousand years, did not share in this
apostasy. When brought under the sway of Rome, they were forced to set
aside the true and exalt the false sabbath; but no sooner had they
regained their independence than they returned to obedience to the fourth
commandment.(1016)

These records of the past clearly reveal the enmity of Rome toward the
true Sabbath and its defenders, and the means which she employs to honor
the institution of her creating. The word of God teaches that these scenes
are to be repeated as Roman Catholics and Protestants shall unite for the
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