We come now to the first instance in the fathers in which the term Lord's day is perhaps applied to Sunday. Clement is the father who does this, and he very properly substantiates it with evidence. He does not say that Saint John thus applied this name, but he finds authority for this in the writings of the heathen philosopher Plato, who, he thinks, spoke of it prophetically!
"And the Lord's day Plato prophetically speaks of in the tenth book of the _Republic_, in these words: 'And when seven days have passed to each of them in the meadow, on the eighth day they are to set out and arrive in four days.' By the meadow is to be understood the fixed sphere, as being a mild and genial spot, and the locality of the pious; and by the seven days each motion of the seven planets, and the whole practical art which speeds to the end of the rest. But after the wandering orbs the journey leads to Heaven, that is, to the eighth motion and day. And he says that souls are gone on the fourth day, pointing out the passage through the four elements." Book v. chap. xiv.
By the eighth day to which Clement here applies the name of Lord's day the first day is possibly intended, though he appears to speak solely of mystical days. But having said thus much in behalf of the eighth day, he in the very next sentence commences to establish from the Greek writers the sacredness of that seventh day which the Hebrews hallowed. This shows that whatever regard he might have for the eighth day, he certainly cherished the seventh day as sacred. Thus he continues:--
"But the seventh day is recognized as sacred, not by the Hebrews only, but also by the Greeks; according to which the whole world of all animals and plants revolves. Hesiod says of it:--
"'The first, and fourth, and seventh days were held sacred.'
"And again: 'And on the seventh the sun's resplendent orb.'
"And Homer: 'And on the seventh then came the sacred day.'
"And again: 'It was the seventh day, and all things were accomplished.'
"And again: 'And on the seventh morn we leave the stream of Acheron.'
"Callimachus the poet also writes: 'It was the seventh morn, and they had all things done.'
"And again: 'Among good days is the seventh day, and the seventh race.'