A Threefold Treatise of the Sabbath, Section 19
SECTION XIX. Of the works which might be done on the Sabbath.
NOw leſt any ſhould gather from all afore delivered, that not only ſervile works are reſtrained, as in Lev. 23. 7, 8, 21, 35, 36. Numb. 28. 25. & 29. 1. but alſo all other works from Exod. 20. 10. and that upon pain of death, Exod. 31. 14, 15. & 35. 2. Lev. 23. 3. we are to know what works for all this were allowed to be done on the Sabbath day.
1. Works of Piety, commanded to be done on the Sabbath: which be not our works, but Divine, not humane, as reading and preaching the Word, Act. 15. 21. & 13. the killing of Beaſts for Sacrifice, and what work ſoever was in and about Gods worſhip and ſervice, Numb. 28. 9, 10. 1 Chr. 23. 31. 2 Chron. 8. 13. the ordering the Lamps, Lev. 24. 3. and putting new bread before the Lord, Lev. 24. 8. 1 Chron. 9. 32. 2 Chron. 2. 4. for as the Jews themſelves ſpake, in the Temple there was no Sabbath: for that the reſt on that day gave place to the labour in and about Gods ſervice there: ſee Fran. Lucas, on Matth. 12. 5. So to Circumciſe an Infant, Joh. 7. 23. when the eighth day fell on the Sabbath.
2. Work or labour, tending to piety and Gods worſhip: as to blow a Trumpet, Num. 10. 2, 10. for the aſſembly, as we do ring a Bel. To travell to the Prophet, 1 Kin. 4. 23. Pſa. 84. 6, 7. thence was a Sabbath dayes journey, Act. 1. 12. about two miles, fifteen Furlongs, compare theſe three texts together, this in Act. 1. 12. with Luk. 24. 50. and Job. 11. 18. To go in and out on the Sabbath about the ſervice of the Temple, 2 King. 11. 5, 7, 9. To ſtand watchmen in time of need by command of authority, to prevent in others the prophaning of the Sabbath, Neb. 13. 22.
III. Works of preſervation from Gods own example, Exod. 16.who albeit he reſted the ſeventh day from his works of creation, yet not from his work of preſervation of all that which he had made. So although he would not rain Mannah, on the Sabbath day, yet would he preſerve it from worms, and from ſtinking on the Sabbath.
Likewiſe may we do the works of preſervation, which are called the works of Neceſſity, on this day. But this neceſſitie muſt have warrant from the affirmative part of ſome Commandement of the ſecond Table, requiring this of us, and not what we think, or make a matter of neceſſity: as for inſtance;
The fifth Commandement bindeth us to obey authoritie: Now if we be commanded by ſupream power, to ſtand watchman on this day, we are to do it, Neb. 13. 22. So may we ſtand armed for the Kings ſafety, 2 Kin. 11. 5, 6, 7. 2 Chro. 23. 4, 5, 8. and for our Countrey: 1 Kin. 20. 29. Yea, upon command we may beſeidge and aſſault the Citie of an enemy, John 6. 8, 16, 20. Alſo an offender may be attached, be brought before authority, and the Magiſtrate on this day may ſend him to the Goale, Num. 15. 34. Its thought that Pharaoh ſent the Iſraelites out of Egypt on the Sabbath day: ſee Ainſw. on Deut. 5. 14.
The ſixt Commandement chargeth me with the keeping of mine own life, and the life of mine neighbour: By a neceſſity of this Commandement its lawfull;
1. To dreſſe food for us, as our Saviour warranted his Diſciples in rubbing ears of Corne to eat them, Matth. 12. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7. And this is not only in neceſſitie of meer hunger, but for neceſſity of ſtate, and dependance of many to be fed, Neh. 5. 18. Here is ſpoken of daily proviſion, Vnoquoque die, per ſingulos dies.
2. To ſeek the Phyſitian for help, and for the Phyſitian to prepare his Phyſick, Luk. 13. 14, 15. Joh. 9. 6, 11, 14. Mat. 12. 10. and to cure diſeaſes, Joh. 5. 3, 5, 9. Luk. 13. 12, 13. & 14. 3, 4. & 6. 10.
3. To fly for ſafety of life, 1 K. 19. 3. 8.
4. To fight for our lives if need require, 1 Macha. 2. 41.
5. To ſave the life of another, Luk. 6. 9. Theſe works and the like may we do by warrant of the Sixt Commandement on this day.
The Seventh Commandement requireth Chaſtity, and comely Decency. Therefore upon neceſſity of this Commandement, it is needfull to put on rayment for common honeſty, to hide our nakedneſſe, and decently to clothe our ſelves, as all ever have done, on this day, ſo to waſh and be clean, to comb the head, bruſh thy garments, and the like.
The Eighth Commandement is in the affirmative part, that we preſerve our own and our neighbours eſtate: Its hence lawfull; to fodder and water Cattell, Luk. 13. 15. To pull a Beaſt out of the pit, Luk. 14. 5. To take up that which is our own, if it be without and abroad, to carry it home, Joh. 5. 8, 9, 11. To quench an houſe on fire, and other things of the like nature: for in all theſe caſes and ſuch like, the Sabbath was made for man, ſo it giveth place, and admits of ſuch works warr…nted by the Commandements of the ſecond Table.
IV. We may do works of Charity and Mercy, and that which is good on the Sabbath day, Luk. 6. 9. Such were all the Cures which Chriſt wrought on the Sabbath day: which albeit they might have been done upon another day, yet ſome coming to him to be healed, other occaſionally be held of him with the eye of pity, he healed and cured them.
V. And laſtly, beſides all theſe works of Piety, and tending to Piety, of neceſſity and charity, there be deeds of indifferency lawfull, as theſe;
To walk in the fields, as Chriſt with his Apoſtles, and others did, Mat. 12. 1.
To make a Feaſt, and ye invite Gueſts to go unto it, Luk. 14. 1.
Thus may we ſee from authority of holy Scripture, and warrant from Chriſt, the Lord of the Sabbath, Mat. 12. 8. what was lawfull to be done on the Jewiſh Sabbath day; So that they had as much liberty, as we have, if the Jews of later times had not miſtaken it, and from former prophanation of the Sabbath, both before the Captivity, Eze. 20. 12. 16. & 22. 8. 26. &. 23. 38. and after, Neh. 13. 13. had not fallen to their Jewiſh and fooliſh ſuperſtition condemned by Chriſt.