The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

and yet extraordinarily, and upon necessity to gather it was not unlawful on the Sabbath, which permitted the works of necessity, whereby men might be the better enabled, and the less hindered to do the works of that day. And for this cause, seeing the Disciples without this help should have been unfitter either to have preached to others, or heard our Saviour, and by it were enabled the more to either of these things: it is evident, that they were so far off from breaking the Sabbath in so doing, that rather they should have broken it in not so doing. So that Christ doth only not abrogate the Sabbath in this place, but also reprehending the Pharisees for their misconstruing of the Law, and too strict taking it, without due consideration of the end thereof: he setteth down a more pure observation of the same.

and yet extraordinarilie, and vpon necessitie to gather it was not vnlawfull on the Sabbath, which permitted the works of necessitie, whereby men might bee the better enabled, and the lesse hindered to doe the workes of that day. And for this cause, seeing the Disciples without this helpe should haue beene vnfitter either to haue preached to others, or heard our Sauiour, and by it were enabled the more to either of these things: it is euident, that they were so farre off from breaking the Sabbath in so doing, that rather they should haue broken it in not so doing. So that Christ doth onely not abrogate the Sabbath in this place, but also reprehending the Pharisies for their misconstruing of the Lawe, and too strickt taking it, without due consideration of the ende thereof: he setteth downe a more pure obseruation of the same.

The second reason, which is drawn from the Law it self, and from the Priests own¹ practise, may be gathered out of the fifth and sixth verses: Have ye not read in the Law, how that on the Sabbath days the Priests in the Temple brake the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6. But I say unto you here is one greater then the Temple. As if he should have said, Verily ye misconstrue the Sabbath; ye must better consider, what kind of works the Sabbath forbiddeth, to wit, the works of mens ordinary callings, not being fit for the dignity of the Sabbath, and nothing tending to the worship of God: but if they beseem the dignity of that day, and are done for God his holy worship, they are not unlawful. Advise your selves (I pray you) do not even your own Priests on the Sabbath-day slay their beasts to sacrifice? Do they not circumcise on that day? And do ye not carry your children to the Temple to be circumcised, which are works both in respect of your Priests and you; and yet in that in these things ye are made the fitter to serve God in his worship, ye think them not unlawful? Likewise know, that this plucking of the ears of corn in my Disciples, is no work of their ordinary callings, but to make them more able for the worship of God. In that he nameth the Priests, he showeth that he rather speaketh against the persons, than against the cause, and strangleth them in their own argument. For the answer in effect is this: If my Disciples profane the Sabbath, then did your own Priests the same. Under this we may couch the answer of our Saviour Christ to the Jews, who accused him for healing of the sick man on the Sabbath day,