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,…

The Sabbath (we say) is broken either by general impediments and lets, whereby we¹ cannot sanctify the day: or else by those evil fruits, which follow the not keeping of the same. For as there be two things commanded, to wit, rest, and sanctification of the rest: so two things are forbidden, namely, labour and travail, so far as either they hinder the sanctifying of the Sabbath, and the profaning of the Sabbath rest. First of the impediments of sanctifying of the Sabbath, which in their own nature are indifferent, we must know, that as the furtherances of this sanctification are commanded, so the hinderances are forbidden: and as rest is so far commanded, as maketh to the sanctifying of the day▪ so our works are not simply forbidden, but so far forth as they be hinderances to the holy observation of the same. And these be either lawful works, or lawful recreations and pleasures. And therefore, as we say in the Commandment going before, that all vain,² light, usual, and accustomed oaths are forbidden, and yet affirm, that all such oaths are commanded, as are taken up in the defence of God his glory, our brethren's welfare, or in any other cases of weight and importance, when the things must needs be known, and otherwise than by an oath cannot be known; so we say in this precept, all usual affairs on the Sabbath are here forbidden, and we grant, that if these fall out for the glory of God in the preservation of his creatures necessarily to be done; or so, as they may enable us the more to any duties of the Sabbath, then they are not only not forbidden, but also more strictly enjoined us. And therefore as no others creeping in under pretence are allowed, but such as are weighty, likewise we permit no works of pretended necessity, but such as in that they cannot be done the day before, nor the day after, are for the former considerations necessarily required. And whereas the Lord doth not only give leave to draw the Ox or the Ass out of the ditch to preserve their lives, but also to lead them to the water to make their lives more comfortable to them: so we permit not only things needful to³ the life of man, but also things convenient to the use & comfort of man, as the dressing of convenient meats, whereby a man may be made more cheerful in the duties of sanctification;