A Body of Practical Divinity

but Mary Magdalen, and Mary the Mother of James, tho' they had prepared sweet Ointments to anoint the dead Body of Christ, yet they came not to the Sepulchre to embalm him till the Sabbath was past, Luke 23.56. They rested on the Sabbath-day, according to the Commandment. The Hand cannot be busied on the Lord's Day, but the Heart will be defiled. The very Heathens by the Light of Nature would not do any Secular Work, in that time which they had set apart for the Worship of their False Gods. Clem. Alexandrinus reports of one of the Emperors of Rome, that on the Day of set Worship for his Gods, he did forbear Warlike Affairs, and did spend that time in his Devotion. To do servile Work on the Sabbath, shows an irreligious Heart, and highly affronts God. To work servile Work this Day, is to follow the Devils Plough; it is to debase the Soul. God hath made this Day on purpose to raise the Heart up to Heaven, to converse with God, to do Angels Work; and to be employed in earthly Work, is to degrade the Soul of it's Honour. God will not have his Day entrenched upon, or defiled in the least thing. The Man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath, God would have him stoned, Numb. 15. One would think that a small thing, to pick a few sticks to make a Fire; but God would not have his Day violated in the smallest matters. Nay, that Work which had a reference to a religious Use, might not be done on the Sabbath, as the hewing of stones for the building of the Sanctuary: Bezaleel, who was to cut the stones, and carve the Timber out for the Sanctuary, yet he must forbear it on the Sabbath, Exod. 31.15. A Temple is the place of God's Worship, but it were a sin to build a Temple upon the Lord's Day. This is keeping the Sabbath-day holy Negatively, in doing no servile Work. Yet Caution: Not but that Works of Necessity and Charity may be done on this day. God in these cases will have Mercy and not Sacrifice.

but Mary Magdalen, and Mary the Mother of Iames, tho' they had prepared sweet Oyntments to anoint the dead Body of Christ, yet they came not to the Sepulchre to embalm him till the Sabbath was past, Luke 23.56. They rested on the Sabbath-day, according to the Commandment. The Hand cannot be busied on the Lord's Day, but the Heart will be defiled. The very Heathens by the Light of Nature would not do any Secular Work, in that time which they had set apart for the Worship of their False Gods. Clem. Alexandrinus reports of one of the Emperors of Rome, that on the Day of set Worship for his Gods, he did forbear Warlike Affairs, and did spend that time in his Devotion. To do servile Work on the Sabbath, shows an irreligious Heart, and highly affronts God. To work servile Work this Day, is to follow the Devils Plough; it is to debase the Soul. God hath made this Day on purpose to raise the Heart up to Heaven, to converse with God, to do Angels Work; and to be employed in earthly Work, is to degrade the Soul of it's Honour. God will not have his Day intrenched upon, or defiled in the least thing. The Man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath, God would have him stoned,