[290] Vatablus in hunc locum Item. Trem. & Junius.
4. God said, In it thou shalt do no manner of work. This the Jews understood without any manner of exception.[291] Hence they held it unlawful, to roast an apple, to tuck an herb, to clime a tree, to kill or catch a flea. Hence they thought it unlawful to defend themselves, being assaulted by their enemies on the Sabbath day: By this means, twice they became a prey unto the enemy.[292] First, unto Antiochus; whereupon Mattathias made a Decree, that it should be lawful upon the Sabbath to resist their enemies; which Decree again they understanding strictly, as if it did only give leave to resist,[293] when they were actually assaulted, and not by any labour that day to prevent the enemies raising of Rams, settling of Engines, underminings, &c. they became a prey, the second time, to Pompey. For the right understanding therefore of this Command, we are to know, that three sorts of servile works were allowed.
[291] Hospinian. de Orig. fest. c. de Sabbato.
[292] Joseph. l. 12. cap. 8.
[293] Joseph. l. 14: cap. 8.
1. Works of Charity: God, that allowed them to lead their Oxe and Ass to water on the Sabbath, Luke 13. to make their lives more comfortable, much more allowed man liberty to dress convenient food for himself and his Family, that they might the more comfortably perform holy duties. Christ healed on the Sabbath, therefore, visiting the sick, and the use of the Physitian, was both then and now lawful.
2. Works tending directly to Gods Worship: not only killing of sacrifices, and circumcising of children on that day was allowed; but the Priests might lawfully blow their Trumpets and Horns on the Sabbath day; for the assembling of the people, Numb. 20. 2. And the people might warrantably go from their Houses to the place of Gods publick worship. By proportion it is now warrantable for Christians, to ring bells to assemble the people together on the Lords day; to take journeys, to joyn with the publick Congregation, or Preach the Word. Of these we may say, though they are in their own natures bodily labors, yet the Temple which was sanctified did change the nature of them, and make them holy, Mat. 23. 17. Or as the Jews say concerning the overthrow of Jericho, which according to their writings fell on the Sabbath day:[294] He which commanded the Sabbath to be sanctified, commanded it also to be prophaned.
[294] מי שצות על השבת צות לחלל שבת R. D. Kimchi in Josh. 6.
3. Works of absolute necessity, as the defending ones self against his enemy, and others of like nature: concerning which the Jews have a saying,[295] Peril of life drives away the Sabbath. And the Christians with a little change of a more common Proverb, say, Necessitas non habet ferias; Necessity hath no Holy days.
[295] מסכנות נפש דוחה שבת