Nehemiah 13:15

In those days saw I in Judah [some] treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all [manner of] burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified [against them] in the day wherein they sold victuals.

Ver. 15. In those days saw I in Judah] He was centoculus, hundred eyed, and had his eye in every corner, to find out and redress abuses; wherein he was incessant and indefatigable. He chose rather to be counted a busy justice than a quiet gentleman.

Some treading winepresses on the sabbath day] These Jews were not so loose, but their posterity at this day are, in some respects, as much overstrict, as is elsewhere noted.

Dum vitant stulti vitium, in contraria currunt.

While they avoid foolish vices, they run in contrary ways.

And bringing in sheaves] As a work of necessity.

As also wine, grapes, and figs] As a work of mercy. So they would

plead likely. Sin and shifting came into the world together, no evil

wants its excuse; but the covering is too short, and God will wash

off that varnish with rivers of brimstone.

And all manner of burdens] They did not so much as keep

Sabbatum Asinorum, a sabbath of fools, a rest from servile

employments. See Jeremiah 17:21 .

And I testified against them] i.e. I challenged them as

impious for so doing, and provokers of God's wrath, traitors to the

state, Nehemiah 13:18. This should every man do in his place. A

certain Indian coming by, and seeing one of the New English profaning

the Lord's day by felling of a tree, said to him, Thou much mached

man, that is, Thou very wicked man, What, break you God's day?

knowest thou not that this is the Lord's day in Massachusetts? that

is, in one of the English plantations so called.

In the day wherein they sold victuals] A practice too much in use

in this nation, till keeping of markets and fairs on the Christian

Sabbath was put down by authority; and especially by that late good

act for the sanctification of the Lord's day, grossly broken in this

kind, under many of the bishops' noses; yea, made a voider and

dunghill, for all refuse businesses.