Nehemiah 13:22

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and [that] they should come [and] keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, [concerning] this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

Ver. 22. And I commanded the Levites] He might do it, as their governor. How then can Popish priests exempt themselves from the power of the civil magistrate? and say, as those shavelings did to our Henry II, when they lashed him on the bare till the blood followed, Domine, noli minari; nos enim de tali curia sumus, quae consuevit imperare regibus, et imperatoribus; that is, Sir, spare your threats; for we are of that high court of Rome which is wont to lord it over kings and emperors? Might he not have well replied, Ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi; or rather, ye limbs of Antichrist?

Come and keep the gates] The temple gates, with - Procul hinc, procul este profani. Far off fro here, far off is to be the profane. In Greece the priest, at their solemn sacrifices, was wont to ask, τις τηδε, Who's there? and the people were to answer, πολλοι τ αγαθοι τε παρεισι, Here are many, and those also good men.

To sanctify the sabbath day] By severing the precious from the vile; and seeing that all things were rightly carried by themselves and the rest.

Remember me, &c.] See Nehemiah 13:14 .

And spare me] Meritum meum est misericordia Domini. Horreo quicquid de meo est, ut sim meus My service is the mercy of God. I shutter at whatever is from me, that is mine. (Bernard). Thomas Aquinas, lying on his death bed, and being about to receive the Lord's supper, besought the Lord with tears that he would spare him according to his abundant goodness; and snatching up the Bible, he hugged it, and said, I believe all the contents of this blessed book. The like is reported of William Wickham, founder of New College, Oxon, and of Charles V, emperor, and some other wiser Papists.