n to
exist: Here undoubtedly he had reference to these and other acts of
necessity and mercy; but the great sin for which professors in this
enlightened age charge the Saviour with in this transaction, is, in
directing the man to take up his bed, contrary to law. It is clear the
people [39]were forbidden to carry burthens on the Sabbath day, as in
Jer. xvii: 21, 22, but by reading the 24th v. in connection with Neh.
xiii: 15-22, we learn that this prohibition related to what was lawful
for them to do on the other six days of the week, viz. merchandise and
trading. See proof, Neh. x: 31: also unlawful, as in Amos viii: 5. We
need not, nor we cannot misunderstand the fourth commandment, taken in
connection with the other nine, they were simple and pure written by the
finger of God; but in the days of our Saviour it had become heavily
laden with Jewish traditions, hence when Jesus appeals to them whether
it is lawful to do good and to heal on the Sabbath days, their mouths
are closed because they cannot contradict him from the law nor the
prophets. The Saviour no where interferes with them in their most rigid
observance of the day; but when they find fault with him for performing
his miracles of mercy on that day, he tells them they have broken the
law; and in another place, "If a man on the Sabbath day receive
circumcision without breaking the law of Moses, are ye angry at me
because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day?" He then
says, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous
judgment." vii: 23, 24. Did he break the Sabbath? Now the law requires
that the beasts shall rest; but what is the practice of many of those
who are the most strict in keeping Sunday for the Sabbath. Sick, or
well, ministers or laymen, do they not ride back and forth to meeting?
Again, is it right and lawful to carry forth our dead on the Sabbath? or
carry the communion service back and forth. The Apostle says, 'believe
and be baptized.' Suppose this should be on the Sabbath and we were some
distance from the water, would any one interfere with us if we carried
our change of apparel with us and back again, or have we in so doing
transgressed the law; if we have, it is high time we made a full stop.
Jesus undoubtedly had good reasons for directing the sick man to take up
his bed and walk, but I cannot learn that he justified any one else in
carrying their bed on the Sabbath, unless in a case of necessity and
mercy, s