. Now Moses' code of laws was written in a book and placed in the same
ark. Deut. xxxi: 24-26. This law from the xiv. ch. and onwards, and in
Lev. was to be read to the whole assembly once in seven years; see xxxi:
10-12, and Neh. viii: 1-6. Six hours, reading from morning to noon. But
the ten commandments as in Exo. xx: 1-17, can be read in three minutes. If
you want to understand God's code of laws separately set forth and
enforced, see from iv. to xiv. of Deut. His reasons for giving them to the
Jews, vii: 6-8, and x: 22. He tells them they shall not add nor diminish
from them. Deut. iv: 2. (Mind this.) "The man for gathering sticks (either
to kindle a fire for his comfort, or cook some food, B. says,) was by the
command stoned to death." This is all supposition; nobody knows what he
gathered sticks for, or what size they were; he was stoned to death for
it, and so we might be now if the law of Moses was in force. Let it be
distinctly understood, that God's code of laws, which comprises the ten
commandments, does not forbid us to kindle fires on his Sabbath; nor
require us to stay in our houses, nor forbid us to assemble together to
worship; neither does it forbid us to administer to the sick on his
Sabbath, nor do any _work_ of absolute necessity. These I propose to treat
upon more at large, under the head _Scriptural Observance of the Sabbath_.

Barnabas says, "if the covenant is not altered, amended nor repealed, then
it means just what it says. 'Thou shalt not do any work,' stands out in
bold relief against those who talk so much about the command, but never
yet pretend to keep it. If they say they have a right to alter the
phrase," &c. Now we answer, that we never have attempted to alter it. It
is perfectly right, and your bare assertion, in the absence of any kind of
proof, does not, nor ever will prove, that we do not refrain from work on
the Sabbath, according to the commandment, as set forth in the Scriptures.

Two kinds of work are specified or inferred in the law of Moses. "In the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," &c. The way this is done, "man
goeth forth to his work and to his labor until evening." This of course
includes from the first day to the seventh. Then Sunday is the first
working day of the six. This is distinguished _servile_ work, because in
Lev. xxiii. chap. and xxviii. and xxix. ch. of Numbers, the Lord's Sabbath
and the Jewish Sabbaths of holy convocations are all brought to view, so