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.