Nehemiah 13

The Lord's Day is a day of holy rest, all secular works must be forborne and suspended, it is a profaning of the day. (Nehemiah 13:15) "In these days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, as also wine-grapes and figs, and all manner o…

So on the contrary, if the Magistrate be negligent in his duty, he becomes the greatest sinner of all; for then the sins that are committed through his default, are ascribed to him. Nehemiah, reproving the Rulers, tells them that they broke the Lord's Sabbaths, Nehemiah 13:13; w…

And it may be a question whether we are to understand this of Job's preeminence in the general or in regard of some one particular grace? We read of Solomon that there was none like him (Nehemiah 13:26): Among many nations was there no king like him who was beloved of his God. T…

"But if you will not hearken to me to hallow the Sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." Indeed, God was so exacting about this, that he descends to a particular prohibition of seve…

Above all others, how well does it become those into whose hands God has put the power of magistracy, to show forth holy violence in causing the Lord's day to be strictly observed? What a rare pattern has Nehemiah set all good magistrates (Nehemiah 13:15). In those days saw I in…

And if God establish David's seed forever (Psalm 89:4) and the seed of his people shall possess the gates of their enemies (Genesis 24:60) and if he pour his Spirit upon the seed of Jacob (Isaiah 44:3) and circumcise the heart of the seed of his people (Deuteronomy 30:6) and put…

Nehemiah rebuked the Nobles for their Usury, (Nehemiah 5:7). And their Sabbath-prophanation, (Nehemiah 13:7). A sin-hater will not endure wickedness in his family, (Psalm 101:7).

4th Commandment: Remember the Sabbath day, etc. He breaks this commandment: who labors in the servile works of his ordinary calling (Nehemiah 13:15); who travels abroad on his ordinary business (Exodus 16:24); who keeps fairs and markets on this day (Nehemiah 13:15); who works h…

And as we are free from the curse of the law, so we look not for life and salvation from the keeping of the law; it is true, many temporal blessings we may get by it, yet it is not so much from the law, as from God's acceptance of our Evangelical obedience, but otherwise we chal…

Thirdly, another part of the ill frame of our hearts is, that even our best duties, that proceed from our best regenerate part, are imperfect, even our most gracious part, that helps us to preach and hear, to receive Sacraments, and the very graces of God in us are imperfect, an…