Vol. 2

whom they do not love.CHAPTER XIII. 551WJien the essence of religionis made to consist in ceremonies and externalusages, every seeming violation of them passes forirreligion and profaneness. This is, in the judgmentof Christ himself, the vice of hypocrites, as well asto have two different measures, and to object, as acrime to others, that which they practise every daythemselves." 16. And ought not this woman, being a daughterof Abraham., whom Satan hath bound, lo, theseeighteen years, be loosed from this bond on thesabbath-day ?"Nothing is more proper for the Lord's day thanthe work of the Lord, which is to destroy the worksof Satan. What grievous bonds are those of thedevil, which confine the body in this sad condition !But how much more grievous and fatal are the bondsof sin,which detain souls as slaves under his tyranny,chained down to earthly pleasures and desires, andunable to lift their hearts up towards God, or todesire the things of heaven ! It is the office of agood pastor to spend his life in labouring to deliverthem,and thereby conduct them to the eternal sabbath." 17. And when he had said these things, all hisadversaries were ashamed : and all the people rejoicedthe glorious things that were done by him."for allMen cannot long resist truth ; but it does notconvert all those whom it confounds. The passionsblind the understanding, and harden the heart againstit : that of the common people opens itself theretowithout difficulty, because not corrupted either byenvy or interest. It is always time to show by our