A59693:1005
Theses Sabbaticæ, or, The doctrine of the Sabbath wherein the Sabbaths I. Morality, II.…
Theses Sabbaticæ, or, The doctrine of the Sabbath wherein the Sabbaths I. Morality, II. Change, III. Beginning. IV. Sanctification, are clearly discussed, which were first handled more largely in sundry sermons in Cambridge in New-England in opening of the Fourth Commandment : in unfolding whereof many scriptures are cleared, divers cases of conscience resolved, and the moral law as a rule of life to a believer, occasionally and distinctly handled / by Thomas Shepard ...Theses Sabbaticæ, or, The doctrine of the Sabbath wherein the Sabbaths I. Morality, II. Change, III. Beginning. IV. Sanctification, are clearly discussed, which were first handled more largely in sundry sermons in Cambridge in New-England in opening of the Fourth COmmandment : in unfolding whereof many scriptures are cleared, divers cases of conscience resolved, and the morall law as a rule of life to a believer, occasionally and distinctly handled / by Thomas Shepard ...
London: printed by T.R. and E.M. for John Rothwell, 1650
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
You shall then mourn and wring your hands, and tear your hair, and stamp and grow mad, and yet weep to think that if you had had a heart to have spent that very time of the Sabbath in seeking God, in drawing near to God, in resting in God, which you dispend in idle Talk, and Idleness, in Rioting and Wantonness, in Sports and Foolishness upon this day, you had then been in Gods Eternal Rest in Heaven, and for ever blessed in God. Its said Jerusalem remembered in the day of her affliction all her pleasant things, when the Enemy did mock at her Sabbaths; and so will you remember with sad hearts the loose of all your precious seasons of grace, especially then, when the Devils and Heathens and damned Out•asts, who never had the mercy to enjoy them, shall mo•k at thee for the loss of thy Sabbaths. Verily I cannot think that any men that ever tasted any sweetness in Christ or his Sabbath, and felt the unknown refreshings of this sweet Rest, but that they will mourn for their cold affections to them and unfruitful spending of them before they die; otherwise never go about to blear mens eyes with Discourses and Invectives and Disputes against them, or with carnal Excuses for your licentious spending of them; for doubtless you taste not, and therefore know not what they are; and you will one day be found to be such as speak evil of the things you know not. Hear ye despisers and wonder, and perish; is the infinite Majesty and glory of God so vile in your eyes that you do not think him worthy of special attendance one day in a Week? doth he call you now to Rest in his Bosom, and will you now kick his Bowels, despise this Love, and spit in his Face? doth he call upon you to spend this day in holiness, and will you spend it in Mirth, and Sports and Pastimes and in all manner of licentiousness? Hast thou wearied God with thine iniquities, and thy self in thine iniquities all the week long (for which God might justly cut thee off from seeing any more Sabbath) and doth the Lord Jesus (instead of recompensing thee thus) call you back again to your resting place? and will you now weary the Lord again, that he cannot have rest or quiet for you one day in a Week? Oh that we could mourn for these things: And yet walk abroad the face of ⟨p. 61⟩the whole earth at this day, and then say where shall you find almost Gods Sabbaths exactly kept? viz.