A59693:103
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.
Thesis 27.
There is scarce any thing but it is morally indifferent, until §27it falls under some divine determination:1 but divine determination of twofold. 1. Of such things which are not good, fit or needful for man to observe without a command, as Sacrifices and Sacraments, and such likes: now herein, in such laws, positive determination may be very well inconsistent with morality; and it may be safely said that such a law is not moral, but rather positive, and thus the learned sometimes speak. 2. Of such things as are equal, good in themselves, needful and suitable for man; and here particular determination and morality may kiss each other, and are not to be opposed one to another: and hence it is that if Gods Commandment positively determines us to observe any part of instituted worship (suppose Sacraments or Sacrifices) yet such laws are not moral (although it be moral in general to worship God after his own will;) because the things themselves are not good in themselves nor needful: but if God shall determine us to observe a Sabbath day, this determination doth not take away the morality of the command; because it being good in it self to give God the meetest and fittest proportion of time for holy Rest, and the commandment declaring that this seventh part, ⟨p. 22⟩or so, is such a time, hence it comes to pass that this time is good in it self, and therefore determination by the commandment in this case, doth not abolish the morality hereof. It is a moral duty to pay tribute to Caesar, to give to Caesar that which is Caesars: hence because a man may give too much or too little to him, that determination which directs us to that particular which is Caesars due and most meet for him to receive, and us to give, that is best in it self, and is therefore moral; so prayer is a moral duty, but because a man may be tempted to pray too oft, or else too seldom, hence determination of the fittest and this fittest season, makes this or that moral. So 'tis here in the Sabbath. I do willingly and freely profess thus far with our Adversaries of the morality of the Sabbath; that it is a moral duty to give God some time and day of holy Rest and worship, as 'tis moral to give Caesar his due, and to pray to God: