A59693:104
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 28.
It is true that God out of his absolute sovereignty and ⟨p. 23⟩good pleasure of his will, might have determined us to observe a fourth, a ninth, a twentieth part of our time in holy rest more or less, as well as to a seventh; yet let us consider of God as acting by counsel, and weighing and considering with himself, what is most meet and equal, and what proportion of time is most fit for himself; and then (with leave of better thoughts when I see better reason) I suppose no man can prove (unless he be made privy to the unknown secrets of the wisdom of God) that any other proportion had been as meet as this now made by the actual determination of God; there was not therefore the mere and sovereign will of God which thus determined of this seventh part of time, but also the wisdom of God, which considering all things saw it most mee• and suitable for man to give, and God to receive from man, and therefore being commanded, and thus particularly determined, becomes moral.
It is true that God out of his absolute soveraignty and ⟨p. 23⟩good pleasure of his will, might have determined us to observe a fourth, a ninth, a twentieth part of our time in holy rest more or lesse, as well as to a seven•h; yet let us consider of God as acting by counsell, and weighing and considering with himselfe, what is most meet and equall, and what proportion of time is most fit for himselfe; and then (with leave of better thoughts when I see better reason) I suppose no man can prove (unlesse hee bee made privy to the unknowne secrets of the wisdome of God) that any other proportion had been as meet as this now made by the actuall determination of God; there was not therefore the meer and soveraigne will of God which thus determined of this seventh part of time, but also the wisedome of God, which considering all things saw it most mee and suitable for man to give, and God to receive from man, and therefore being commanded, and thus particularly determined, becomes morall.