A59693:107
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 29.
If that commandment be moral which is therefore commanded §29because it is good, then hence it follows in the second place, that such laws only are not moral laws, which are known to all men by the light of corrupt nature: For as hath been already said, a law may be holy, just, good, suitable and meet for all men to observe, whether the light of corrupt nature, by awakening or sleeping principles (as some call them) know it or no, and such a comeliness and suitableness in such a law is sufficient to make it moral. There were many secret moral sins in Paul which he never saw, nor could have seen by the light of corrupt nature, until the law fell upon him with mighty efficacy and power,Romans 7. for God is not bound to crook his moral laws to what our corrupt minds are actually able of themselves to see, any more than to what our corrupt wills are actually able to do: If the light of nature be imperfect in us since the fall (which no wise man doubts of) then there may be many things truly moral, which the light of nature now sees not, because 'tis imperfect, which in its perfection it did see, and this consideration of the great imperfection of the light of nature, is alone sufficient for ever to stop their mouths and silence their hearts, who go about to make an imperfect light and law of nature, the perfect rule and only measure of moral duties; and who make so narrow a limitation of that which is moral to that which is thus imperfectly natural: ⟨p. 24⟩'tis not now lex nata, but lex data, which is the rule of moral duties: The holy Scriptures contain the perfect rule of all moral actions, whether mans corrupted and imperfect light of nature see them or no.