A59693:147
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.
1Master Primrose also (when he is awake) expressly confesseth thus much, viz. That the Sabbath is moral in its foundation, end, marrow and principal substance; and that a stinted time is moral, and grounded on the principles of nature; and therefore the Gentiles (saith he) had their set days of religion: and this (he tells us) is ratified by the Gospel, which commendeth to the faithful the Assembling of themselves together for Word and Sacraments, and consequently that they have appointed times to attend upon them, wherein the word of God be read and preached as under the old Testament every Sabbath day: nay he yields yet more, viz. That not only stinted times, but that also there should be a convenient proportion and suitable frequency of time for Gods service, now under the Gospel, as under the Law; and therefore affirms, that the Jewish annual Feasts, and new Moons, being but once a year or once a month, and so being rare and seldom, could not teach us the convenient and most suitable frequency of Gods public service, as the Sabbath did, which returned weekly, and therefore he saith that the Commandment runs not thus, viz. Remember to keep the new Moons, but Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. So that by Mr. Primrose concession, not only a time, but a stinted time, not only a stinted, but also such a convenient proportion and suitable frequency of time, as is once in seven days, is morally holy by virtue of the fourth Commandment.
1Master Primrose also (when he is awake) expressely confesseth thus much, viz. That the Sabbath is morall in its foundation, end, marrow and principall substance; and that a stinted time is morall, and grounded on the principles of nature; and therefore the Gentiles (saith he) had their set dayes of religion: and this (he tels us) is ratified by the Gospel, which commendeth to the faithfull the Assembling of themselves together for Word and Sacraments, and consequently that they have appointed times to attend upon them, wherein the word of God be read and preached as under the old Testament every Sabbath day: nay he yields yet more, viz. That not onely stinted times, but that also there should be a convenient proportion and suitable frequency of time for Gods service, now under the Gospell, as under the Law; and therefore affirmes, that the Jewish annuall Feasts, and new Moons, being but once a yeare or once a moneth, and so being rare and seldome, could not teach us the convenient and most suitable frequency of Gods publick service, as the Sabbath did, which returned weekly, and therefore he saith that the Commandment runs not thus, viz. Remember to keep the new Moons, but Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. So that by Mr. Primrose concession, not onely a time, but a stinted time, not onely a stinted, but also such a convenient proportion and suitable frequency of time, as is once in seven dayes, is morally holy by vertue of the fourth Commandment.