A59693:193
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 62.
It is true, that the exercise of public worship of many §62together, is to be at this time upon the Sabbath, but doth it follow that therefore this public worship it self falls directly under this command? For if public Assemblies be (as some think) a part of natural worship, so as that the light of nature directs all men dwelling together as creatures, to worship God together publicly as Creator, ⟨p. 52⟩then this worship falls directly under the first (not fourth) Commandment, where natural worship is directly commanded; but if public Assemblies be considered as distinct Churches politically united and combined, publicly to worship God; then such Churches considered thus as political, not mystical Assemblies, do fall directly under the second Command, as parts of instituted worship: for as all devised forms of Churches, whether Diocesan, Provincial, National, Universal (being the inventions of man to further the worship of God) are condemned directly in the second Command: […] all such Churches as are framed into a spiritual policy, after the fashion and pattern of the Word and primitive institution, are (with leave of Erastus and his disciples) enjoined in the same Commandment, and therefore not in the fourth.1 Gomarus and Master Primrose therefore do much mistake the mark, and scope of the fourth Commandment, who affirm, That as in the three first Commandments, God ordained the inward and outward service, which he will have every particular man to yield to him in private and severally from the society of men every day, so in the fourth Commandment he enjoineth a service common and public, which all must yield together unto him, forbearing in the mean while all other business. But why should they think that public worship is more required here than private? Will they say that the Sabbath is not to be sanctified by private and inward worship, as well as by public and external worship? Is not private preparation, meditation, secret prayer and converse with God, required upon this day, as well as public praying and hearing the Word? If they say that these are required indeed, but 'tis in reference to the public, and for the public worship sake, it may be then as easily replied, that the public worship is also for the sake of the private, that each man secretly and privately might muse and feed upon the good of public helps;