A59693:222
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 75.
There were among the Jews, days ceremonially holy, as well as meats ceremonially unclean, now in that other place which they urge against the observation of any days under the Gospel, Rom. 14.5. therein days ceremonial are compared with meats ceremonial, and not moral days with ceremonial meats. It is therefore readily acknowledged that it was an error and weakness in some, to think themselves bound to certain ceremonial days, as well as it was to abstain from certain ceremonial meats; but will i• hence follow that it is a part of Christian liberty & strength to abandon all days as ceremonial? and that it is a part of Christian weakness to observe any day under the Gospel? this verily hath not the face of any reason for it from this Scripture, wherein the Apostle (doubtless) speaks of ceremonial, not moral days, as (shall appear) our Christian Sabbaths be: And look as it is duty (not weakness) sometime to abstain from some meats, as in the case of extraordinary humiliation, as we see in Daniel, Dan 9. and 11. so it may be duty (not weakness) still to observe some days; I say not the seventh day, for that is not now the question, but some days are or may be necessary to be observed now.
There were among the Jews, dayes ceremonially holy, as well as meats ceremonially uncleane, now in that other place which they urge against the observation of any dayes under the Gospel, Rom. 14.5. therein dayes ceremoniall are compared with meats ceremoniall, and not morall days with ceremoniall meats. It is therefore readily acknowledged that it was an errour and weaknesse in some, to think themselves bound to certaine ceremoniall dayes, as well as it was to abstain from certain ceremoniall meats; but will i hence follow that it is a part of Christian liberty & strength to abandon all dayes as ceremoniall? and that it is a part of Christian weaknes to observe any day under the Gospel? this verily hath not the face of any reason for it from this Scripture, wherein the Apostle (doubtlesse) speaks of ceremoniall, not morall dayes, as (shall appear) our Christian Sabbaths be: And look as it is duty (not weaknesse) sometime to abstaine from some meats, as in the case of extraordinary humiliation, as wee see in Daniel, Dan 9. and 11. so it may be duty (not weaknesse) still to observe some dayes; I say not the seventh day, for that is not now the question, but some dayes are or may be necessary to bee observed now.