A59693:225
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 77.
There is (as some call it) Sabbathum internum & externum,§77 i. an internal and external Sabbath; the first (if I may lawfully call it a Sabbath) is to be kept every day in a special rest from sin; the second is to be observed at certain times and on special days; now if that other place, Isa. 66.23. (which is much urged for the equality of all days) be meant of a continual Sabbath, so that those words, from Sabbath to Sabbath, if they signify a constant continual worship of God indefinitely, then the Prophet speaks of an internal Sabbath, which shall in special be observed under the Gospel; but this doth not abolish the observation of an external Sabbath also, no more then in the times before the Gospel, when the people of God were bound to observe a continual Sabbath and rest from sin, and yet were not exempted hereby from external Sabbaths, only because more grace is poured out upon the people of God under the new Testament then under the old, and under some times and seasons of the new Testament, and some people, more then at and upon others: hence this prophecy points at the times of the Gospel, wherein Gods people shall worship God more spiritually and continually then in former times: But if by this phrase From Sabbath to Sabbath, be meant, succession, i. one Sabbath after another successively, wherein Gods people shall enjoy blessed fellowship with God from Sabbath to Sabbath, successively in the worship of him, one Sabbath after another; then this place is such a weapon in their own hands against themselves, as that it wounds to the heart that accursed conceit, that all days should be abandoned by those under the new Testament: But suppose that by Sabbath, is not meant the weekly Sabbath (for then, say some, what will you understand by new moons which are conjoined with them?) yet these two things are evident, 1. That Sabbaths and new moons were set times of worshipping God