A59693:258
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 89.
It is true, that the faithful receive an unction or an anointing §89of the Spirit, which teacheth them all things; but is this teaching immediate or mediate? If immediate, why doth John tell them that he writ to them that hereby they might know they had eternal life, 1 John 5.13. but if it be mediate, viz. by the word externally preached or writ, then ⟨p. 75⟩the external word still is to be our rule, which the anointing of the Spirit helps us to know: It is true, the Apostle saith, 1 John 2.27. that they being taught of the Spirit, did not need that any man should teach them; what then? was their teaching therefore immediate? No verily, for the Apostle explains his meaning in the words following, viz. otherwise, and after another way and manner, then as the Spirit taught them, for so the words run, You need not that any man should teach you, but as the anointing teacheth you all things, and is truth. For if Ministers are to preach and write in demonstration of the Spirit, then those that hear them and are taught by them, need no man to teach them otherwise, than as the same Spirit in the same demonstration teacheth them all things: It might be truly said that the men of Bereah did need no man to teach them otherwise than as the Spirit in comparing and searching the Scriptures did teach them the things which Paul spake. And Calvin well observes upon this place, that the scope of the Apostle in these words, is to confirm his Doctrine which he writ to them, it being no unknown thing, but a thing known to them by the anointing of the Spirit, which either they had received by former Ministry of the word, or which now they might receive by this writing: As therefore the Spirit leads us to the Word, so the word leads us to the Spirit, but never to a spirit without and beyond the word, I mean so far forth as that the outward administration of Christ in the flesh or in the word or letter must cease, and be laid aside, when the inward administration of Christ in the Spirit comes.