A59693:26
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.
This therefore is the reason why the love of man• at this day is grown cold toward the external Sabbath; because the internal and spiritual Sabbath is now all in all: And therefore many men walk either with bold consciences, and will observe no Sabbath; or else with loose consciences, thinking it lawful to observe it (if men will enjoin it) but no• thinking that they are tied and bound thereunto from any precept of God. That place of Hebrews 4. which they so much stick to▪ wants not light to demonstrate that the Sabbatism there may well agree not only with the internal, but the outward Christian Sabbath: but some of the ensuing Theses will serve to clear up these things. This only I fear; that because of these indignities done thus to Gods Sabbaths even by the under-workings of some of Gods own people, that the time hastens, wherein if no man should speak, yet the right hand of the sore displeasure of a provoked God by plagues and confusion upon the glory of all flesh, will plead for his own Name, and for that in special which is engraven upon the forehead of his holy Sabbaths. Jerusalem remembered with regret of heart, in the days of her affliction and misery, all her pleasant things, and especially this of the Sabbath, Lam. 1.7. If the days of our rest and quietness cannot make us to relish the good things of his Temple in the fruition of our Sabbaths; then doubt not of it, but that the days of our affliction shall make a remnant to remember that they were pleasant things: of all the mercies of God to Israel, this is reckoned to be one of the greatest, that he gave his Laws to Israel, Psal. 147.19, 20. And of all Laws, this of the Sabbath; (For so the remnant of the Captivity acknowledged it, Nehem. 9.14. who perhaps had far lower thoughts of it before ⟨image 10⟩their bondage. And if the very making of it known be such a sweet mercy, what then is the rest and peace of it, the blessing and comfort of it? for which I doubt not but many thousands are admiring God in heaven at this day. And shall a shady imagination of an Every-day-sabbath, make us sell away for nothing such a heavenly and precious season, and make it common? The Lord Jesus wished his Disciples to pray that their flight from Jerusalem might not be in winter, nor on the Sabbath-day,