A59693:27
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.
accounting it a great misery, that his people should lose the public benefit (through the disturbance of any) of one Sabbath-day; (for be it Jewish or Christian Sabbath, I now dispute not; sure I am it was a Sabbath-day, which it seems was to continue after Christs Ascension to the Father, and therefore not wholly ceremonial) And shall we account it no affliction or misery to fight or fly, to ride or go, to work or play, to hear the Word in public, or stay at home upon the Sabbath-day? Is it no mercy in these days to enjoy many Sabbaths, which was so sore a misery in Christs account, and in the Apostles days to lose but one? if mans heart be lost in the necessary cumbers of the week, (upon the Sabbath) the Lord is wont to recall it again to him; if any fear that the time of Grace is past, the continuance of the Sabbaths, (the special seasons of grace) confutes him; if a mans soul be wearied with daily griefs and outward troubles, the bosom of Jesus Christ (which is in special wise opened every Lords day) may refresh him; and shall we have and profess so little love to such a time, (more precious then gold to humbled hearts) as to cast away such a rich portion of precious time, and make it common under a pretence of making every ⟨image 11⟩day a Sabbath, which is either impossible to do▪ or sinful: the loudest voice (one of them of the love of Christ, which now sounds in the world continually in the years of his people, is this, Come into my bosom ye weary sinners and enjoy your rest; and the next voice to that is this of the Sabbath to call us off from all occasions, and then to say to us, Come to me my people, and rest in my bosom of sweetest mercy all this day: Which call would not be a mercy, if it were every day; for then our own occasions must be neglected, which the wise and fatherly providence of God forbids; and spiritual work only minded and intended, which God did never command: Nor should any marvel that the voice of the Law should contain such a voice of Love, and therefore should not think that this controversy about the Law (or for this one law of the Sabbath is unfit and unsuitable to these Evangelical and Gospel times: for although the Law is dreadful and full of terror as considered without Christ, and is to man fallen a voice of words and a voice of terror and fear, which genders unto bondage;
accounting it a great misery, that his people should lose the publike benefit (through the disturbance of any) of one Sabbath-day; (for be it Iewish or Christian Sabbath, I now dispute not; sure I am it was a Sabbath-day, which it seemes was to continue after Christs Ascension to the Father, and therefore not wholly ceremonial) And shall we account it no affliction or misery to fight or flie, to ride or go, to work or play, to heare the Word in publike, or stay at home upon the Sabbath-day? Is it no mercy in these dayes to injoy many Sabbaths, which was so sore a misery in Christs account, and in the Apostles dayes to lose but one? if mans heart be lost in the necessary cumbers of the weeke, (upon the Sabbath) the Lord is wont to recall it again to him; if any feare that the time of Grace is past, the continuance of the Sabbaths, (the speciall seasons of grace) confutes him; if a mans soul be wearied with daily griefs and outward troubles, the bosome of Iesus Christ (which is in speciall wise opened every Lords day) may refresh him; and shall we have and professe so little love to such a time, (more precious then gold to humbled hearts) as to cast away such a rich portion of precious time, and make it common under a pretence of making every