A59693:339
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 117.
If to be under the power and dominion of sin and Original corruption, be a sure and certain evidence of actual condemnation, so that he that saith he knows Christ and hath fellowship with him, and yet walks in darkness, and keeps not his Commandments, is a liar, 1 Joh. 1.6. & 2.4. why may not sanctification then (whereby we are set free from the power of sin) be a sure and certain evidence of our actual justification? for hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments, 1 Joh. 2 3. whereby it is manifest that the Apostle is not of their minds who think the negative to be true, viz. that they that keep not Christs commandments are in a state of perdition, but they will not make the affirmative true, viz. that they that keep his Commandments may thereby know that they are in a state of salvation: If Jesus Christ be sent to bless his people in turning them from their iniquities, Act. 3. ult. then they that know they are turned from their iniquities by him, may know certainly that they are blessed in him; and if they be not thus turned they may know certainly that they are yet accursed; If godliness hath the promises of this life, and that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.8. and if the free grace and actual love of God be revealed clearly to us only by some promise, how then is sanctification (so near akin to godliness) excluded from being any evidence? is there no inherent grace in a believer that no inherent sanctification can be a true evidence? verily thus some do think; but what is this but an open graceless profession, thrr every believer is ⟨p. 111⟩under the power of inherent sin, if he hath not the being of any inherent grace? or if there be any inherent grace, yet it is (say some) so mixed with corruption, and is such a spotted and blurred evidence, that no man can discern it?