A59693:411
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 133.
It was but accidental, and not of the essence of the Sabbath day, that that particular Seventh from the creation should be the Sabbath; for the Seventh day Sabbath being to be mans rest day, it was therefore suitable to Gods wisdom to give man an example of rest from himself, to encourage him thereunto (for we know how strongly examples persuade) now rest b•ing a cessation from labour, it therefore supposes labour to go before; hence God could not appoint the first day of the creation to be the Sabbath, because he did then but begin his labour; nor could he take any the other days, because in them he had not finished his work, nor rested from his labour, therefore Gods rest fell out upon the last of seven succeeding six of labour before; so that if there could have been any other day as fit then for exemplary rest as this; and as afterward it sell out in the finishing of the work of redemption, it might have been as well upon such a day as this, but it was not then so: and hence the rest day fell as it were accidentally upon this: and hence it is that Gods example of rest on that particular day doth not necessarily bind us to observe the same seventh day: moral examples ⟨p. 137⟩not alway binding in their accidentals (as the case is here) although it be true that in their essentials they alway do.
It was but accidentall, and not of the essence of the Sabbath day, that that particular Seventh from the creation should be the Sabbath; for the Seventh day Sabbath being to be mans rest day, it was therefore suitable to Gods wisdom to give man an example of rest from himselfe, to encourage him thereunto (for we know how strongly examples perswade) now rest b•ing a cessation from labour, it therefore supposes labour to goe before; hence God could not appoint the first day of the creation to be the Sabbath, because he did then but begin his labour; nor could he take any the other daies, because in them he had not finished his work, nor rested from his labour, therefore Gods rest fell out upon the last of seven succeeding six of labour before; so that if there could have been any other day as fit then for exemplary rest as this; and as afterward it sell out in the finishing of the work of redemption, it might have been as well upon such a day as this, but it was not then so: and hence the rest day fell as it were accidentally upon this: and hence it is that Gods example of rest on that particular day doth not necessarily binde us to observe the same seventh day: morall examples