A59693:417
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 136.
If it be a moral duty to observe one day in seven, then the observation of such a day, no more infringeth Christian liberty, then obedience to any other moral Law, one part of our Christian liberty consisting in our conformity to it, as our bondage consists in being left to sin against it; and therefore that argument against the morality of one day in seven is very feeble, as if Christian liberty was hereby infringed.
If it be a morall duty to observe one day in seven, then the observation of such a day, no more infringeth Christian liberty, then obedience to any other morall Law, one part of our Christian liberty consisting in our conformity to it, as our •ondage consists in being left to sinne against it; and therefore that argument against the morality of one day in seven is very feeble, as if Christian liberty was hereby infringed.
Thesis 137.
It was meet that God should have special service from man, and therefore meet for himself to appoint a special time for it: which time though it be a circumstance, yet its such a circumstance as hath a special influence into any business, not only humane, but also divine, and therefore if it be naturally, it may be also ethically and morally good, contributing much also to what is morally good; and therefore the determination of such a time for length, frequency, and holiness, may be justly taken in among the moral Laws: he that shall doubt of such a powerful influence of special time for the furthering of what is specially good, may look upon the art, skill, trade, learning, nay grace it self perhaps, which he hath got by the help of the improvement of time: a profane, and religious heart, are seen and accounted of according to their improvements of time, more or less, in holy things: Time is not therefore such a circumstance as is good only because commanded (as the place of the Temple was) but it is commanded because it is good, because time, nay much time, reiterated in a weekly seventh part of time, doth much advance and set forward that which is good.