A59693:493
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 170.
If because we read not any express mention that the Patriarchs before Moses time did sanctify a Sabbath, that therefore the Sabbath was not sanctified at that time, we may as ⟨p. 157⟩well argue that it was not observed all the time of the Judges, nor of the books of Samuel, because no express mention is made in those books of any such thing: for if it be said that there is no doubt but that they observed it because it was published on Mount Sinai, the like we may say concerning the Patriarchal times, who had such a famous manifestation of Gods mind herein, from the known story, Commandment and example of God in the first creation, Gen. 2.2. it is not •aid expressly that Abram kept the Sabbath, but he is commended for keeping Gods Commandments, Gen. 26.5. and is not the Sabbath one of those Commandments, the breach of which is accounted the breaking of all? Exod. 16.27, 28. and may we lawfully and charitably think that Abram neglected other moral duties because they are not expressly mentioned? again it may be as well doubted of, whether the Patriarchs observed any day at all (which our adversaries confess to be moral) because it neither is expressly mentioned: again it may be said with as good reason, th•• the sacrifices which they offered were without warrant from God, because the Commandment for them is not expressly mentioned: but we know that Abel by faith offered, and faith must arise from a precedent word: so that as the approved practise of holy men doth necessarily imply a command, so the command given (as hath been shown) to Adam, doth as necessarily infer a practise: again if no duties to God were performed by the Patriarchs, but such as are expressly mentioned and held forth in their examples, we should then behold a strange face of a Church for many hundred years together, and necessarily condemn the generation of the just for living in gross neglects and impieties, tere being many singular and special duties which doubtless were done that were not meet particularly to be mentioned in that short epitome of above 2000 years together, in the book f Genesis: and therefore for M. Ironside and Primrose to conclude that the keeping of the Sabbath had certainly been mentioned if it had been observed, is very unsound. M.