Theses Sabbaticæ, or, The doctrine of the Sabbath wherein the Sabbaths I. Morality, II.…

If the question be whether the Sabbath be known by the light of pure nature? the answer is, yea; for Adams mind knew of it, and his heart was inclined and bent to the keeping of it, although it be true that now this light in corrupt nature (as in many other moral duties) is almost wholly extinct and worn out, as hath been formerly shown; And to speak plainly, this great and first impression left on mans heart in pure nature, is the first rule according to which we are now to judge of what is the law of nature, and it serves to dash to pieces and grind to powder and dust most effectually and strongly, the dreams and devices of such as would make the Sabbath not moral, because not natural, or not easily known by the present light of corrupt nature, when as corrupt nature is no perfect copy, but a blotted discovery of some part of the light of nature, which was fully imprinted at large in pure nature: and therefore it is no wonder, if our adversaries so much oppose the Commandment of the Sabbath in the state of innocency: such therefore as are otherwise Orthodox in this point, and yet make this description of the Law of nature (viz. which was written on mans heart in his first first Creation) to be both uncertain and impertinent, do unwarily pull down one of the strongest bulwarks, and the first that ever God made to defend the morality of the Sabbath: there is indeed no express Scripture which makes this description of the Law of nature (as they object) and so it is of many other things which are virtually and for substance contained in the Scripture, although there be no formal description set down of the same, and the like I say of this description here.

If the question be whether the Sabbath be known by the light of pure nature? the answer is, yea; for Adams minde knew of it, and his heart was inclined and bent to the keeping of it, although it be true that now this light in corrupt nature (as in many other morall duties) is almost wholly extinct and worn out, as hath been formerly shewn; And to speak plainly, this great and first impression left on mans heart in pure nature, is the first rule according to which we are now to judge of what is the law of nature, and it serves to dash to peeces and grinde to powder and dust most effectually and strongly, the dreams and devices of such as would make the Sabbath not morall, because not naturall, or not easily known by the present light of corrupt nature, when as corrupt nature is no perfect copy, but a blotted discovery of some part of the light of nature, which was fully imprinted at large in pure nature: and therefore it is no wonder, if our adversaries so much oppose the Commandment of the Sabbath in the state of innocency: such therefore as are otherwise Orthodox in this point, and yet make this description of the Law of nature (viz. which was written on mans heart in his first first Creation) to be both uncertain and impertinent, doe unwarily pull down one of the strongest bulwarks, and the first that ever God made to defend the morality of the Sabbath: there is indeed no expresse Scripture which makes this description of the Law of nature (as they object) and so it is of many other things which are virtually and for substance contained in the Scripture, although there be no formall description set down of the same, and the like I say of this description here.