A59693:586
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 207.
I shall therefore conclude and shut up these things with §207answer to M. Carpenters and Heylins [Greek or Hebrew] an argument against the Sabbath, which they have gone compassing the whole earth and heavens about to find out, never heard of till their days, and now it's brought to light. I would not make mirth with it (as some have done and left the scruple untouched) but in words of sobriety, and seriousness and plainness. If the Sabbath or Lords day (say they) be moral, then the moral Law is subject to manifold mutation, because the nations issuing out of Noah's ark spread themselves from thence over the face of the whole earth, some farther, some at a shorter distance, whereby changing the longitude with their habitation, they must of necessity alter the differences of times, neither can any exactly and precisely observe any one day, either as it was appointed by Moses, or as it was instituted by Christs Apostles afterwards, by reason of the manifold transportation of Colonies, and transmigration of nations, from one region into another, whereby the times must necessarily be supposed to vary. The answer is ready and easy, viz. Although the nations issued out of Noah's ark, ⟨p. 182⟩and spread themselves over the face of the whole earth, some farther, some at a shorter distance, and thereby changing their longitude altered the differences of time, some beginning the day sooner, some later, yet they might observe the same day; for the day is regulated and measured by the Sun, and the Sun comes to one meridian sooner or later then to another, and hence the day begins in one place sooner or later then in another, and so the beginning of the day is (respectively) varied, but yet the day it self remains unchangeably the same: what though our countrymen in old England begin their Sabbath above 4. hours before us in new, they beginning at their evening, we at our evening, yet both may and do observe the same day: all nations are bound to keep holy a Seventh part of time; but that time must be regulated by the Sun, neither is it necessary that the same individual 24. hours should be observed by all, but the same day as it is measured by the Sun in this or that place, which may begin in places more easterly many hours sooner then in other places more westerly;