A59693:79
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 20.
Tis true that sin is the transgression of Gods law; there §20is nothing therefore sinful but it is the transgression of some law, and hence there is no obedience good, but what is conformable unto some law. But we must know that as transgression of any law doth not make a thing morally sinful (for then to break a ceremonial law would be a moral sin) so also obedience to every law doth not make a duty morally lawful and good (for then obedience to a ceremonial law, must be a moral obedience;) moral transgression therefore is a breach of such a law, which forbids a thing because it is evil, as moral obedience is our conformity to such a law which commands a thing because it is good: not that anything is morally evil in it self before it be forbidden, for then there should be a moral sin before, and without any law to forbid it, which is most absurd, but because a thing is evil in it self, and is therefore forbidden, it is therefore morally evil: God may and doth make it fundamentally evil before it be forbidden, but it is not morally evil until it be forbidden. The like may be said concerning moral obedience according to any moral law: No man should therefore think, ⟨p. 10⟩that this description given of a moral law, should give occasion to any to imagine, that some things are morally good or evil, before any law pass upon them, and that therefore there are some duties, and some sins, which are so without and before any law of God. For we see that things good in themselves must be commanded, else they are not moral duties, yet withal they are therefore commanded because they are good in themselves. Its true that by the verdict of some of the Schoolmen, some duties are morally good, before any law commands them (as to love and magnify God) and that some sins (as to curse and blaspheme God) are morally evil, before any law forbids them: but (to omit other answers) if such suppositions may be rationally made (which some deny) yet it may be upon good grounds denied, that any duty can be morally good, or any sin morally evil, until some law pass upon them either to command or forbid the same. 'Tis indeed suitable and meet in nature for man to love God, and unsuitable and unmeet to blaspheme and hate God;