A59693:87
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 23.
Hence therefore it follows, that because moral precepts §23are of such things as are good in themselves, they are therefore perpetual and unchangeable, and because they are in this respect good in themselves, to wit, because they are suitable and comely to mans nature as rational; hence also they are universal: so that perpetuity and universality seem to be the inseparable adjuncts, rather than the essence of a moral law: yet when they are called perpetual and unchangeable, we must understand them in respect of Gods ordinary dispensation; for he who is the great Law-giver, may and doth sometime extraordinarily dispense with moral laws. Abraham might have killed his Son by extraordinary dispensation: Adams Sons and Daughters did marry one another by special Commission, which now to do ordinarily would be incestuous, and consequently against a m•••ll Law, as is evident, Leviticus 18. Only let it be here remembered that when I call moral Laws perpetual and universal, that I speak of such laws as are primarily moral, which do firstly and originally suit with humane nature: for laws as are at second hand moral and as it were accidentally so, may be changeable as hereafter shall appear.
Hence therefore it followes, that because morall precepts §23are of such things as are good in themselves, they are therefore perpetuall and unchangeable, and because they are in this respect good in themselves, to wit, because they are suitable and comely to mans nature as rationall; hence also they are universall: so that perpetuity and universality seem to be the inseperable adjuncts, rather than the essence of a morall law: yet when they are called perpetuall and unchangeable, wee must understand them in respect of Gods ordinary dispensation; for hee who is the great Law-giver, may and doth sometime extraordinarily dispense with morall lawes. Abraham might have kill'd his Sonne by extraordinary dispensation: Adams Sonnes and Daughters did marry one another by speciall Commission, which now to doe ordinarily would bee incestuous, and consequently against a mll Law, as is evident,