A59693:986
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 16.
The second is this holiness ought not only to be immediate, but also special, and in our endeavours after the highest ⟨p. 86⟩degree, and with the greatest intention of holiness: for we are bound every day to be holy in more immediate and near approaches to God some time or other of the day; but now we are called to be more specially holy, because both the day and our selves are now set apart for it in a more special manner: we are to love, fear, delight in God, and pray to him, and muse on him every day, but now in a more special manner all these are to be done; the Sabbath is not only called holy, but holiness to the Lord, Exod. 31.15. which shows that the day is exceeding holy, and suitably our affections and hearts ought therefore so to be: the Sacrifice on this day was to be doubled, Numb. 28.9. the Lord would have double honour from us this day: that as in the week time we are sinfully drowned in the cares of this world and affections thereto: so upon every Sabbath we should be in a holy manner drowned in the cares and thoughts and affections of the things of God; and hence we are commanded to call the Sabbath our delight, and not to think our own thoughts, or do our own works this day, Isaiah 58.13. David said Psalm 43.4. that he would go to the Altar of God (the place of public worship) to God his joy, yea his exceeding joy: so are we not only to draw near to Altar, Word, Sacraments, Prayer, but to God in them; nay to God in them as our exceeding joy, our exceeding love, our exceeding fear, &c. especially upon this day; there is scarce any week but we contract soil from our worldly occasions, and by touching worldly things; and we suffer many decays and lose much ground by temptations herein; now the Lord pitying us, and giving us a Sabbath of Recovery, what should we do now but return, recover, and renew our strength, and like the Eagle cast our bills, and stand before our God and King this day of State and Royal Majesty, when all his Saints compass his Throne and presence, with our most beautiful Garments, mourning, especially that we fall so far short of Sabbath acts and services? we should not content our selves with working-day holiness, joys,