Thesis 13.

Thesis 13.

They who define a moral law, to be such a law as §13is perpetual and universal, binding all persons in all ages ⟨p. 6⟩and times, do come somewhat nearer to the mark, and are not far off from the truth, and such a description is most plain and obvious to such as are not curious: and in this sense our adversaries in this cause affirm the Sabbath not to be moral, meaning, that it is not a Law perpetual and universal. Others on the contrary affirming that it is moral, intend thus much, that it is perpetual and universal, a law which binds all persons, all times, and in all ages, and herein lies the chief matter of controversy at this day. Now in what respect and how far forth the law of the Sabbath is perpetual, shall be hereafter shown; mean while it may not be amiss to enquire more narrowly into the nature of a moral law. For though a Law primarily moral is perpetual, yet perpetuity seems to be an adjunct rather than of the essence of a moral law, and the difficulty will still remain untouched, viz. to know when a law is perpetual, and what is internal and intrinsical to such a law as makes it perpetual or moral; whereinto I would not search, lest I should seem to affect curiosity, but that our critical adversaries put us upon it, with whom there is nothing lost in case we• gain nothing by wrestling a little with them upon their own grounds, where for a while we shall come up to them.

They who define a morall law, to be such a law as §13is perpetuall and universall, binding all persons in all ages ⟨p. 6⟩and times, doe come somewhat nearer to the marke, and are not far off from the truth, and such a description is most plaine and obvious to such as are not curious: and in this sense our adversaries in this cause affirme the Sabbath not to be morall, meaning, that it is not a Law perpetuall and universall. Others on the contrary affirming that it is morall, intend thus much, that it is perpetuall and universall, a law which bindes all persons, all times, and in all ages, and herein lies the chiefe matter of controversie at this day. Now in what respect and how far forth the law of the Sabbath is perpetuall, shall be hereafter shewn; mean while it may not be amisse to enquire more narrowly into the nature of a morall law. For though a Law primarily morall is perpetuall, yet perpetuity seems to bee an adjunct rather than of the essence of a morall law, and the difficulty will still remaine untouch'd, viz. to know when a law is perpetuall, and what is internall and intrinsicall to such a law as makes it perpetuall or morall; whereinto I would not search, lest I should seem to affect curiosity, but that our criticall adversaries put us upon it, with whom there is nothing lost in case we gaine nothing by wrastling a little with them upon their owne grounds, where for a while we shall come up to them.