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 ...

Thesis 96.

[ 96] When therefore the Gates of Ierusalem began to be dark, or as Iunius renders the words, quum abumbrarentur portae, i. when they were shaddowed by the descent of the Sun behind the mountains which compassed Ierusalem, and so did cast a sha∣dow of darknesse upon the Gates of the City, somewhat soo∣ner then in other places lesse mountainous; this shadow, be∣ing no part of the dark night, is truly said to be before, or (as the Hebrew is) before the face or looking out of the Sabbath; for although the Sabbath be said to begin at Sun-set, yet tis to be understood not of the setting of the body of the Sun visi∣bly, but of the light of the Sun when darknesse begins to be predominant over the light, and men are forced to forsake their work; now just before this Nehemiah shut the gates, at the common term and end of the six daies labour, and the Se∣venth dayes rest; and therefore tis a weak objection which some make, to say that this evening was not part of the Sab∣bath, because the Gates are said to be shut before the Sabbath.