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 18.

The fourth is, This holinesse ought not onely to be imme∣diate, [ 18] speciall and constant, but all these holy duties are thus to be performed of us as that hereby we may enter into Rest; so as that our soules may finde and feele the sweet of the true Rest of the Sabbath; and therefore it must be a sweete and quieting holinesse also: for the Sabbath is not only called a Sabbath of Rest in respect of our exemption from bodily la∣bour, but because it is so to be sanctified as that on this day we enter into Rest, or such a fruition of God as gives rest to our soules; otherwise we never sanctifie a Sabbath aright, be∣cause we then fall short of this which is the maine end there∣of, untill we come so to seeke God as that we finde him, and so finde him as that we feele Rest in him, in drawing neare to him and standing before him: that as God after his six daies labour did Rest and was refreshed in the fruition of himselfe, so should we after our six daies labour also, be refreshed in the presence of the Lord; That in case we want meanes upon the Sabbath, yet he may be in lieu of them unto us; and in case

we have them and finde but little by them conveyed to us, yet that by that little we may be carried on the wings of faith be∣yond all meanes unto that Rest which upon this day we may find in his bosome: that as Christ after his labours entred in∣to his Rest, Heb 4. so we ought to labour after the same Sabba∣tisme begun here on earth, but perfected in Heaven; that af∣ter all the weary steps we tread, and sinnes and sorrowes we finde all the weeke, yet when the Sabbath comes we may say returne unto thy Rest oh my soule. The end of all labour is rest; so the end of all our bodily and spirituall labour, whe∣ther on the weeke-daies of Sabbath day, it should be this Rest: and we should never think that we have reached the end of the day untill we Taste the Rest of the Day: nor is this Rest a Meteor in the Ayre and a thing onely to be wisht for, but can never be found; but assuredly those who are wearied with their sinnes in the weeke and wants on the Sabbath, and feele a neede of rest and refreshing, shall certainly have the blessing, viz. the Rest of these seasons of refreshing and rest, and the comforts of the Holy Ghost filling their hearts this day. Isa. 10.2, 3, 4. Isa. 56.5, 6, 7, 8. Isa. 58.13, 14. Psal. 36.7, 8. Not because of our holinesse which is spotted at the best, but be∣cause of our great high Priests holinesse, who hath it written upon his forehead to take away the iniquity of all our holy Offerings: Ex. 28.36.38. and who hath garments of grace, and bloud to cover us and to present us spotlesse, before the face of that God whom we seeke and serve with much weake∣nesse, and whom at last we shall finde, when our short daies worke here is done, and our long looked for Sabbath of glory shall begin to dawn.