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 132.

There is a double reason of proposing Gods example in the [ 132] fourth Command, as is evident from the Commandment it self: the first was to perswade, the second was to direct. 1. To perswade man so to labour six daies together, as to give the seventh, or a seventh appointed for holy rest unto God; for so the example speaks, God laboured six daies, and rested the seventh, therefore do you do the like. 2. To direct the people of God to That particular Seventh, which for that time when the Law was given God would have them then to observe, and that was that Seventh which did succeed the six daies labour: and therefore for any to make Gods exam∣ple of rest on That Seventh day, an argument that God com∣manded the observation of that Seventh day only, is a groundlesse assertion, for there was something more generally aimed at by setting forth this example, viz. to perswade men hereby to labour six daies, and give God the seventh, which he should appoint, as well as to direct to that particu∣lar day which for that time (it's granted) it also pointed unto; and therefore let the words in the Commandment be obse••∣ved, and we shall finde mans duty 1. More generally set down, viz. to labour six daies, and dedicate the seventh

unto God, and then follows Gods perswasion hereunto from his own example, who when he had a world to make, and worke to doe, he did labour six daies together, and rested the seventh; and thus a man is bound to do still: but it doth not follow, that he must rest that particular seventh only, on which God then rested; or that that seventh (though we grant it was pointed unto) was only aimed at in this exam∣ple: the binding power of all examples whatsoever (and therefore of this) being ad speciem actus (as they call it) to that kind of act, and not to the individuum actionis only, or to every particular accidentall circumstance therein; If indeed man was to labour six daies in memoriall only of the six daies of creation, and to rest a Seventh day in memoriall only of Gods rest and cessation from creation, it might then carry a faire face, as if this example pointed at the observation of that particular seventh onely; but look as our six daies labour is appointed for other and higher ends, then to remember the six daies worke of God, it being a morall duty to attend our callings therein; so the Seventh day of rest, is appointed for higher and larger ends (as Didoclavius observes) then onely to remember that notable rest of God from all his works, it being a morall duty to rest the Seventh day in all holinesse.