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 156.

[ 156] It cannot be shewn that ever God made himself an example of any act, but that in the present example there was and is a present rule, binding immediatly to ••ollow that example: if therefore from the foundation of the world, God made him∣self an example in six daies labour and in a seventh daies rest, why should not this example then and at that time of inno∣cency be binding? there being no example which God sets before us, but it supposeth a rule binding us immediatly ther∣unto? The great and most high God could have made the world in a moment or in a hundred years, why did he make it then in six daies, and rested the seventh day, but that it might be an example to man? Its evident that ever since the world began, mans life was to be spent in labour and action which God could have appointed to contemplation only; nor will any say that his life should be spent only in labour, and never have any speciall day of rest (unlesse the Antinomians, who herein sin against the light of nature) if therefore God was exemplary in his six daies labour, why should any think but that he was thus also in his seventh daies rest? Pointing out unto man most visibly (as it were) thereby on what day he should rest: A meet time for labour was a morall duty since man was framed upon earth, God therefore gives man an example of it in making the world in six daies: A meet time for holy rest, the end of all holy and honest labour, was much more morall (the end being better then the means) why then was not the example of this also seen in Gods rest? M. Ironside indeed is at a stand here, and confesseth his igno∣rance In conceiving how Gods working six daies should be exem∣plary to man in innocency, it being not preceptive but permissive on∣ly to man in his apostasie. But let a plain analysis be made of the motives used to presse obedience to the fourth command and we shall finde (according to the consent of all the Orthodox not prejudiced in this controversie, that Gods example of working six daies in creating the world, is held forth as a mo∣tive

to presse Gods people to do all their work within six daies also; and the very reason of our labour and rest now, is the example of Gods labour and rest then, as may also appear, Ex. 31.17. And to say that those words in the Command∣ment (viz. Six daies thou shalt labour) are no way preceptive but meerly promissive, is both crosse to the expresse letter of the text, and contrary to morall equity to allow any part of the six daies for sinfull idlenesse or neglect of our weekely work, so far forth as the rest upon the Sabbath be hindered hereby.

Notes

• Irons. Q. 1 cap. 4.