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 170.

[ 170] If because we reade not any expresse mention that the Pa∣triarchs before Moses time did sanctifie a Sabbath, that there∣fore the Sabbath was not sanctified at that time, we may as

well argue that it was not observed all the time of the Jud∣ges, nor of the books of Samuel, because no express mention is made in those books of any such thing: for if it be said that there is no doubt but that they observed it because it was published on Mount Sinai, the like we may say concern∣ing the Patriarchall times, who had such a fam••us manifesta∣tion of Gods minde herein, from the known story, Com∣mandment and example of God in the first creation, Gen. 2.2. it is not ••aid expresly that Abram kept the Sabbath, but he is commended for keeping Gods Commandments, Gen. 26.5. and is not the Sabbath one of those Commandments, the breach of which is accounted the breaking of all? Exod. 16.27, 28. and may we lawfully and charitably think that Abram neglected other morall duties because they are not exp••esly mentioned? again it may be as well doubted of, whether the Patriarchs observed any day at all (which our adversaries confesse to be morall) because it n••ither is exp••esly mentio∣ned••: again it may be said with as good reason, th•••• the sa∣crifices which they offered were without warrant from God, because the Commandment for them is not expresly mentio∣ned: but we know that Abel by faith offered, and faith must arise from a precedent word: so that as the approved practise of holy men doth necessarily imply a command, so the com∣mand given (as hath been shewn) to Adam, doth as necessari∣ly inferre a practise: again if no duties to God were perfor∣med by the Patriarchs, but such as are expresly mentioned and held forth in their examples, we should then behold a strange face of a Church for many hundred years together, and necessarily condemn the generatio•• of the just▪ for living in grosse neglects and impieties, t••ere being many singular and speciall duties which doubtlesse were done that were not meet particularly to be mentioned in that short epitome of above 2000 years together, in the book ••f Genesis: and there∣fore for M. Ironside and Primrose to conclude that the keeping of the Sabbath had certainly been mentioned if it had been observed, is very unsound. M. Primrose thinks that if the Sab∣bath had been observed,* 1.1 it had been then mentioned, because lesser things then the Sabbath are made mention of, there being also fre¦quent occasion to speak of the Sabbath, and that Moses and the Prophets would have pressed the observation of it from the Patri∣archs example if they had so practised. But what is this kinde of arguing, but to teach the holy Ghost, what and when and how to speak? for there be many lesser matters exprest in many other historicall parts of the Scripture, and good occasion as

man may fancy to speake of the Sabbath, and yet we see it is past by in ••••ence: but it is no wonder if he who questions whether there were any daies of fasting and prayer for 2000 yeeres together, because they are not expresly mentioned, if that he doubts also whether there were any Sabbath all that time, upon the same ground: but can any question that con∣siders the sorrows of those times, which all ages have put men to seek God in such duties, but that they had such daies of fasting, as well as their betters in Evangelicall times, when the Bridegroom was gone.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Irons. Q. 1 cap. 2. Prim. par••. 1. cap. 2•• S. 4.