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 94.

[ 94] The Law (say some of the Antinomians) is to bee kept as an eternall rule of righteousnesse, but their meaning then is, That beleevers are thus to keep it in Christ who hath kept it for them, and if they meant no more but that Christ hath kept it for righteousnesse to their justification, they speak truely: but their meaning herein is not only in respect of their justification, but also in respect of their sanctification, for they make Christs righteousnesse to bee materially and formally their sanctification: hence they say, A beleever hath repented in Christ, and mortified sinne in Christ, and that mortification and vivification is nothing but a beleeving that Christ hath mortified sinne for them, and beene quickned for them, and that That sanctification which is inhe∣rent in Christ, and not that which is inherent in us, is an evi∣dence of our justification. But this principle which confounds a Christians justification, and sanctification, as it casts the seed of denying all inherent graces in a Beleever, so it

layes the basis of refusing to doe any duty, or conforme to any law in our owne persons: for if this principle bee true (which no Orthodox writer doubts of) viz. That we are to seek for no righteousnesse in our selves to our justificati∣on, because wee are perfectly just and made righteous for that end in Christ, then it will undenyably follow that wee are not to seek for any holinesse and sanctification in our selves, because we are perfectly sanctified also in Christ Ie∣sus, who hath repented, and beleeved, and mortified sinne perfectly for us in his owne person; Look therefore as the perfection of Christs righteousnesse to our justification, should make a Christian abhorre any personall righteous∣nesse of his owne to his justification, so if wee bee perfectly sanctified in Christ, then perfection of Christs holinesse to our sanctification should make a beleever not onely re∣nounce the Law, but to abhor all personall holines through the Spirit to our sanctification, and then a Beleever must ab∣hor to seek any love or feare of God in his heart, which is not painted but professed prophanesse, and the inlet not per accidens but per se, to all manner of loosenesse and wicked∣nesse in the world.