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 12.

[ 12] Why the Will of God should honour the day of Christs Resurrection as holy, rather then any other day of his In∣carnation, Birth, Passion, Ascension: It is this; because Christs rising day was his resting or Sabbath day, wherein he first entred into his rest, and whereon his rest began. For the Sabbath or Rest-day of the Lord our God, only can be our Rest-day according to the fourth Commandement. Hence the day of Gods rest from the work of Gods Rest from the work of Creation, and the day of Christs Rest from the work of Redemption, are only fit and capable of being our Sabbaths. Now the Lord Christ in the day of his incarnation and birth

did not enter into his rest, but rather made entrance into his labour and sorrow, who then began the wo••k of Humiliation, Gal. 4.4, 5. and in the day of his passion, he was then under the so••est part and feeling of his labour, ••n bitter Agonies up∣on the Crosse and in the Garden. And hence it is that none of those days were consecrated to be ou•• Sabbath or rest-dayes, which were days of Christs labour and sorrow; nor could the day of his Ascension be fit to be made out Sabbath, be∣cause although Christ then and thereby entred into his place of Rest (the third Heavens) yet he did not then make his first entrance into his estate of rest, which was in the day of his Resurrection; the wisedome and will of God did therefore choose this day above any other to be the Sabbath day.