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 ...

[ 27] Thesis 27.

The Primitive patterne Churches thus honoured the fi••st Day of the weeke; and what they practised without reproof, that the Apostles (who planted those Churches) en∣joyned and preached unto them so to do; at least in such weighty matters as the Change of Dayes, of preferring one be∣fore that other which the Lord had honoured before; and what the Apostles preached, that the Lord Jesus commanded Matth. 28.20. Go teach all Nations that which I Command you: unlesse any shall think that the Apostles sometime went be∣yond

their Commission to teach that to others which Christ never commanded, which is blasphemous to imagine; for though they might erre in practise as men, and as Peter did at Antioch, and Paul and Barnabas in their contention; yet in in their publike ministry they were infallibly and extraordina∣rily assisted, especially in such things which they hold forth as patterns for after times: if therefore the Primitive Chur∣ches thus honoured the first day of the week above any other day for Sabbath services, then certainly they were instituted and taught thus to do by the Apostles approving of them herein; and what the Apostles taught the Churches, that, the Lord Iesus commanded to the Apostles. So that the approved practise of the churches herein shewes what was the Doctrine of the Apostles; and the Doctrine of the Apostles shewes what was the command of Christ: so that the sanctification of this Fi••st Day of the week is no humane tradition but a Divine institution from Christ himselfe.