A64811:124
Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians
Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians : I. Babes, II. Little children, III. Young men, IV. Fathers : with their several characteristical differences and attainments : also the doctrines proper to be taught to each of them : being the substance of many sermons preached many years ago in Southwark / by Ralph Venning.Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians : I. Babes, II. Little children, III. Young men, IV. Fathers : with their several characteristical differences and attainments : also the doctrines proper to be taught to each of them : being the substance of many sermons preach'd many years ago in Southwark / by Ralph Venning.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
There are indeed some common Principles (like seeds) scattered here and there in the hearts of men that live under the sound of the Gospel, before this powerful conviction come upon them, and by which way is made for Conversion. As, not only that there is a God, and that he ought to be worshipped (which the Heathen also have) but that the Will of God is the rule of worship, and that this Will and rule is revealed in the Scripture, from whence we learn what the good is which we ought to do, and the evil which we ought to leave undone: that he who transgresseth this Law doth sin; that whoever sins, deserves the wages of sin; that all are sinners; that every sinner stands in need of a Redeemer and Mediator; that Jesus Christ, Immanuel, the Son of God and the Virgin Mary, is this Redeemer and Mediator; and that the benefit (as to Salvation) which accrues to us from this Christ, is by Faith in him.
There are indeed some common Principles (like seeds) scattered here and there in the hearts of men that live under the sound of the Gospel, before this powerful conviction come upon them, and by which way is made for Conversion. As, not only that there is a God, and that he ought to be worshipped (which the Heathen also have) but that the Will of God is the rule of worship, and that this Will and rule is reveal'd in the Scripture, from whence we learn what the good is which we ought to do, and the evil which we ought to leave undone: that he who transgresseth this Law doth sin; that whoever sins, deserves the wages of sin; that all are sinners; that every sinner stands in need of a Redeemer and Mediator; that Jesus Christ, Immanuel, the Son of God and the Virgin Mary, is this Redeemer and Mediator; and that the benefit (as to Salvation) which accrews to us from this Christ, is by Faith in him.
But though these Principles be owned by men, and God makes use of them to work on men, yet they amount not to a powerful and converting conviction, without a particular application and setting of them home by the Spirit of God. How many have this common notion that they are sinners, yea that they are such and such sinners, as Swearers, Drunkards, unclean, ⟨p. 89⟩