A64811:174
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.
4. These experiences which thou hast at present are such as none but a true Saint ever had or can have; the most exquisite hypocrite that ever was, never attained to what thou hast, viz. to be new-born and to be a Babe in Christ. To which of the Saints wilt thou turn? ask them one by one whether ever any that cast themselves upon the grace of God in Christ Jesus (as thou dost) did ever perish, or that their hope was ashamed? No, no, the hypocrites hope shall perish, though he have gained a great name and repute, but thine shall not, though thou be but poor in Israel, and one of the least of many thousands. If thou canst but Seal to the workings of Faith (before spoken of) and I know thou canst if in Christ Jesus, though but a Babe in him, I then say, 'tis more than the exactest, most studied and polished hypocrite ever did or can attain to. An hypocrite may be gilded over, but thou art Gold; he may be enlightened, but thou art light in the Lord; he may grow up as the grass, but thou as a tree planted and rooted in Christ Jesus; he may seem to be, but thou art a ⟨p. 126⟩Christian: what ever may be counterfeited, the new-birth cannot be counterfeited. When the conceitedly rich Laodiceans shall be found poor, thou who art as Smyrna, poor in thine own eyes, wilt be owned for rich by God himself, Rev. 2.9. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 5.3. 'twas the first blessing that ever Christ pronounced with his mouth, that we read of, and 'twas spoken of such as thou art.
4. These experiences which thou hast at present are such as none but a true Saint ever had or can have; the most exquisite hypocrite that ever was, never attained to what thou hast, viz. to be new-born and to be a Babe in Christ. To which of the Saints wilt thou turn? ask them one by one whether ever any that cast themselves upon the grace of God in Christ Jesus (as thou dost) did ever perish, or that their hope was ashamed? No, no, the hypocrites hope shall perish, though he have gained a great name and repute, but thine shall not, though thou be but poor in Israel, and one of the least of many thousands. If thou canst but Seal to the workings of Faith (before spoken of) and I know thou canst if in Christ Jesus, though but a Babe in him, I then say, 'tis more than the exactest, most studied and polisht hypocrite ever did or can attain to. An hypocrite may be gilded over, but thou art Gold; he may be enlightened, but thou art light in the Lord; he may grow up as the grass, but thou as a tree planted and rooted in Christ Jesus; he may seem to be, but thou art a