A64811:226
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.
But of their Faith I have spoken before; I shall now speak of some of their experience, which I conceive is couched in this word of tasting: The perfect Christian hath many senses exercised, he is full of many and rich experiences, Heb. 5.14. But the Babe hath the exercise of this one Sense (Tasting) especially: which begets in him a desire and longing after the Word for growth, that he may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of Consolations, that he may milk out and be satisfied with the abundance of glory. To allude to Isa. 66.11. The Babe hath a taste as soon as he is born, and hath Milk given him to eat, in which he tastes a sweetness, and from which he finds so much nourishment and strength as holds his soul in life: If he were not alive he could not taste, and if he did not taste, he could not live. Experience is often expressed by tasting, which is a thing beyond Hearing, and is joined with Seeing, Psal. 34.8. Oh Taste and See that the Lord is good; Now, as Seeing, so Tasting affects the heart, and quickens the Appetite, and therefore, saith he, desire the Milk; which doth not only express the duty, but the nature and inclination of Babes, and that grounded on Tasting, Seeing or because they have Tasted that the Lord is gracious: several experiences (as Tastes) they have had of this. As,
But of their Faith I have spoken before; I shall now speak of some of their experience, which I conceive is coucht in this word of tasting: The perfect Christian hath many senses exercised, he is full of many and rich experiences, Heb. 5.14. But the Babe hath the exercise of this one Sense (Tasting) especially: which begets in him a desire and longing after the Word for growth, that he may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of Consolations, that he may milk out and be satisfied with the abundance of glory. To allude to Isa. 66.11. The Babe hath a taste as soon as he is born, and hath Milk given him to eat, in which he tastes a sweetness, and from which he finds so much nourishment and strength as holds his sonl in life: If he were not alive he could not taste, and if he did not taste, he could not live. Experience is often exprest by tasting, which is a thing beyond Hearing, and is joyn'd with Seeing,