A64811:273
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
Class 1 › Part 3 › Section 2: II. Of their being as Carnal and walking as men.
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. Babes appear to be as carnal in this, that they pass from one extreme to another in their actings, and are not acquainted with the golden mean and moderation: they either under or over do. A while these Corinthians were so careless that they did not mind to cast out or censure the incestuous person, 1 Cor. 5. and anon they are so violent, that they will not forgive him, but suffer him to be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow, 2 Cor. 2. Thus they go from the extreme of defect, to that of excess, and are not acquainted with the divine mediocrity to walk in the midst of the paths of Judgement. So the Galatian Babes, at the first they admire Paul, and bless him, but after a while, they carry it to him as if he had been their enemy, Gal. 4.14,—16. and this was soon done, Chap. 1.6. At the beginning, who but Paul, they were ready to Deify him; after a while, he was no body, they were ready to defy him: thus do they, not veeze about by degrees, but chop about from one extreme to another, being tossed with every wind of doctrine, Ephes. 4.14. they fail with that wind that blows, and are carried with the last man they heard, poor weather-cocks that they are.
4. Babes appear to be as carnal in this, that they pass from one extream to another in their actings, and are not acquainted with the golden mean and moderation: they either under or over do. A while these Corinthians were so careless that they did not mind to cast out or censure the incestuous person, 1 Cor. 5. and anon they are so violent, that they will not forgive him, but suffer him to be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow, 2 Cor. 2. Thus they go from the extream of desect, to that of excess, and are not acquainted with the divine mediocrity to walk in the midst of the paths of Judgement. So the Galatian Babes, at the first they admire Paul, and bless him, but after a while, they carry it to him as if he had been their enemy,