A64811:287
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.
2. I premise this that God takes various occasions to convert men, and useth various means to bring about this work: which I mention because some are apt to think they are not converted, if it be not done in the same way as it hath with others. The first and most usual is the Preaching of the Gospel, for Faith cometh by hearing (one way or other) Rom. 10.14.—17. Sometimes God takes occasion from reading to send a Preacher, as to the Eunuch, Acts 8.27. &c. and which way soever the Word attend upon us to save us, let us attend upon the saving Word: give thy self to Reading and to Hearing, and who knows but God may give thee Faith whilst thou art Reading or Hearing? if he have not done it for thee that way already. Sometime God takes occasion to do it at a conference or a discourse, as it was at that between Christ and the woman of Samaria, Joh. 4. Sometime God doth make use of an affliction and a low-brought condition, as he ⟨p. 204⟩did to convert the Prodigal; and David found this of use for a reconversion, Psal. 119.67. and 71. Sometime he takes an occasion from some mercy he hath shown and deliverance which he hath wrought for a person, and so obliged and led him to Repentance by his goodness: such a thing was the occasion of the blind mans conversion, Joh. 9. and of one of the Lepers, and perhaps of the Jailer. Sometime God takes occasion by a dream to do it, Job 33.14,—30. Sometime from a mans curiosity, as he did Zacheus, Luk. 19. and many that have gone to see and be seen, or to hear words as a lovely Song (as Augustine did Ambrose) have been met with, and have felt a work. When they went to hear Paul for Novelty, Acts 17.19. yet then some believed, Vers. 34. Yea, sometime he stays till men be in a full career of sinning and then meets with them as he did with Saul,