A64811:412
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.
IT may be some or other may be yet fearful and suspicious lest they should mistake and be deceived; and so meet with the true miseries of false joys: 'tis all one to the Devil which way any go to Hell so they go there; whether through the common road and dirty high-way of profaneness, immorality and irreligion, or through the Fields and pleasant walks of a Form of godliness, which hath its Joys, Raptures, Transports and Ecstasies too; for the evil spirit doth ape the good one, and that he may the more facilely and undiscernably deceive, he puts on the garb of an Angel of Light. How therefore shall we discern whether the Testimony, which we think we have, be sound and good or but feigned and counterfeit? I confess 'tis good to watch and be circumspect. because of our adversary the Devil, who is seldom more our adversary than when he pretends to be our friend, as he did to Eve and to Christ himself; but yet they that have the Testimony of Gods Spirit are secure and safe, though they that have it not cannot be so, what ever presuming confidences they may entertain themselves with. I shall therefore endeavour ⟨p. 279⟩to clear this thing, that none may be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, or Satan, or their own hearts. In relation whereunto I shall lay down three Rules, to which though I purpose not to speak much, yet I hope to speak much to the purpose; having first premised this one thing; that they cannot have the witness who have not the work of the Spirit; and consequently they cannot have the witness of the Spirit, who have not the witness of their own spirit, or the Testimony of a good Conscience: for if our hearts condemn us (upon just grounds, and we do not bear false witness against our selves, which is the sin of many an otherwise tender-hearted Christian) I say, if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts; but here begins our confidence towards God, if our hearts condemn us not: if we love not in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth, hereby we do (in part) know that we are of the truth, and shall assure (or as 'tis in the Margin, persuade) our hearts before him, 1 Joh. 3.18,—21. And the Apostle tells us, Rom. 8.16. that the Spirit •ears witness with our spirit; as also it follows, 1 Joh. 3.24