A64811:427
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.
SECT. 2. A Continuation.
Position 2. THE Spirit of Adoption is an addition, a superaddition to Son-ship; under the Law they were servant sons, but now they are Son-servants, they have the Spirit of Sons: saith the Apostle, Now ye ⟨p. 290⟩are no more Servants but Sons, viz. you that have received the Spirit of his Son, Gal. 4.6, 7. They are Sons (as all Babes are) before they have this Spirit of Sons, to cry, Abba Father. Indeed when God is pleased to translate a Babe into an higher Form and to place him among the little Children, this Spirit of Sonship or Adoption doth begin to exert it self, before it have a clear and full witness thereof; but ordinarily as among the state of Babes, though they be Sons, yet there's little of the Spirit of Adoption, but much of bondage appears in them: so that the Spirit of Sons is an addition to Sonship; as Gal. 4.5. they received the filiation and Adoption, and after that the Spirit, Vers. 6. and so by degrees they came to call, Abba Father. So Rom. 8.14. they are called the Sons of God, and upon being Sons, received the Spirit of Sons or of Adoption, Vers. 15. they were Sons before they could call Father, which they could not do, but by the Spirit of Sons, or of Adoption.
Position 2. THE Spirit of Adoption is an addition, a superaddition to Son-ship; under the Law they were servantsons, but now they are Son-servants, they have the Spirit of Sons: saith the Apostle, Now ye ⟨p. 290⟩are no more Servants but Sons, viz. you that have received the Spirit of his Son, Gal. 4.6, 7. They are Sons (as all Babes are) before they have this Spirit of Sons, to cry, Abba Father. Indeed when God is pleased to translate a Babe into an higher Form and to place him among the little Children, this Spirit of Sonship or Adoption doth begin to exert it self, before it have a clear and full witness thereof; but ordinarily as among the state of Babes, though they be Sons, yet there's little of the Spirit of Adoption, but much of bondage appears in them: so that the Spirit of Sons is an addition to Sonship; as