A64811:454
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.
2. Little Children are modest and humble, they seek not after greatness nor great things in this world, for they are weaned, Psal. 131.1, 2. being weaned and past the state of a Babe and suckling, they are not concerned to catch after and grasp at things which are not suitable to their state. The Disciples while but Babes were often querying who should be greatest? but our Saviour called a little Child unto him and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily. I say unto you, unless ye be converted, and become as little Children, ye shall […] enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (i. e. you shall have no abundant entrance, as 2 Pet. 2.11. and so the subsequent Verse expounds it) Wh• soever therefore shall humble himself as this little Child (the emblem of Gods little Children […] the same is (one of the) greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 1.1,—4. They were converted before, but they needed to be converted from this being as carnal and but Babes: Conversion is continued and advanced in growth (not only as to degrees in the same state, but) in passing from one Cl•ssis to another, as from being Babes to little Children; for till we are thus converted we are not weaned from being as carnal, nor can we strengthen our Brethren, as Christ spake to Peter to do.
2. LIttle Children are modest and humble, they seek not after greatness nor great things in this world, for they are weaned,