A64811:480
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 3: The THIRD CLASSIS IN THE School of CHRIST, Viz. YOUNG 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.
The THIRD CLASSIS IN THE School of CHRIST, Viz. YOUNG MEN.
From 1 John 2.13, 14. Vers. 13. I write to you Young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. Vers. 14. I have written unto you Young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
BY comparing this with several other Scriptures, it hath been made apparent that there are four Sorts, Ranks or Degrees of Christians, whose names are given to them according to the four most usual divisions of the Ages of Man, viz. Babes, Little Children, Young ⟨p. 324⟩Men and Fathers. The lowest, though many times not the youngest for standing, are Babes, who eat Milk and nothing but Milk, they cannot digest nor bear strong meat. The second are the Little Children (the first degree of them called spiritual or perfect) who have attained to know the Father, and to have the assurance and enjoyment of his Love: both these states have been already treated of, and I am now to speak of and to the third Classis, Form or Rank, viz. the Young men, who are twice mentioned in these two Verses. Where you may take notice, 1. Of the persons spoken of, Young Men. 2. That which is spoken of them, and the things are three, 1. That they are strong. 2. That the Word of God abideth in them. 3. That they have overcome the wicked one: From whence we may observe, 1. That Young men Saints are strong ones. 2. That the Word of God abideth in them. 3. That they have overcome the wicked one. 4. That they overcome the wicked one by strength. 5. That their strength (a great part of it) is from the Word of God abiding in them. I design not any long Discourse about this, and therefore shall not handle these Propositions distinctly, and in the method wherein they lie, but give a brief Exposition of the whole Text, under these following Heads.