Venning's remains, or, Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians, I. babes, II.…

2. Some persons may be but Babes for a long time, Heb. 5.12. Yea, though they live under the best Preaching in the world: as some were under Christ his own Ministry, Mat. 11.25. The Disciples (many of them) were no better, till Christ ascended, and the Spirit descended. The Corinthians had heard three of the best Preachers on Earth; Paul, Apollo, and Cephas, 1 Ephes. 1.12. and chap. 3.4,—6. yet were but Babes. The Hebrews had sate under the like Ministry, and yet were but Babes for many years. Paul it seems had begotten (or planted) the Corinthians, he was their Father, 1 Cor. 4.14, 15. Apollo was their nursing Fathers, he had watered them, 1 Cor. 3.6. ⟨p. 63⟩Paul continued among them a year and an half teaching the Word of God among them, as Acts 18.1,—11. you have the whole story. After Pauls departure Apollo came to Corinth (and watered them, whom Paul had planted) Acts 18.27. with 19.1. yet from that time to the day of the date of this Epistle, they continued Babes. Philip, who (it seems) was called by Christ Jesus in the first year of his Ministry, and in the beginning of that year, for he was called before the first Miracle that Christ wrought at the Wedding in Cana of Galilee, which was the first he did to confirm his Ministerial office, Joh. 1.43. with 2.11. Yet this Philip who had lived with Christ all the time of his Ministry, was yet, when Christ was about to leave the world, but a Babe, for he knew not the Father (as the little Children do) which made Christ speak upbraidingly to him, Joh. 14.9. Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father, and how sayest thou then, show us the Father? Alas! of how many Hearers, may many a Preacher say, have I been so long with you, and yet ye know not the Father! You have not the knowledge of God, be it spoken to your shame,