A64833:111
Venning's remains, or, Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians, I. babes, II.…
Venning's remains, or, 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 by Ralph Venning and fitted by him for the press before his death.
London: printed for John Hancock senior and junior, 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.
But (it may be) some will object, here is no mention of Faith in Christ, and can they be Christians in any degree (though but Babes) who believe not in Christ? To this I answer, That these Principles or Foundation Doctrines, are called the W••d or Doctrine of the beginning of Christ, Vers. 1. and therefore this Repentance and Faith is not without respect to Christ; and when the Apostle mentions these two elsewhere, he speaks of Christ as the object of Faith, testifying both to the Jews and to the Greeks, Repentance towards God, and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 20.21. and this the Apostle taught the Corinthians at first, 1 Cor. 15.2, 3. which opens the meaning of that speech of his, 1 Cor. 2.2. Beside, in calling this foundation Doctrine, Christ must needs be taken in, for other foundation can no man lay, 1 Cor. 3.11. because God hath laid him and no other, Acts 4.11, 12. and 'tis by him that we believe in God, as the Apostle hath it, 1 Pet. 1.21. Withal we must remember that these were but Babes, and were unskilful in the word of righteousness, though not without some confused notions of it.
But (it may be) some will object, here is no mention of Faith in Christ, and can they be Christians in any degree (though but Babes) who believe not in Christ? To this I answer, That these Principles or Foundation Doctrines, are called the W••d or Doctrine of the beginning of Christ, Vers. 1. and therefore this Repentance and Faith is not without respect to Christ; and when the Apostle mentions these two elsewhere, he speaks of Christ as the object of Faith, testifying both to the Jews and to the Greeks, Repentance towards God, and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 20.21. and this the Apostle taught the Corinthians at first,