A64833:112
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.
Indeed both God and Christ are the objects of Faith; and though God be the ultimate object of Faith, for Christs design is to bring us ⟨p. 70⟩to God, 1 Pet. 3.18. Yet Christ is the more immediate object of it; but nature teaching us to look to God, and revelation of grace only to look to Christ, many persons (especially Babes) are apt to have more recourse to God than to Christ: For the Faith of Babes is of no higher an elevation, than theirs generally was under the Old Testament, who had not such distinct notions of Christ Jesus as we under the Gospel have or ought to have, he being now manifested to manage all affairs for us between the Father and us; and therefore our Saviour bids his Disciples not only to believe in God, but in him also, Joh. 14.1. and accordingly all along afterward, the Apostles in their Preaching, direct men to believe in Christ Jesus; and this is the excellency of knowing (or the excellent knowledge of) Christ Jesus, to know him so as to be found in him, not having our own righteousness which is of the Law (which Babes too much look after) but that which is by Faith in Christ, Phil. 3.8.9. And this is that which the Apostle directs the Corinthians to, 1 Cor. 1.30. and 3.10, 11. And so the Hebrews, in setting him forth to them as an High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, the King of righteousness, and the Lord ou• righteousness.
Indeed both God and Christ are the objects of Faith; and though God be the ultimate object of Faith, for Christs design is to bring us ⟨p. 70⟩to God, 1 Pet. 3.18. Yet Christ is the more immediate object of it; but nature teaching us to look to God, and revelation of grace only to look to Christ, many persons (especially Babes) are apt to have more recourse to God than to Christ: For the Faith of Babes is of no higher an elevation, than theirs generally was under the Old Testament, who had not such distinct notions of Christ Jesus as we under the Gospel have or ought to have, he being now manifested to manage all affairs for us between the Father and us; and therefore our Saviour bids his Disciples not only to believe in God, but in him also,