A64833:125
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.
2. I am to show that Babes digest this and are better at it, than at Faith, Love, &c. They are best at Repentance, 'tis their excellency, or the chief of their attainments: not that they are better at it than the Saints of higher Forms, but that as they have more need of it, so they are more Artists at it (it being their trade and calling) than they are at other graces. The best of the generality of the Jewish Saints under the Old Testament lay in repenting and returning (a word in great use under that dispensation) in weeping and mourning, all which belong to Repentance: So in John's time, the fruits were to be such as were worthy of, or agreeable and suitable to Repentance, as their highest pitch; in Christs own time, not only Peters weeping bitterly, but other such like Acts were found among the Disciples, as the best of what they had attained to: So in the Hebrews, this leads the Van, that they repented from dead works; who yet were unskilful as to the word of righteousness. The Corinthians, among whom were so many Babes, were famous for repenting, as may be seen, 2 Cor. 7.10, 11.
2. I am to shew that Babes digest this and are better at it, than at Faith, Love, &c. They are best at Repentance, 'tis their excellency, or the chief of their attainments: not that they are better at it than the Saints of higher Forms, but that as they have more need of it, so they are more Artists at it (it being their trade and calling) than they are at other graces. The best of the generality of the Jewish Saints under the Old Testament lay in repenting and returning (a word in great use under that dispensation) in weeping and mourning, all which belong to Repentance: So in John's time, the fruits were to be such as were worthy of, or agreeable and suitable to Repentance, as their highest pitch; in Christs own time, not only Peters weeping bitterly, but other such like Acts were found among the Disciples, as the best of what they had attained to: So in the Hebrews, this leads the Van, that they repented from dead works; who yet were unskilful as to the word of righteousness. The Corinthians, among whom were so many Babes, were famous for repenting, as may be seen, 2 Cor. 7.10, 11.