A64833:153
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.
II. Of their Faith towards God.
THE second Principle of the beginning of Christ, which he calls M••k (and yet a foundation too) is faith towards God. The Object is God, the Act is Faith, the manner and power of its working i• towards, and but towards, God: and how happily our translation hath used this word in this case and place, may the better appear, that this word [Greek or Hebrew]) is scarce used again (in relation to Faith) in all the Scripture, with an accusative case, and it denotes a tendency, and is therefore very well Englished, Faith towards God; and so this preposition ([Greek or Hebrew]) is used, Luke 10.9. The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you, or hath approached towards you, 'tis at hand; so this Faith is an approach, a coming towards God: it hath not a tained its perfection and termination, but is in motion and tendency; these Babes, I speak of the lowest and weakest of Babes, cannot b• so properly said to have closed, as to be closing with God; they are nigh and at hand, they are not so much said to be come, as to be coming; it notes a gradual, and but a gradual attainment; 'tis not a complete and perfect act, but a begun and reaching Act; vet such as shall be completed in its time, and is accepted for the present: for 'tis said, Joh. 6.37. He that is coming to me (so the Greek) I will in no wise cast out.
THE second Principle of the beginning of Christ, which he calls M••k (and yet a foundation too) is faith towards God. The Object is God, the Act is Faith, the manner and power of its working i• towards, and but towards, God: and how happily our translation hath used this word in this case and place, may the better appear, that this word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉) is scarce used again (in relation to Faith) in all the Scripture, with an accusative case, and it denotes a tendency, and is therefore very well Englished, Faith towards God; and so this preposition () is used,