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

The soul being awakened (as I have formerly touched) and made sensible that it hath displeased God by sin, and wronged it self, and that therefore it is unworthy to be accepted, ⟨p. 110⟩and welcomed upon its own account, and withal that (being without, strength and righteousness) it is unable to make its peace with God, and that if its peace be not made, it is undone, it makes addresses to him, upon a kind of common Faith that he is merciful, yet (if a Jewish Babe as of old) under the notion of a God that must be atoned by Sacrifices, (the types of Christ) and if a Gentile converted Babe, then in the name of Christ, though too much without the notion of him as the Lord our righteousness (for they are unskilful in that word) or being sound in him having the righteousness which is by Faith, and so to rejoice in Christ Jesus and to have no confidence in the flesh, either their birth privileges, or own graces and duties and actual righteousness, such as 'tis: but they make toward him as well as they can. And therefore by the way, that act of Faith, which we call reliance, adherence, and recumbency, cannot be the first saving act that Babes put forth (which yet they afterward do) but being convinced by the teachings of God, Joh. 6.45. concerning themselves (what was said newly) and that unless they believe in Christ Jesus they cannot be saved; and concerning Christ Jesus that there is Salvation to be had by him and no other, Acts 4.12. and that he came into the world to save sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. and that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting Life, Joh. 3.16. I say, being thus convinced, they do in some measure receive this report and witness of God (made ⟨p. 111⟩in and by the Gospel) and consequently in like measure receive Christ Jesus, and also come unto him; for by these two words (receiving and coming) is the first workings of Faith most usually expressed, Joh. 1.12, 13. with