A64833:158
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.
Seeing therefore the work of grace is (as experience generally shows) a confused thing (a kind of Chaos) at first, and many things are jumbled together without distinct considerations, and they go puddering on in a dark way; I shall therefore endeavour to show the several workings of it, which it may be these souls will be better able to assent to, hearing it from others, and calling to mind what they have observed, than they will be able (otherwise) to discover and declare it themselves.
Seeing therefore the work of grace is (as experience generally shews) a confused thing (a kind of Chaos) at first, and many things are jumbled together without distinct considerations, and they go puddering on in a dark way; I shall therefore indeavour to shew the several workings of it, which it may be these souls will be better able to assent to, hearing it from others, and calling to mind what they have observed, than they will be able (otherwise) to discover and declare it themselves.
We see there are two persons that this Faith of Babes hath to do with, viz. God and Christ, though God especially and in the first place; now how it acts towards God and then towards Christ I shall endeavour to make plain and evident: and 1. How this their Faith acts towards God, viz. thus: 1. That God is and is a rewarder of them that seek him out; for as without this 'tis impossible to please God, so to come to God in a seeking and addressing ⟨p. 112⟩way, Heb. 11.6. There is a Faith called coming, and there is a Faith preceding this coming, which is a believing that God is (for none would look after a non-entity or that which is not, or is not believed to be) and a believing that he is a rewarder of them that seek him; that they shall not seek in vain, if they seek in truth; now the Babe believes this in general, though it cannot yet see its coming and seeking to be such as shall be welcome and rewarded. As was the case of the woman of Canaan, and the Prodigal at first. 2. Babes believe this (as to God) that he can turn them, and save them if he please; and this believing his power (though not his will, as grown Saints do) is owned and accepted with great respect. When Ephraim was bemoaning himself, he says, Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; and God presently says, Ephraim is my dear Son, a pleasant child. I will surely have mercy on him, saith the Lord.