A64833:174
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.
3. Consider this, that Christ may take his Gospel and be gone, & then the things of thy peace may be hid from thine eyes, thou mayest die in thy sins and be damned for ever: to day therefore, while 'tis called to day (now or never, i. e. now or it may never be) hear his voice who calls thee to repent and believe the ⟨p. 122⟩Gospel that thou mayest be saved; which if thou do not, the same Gospel saith, He that believeth not shall be damned. Canst have patience to think of going to Hell? if not, believe. It were better thou hadst never been born, than to die without being new-born: 'tis sad to be dead in sins, but to die in sins, Oh who but them in Hell can tell how sad it is! Hear therefore and believe that thy soul may live.
3. Consider this, that Christ may take his Gospel and be gone, & then the things of thy peace may be hid from thine eyes, thou maist die in thy sins and be damned for ever: to day therefore, while 'tis called to day (now or never, i. e. now or it may never be) hear his voice who calls thee to repent and believe the ⟨p. 122⟩Gospel that thou maist be saved; which if thou do not, the same Gospel saith, He that believeth not shall be damned. Canst have patience to think of going to Hell? if not, believe. It were better thou hadst never been born, than to die without being new-born: 'tis sad to be dead in sins, but to die in sins, Oh who but them in Hell can tell how sad it is! Hear therefore and believe that thy soul may live.
2. I am now to address my self to the Babes, especially such of them as lie under despondencies of Spirit; and to you I say as before, 1. Despise not the day of small things: who knows to how great a tree this grain of Mustard-seed may grow? how great a fire this little spark may kindle? To how tail a stature a poor Babe may grow? though thou canst eat but Milk, thou mayest grow thereby. Thou hast got down one portion of Milk more already, and art not only one that repentest from dead works, but hast Faith also towards God. Though thou have no Wine, to make thine heart glad, nor oil to make thy face to shine, nor bread to strengthen thine heart, yet bless God that thou art alive and hast milk to eat. For,