A64833:176
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.
1. Consider that thou art gone farther than thou art aware of, thou art nearer Heaven than thou thinkest for, in having Faith towards God: though thou be a great way off, yet thou art within thy Fathers ken and view, as 'tis said concerning the Prodigal while he was yet afar off (but a coming, but beginning to come) his Father saw him, had compassion of ⟨p. 123⟩him, &c. the Father saw him before he saw the Father, and though he were but coming, yet 'tis said he was come; he arose and came, i. e. was a coming, for as yet he was afar off, and yet 'tis said he arose and came; his coming was looked on as if he were come; as Abraham is said to offer his Son in that he did purpose and was about to do it, so the Prodigal and the Babe is said to be come, though as yet but coming towards God. It's something to be on thy legs, that thy journey is begun (dimidium facti qui bene coepit habet) thou art on thy way, and thy Father sees it and hath compassion on thee, and as to Christ Jesus, he will never cast thee off, no by no means, see John 6.37,—39.
1. Consider that thou art gone farther than thou art aware of, thou art nearer Heaven than thou thinkest for, in having Faith towards God: though thou be a great way off, yet thou art within thy Fathers ken and view, as 'tis said concerning the Prodigal while he was yet afar off (but a coming, but beginning to come) his Father saw him, had compassion of ⟨p. 123⟩him, &c. the Father saw him before he saw the Father, and though he were but coming, yet 'tis said he was come; he arose and came, i. e. was a coming, for as yet he was afar off, and yet 'tis said he arose and came; his coming was lookt on as if he were come; as Abraham is said to offer his Son in that he did purpose and was about to do it, so the Prodigal and the Babe is said to be come, though as yet but coming towards God. It's something to be on thy legs, that thy journey is begun (dimidium facti qui bene coepit habet) thou art on thy way, and thy Father sees it and hath compassion on thee, and as to Christ Jesus, he will never cast thee off, no by no means, see John 6.37,—39.