A64833:188
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.
What they (Babes) are, and what they are not capable of or able to bear, I shall not undertake to determine, only this I am sure of, that they are not to be received to doubtful disputations (if that be the meaning of the place) Rom. 14.1. of which I think the Margin gives a better account. But now, what they are capable of and convinced of, that they submit to and act accordingly, Acts 19. There were Disciples that had not heard whether there were an Holy Ghost or no, but as soon as they were convinced they submitted. The Disciples were not convinced of the Messiahs Offices, but in the general notion (without distinct apprehensions of the manner and way) of restoring the world; and therefore till after his Ascension, which proved theirs too, they had asked nothing in his name, Joh. 16.24,—26. Christ indeed had declared his Fathers name (The Lord gracious) and taught them to Pray, Our Father, and tells God that they had kept his Word, and believed that he came out from him, as sent by him, Job. 17.6,—8. but a more particular Faith in him, and praying in his name (was to be taught by the Spirit, and) were things they were not yet convinced of.
What they (Babes) are, and what they are not capable of or able to bear, I shall not undertake to determine, only this I am sure of, that they are not to be received to doubtful disputations (if that be the meaning of the place) Rom. 14.1. of which I think the Margent gives a better account. But now, what they are capable of and convinced of, that they submit to and act accordingly, Acts 19. There were Disciples that had not heard whether there were an Holy Ghost or no, but as soon as they were convinced they submitted. The Disciples were not convinced of the Messiahs Offices, but in the general notion (without distinct apprehensions of the manner and way) of restoring the world; and therefore till after his Ascension, which proved theirs too, they had asked nothing in his name, Joh. 16.24