A64833:198
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.
Application.
These things being so (which you cannot well deny, poor Babes) let me bespeak you and exhort you,
THese things being so (which you cannot well deny, poor Babes) let me bespeak you and exhort you,
1. To Consider not only what you ought to do, but how you ought to do it, not only the matter but the manner of all duties; and to measure your obedience more by the quality than the quantity, the weight than number of it, together with what ends you have in it: 'tis not the bigness or juiciness of the fruit, but the relish that gives the commendation, and that is the end you have in doing your duties. If thy obedience have not a good relish (ad gustum Dei) if it do not taste well, though thy duties be never so many and well coloured and full of enlarged affections, they are not acceptable to God, nor a sweet smelling savour to him. The usual question that Babes make is about the what of duty, what shall we do? say they, Acts 2. what must I do, saith the Jailer? Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? saith Paul. They mind the matter of duty and ask often about the what: but as we should mind what to hear and do, so how to hear and ⟨p. 143⟩do. We should not only receive the Lords Supper, but so as to discern the Lords Body; not only pray, but pray according to his Will; not only submit to Baptism, &c. but mind the how and why, as Rom. 6.3,—5. Col. 2.11