A64833:206
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.
6. Go on to attend upon and address to God in the way of his Ordinances and your Duties, though you should not meet with all that encouragement which you look and long for: commit your selves to God in all ways of well-doing, though you have not such joys and ravishments as some have and you desire. Do not serve God merely for incomes and Revenues, be more generous and noble, and think it a great honour that thou canst serve him and do thy duty. 'Tis true, God hath made all our duties privileges, and in as well as after keeping his Commands there is great reward, his service is not only a means but a part of our happiness; yet we serve him best when we do our duty, more as duty which refers to God, than as privilege which refers to us: and a generous soul will serve God and thank him that it may, and more that it can, though it have not a penny for its pains and labour, though it should bear the burden and heat of the day. 'Tis not an ingenuous child that will not be obedient longer than it is allured and bribed by fine things.
6. Go on to attend upon and address to God in the way of his Ordinances and your Duties, though you should not meet with all that incouragement which you look and long for: commit your selves to God in all waies of well-doing, though you have not such joyes and ravishments as some have and you desire. Do not serve God meerly for incomes and Revenues, be more generous and noble, and think it a great honour that thou canst serve him and do thy duty. 'Tis true, God hath made all our duties priviledges, and in as well as after keeping his Commands there is great reward, his service is not only a means but a part of our happiness; yet we serve him best when we do our duty, more as duty which refers to God, than as priviledge which refers to us: and a generous soul will serve God and thank him that it may, and more that it can, though it have not a penny for its pains and labour, though it should bear the burden and heat of the day. 'Tis not an ingenuous child that will not be obedient longer than it is allured and bribed by fine things.
'Tis a greater honour to us that we serve God, than 'tis to him that we do serve him; as 'twas •o Solomon's servants more an honour that they