Venning's remains, or, Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians, I. babes, II.…

1. God will separate the precious from the vile, the Gold from the dross, he will pick out the best and make much of it, though it be but little: and for what thou judgest thy self, thou shalt not be judged of the Lord, as the Apostle tells his Babes, in 1 Cor. 11.31. in relation to their odd and ill way of attending upon that ⟨p. 148⟩[…] ⟨p. 149⟩[…] ⟨p. 150⟩great Ordinance of the Lords Feast, or Supper, as we tender it. He will put thy tears into his Bottle, he will remember thy thinking on his name, when others said, It is in vain to serve God, and what profit is there that we have kept his Ordinances, Mal. 3.14,—18. Thou hast toiled all day and caught nothing, yet at his command thou hast cast in thy Net again, and hast caught a great draught, but some are good and some are bad; why, though it be so, yet God will separate the good from the bad, he will gather the good into his Vessels, and cast the bad away, that I may allude to the story of Peter's Fishing, joined with what is said, Matth. 13.47, 48. In the story of Sarah, Gen. 18.12,—15. what grace could you find there? and yet God doth, and 'tis recorded, 1 Pet. 3.6. that Sarah called her Husband Lord, which she did at that time, when the Angel chid her both for unbelief and telling a lye too. When the Disciples failed of their duty and promise to Christ, he yet picks out this, that their spirit was willing, Matth. 26.41. He takes it ill that they did not watch, yet takes it well that 'twas in their heart, and they were willing to watch: and though they had often miscarried, yet our Saviour puts a better interpretation upon them, than they (or any body else) could, and tells his Father, They have kept thy Word,