A64833:219
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
Class 1 › Part 4: IV. The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgement.
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.
Object. But perhaps 'twill be objected that a man may be in Christ though but a Babe and as carnal, and yet not believe this doctrine of the Resurrection, for among these Corinthian-Babes some it seems did not own it, 1 Cor. 15.12.
Answ. To this I Answer, That by the same among you may not be meant the Corinthians themselves (for 'tis not said some of you) but false teachers that came among them; who were (it may be) worse and more infidels than Hymeneus and Philetus, who said the Resurrection ⟨p. 156⟩was past already, 2 Tim. 2.18. For these said there was none at all; which indeed was to deny Christ to be risen, and he that doth so, cannot be a Christian, not a Babe in Christ; but in this Faith that Christ was risen the Corinthians did stand, 1 Cor. 15.1, 4. therefore I conceive they were some among them, but not of them, as 1 Joh. 2.19 (however the foundation of God standeth sure, 2 Tim. 2.19. which is spoken upon a resembling occasion) and the Apostle doth not speak this so much by way of charge as caution, of accusation as warning, Vers. 34. I speak this [Greek or Hebrew] to your warning, that you may fear and beware of such Sadducees who have not the knowledge of God nor Scripture, Matth. 22.29. and whose evil words and Epicurean language is apt to beget ill manners. So that notwithstanding this Objection 'tis clear enough, that he cannot be a true Christian, no, not of the lowest Form, who believes not the Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgement. I shall therefore pass on to show how the belief of this doth influence Babes and what attainment results from it.