A64833:274
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 2: II. Of their being as Carnal and walking as men.
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.
3. These Babes were yet so carnal that some truth would scarce be believed by them unless it came out of Paul's mouth, nor by others unless it came from Apollo's: they embraced the truth for the mans sake, more than the man for the truths sake; and the feet were more beautiful than the tidings, or else the tidings were not beautiful, if such a mans feet did not bring them. If Paul said it was an Oracle, his (ipse dixit) word was sufficient to some, who would scarce believe it from Apollo; and others that were for Apollo preferred it much beyond what they would have done if Paul had said it: 'tis to them as if 'twere another thing, another Gospel, another Christ, another Spirit, 2 Cor. 11.4. And as it was then is it not now? some truths will not down with some persons ⟨p. 190⟩unless it come from such a man, as if he made it more and another less true than it was; whereas the truth is the same whether in Paul or Apollo's mouth; and not at all the more or less true for this or that mans saying it. If such a man or party of men say so, we will believe it, say many Babes. This or that man is their Oracle, if he say it, it must be true; if he do not say it, especially if he gainsay it, it cannot be true.
3. These Babes were yet so carnal that some truth would scarce be believed by them unless it came out of Paul's mouth, nor by others unless it came from Apollo's: they embraced the truth for the mans sake, more than the man for the truths sake; and the feet were more beautiful than the tydings, or else the tydings were not beautiful, if such a mans feet did not bring them. If Paul said it was an Oracle, his (ipse dixit) word was sufficient to some, who would scarce believe it from Apollo; and others that were for Apollo preferred it much beyond what they would have done if Paul had said it: 'tis to them as if 'twere another thing, another Gospel, another Christ, another Spirit, 2 Cor. 11.4. And as it was then is it not now? some truths will not down with some persons ⟨p. 190⟩unless it come from such a man, as if he made it more and another less true than it was; whereas the truth is the same whether in Paul or Apollo's mouth; and not at all the more or less true for this or that mans saying it. If such a man or party of men say so, we will believe it, say many Babes. This or that man is their Oracle, if he say it, it must be true; if he do not say it, especially if he gainsay it, it cannot be true.