A64833:289
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.
1. BY way of Examination, that we may Catechise our selves and learn to know, 1. Whether we are Babes or no, whether new-born or not: and this we have great reason to do, because not only our hearts are deceitful and may abuse us by making us think otherwise of our selves than we are, and therefore 'tis foolish to trust our hearts, Prov. 28.26. But because many have been actually cozened, as the foolish Virgins, &c. many have thought themselves rich who have been poor, and others have thought themselves poor who have been rich, Prov. 13.7. of which former the Angel of Laodicea is an instance, Rev. 3.17. and of the latter the Angel of Smyrna, Rev. 2.9. that therefore we may pass a right judgement on, let us examine, our selves.
In relation hereunto 'tis but necessary that I premise some things about Conversion for the ⟨p. 202⟩preventing of Objections, the removing of offences, and so for the clearing of the way which leads us to know whether we are new-born, converted or not. As,
1. That the new-birth is a mystery, conversion is a secret thing, a work that begins within, out of sight; it puzzled Nicodemus a Master, a Rabbi in Israel, to think what kind of thing regeneration should be, Joh. 3.3