A64833:290
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.
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,—13. Though there be motions and visible turnings (as in the wheels of a Watch) yet the spring is within and hidden. How the Child is fashioned in the Womb is a great mystery; but the formings of the new-birth is a greater: for 'tis a work wholly and altogether of God; making, and 'tis curiously wrought in the secret places of the heart, 'Tis a being renewed in the spirit of the mind (which is the prime and proper seat of it) Ephes. 4.23. Now the work being so inward, secret and hidden, 'tis hard to trace Gods footsteps, and to search mans heart: all the ways of God are unsearchable enough, but especially these in the great deep, as mans heart is called. The way of a Serpent on a Rock, the way of a Ship in the Sea, and of a Bird in the Air cannot be found out, much less can this way of God, unless he reveal it by his Spirit, which works it, 1 Cor. 2.10,—12. Though the outside of the new man which is created in righteousness and true holiness may be discerned, yet the inwards of it are like the white name which none knows but he (I, and perhaps not every he) that hath it. There are but few can give an exact ⟨p. 203⟩and full relation and story of this thing; 'tis so secret that many things pass by undiscerned: as who knows the errors, so who knows the true workings of his heart? 'tis the hidden man of the heart, and the heart is hidden from the man. If men understand but little of earthly things, which are their element, and whereof they profess themselves masters, how much less do they know such a spiritual and heavenly thing as this, as our Saviour told Nicodemus,