A64833:35
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.
If it should be here inquired why the Apostle useth the diminutive so often, and speaks to them as (not [Greek or Hebrew] Children but [Greek or Hebrew]) little Children; I Answer that it may be an allusion to the manner and custom of the Jewish Teachers, which was to call their Scholars Ketamin, little ones: yet withal it notes with what tenderness he loved them, and how dear they ⟨p. 7⟩were unto him, as having begotten them by the preaching of the Gospel, as Paul did the Corinthians, whom he calls beloved S•ns, 1 Cor. 4.14, 15. and the Galatians, whom he calls by this name, little Children, Gal. 4.19. and as our Saviour did his Disciples, John 13.33. in conformity to whom John (who was the Beloved and loving Disciple) useth this word.
If it should be here inquired why the Apostle useth the diminutive so often, and speaks to them as (not 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Children but 〈non-Latin alphabet〉) little Children; I Answer that it may be an allusion to the manner and custom of the Jewish Teachers, which was to call their Scholars Ketamin, little ones: yet withal it notes with what tenderness he loved them, and how dear they ⟨p. 7⟩were unto him, as having begotten them by the preaching of the Gospel, as Paul did the Corinthians, whom he calls beloved S•ns, 1 Cor. 4.14, 15. and the Galatians, whom he calls by this name, little Children, Gal. 4.19. and as our Saviour did his Disciples, John 13.33. in conformity to whom John (who was the Beloved and loving Disciple) useth this word.