A64833:388
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. That God is free in his choice, and may choose out whom he please, his Spirit bloweth (this gale of knowledge and assurance of the Fathers Love) when and where he pleaseth; 'tis no trade-wind, if I may so say. God is not under any obligation, nor is bound to any man, but to whom he pleaseth: as he shows mercy to whom he will, so 'tis what degrees of mercy he will to any; persons and times are wholly at Gods dispose; 'tis not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth (which refers to the story of Isaac's blessing Jacob instead of Esau) but in God that showeth (this as all other) mercy.
1. That God is free in his choice, and may chuse out whom he please, his Spirit bloweth (this gale of knowledge and assurance of the Fathers Love) when and where he pleaseth; 'tis no trade-wind, if I may so say. God is not under any obligation, nor is bound to any man, but to whom he pleaseth: as he shews mercy to whom he will, so 'tis what degrees of mercy he will to any; persons and times are wholly at Gods dispose; 'tis not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth (which refers to the story of Isaac's blessing Jacob instead of Esau) but in God that sheweth (this as all other) mercy.
2. God hath been pleased to pick and choose out some persons upon whom he hath fixed so special a love as to make them his darlings, to make himself known as a Father to them. Among all the Disciples, John was he whom Jesus loved (viz. peculiarly) as 'tis often mentioned by the Evangelists; he loved all his Family, but John was his bosom-disciple and favourite: As when Fathers have many Children, only one is the beloved, and kissed more often than all the rest ('twas Joseph's case beyond all his Brethren, Gen. 37.3.) so it is here: God is pleased to pitch upon some to show special manifestations of his love unto them. And he hath done it usually (and promised to do it) to such as these.
2. God hath been pleased to pick and chuse out some persons upon whom he hath fixed so special a love as to make them his darlings, to make himself known as a Father to them. Among all the Disciples, John was he whom Jesus loved (viz. peculiarly) as 'tis often mentioned by the Evangelists; he loved all his Family, but John was his bosom-disciple and favourite: As when Fathers have many Children, only one is the beloved, and kist more often than all the rest ('twas Joseph's case beyond all his Brethren,