A64833:40
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.
3. Let every one be thankful and bless God for what he hath attained, be it more or less: Are any of you, Cedars in Lebanon, when others are but Shrubs, as the Hyssop on the wall, or as the lilies of the valley? are any of you (like Saul) taller than your Brethren by the head and shoulders? are you crowned with the grey-hairs of wisdom and righteousness? have ye overcome the wicked one? have ye lain in the Fathers bosom? give God the Glory, who gave you the Grace. Are others of you but of late admission? or but of little and low stature? are ye but Babes in Christ? Yet despise not the day of small things, let none of his mercies or consolations be small to you, who are less than the least of them all. 'Tis great mercy ⟨p. 12⟩to be one of Christs, though but one of his little ones. Our Lord Jesus chose twelve to be with him, as his family, whereof three were (è secretioribus) admitted to be his confidants, Peter, James and John, and of these three, John was the darling; he was the Disciple whom Jesus loved with a peculiar love, and was admitted to lie in his bosom: now if thou be not a John, yet thank him, if thou be a Peter or a James; if not of them, yet that thou art one of the twelve, but not Judas; if not one of the twelve to be with him, yet one of the seventy (for he afterward enlarged the number) to do him any service abroad. Bless him that thou art a member of his body, though but an ear or a foot: that thou art a star in his firmament, though not of the first magnitude, but the very least of all. David had his several Worthies, and the lowest was honourable, though he attained not to the first three, 2 Sam. 23.23. and among the thirty seven, Uriah the Hittite was the last, Verse 39. Though thou be the last, yet 'tis mercy to be one of the thousands of Israel. Though thou do not sit at the Kings table, yet bless him if thou be a Door-keeper to behold his goings out and comings in. Bless him that thou art one of the little flock, though thou be not the Principal, or the choice, but the least of it. If thou have learnt the A. B. C. of Godliness, the first principles and elements of the Doctrine of Christ, bless him for it; thou knowest not how soon he may teach thee to spell out, yea to read distinctly the more perfect lessons, ⟨p. 13⟩that thy joy may be full: