A64833:423
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.
2. THE witness of the Spirit is known from any other by the grounds on which it witnesseth; of which I shall name but two. 1. The Spirit finds this ground-work laid that thou art new-born, though but a Babe or Infant of days and experience: this always precedes the witness. The Spirit doth not nor can bear witness to them that are dead, i. e. that live in sins, Ephes. 1.1, 2, 3. nor to them that have but a form of Godliness, or are Pharisees-hypocrites, that they are the Children of God: It cannot witness that to be which is not. 'Tis when and because ye are Sons that God sends forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father; and so thereupon or therewith beareth witness to and with our spirits, that we are the Children of God, Gal. 4.6. with Rom. 8.15, 16. The work is always begun before the witness come; that which is not wrought cannot be witnessed to: If thou therefore be not new-born, thy believing thy self to be a Child of God is a delusion, not the witness of the Spirit.
2. THE witness of the Spirit is known from any other by the grounds on which it witnesseth; of which I shall name but two. 1. The Spirit finds this ground-work laid that thou art new-born, though but a Babe or Infant of daies and experience: this alwaies precedes the witness. The Spirit doth not nor can bear witness to them that are dead, i. e. that live in sins, Ephes. 1.1, 2, 3. nor to them that have but a form of Godliness, or are Pharisees-hypocrites, that they are the Children of God: It cannot witness that to be which is not. 'Tis when and because ye are Sons that God sends forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father; and so thereupon or therewith beareth witness to and with our spirits, that we are the Children of God, Gal. 4.6. with Rom. 8.15, 16. The work is alwaies begun before the witness come; that which is not wrought cannot be witnessed to: If thou therefore be not new-born, thy believing thy self to be a Child of God is a delusion, not the witness of the Spirit.