A64833:58
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. As there is a great difference between Saints and men, so there is disparity between Saints and Saints; they (as the Stars) differ from one another in glory: All Saints are excellent, but they are not all alike excellent, Psal. 16.3. All of them do virtuously, but some excel the rest. In the Body of man there are some members that are far more noble than others, there are principal and vital, and there are less principal and but accidental as to life, indeed all the members of Christs body are vital and necessary, and yet some are more so than others; and as to their functions and operations ⟨p. 26⟩do far excel the rest: as the eye doth the ear, the hand the foot, 1 Cor. 12. And the Apostle tells us, 2 Tim. 2.20. That in a great house (such is Gods Church) there are vessels of Gold, and vessels of Silver, and also of wood and earth, some to honour and some to dishonour, which refers (not only to the difference that there is between common and special grace among men and Professors, as Rom. 9.21. but) to the true members of the body, as 1 Cor. 12.23. they are called less honourable: Now no man doubts but the vessels of Silver and Gold are more excellent and honourable than them of earth and wood. There are some that are but wooden-Saints, and but earthen-Saints, in comparison of some that are Silver and others that are golden-Saints: See and consider 1 Cor. 3.12,—15. Yet this I say also, that the highest of Saints doth not so far exceed or excel the lowest, as the lowest exceeds and excels the highest of men; for the Saints compared one with another differ but (gradu) gradually, but Saints and men do differ (specie) in kind: Gold in the Oar is not so much inferior to the most refined and pure Gold, as clay and earth is inferior to Gold in the Oar; that difference is but gradual, but this is specific.