A64833:59
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. There is something common to all the Saints of what degree soever they be, viz. they are all born of God, all his Children, all taught of God from the greatest to the least, Heb. 8.11. with 1 Joh. 2.20,—27. which he speaks of the ([Greek or Hebrew]) little Children, ⟨p. 27⟩to whom he last of all adderest his speech, v. 18. The Babe is in Christ Jesus as well as the Father, though not so well rooted and grounded in him, 1 Cor. 3.1. Col. 2.6, 7. their sins are forgiven alike, 1 Joh. 2.12. to be gracious is common to all, though some have more grace than others; as 'tis to all men to be rational, though some are more rational than others. Truth of Grace is common to all, though growth of Grace be (in some respects) more peculiar to some. They are all brethren, and are brought forth in the Image of God, and created according to him (or his likeness) in righteousness and holiness of truth: You may espy—the Fathers Image in the Babe his eye. Though they be but newly born, yet they are new-born and new creatures. In short and fine, they are all members of the Body, the foot as well as the hand, the ear as well as the eye, 1 Cor. 12. Though the Stars differ from one another in glory, yet they agree in this, that they are all of them Stars. The Fathers, the Young-men, the little Children, and the Babes also have this in common, that they are of Gods Family, and of the household of Faith, the sons of God; they are all in Christs School, though not all of one Form.
3. There is something common to all the Saints of what degree soever they be, viz. they are all born of God, all his Children, all taught of God from the greatest to the least, Heb. 8.11. with