A64833:62
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.
Again, this measure is not to be taken from common, but from special and saving grace; ⟨p. 30⟩not from profession but practice. There is common Faith, and the Faith of Gods Elect; there were foolish as well as wise Virgins; are seeming as well as truly religious persons; the stony ground hearers made a fair show in the flesh; and the thorny brought forth fruit, but not to perfection: Which is an argument that they knew not the root of the matter, or the grace of God in truth, for that brings forth ripe fruit, Col. 1.6. There were some that through the knowledge of Christ had escaped the pollutions of the world, yet licked up their vomit (and therefore their nature was not changed, but they were Dogs still) and wallowed again in the mire, and therefore though they were washed, yet were Sows still, and not really converted so as to have a saving work upon them, 2 Pet. 2.20,—22. Surely, saith the Apostle, they that went out from us, were not of us (but a bastardly brood) 1 Joh. 2.19. where he speaks of them as distinguished from the [us] which word [us] he mentions five times by way of distinction, and the word [they] six times in that one Verse.
Again, this measure is not to be taken from common, but from special and saving grace; ⟨p. 30⟩not from profession but practice. There is common Faith, and the Faith of Gods Elect; there were foolish as well as wise Virgins; are seeming as well as truly religious persons; the stony ground hearers made a fair shew in the flesh; and the thorny brought forth fruit, but not to perfection: Which is an argument that they knew not the root of the matter, or the grace of God in truth, for that brings forth ripe fruit, Col. 1.6. There were some that through the knowledge of Christ had escaped the pollutions of the world, yet licked up their vomit (and therefore their nature was not changed, but they were Dogs still) and wallowed again in the mire, and therefore though they were washed, yet were Sows still, and not really converted so as to have a saving work upon them,