A64833:81
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
Introduction › Part 3: III. A further continuation of the Praecognita, things to be premised.
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.
12. But though some upon these accounts grow faster than others, and are Fathers sooner than others that were born before them, yet each of them shall sons or later grow up to ⟨p. 46⟩that measure of the stature of Christ to which they are appointed. The Babe that is to be a Child by appointment, shall be so by attainment, and so of the rest. No Saint shall die till he have attained the utmost of what he was designed to. As none of Gods Elect (I speak de adultis of them come to years) die before they are converted, so no converted ones die till they come to their maturity and be ripe (like a shock of Corn) for the Garner of God. God gathers none but ripe fruit, though some be riper sooner than other, and as I may say, some be Summer and others Winter fruit, some die young and others old, yet there shall not be an Infant of days, nor an old man that hath not fulfilled his years, but every one shall attain to his full stature, Isa. 65.20. Our Saviour could not, as he told that Fox, be perfected till he had finished his work; and then his hour came, Luk. 13.32, 33. When any of the Saints (like him) have glorified God on Earth by finishing the work God hath given him to do (and every one hath his task set him, and his work cut out to his hands, Eccl. 9.10) then shall he go to be glorified, as Christ did, Joh. 17.4, 5. as he could not die till then, so he then would not but die.
12. But though some upon these accounts grow faster than others, and are Fathers sooner than others that were born before them, yet each of them shall soones or later grow up to ⟨p. 46⟩that measure of the stature of Christ to which they are appointed. The Babe that is to be a Child by appointment, shall be so by attainment, and so of the rest. No Saint shall die till he have attained the utmost of what he was designed to. As none of Gods Elect (I speak de adultis of them come to years) die before they are converted, so no converted ones die till they come to their maturity and be ripe (like a shock of Corn) for the Garner of God. God gathers none but ripe fruit, though some be riper sooner than other, and as I may say, some be Summer and others Winter fruit, some die young and others old, yet there shall not be an Infant of daies, nor an old man that hath not fulfilled his years, but every one shall attain to his full stature,