Christs School, Title page – To the reader 2
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 Preach'd many Years ago in Southwark.
By Ralph Venning.
1 Cor. 3.1. And I Brethren could not ſpeak unto you as unto ſpiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto Babes in Chriſt.
1 Joh. 2.13. I write unto you Fathers, becauſe ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you Young men, becauſe ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you Little Children, becauſe ye have known the Father.
London, Printed for John Hancock, Senior and Junior, at the Sign of the three Bibles in Popes-head Ally, over againſt the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 1675.
Reader,
THough that which I here preſent thee with may look like a Novelty, yet I hope it will appear to be a truth of great Antiquity; for though I confeſs I have not met with any that have treated thus diſtinctly of the ſeveral Ranks and Degrees of Saints, yet I cannot ſay but I was led to the conſideration thereof by perſons both Antient and Modern of great name and worth, who have now and then hinted that in their writings, which gave me occaſion to make a more full inquiry into this thing, and accordingly to Preach upon it many years ago in Southwark, and I bleſs God, not without good acceptation and ſucceſs, as I have not a little cauſe to preſume. As to the three firſt States I have ſpoken largely, but very little of the laſt, viz. of Fathers, not willing to venture beyond my line or meaſure, only hinting in General what may be gather'd from the Scripture. Concerning them what I have ſaid, I ſubmit to the judgement of my Elders and betters, who I hope will find me moderate and modeſt in my Aſſertions, and that they are conſonant to the analogy of Faith and agreeable to the …enor of Scripture both truths and expreſſions. I ſhall ſay nothing more of it, for I hope it will ſpeak for it ſelf, only my deſires to God are that it may be bleſt to every Reader, for their either Converſion or Edification. Which Prayer if God pleaſe to grant, 'twill be matter of thankſgiving as to them ſo to me alſo, who am their Servant in and for Chriſt Jeſus,
Ralph Venning.
This following Advertiſement was intended as an Epiſtle to the Reader before the Author's own was found.
THis Treatiſe as it is now publiſhed, was ſo left by the worthy Author when he went to his reſt. The excellency and uſefulneſs of it will evidence it ſelf beſt in the peruſal thereof. It hath this preheminence beyond many of the practical Diſcourſes that have of late paſſed the Preſs; that its deſign is ſingular and not managed (at leſt to ſuch an enlargement) by any before it.
The ſeveral Degrees and Eſtates of Chriſtians, through which they paſs up to the meaſure and ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, are here inſiſted on, and with great experience, according to the rule of Faith explicated with perſpicuity.
The greateſt part of the Diſcourſe is ſpent upon thoſe that make up the greateſt part of true Chriſtians, viz. the weak ones or Babes, wherein will be found things of a comfortable concernment, and conducing very much to the eſtabliſhing of them; and promoting their advance to a greater degree of grace till they come to the aſſurance of the Love of God by the witneſs of the Spirit, which the Children enjoy. What is laid down in reference to the witneſs of the Spirit, though ſome may differ in their conceptions from it, yet ſuch is the boundary and cautions here annexed to this particular by the Author againſt deluſions, that no perſon will have a reaſonable ground to make any exceptions.
What is performed in the handling of the temptations which attend the Young men, ſuch as have attained to a ſtrength of grace (whereby they are made conformable to Chriſt, who was in all things tempted as we are, yet without ſin) will be of great encouragement to many in their preſent warfare.
As to the laſt Eſtate of Chriſtians, viz. of Fathers, the Author hath diſcourſed very little, who though thoſe that were acquainted with him, might judge him to have attained to that degree of Chriſtianty, which lies in the higheſt experience of the myſteries of the Goſpel yet he through modeſty leaves that for others to ſupply and make up.
And ſo you have the firſt remains of that good man, who was ſerviceable to Chriſt in his Generation.
The ſpiritual advantage of Chriſtians is all that is aimed at in the publication thereof, and accordingly is recommended to them by the Authors very good friends,
James Barron.
John Collins.