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.

SECT. 2.

TO know the Father according to the scope and intendment of the Text in relation to the Little Children, is to know him by way of interest and experience: 1. By way of in∣terest, as their Father, to know themselves to be his Children; and so it notes a state of as∣surance. 'Tis a reciprocal knowledge in a re∣lative notion, like that of the Spouse, I am my beloveds, and he is mine; to be able to say as Thomas, My Lord and my God. Though every Child of God (as Babes) cannot say, My Father, yet every of the Little Children can say, My Father; and not only, Abba Father, but My Father: according to Jer. 3.19. I will put thee among the Children, and thou shalt call me, My Father. Our Saviour promised his Babe-Disciples, that (when the Spirit was poured out upon them) in that day they should know their union with and interest in him, which was all one as with and in the Fa∣ther, Joh. 14.8,—20. and at that time he (by his Spirit) would shew them plainly of the Father, Joh. 16.25. with Joh. 14.26. The great thing (one of them) among others, which the Spirit was to declare, was their in∣terest in and union with the Father, and with Christ Joh. 16 13,—15. with 1 Joh. 5.19, 20. and Joh. 17.5. to assure them of Love.

2. 'Tis to know the Father in a way of communion and experience, 1 Joh. 1.3. they

find the communications and impartings of his Fatherly Love. Some have interest in a Father, Yet see not the Kings face (as was Absaloms case, though called to Court) but these have a knowledge of injoyment; they find and feel his Love shed abroad into their hearts; the light of his countenance is listed up upon them, and they walk in the light and joy of his Salvation, 1 Joh. 1.3,—7. They hear the joyful sound of my Son and my Daughter, my pleasant and beloved Child in whom I am well pleased, Thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art mine. They find the Father falling on their neck and kissing them with the kisses of his mouth, embracing them in his arms, and taking them into his bosom: And this indeed is their knowledge of the Father, viz. know∣ing him in interest and experience, union and communion: They feast with the Father and on his Love, as the Prodigal did; after his Father had sealed his Love with a kiss, Oh how sweet and pleasant was the entertainment and communion! They rejoyced.