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. 4. Shews wherein the glory and sweetness of this priviledge consists.

THE second thing I am obliged to discover and to treat of is, the glory and excel∣lency of his priviledge that the little Children can cry, Abba Father. And it lies much in two things,

1. That they have a great deal of freedom, boldness and assurance in their addresses to God and appearings before him at the Throne of Grace, and in the day of Judgement. That they have at the throne of Grace, is express upon the account of their Intercessor and High-Priest, Heb. 4.14,—16. And indeed the Spi∣rit becomes a Spirit of Prayer (an Intercessor) in them, as it follows, Rom. 8.26, 27. The Spirits knowledge is more to their advantage and comfort, than their ignorance is to their detriment. They go to God as to a Father, as Children use to do to their Fathers, but with a much more assurance, Matth. 7.11. as the Prayers of Christ are heard alwaies, Joh. 11.41, 42. and by his Prayers he can obtain and

do mighty things, Matth. 26.53. because they are addrest to his Father; so 'tis also with these that know the Father, 1 Joh. 3.21, 22. and 5, 14, 15. God alwaies had his favorites, who had his ear and heart and hand (to command almost) for his Sons and Daughters, such were Noah, Daniel and Joh, Moses, J••shuah and Samuel, Abraham, Jacob, &c. And now these little Children (the Johns that lie in his be∣som, Joh. 13.21,—26.) are such as they, viz. great prevailers with and obtainers from the Lord, as our Saviour tells them and us, Joh. 14.12, 13. Joh. 15.7. and 16.23.24. all which places and promises refer to what they should ask and receive and do after he was ascended, and had sent the Spirit to make known the Father to them. As they have great boldness at the throne of Grace, so in the day of Judgement also; for perfect love (a Pierophorie or full assurance) hath boldness in the day of Judgement, because as he is, so these are in this world (viz. he is declared and witnessed to be the Son, and these are to be the Sons of God) 1 Joh. 4.17. they shall have confidence at his coming, 1 Joh. 2.28.

2. The advantage of knowing the Father and being able to cry, Abba Father, is much in this, that 'tis a great relief to them in the saddest times and conditions: 'Twas Christs standing consolation that God was his Father, and so 'tis theirs. It's sufficient to now the Father, who is all-sufficient, and whose grace shall be sufficient for them, come what will or can. This is great and strong consolation,

1. In case we are mis-judged and mis-inter∣preted; thus it was to Christ himself, Joh. 8.15,—19. and Vers. 47,—55. What ever you think •• say it matters not, My Father wit∣nesseth to me, and my Father honoureth me, &c. 'Twas Paul's comfort that The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (and in him our Fa∣ther) knew that he did not lie, though they were too ••pt to think that he did, 2 Cor. 11.31. 'Tis a small thing to be mis judged in mans day, when our Father will be our Judge, and judge righteously, 1 Pet. 2.23.

2. 'Tis great and strong consolation when we fear wants, we are but too prone to be so∣liciteus for to morrow, and therefore to pour out many and long Prayers to God; but to take us off from vain Repetitions, Tautolo∣gies, much speaking and solicitous thoughts, our Saviour propounds the remedies for our hearts case from God to be known as a Father. Matth. 6 7, 8, 9. And therefore bids them pray briefly and p••hily, and to address and make applications to God as a Father, who knows better what they need, and what's fit f•••• them, than they do. So as to cares also, Vers. 26. and 32.

3. When forsaken and forgotten by friends and nearest relations. Though Father and Mother forger us, yet will not God our Father, and therefore the Church pleads it, Isa. 63 16. Dou••••less that art our Father, though Abraha•• be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: th••u, O Lord, art our Father. This supported C•••••• himself wh•••• the Disciples ••••d and left

him alone, yet he was not alone for his Father was with h••••. Joh. 16.32.

4. In case of suffering not only from men but from God himself to know the Father in∣g••g••th to patience and submission, which is ne∣ver without case and comfert. When a per∣son was lanced and cut by a Chirugion her Fa∣ther, and askt by one how she could endure it? Oh, said she, 'tis my Father and ••e loves me. Thus our Saviour took the cup because his Fa∣ther gave it him to drink, Joh. 18.11. And the Apos••le presseth to indure enassening upon this account, Heb. 12.5,—10.

5. Yea in the time of desertion, Death and Judgement, this is a cordial notwithstanding: if it were enough to a Child of light, that walked in darkness and saw no light, to have this staff to lean on that God was his God, Isa. 50.10. much more (as was hinted) that God is his Father, as 'tis Isa. 64.7, 8. Thou hid thy face from us, &c. but yet, O Lord, thou art our Father. When our Lord J••••us cry'd out, My God, my God why hast that forsaken me; yet presently he concludes in almost the fame breath (which was also his last) Father into thine hands I commend my Spirit, Luk. 23.46. yea as I newly said, this casts out fear in the day of Judgement.

6. 'Tis great comfort that we know the Fa∣ther and are known of him, when no man knows the good we do, it being done in se∣cret, Matth. 6.4, and 6. yea though we forget the good we have done, yet our Father will remember it and bless us for i••, M••••th. 2••.

Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the King∣dom prepared for you, who fed me, cloath'd me, &c. O Lord, say they, when did we do this? Though they had forgotten, yet the Father had a Book of remembrance written for them that loved his name, and shewed it in ministring to the Saints, Heb. 6.9, 10.

7. 'Tis a great comfort when we are strai∣tened in Prayer, and cannot express nor utter our own conditions, yet that our Father knows and concerns himself for all our affairs, Matth. 6.7, 8, 9. with Rom. 8.26, 27. which is spoken as referring to them that had the Spi∣rit of Adoption, Vers. 15. The Spirit that wit∣nesseth is assistant to such in Prayer, and com∣mends their thoughts, sighs and groans to God, for he (saith the Text) searcheth the hearts.

8. 'Tis a great comfort though at any time we have not some particular things that we pray for: our heavenly Father will not with∣hold any good thing; if he withbold any, that thing is not good for us; if it were (pro hic & nune, rebus sic stantibus) good, and good now, we should have it presently, for no earthly Father can be so ready as our heavenly Father is to give good things, even the Spirit to hem that ask (aright, and according to his Will, Matth. 7.11. with Luke 11.13.) they have all that they may ask, would or should ask, as that may be read, 1 Job. 3.22. and that is what's according to his Will, 1 Joh. 5.14. And beside this a Child of God would neither have nor ask any thing knowingly. They are sure to have all that's good (and 'tis best to be with∣out

what is not so) yea that which is denyed, their disappointment of it and his denial, (the evil they undergo as well as the good they do) the good they are without as well as that which they enjoy shall all work together for their good who love God, and that (to be sure) they do (and dearly too) who know the Father, and have assurance of his love.

'Tis time now to dismiss this third Chapter, having shewn in it the priviledges and injoy∣ments (as far as I intended) of the little Children, who know the Father, and what sweetness and honey drops from this rock of ages the everlasting Father: I now proceed to the fourth particular, which is to discover the frame of the heart and conversation of the life of these little Children, who know the Fa∣ther.