A01898:100
A child of light walking in darknessA childe of light vvalking in darknesse
A child of light walking in darkness: or A treatise showing the causes, by which God leaves his children to distress of conscience. The cases, wherein [God leaves his children to distress of conscience.] The ends, for which [God leaves his children to distress of conscience.] Together with directions how to come forth of such a condition: with other observations upon Isaiah 50. 10, and 11. verses. By Tho: Goodwin B.D.A childe of light vvalking in darknesse: or A treatise shewing the causes, by which God leaves his children to distresse of conscience. The cases, wherein [God leaves his children to distresse of conscience.] The ends, for which [God leaves his children to distresse of conscience.] Together vvith directions how to come forth of such a condition: vvith other observations upon Esay 50. 10, and 11. verses. By Tho: Goodwin B.D.
London: printed by Miles for R. Dawlman and L. Fawne, 1636
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.
And the reason of all this is as evident as the experience of it.
1. In general:1 Reason is of it self a busy principle, that will be prying into, and making false glosses upon all Gods matters as well as our own; and trying its skill, in arguing upon all his dealings with us. Thus Jeremiah would needs be reasoning with God about his dispensations towards wicked men, Chap. 12. 1, 2. and Joh, of his dealings with himself: Chap. 13. 3. And Reason being likewise the supreme principle in us by nature, and our highest difference as we are men; therefore no wonder if when we are left to our selves to walk in darkness, we walk as men, as the Apostle speaks, 1 Cor. 1. 3. and to use Solomons words, do leave to our own wisdom, 2even because it is our own and was brought up with us; it is our great Ahitophel, (and as David says of him) Our guide with whom we have taken so much sweet counsel in all our worldly and politic affairs: In which only, we should make use of its advise: But we too often take it into the Sanctuary with us, and walk in company with it into the house of God, (to allude to what David says there, Psal. 55. 13, 14.) that is, we suffer it to meddle in matters that pertain to the Sanctuary, and to debate and conclude of our ⟨p. 35⟩spiritual and eternal estates, as well as of our temporal; and which is worse, we are opinionative of its judgement therein; I thought (says Asaph in that forementioned Psalm) to know this, ver. 16. that is, he thought to have comprehended and reached Gods mind in those his dispensations, by the discussions of reason, and so to have concluded rightly from them: Whereas after he had gone into the Sanctuary, ver. 17. with faith alone, and thereby consulted with the word; he confesseth his own wisdom and best reason to have been as ignorant of Gods meaning, and of those rules he proceedeth by, in those his dispensations towards his children, Even as a beast ver. 22. is of those principles which men walk by, or the intentions they have in their ways. If Reason then, when it is so utterly unskilful and mistaken in the premises, will yet be exercising and trying its faculty in reasoning from them, no wonder if the conclusions thence deduced be so wide and wild; and yet with Asaph, We think we know this.