A01898:138
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.
Secondly,1 as he hath thus throughly studied this controversy,2 and knows all the windings and false reasonings in it: So withal, by his daily studying and considering Men, he knows how best to suit, and make use of those reasonings, both to persons and seasons. It is the sole business of those evil spirits to study men; for this end they go up and down the earth; and he hath common places of men, and their several frames and temper of spirit, as well as of temptations; he knows all the several ranks and classes of men in the state of grace; and according to their ranks, with what sort of temptations to encounter them. For mens temptations are various and manifold, 1 Pet. 2. 6. even as the gifts and operations of the Spirit are, 1 Cor. 12. 4, 5. Now he having beaten out this controversy with all sorts, knows how to lay the dispute, how to order, and marshal, and apply objections, and wield his blows with most success and advantage. That as Physicians, having observed the several workings of medicines of all sorts, upon several ages, & constitutions; & what several issues and effects they have had, do therefore accordingly prescribe and apply several medicines, according to the several and differing conditions of their patients, though sick of the same disease: Thus Satan, ⟨p. 60⟩he by observation finding the hearts of some men answering to some others, even as face to face in water, as Solomon says, and more alike, and withal remembering what reasonings have always taken most with such a sort or strain of Christians, whose corruptions and whose graces were much alike unto those in this or that man he hath now to deal with; accordingly he makes use and application of these reasonings again.3 1 The temper of mens spirits we know is divers, and so is capable of diversity of suggestions. Men of melancholy and jealous spirits, he plies with reasonings and suggestions that will most take with their spirits. And again 2 the operations of graces, as of sin, are various in those several tempers. And 3 Gods dealings with, and workings upon his children are as various as either: some he humbleth much, some are led on with comfort; some he works on with a sudden and marvellous light, as if the Sun should rise on the sudden, at midnight; and on others, insensibly and by degrees, as when the dawning steals upon the day;