A01898:164
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.
For the present, that searching, examining, & judging power of the word now in hand, he expresseth by an allusion to the anatomy of bodies: (which then, though not so frequently as now, was yet in use) or else to the cutting up of the sacrifices, whether those of the Jews, or as it was used among the heathen; especially by the Soothsayers, who curiously searched into every inward part, as we find in the Prophet, Ezek. 21. 21. and his similitude stands then, that look ⟨p. 82⟩what the entrails are to a sharp sword, or Sacrificers knife, or the like instruments of Anatomy in a strong and skilful hand, such are all the most inward, and secret parts of the heart, even those which are most difficult to be divided, unto this sword in Gods hand, when he is pleased to use it to search the heart and reins, and to discover and bring forth to judgement the secrets thereof. He can use this sword, not only to unrip, & strip off the outward clothes of outward and formal actions, and so present the soul naked, (as his expression is, ver. 13.) nor only to flea off all the skin, to excoriate, and so to see what lies under it, (as the next word there [Greek or Hebrew], which is translated opened, doth sometimes signify) but further to cleave and cut up to the back bone (for even so deep doth the signification of that word reach) that so all the inwards may appear; and this so curiously divided & laid asunder, as to see & view apart what is in each. It pierceth to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. By which, grace and corruption are not so properly here to be understood: for then he would have rather said, flesh and spirit: and besides the persons he speaks this of, are principally those who shall be found secret unbelievers, who have not spirit in that sense at all in them: but they are here used to express those two main powers of the heart. The soul, that is the inferior part, that more sensual part, wherein the affections are, (as 1 Thes. 5. 20. it is also used) which it divides ⟨p. 83⟩by discovering how close & inordinately all those affections cleave to sin: and then 2. of the spirit, that is the superior part of the understanding conscience, &c. which it rips up by discovering how these plot, and contrive the accomplishment of sin. Dividing, that is, discovering apart, with difference, how things are carried severally in each: