A01898:175
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.
2. They make it their business to study men,1 it is their trade to go up and down and consider men, Hast thou not considered (says God to satan) my servant Job? Satan useth to consider and study men, and as the Apostle exhorts to consider […] another to provoke to love, so satan ⟨p. 89⟩considers men to provoke to sin, and to tempt for sin unto despair.
2. They make it their businesse to study men,1 it is their trade to goe up and downe and consider men, Hast thou not considered (sayes God to satan) my servant Iob? Satan useth to consider and study men, and as the Apostle exhorts to consider 〈…〉 another to provoke to love, so satan ⟨p. 89⟩considers men to provoke to sinne, and to tempt for sin unto despaire.
- 12. Which knowledge he improves by study
3. He may be privy to our vocal confessions of sins to God,1 or men; unto our laying open our own hearts to God in private prayers, or to others in trouble of conscience: therefore so much of the heart as is this way discovered, he can & doth know. And why may not God permit him, and give him the liberty and advantage to accuse us, even of that which he comes to know by this means? it being for the trial of his servants: especially in case they have returned again to those sins which they confessed, and yet have not forsaken: it is just, that then, as the guilt of former sins return upon us in such a case, so that satan should be permitted afresh to charge us with them. And that in this case a man should lose the privilege of sigillum confessionis, of the secrecy and seal of confession (as I may so speak.) And if God may permit a man to whom we have confessed, according to Gods own ordinance, yet to tell things confessed, and to cast them in our teeth, as sometimes it hath fallen out, why may not satan the accuser of the brethren sometimes be permitted to lay that to our charge, which he only knew this way?