A01898:182
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.
Now 6. besides all this,1 how far he may have an insight into the Fancy, and the images therein, which follow and imitate the inward thoughts of the mind, as the shadow doth the body: and also into the passions, which are but the flowing, and reflowing of corporeal spirits, and in which the affections of the will discover themselves, this I leave to others to determine. For the present, this is certain, that although all the powers of the reasonable soul be fast locked up from him (as we shall show) and the immediate acts which are imminent in the soul it self, utterly hidden from him, and that, take the soul as it is the immediate subject, & root of them, so, intuitive, no devil can discern them, no more then one Angel can discern the thoughts of another; yet arguitive, and as they do transire and appear, and are put forth in the body and corporeal organs outwardly in actions, or inwardly in passions, and so quasi in alio, and mediately they may be very far discerned, and looked into by Angels. Which yet will nothing at all pre-judge that prerogative which is given to God, when he is said alone to know & search the heart, but give its full allowance; nor that privilege ⟨p. 93⟩which is given to the soul it self to enjoy, namely,2 that none should know the things of a man, but the spirit that is in man: as we shall have occasion to show in the Appendix to this discourse.
Now 6. besides all this,1 how farre hee may have an insight into the Fancy, and the images therein, which follow and imitate the inward thoughts of the minde, as the shadow doth the body: and also into the passions, which are but the flowing, and reflowing of corporeall spirits, and in which the affections of the will discover themselves, this I leave to others to determine. For the present, this is certaine, that although all the powers of the reasonable soule bee fast lockt up from him (as we shall shew) and the immediate acts which are imminent in the soule it selfe, utterly hidden from him, and that, take the soul as it is the immediate subject, & root of thē, so, intuitive, no devill can discerne them, no more then one Angell can discern the thoughts of another; yet arguitive, and as they doe transire and appeare, and are put forth in the body and corporeall organs outwardly in actions, or inwardly in passions, and so quasi in alio, and mediately they may be very far discerned, and lookt into by Angels. Which yet will nothing at all pre-judge that prerogative which is given to God, when he is said alone to know & search the heart, but give its full allowance; nor that priviledge