A01898:194
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.
So quick-silver, which runs through a mans bowels like hail shot; and so oppositely, drugs and drinks that have lost their virtue, and are ineffectual, we call dead; and in respect to this energy, and power to work upon mens hearts, is that in John 6. 63. The words I speak (says Christ) are spirit and life: that is, are full of an operative principle; for an active working principle, we use to call Spirit, as the spirit of wine, &c. So as in that he says the word is quick, he nores out that that word is inspired with a principle, most quick, spiritfull, and active, and fit to work as occasion is, the holy Spirit, as the internal form of it: and therefore 2. having thus intimated this internal form of working; he adds by way of explication, [Greek or Hebrew] powerful & mighty in operation, as noting out that power which flows from thence; that ability to produce strange effects upon the soul; (these expressions carry report of more then of a skill, and dexterity to search and know the heart only.) And then 3. he further instanceth in such operations of it, as the effects of that power, which are most dreadful, as the comparisons he useth do import. More piercing then any two edged sword. Now as elsewhere the word is compared to an armoury of all sorts of weapons, and engines for war and vengeance; The weapons of our warfare are mighty, &c. 1 Cor. 10. 4. and this, as, To the pulling down of strong holds, and subduing unto Christ, those that turn effectually unto […] ⟨p. 100⟩[…] ⟨p. 101⟩⟨p. 102⟩him; So also, that they have in a readiness to avenge all disobedience. v. 6. in them that submit not to him: In like manner here, he resembles it to a sword, the most usual, and most terrible of all the instruments of death, which were then in use. The brandishing of which, strikes paleness and horror into a man, ere the stroke comes at him; which is usually put in Scripture to express vengeance, and more especially in the prophecy of Ezekiel. So also, Psal. 7. 13. If he turn not, God hath whet his sword, and prepared his instruments of death, that is, to inflict torments, and eternal torments also, as