A01898:195
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.
Speaking to the blessed mother of Christ, and of that her anguish and grief, wherewith she should be cut even to the heart, when she should behold her Son upon the Cross. Of whose dolours upon the Cross likewise, the same expression is used, Psal. 22. 21. when he prays; Deliver my soul from the sword. And in this respect the word in Christs hand, still when he is spoken of as a Judge, 1is compared to a sword: and so here.2 Therefore to strike the more terror into their hearts in respect of the wounds,3 and torments it inflicts; he goes further on to exaggerate the dread thereof, he says not only that it is as sharp, but more sharp, ⟨p. 103⟩not then a sword of one edge, but then a two-edged sword, nor then some, but then any two-edged sword; and further, to show that he speaks it in relation unto wounding, and anguish, and torment it causeth in the soul; he mentioneth the division of such parts as are not only most hid, and inward, in relation to discovery (for such the marrow is being covered with the bones, and the ligaments covered with flesh) but which are also of most exquisite sense, and the wounding of which causeth the greatest dolour. He saith, it pierceth even through the bones, which it must needs be supposed to do, when it is said to reach unto the marrow. Now the breaking of the bones is still put to express those exquisite and unsupportable terrors and dolours of conscience, and woundings of the Spirit which a man cannot bear, or sustain. For when the bones are broken, a man cannot stand nor support himself. And the like is also the cutting of the ligaments, the nerves, sinews, and arteries, those [Greek or Hebrew] that knit the joints, which are the organs of sense and motion. Again he says, it divideth not only the Soul, that is, the sensual part, the passions of the mind, as wounding them; which creatures, as men and angels, can torment, and excruciate, but [Greek or Hebrew], that is, the Spirit also, which is with an emphasis expressed: and his meaning is not so much that it divideth the soul from the spirit, (as some have understood it) but the soul and spirit also. It is a two-edged sword, and can at