A01898:196
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.
That as before him all things are […] so that if he but strike them with his word, they lye [Greek or Hebrew], even with their throats cut, dead and speechless at his feet, as Theoderet expounds that word. Now thus far, that is, to this spirit in man, no created sword can reach; they turn edge at it: but even this, the word reacheth, & that alone. So as the summary drift of all herein, is the same which Christ expressed elsewhere in other words, to exhort them to fear that God, whose sword, and powerful word is able thus to wound, & who is alone able thus to do; and not to fear those who can only wound & kill the body, and but reach to the sensual soul that is drenched in it, but cannot wound or kill the Spirit. Which God alone can do, and no mere creature whatsoever. And therefore in all our thoughts & fears of Satan's power of knowing our sins, or troubling, or disquieting our spirits (as also through this discourse) we are to set such bounds, as that this incommunicable royalty of God, and of his word, may be reserved unentrencht upon; namely, that he alone knows, and can immediately wound the spirit and conscience,1 both which, at once this place held out unto us,2 which made me the largelier to insist upon the opening of it.
That as before him all things are 〈…〉 so that if hee but strike them with his word, they lye 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, even with their throats cut, dead and speechlesse at his feet, as Theoderet expounds that word. Now thus far, that is, to this spirit in man, no created sword can reach; they turne edge at it: but even this, the word reacheth, & that alone. So as the summary drift of all herein, is the same which Christ expressed elsewhere in other words, to exhort them to feare that God, whose sword, and powerfull word is able thus to wound, & who is alone able thus to do; and not to feare those who can only wound & kill the body, and but reach to the sensuall soul that is drencht in it, but cannot wound or kill the Spirit. Which God alone can do, and no meere creature whatsoever. And therefore in all our thoughts & fears of Satans power of knowing our sins, or troubling, or disquieting our spirits (as also through this discourse) we are to set such bounds, as that this incommunicable royalty of God, and of his word, may be reserved unentrencht upon; namely, that he alone knows, and can immediately wound the spirit and conscience,