A01898:200
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.
And then 3.1 He can bring home all the threatenings that are thundered forth in the word against hypocrites, and men unregenerate, and discharge them all with much violence, and noise upon a poor doubting soul; he can and doth present, and show his prisoners those terrible threatenings, chains, and racks, and other instruments of death, 2as the Psalmist calls them, which God hath prepared against sinners, and hath stored up in that great armoury of his word; Which hath in a readiness to revenge all disobedience. 2 Cor. 10. 6. With the rattling of which chains, Satan can make a noise in the conscience of a poor sinner, to affright him. Which he is the more enabled to do, out of experience of ⟨p. 106⟩such terrors in himself: Being bound up in chains everlasting, under darkness, to the judgment of the great day. Jude 6. And as a son of consolation, and child of light is enabled to comfort others the more, by the comfort wherewith he hath been comforted of God. So this Prince of darkness is the more powerful to terrify weak consciences that are ensnared with the cords of their own sins, by reason of the terrors which he hath received from the Lord. And therefore in Scripture, as a power in sin is attributed to him, so the power of death. Heb. 2. 14. Where, by death is meant not so much that bodily, as that eternal death, to which, as the proper punishment of sin, the guilt of it doth bind us over. Which power of his is not that of the Judge in sentencing to death, or casting men to hell, which is a special flower of Christs Crown; who Rev. 1. 18. hath the keys of hell & death at his girdle; & of Gods, who is therefore only to be feared, because, he only can cast body and soul into hell. Nor is it as if he were the main tormentor, and executioner of mens souls, after that great day, seeing that they are to be tormented by that fire which in common, was prepared for the devils themselves. And who is it that doth torment them? but it is therefore principally meant 1. of that power and advantage he obtained over sinners, when he had seduced them; so, as to come boldly as a pleader against them, enabled with authority to urge Gods righteous law and word, and to call upon, and to provoke his justice to condemn