A01898:211
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.
4. He adds weight to his lying accusations,1 and false reasonings by an imperious and obstreperous ⟨p. 114⟩affirmation [that so it is,] he suggests not reasons only, that should persuade, but sets them on with words of affirmation, and persuasion therewithal suggested: and so, like as in reasoning, often a weak spirit is borne down by a stronger, not by force of argument so much, as by strength and violence of spirit; for many when the iron is blunt, and their arguments want edge, put to the more strength, as Solomon speaks. Eccles. 10. 10. and so prevail: and so doth Satan; being a spirit of greater strength then ours by creation; and guilt also, further weakening us in arguing with him. Cunning pleaders may so argue the case, with such violence and confidence, that as Socrates said when his accusers had done, that if he had not been very innocent, he should have suspected himself guilty: how much more, when this shall fall upon persons that are so guilty, as we all are; and the thing also impleaded be that which we are already suspicious of? What a man fears already, he easily believes, as what a man hopes, quod metuunt facile credunt. There falls out often in opinions a preconceit which also exceedingly sways the mind, a giving of mind that such a thing is so or so; and in such a case Satan can strike in exceedingly to strengthen such a conceit: this I take to be implied in that phrase. 2. Thes. 2. 1. I Where the Apostle gives warning they should not be troubled neither [by spirit] nor by word, to think the day of Judgement was at hand: By spirit he means a pretence of a revelation, ⟨p. 115⟩joined with a mans own private conceit and imagination; thus 1 John 4. 1. Spirit is also taken. And oftentimes when Satan perceives the mind inclined to think or conceit thus or thus, he adds weight unto the balance, and so a man is given up to the efficacy of delusion: as we see in false Prophets which the Apostle there speaks of, when he says, Believe not every spirit, because many false Prophets are gone out into the world. Thus those false Prophets became confident in their prophecies: they walk in the spirit says the Prophet,