A01898:226
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.
This may seem to be the reason of this his dealing with Heman; Heman was brought up in this school of temptation, and kept in this form of desertion, from a youth, Psal. 88. 15. He was put soon to it, and so deep lessons had he set him, as he had like to have lost his wits as he says there; yet in the end, when God raised him up again, this Heman (who lived about David & Solomons time) is reckoned among the wisest of his time, and one of the four that were next to Solomon: 1 Kings 4. 31. So that great Apostle was a man exposed to the same combats that others were; he was buffeted by Satan, 2 Cor. 12. filled with inward terrors, as well as those without: what was this for? Not so much for any personal cause of his own, as to make him able to comfort others: 2 Cor. 1. 4, 5. For that comfort which answers a temptation in one mans heart, will answer the same in another's: the same key will unlock twenty locks that have the same wards. So when temptations have the same wards, that key which unlocked one mans bolts, will serve and answer to another's. It is ⟨p. 122⟩not every word that will comfort a weary soul, but only a word in season, ver. 4. of this 50. of Isaiah; that is, which is fitted to the parties case; now, who are they who have such apt and fit, and seasonable considerations to comfort such, but those who have had the same temptations, and the like distresses? This art of speaking peace, and comfort, and words in season is the greatest wisdom in the world, and not learnt but in Heman's school. Temptation was one of Luther's masters. And therefore of abilities of the ministry, Christ in this Chapter instanceth in this ver. 4. and calleth the tongue of him that is able to speak seasonably to weary souls, the tongue of the learned: and therefore Job 33. 23. to raise up one whose soul draw•s nigh to the grave, is said to be the work of […] of a thousand; which is easily granted, if you consider the danger of such a distress: In Scripture it is called the breaking the bones,