A child of light walking in darknessA childe of light vvalking in darknesse

And the reasons why God is thus various in these his dealings, is both because spiritual comforts tend not simply ad esse, but bene esse; not to the absolute being of a Christian, but his comfortable well-being: and also because in respect of their dispensation, they are to be reckoned in the rank of temporal rewards; and though light and assurance is not an earthly, but an heavenly blessing, yet it is but a temporary blessing; and therefore as the promises of temporal good things are not absolute, no more are the promises to give assurance to a believer absolute, as to give him heaven and salvation are. So likewise ⟨p. 127⟩on the contrary, darkness and distress of conscience, is but a temporal chastisement, as outward crosses are; differing from them only in the matter of them; the one being conversant about things of the outward man; this of the inward, namely, a mans spiritual estate. Hence therefore in the dispensation of both, though God always goes by some rule, as in all other dealings of his; yet so as he varies and deals differently with his children therein: as he doth in dispensing outward prosperity and adversity, Setting the one against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him, as Solomon says, Eccles. 7. 14. that is, gives such cross and contrary opposite instances in both kinds, that men might not find him out in these ways, or trace him as the phrase is, Rom. 9. ult. not so, as to say certainly, and infallibly, what he means to do in such and such cases. Indeed in the world to come he makes even with all the world, how differing soever his dispensations of rewards or punishments have been here; and what is behind hand to any one, he then pays with respect to what they have received. Thus in matter of spiritual joy and assurance God may vouchsafe it to one that hath not feared and obeyed him so much, as one that walks in darkness, but then if any one hath received more earnest pennies aforehand, and hath not walked answerably, God considers it as an aggravation of his sin, as he did in Solomon, whose sin is aggravated by this, 1 Kings 11. 9, 10. ⟨p. 128⟩that he sinned against God, who had appeared to him twice. Otherwise, if these comforts make a man in any proportion to such cost, more fruitful then others are, I see not but that God who crowns his own graces will reward them the more;