A01898:248
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 in his heart he resolved once to lay open all that sin of murder, and adultery in the circumstances of them, then God pardoned him (as you know he did) for Nathan coming to him, told him, as soon as but a word of confession began to fall ⟨p. 136⟩from him, that his sins were pardoned. And yet after that, as appears in the 51. Psal. God did not yet restore comfort, and the joy of his salvation to him, (for there he prays for it in the sense of the want of it) not until he had publicly confessed it also, and throughly humbled himself, it having caused the enemies of God to blaspheme; God would have a public satisfaction given.
and in his heart he resolved once to lay open all that sinne of murther, and adultery in the circumstances of them, then God pardoned him (as you know he did) for Nathan comming to him, told him, as soone as but a word of confession began to fall ⟨p. 136⟩from him, that his sinnes were pardoned. And yet after that, as appeares in the 51. Psal. God did not yet restore comfort, and the joy of his salvation to him, (for there he prayes for it in the sense of the want of it) not untill hee had publiquely confest it also, and throughly humbled himselfe, it having caused the enemies of God to blaspheme; God would have a publique satisfaction given.
So when the incestuous person had committed that sin, 1 Cor. 5. 1, 9. for which, as then he was not humbled (for afterwards in the 2 Cor. 2. 7. when he was humbled indeed, he bids them comfort him) yet till that his humiliation was apparent, he bids them to deliver such an one to Satan, to the jailer, to the tormentor with him, to the prince of darkness to terrify him, and afflict his spirit. Now the meaning of that delivering him up to Satan, was that he should be solemnly excommunicated, which when it is performed as it ought to be, In the name of the Lord Jesus, and with the power of the Lord Jesus; then as the Church cuts them off from communion with them, so God from communion with himself, and withdraws all fellowship with their spirits, (as was before declared) And so leaves them alone in darkness, and to desertions; and not only so, but delivereth them up to Satan, not with a commission to carry them on to more sin (for the end propounded by the Apostle, was thereby to destroy the flesh, ver. 5. not to nourish it by provoking him to more sin) but to terrify and afflict his conscience,