A01898:25
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.
WE have in these words,1 A true believer, in his worst; and natural men, in their best condition, set forth together unto our view. And withal, the power of true faith, as it alone upholdeth him in the saddest hour of darkness that can befall him: opposed unto, and compared with, ⟨p. 2⟩the falseness of their presumptuous confidence, in their greatest security: Together with the differing supports of either; The one in the tenth verse: the other in the eleventh.
WEE have in these words,1 A true beleever, in his worst; and naturall men, in their best condition, set forth together unto our view. And withall, the power of true faith, as it alone upholdeth him in the saddest houre of darknesse that can befall him: opposed unto, and compared with, ⟨p. 2⟩the falsenesse of their presumptuous confidence, in their greatest security: Together with the differing supports of either; The one in the tenth verse: the other in the eleventh.
- 1The Sum••.
First,1 take a true believer, who hath had the least beam,2 of the light of the glory of God, which shines in the face of Christ, let in upon his soul, and his heart, so taken with that sight, as it became eternally divorced from all things here below, and resolved to adventure all his future hopes of comfort, and happiness in the enjoyment of that Light of Gods countenance alone: Which, that he may enjoy, he feareth to offend the Lord, more then Hell; and endeavoureth as truly, to obey the voice of his Servants, as ever he desires to attain unto that happiness. Think with your selves, what is the worst thing, next, to the eternal loss of God, really, and indeed that can be supposed to befall this man? What worse, then to have that cranny, through which he first espied that beam, to be as it were, clean shut up, the Light of Gods countenance withdrawn, yea all Light, and appearance to him, of his own graces, withheld, and overclouded; The face of heaven so overcast with Darkness, that neither Sun-light nor Star-light appeareth to him: so as he hath no light: yea further, finds his soul beset, and besieged round with all the powers of Hell, and darkness, and the terrors of the Almighty shot into his soul: And, he thus quite left, walking in this darkness, is filled with strong fears and jealousies, that God is not His God; nay questioning whether he ever will be?