A01898:251
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.
Yea,1 and thirdly, this God doth not only presently after the sins were committed, but sometimes a long while after, and that when they have been often confessed. Yea, and after that God hath pardoned them also in our consciences, as well as in heaven; yet the guilt may return again and leave us in darkness. Thus Job 13. 26. For the sins of his youth, (which questionless he had humbled himself for, & had assurance of the pardon of, yet) God did write bitter things against him for them many years after, and made him possess them, as himself speaks. God gave him over to the Gaoler, and put him into the little ease in prison, thou puttest my feet into the stocks, says he ver. 27. For as the power of sin, and the law of sin is but in part done away in our members, so in our consciences the guilt of sin is likewise, but in part done away, in regard of our apprehensions of the pardon of them; & therefore as those lusts we had thought dead, and that they would never have risen again, do sometimes revive and trouble us afresh, coming with new assaults; so in like manner ⟨p. 139⟩may the guilt of those sins revive which we thought long afore had been pardoned, and after the commission of some new act, or forgetfulness of the old, and security about them, God may let them loose upon us afresh, that we shall look upon them, as if they never had been pardoned.
Yea,1 and thirdly, this God doth not onely presently after the sinnes were committed, but sometimes a long while after, and that when they have beene often confest. Yea, and after that God hath pardoned them also in our consciences, as well as in heaven; yet the guilt may returne againe and leave us in darknesse. Thus Iob 13. 26. For the sinnes of his youth, (which questionlesse he had humbled himself for, & had assurance of the pardon of, yet) God did write bitter things against him for them many yeares after, and made him possesse them, as himselfe speakes. God gave him over to the Gaoler, and put him into the little ease in prison, thou puttest my feet into the stocks, sayes he ver. 27. For as the power of sinne, and the law of sinne is but in part done away in our members, so in our consciences the guilt of sin is likewise, but in part done away, in regard of our apprehensiōs of the pardō of thē; & therefore as those lusts we had thought dead, and that they would never have risen againe, doe sometimes revive and trouble us afresh, comming with new assaults; so in like maner