A01898:253
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.
Because therein we rebel against Gods Spirit; and that spirit, It a nos tractat, ut à nobis tractatur, doth deal with us as we with him. If you grieve him, he grieves you; if you rebel against him, he fights against you as an enemy: so Esa. 63. 10. They rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit, therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them; now to sin against light is called rebellion, so Job 24. 11. When men go about to extinguish and darken the light of direction, which God hath set up in their hearts to guide their paths by; God puts out the light of comfort, and so leaves them to darkness. But especially then, when our hearts are so full of guile; as we plead that they are no sins; or extenuate them, as David in all likelihood did. Psal. 32. in reference to which he says, in 2. ver. of that Psalm, That that man is a blessed man in whom is no guile. and in the 51. Psal. 6. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts, David had dealt guilefully and deceitfully in that sin; if man ⟨p. 140⟩keeps a sin under his tongue, and will not be convinced of it, nor bring it forth by confession; God in that case brings him to the rack; as they do Traitors to confess: and if it be that any of our old sins revive, and cause these terrors, it is because we began to look on them as past and gone, and thought we needed not go on to humble our selves any more for them; making account they are so buried, as that they will never rise again; when as the remembrance of them should keep us low, and humble us all our days. It is laid to the charge of them in the 26. of Ezek. 22. That they remembered not that they lay in their blood. We are apt to think that time wears out the guilt of sins: but to God they are as fresh as if they had been committed yesterday; and therefore nothing wears them out but repentance. Great sins forgiven must not be forgotten.
Because therein we rebell against Gods Spirit; and that spirit, It a nos tractat, ut à nobis tractatur, doth deale with us as wee with him. If you grieve him, he grieves you; if you rebell against him, he fights against you as an enemy: so