A01898:254
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.
Fifthly;1 in case of a stubborn stiff spirit, under outward afflictions;2 when we will not mend nor stoop to God. This may be part of the case mentioned, Esa. 57. 16. Where God alleging the reason why he contended with a poor soul of his, he gives an account of it, ver. 17. you shall see where the quarrel began, For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth; that is, for some inordinate affection, which we call concupiscence; he mentioneth not a gross act of sin committed, so much as some lust harboured; for which God began to be angry, and to show the effects of that his anger in smiting him, haply ⟨p. 141⟩with some outward cross first; I was wroth and smote him; and when that did no good, God began to be more angry, and to hide himself: I hid my face, and this he speaks of inward affliction, which he also calleth, ver. 16. Contending with the soul, and so far leaving it, as that the spirit was ready to fail; it came to inward affliction in the end, and he further intimates the cause of all this, He went on frowardly in the way of his heart. When lighter, and outward strokes will not take us of, God leaves and deserts our spirits, and wounds them. And the reason is, for in this case what course else should God take? for either he must give him up to hardness of heart, and leave him to his stubbornness, and so he should have lost his child; but that God is resolved he will not do; I will heal him, saith he, ver. 18. When therefore the heart remains stubborn under other strokes, he hath no way left in his ordinary course and progress, in the way of means, but to lay strokes upon his spirit, and wound that. And this yoke is like to break and tame him, if any; For this he cannot bear: other outward afflictions mans natural spirit, stoutness, and stubbornness may bear; and hath borne even in heathen men; they have endured any thing rather then be put out of their way; The spirit of man will sustain its infirmities, but in this, the spirit fails in them, ver. 16. other afflictions are but particular; but as taking some stars of comfort out of the firmament, when others are still left to shine to them: but ⟨p. 142⟩