A01898:261
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.
First, to show his power and faithfulness, in upholding, raising up, and healing such a spirit again as hath been long and deadly wounded with inward terrors; which is as great an evidence of his power as any other; and therefore saith Heman, Psal. 88. 10. Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? shall thy faithfulness be declared in destruction. ver. 11. That is, in raising my soul up again to joy, and comfort, which is as much as to raise up a dead man; nay more, as much as to raise up a soul already in hell; for the same terrors, says he, that destroy them, do in like manner seize on me; in the 1. Ephes. 19. it is said, That the exceeding greatness of Gods power was seen in raising Christ from death to life: and wherein lay principally the demonstration of that power? not simply in raising his body up again; that was no ⟨p. 139⟩more then he did to others, but in Acts 2. 24. the power is said to be shown in this, that he having loosed the pains of death wherewith it was impossible he should be held, he was raised up again, his soul was heavy unto death, with terrors: and those pains in themselves were deadly, though not to him, in that he being God as well as man, it was impossible for him to sink under them: now therefore to raise up and glorify that his soul that was so bruised, wounded, and pierced through and through, herein lay the wonder: and such a wonder God showed in recovering Heman. And to show the greatness of this work let us consider a little the depth and deadliness of this kind of distress, it is compared to the bruising of a reed, which when it is bruised, who can make it stand upright again? It is called The wounding of the spirit. Proverbs 28. which no creature knows how to come at to heal, none but God who is the father of spirits; who made them, and knows how to mend them. It is not only called, the sickness of the spirit, as Esa. 33. 24. (where the want of the assurance of the forgiveness of sins, makes poor souls to say, I am sick; which to heal, is made the prerogative of the Sun of righteousness, arising with healing in his wings. Mal. 4. 2