A01898:300
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.
USE. 4.
The fourth and main use, to such as fear God and walk in Darkness.
The fourth and maine use, to such as feare God and walke in Darknesse.
Then 4. […] ⟨p. 11⟩fortlesse, their spirits dead and hard; do call Gods love and their own estates into question: Especially if they were in the Sunshine afore, but now sit in the valley of the shadow of death: If dandled in Gods lap afore and kissed, now to be lashed with terrors, and his sharpest rods, and on the tenderest place, the conscience; to have their songs in the night, turned into writing bitter things against them; how bitter is it to them! Once they say they could never come to the throne of grace but their hearts were welcomed, their heads stroked, and they went seldom away without a white stone, an earnest penny put into their hands: But now God is a terror to them, and when they arise from prayer or the like duty, their hearts condemn them more then when they began. Once they never looked to heaven but they had a smile; now they may cry day and night and not get a good look from him: once (say they) they never hoist up sail to any duty, but they had a fair and good wind; God went along with them: but now they have both wind and tide, God and the deadness of their own hearts against them. In a word, God is gone, light is gone: God answers them neither by vision nor by Prophets; neither in praying nor in hearing; and therefore hath forsaken them, cast them off, Yea, will never be merciful; Oh woe to us (say they) we are undone.