A01898:310
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.
Direction 1.
First,1 take heed of rash, desperate, impatient, and unbelieving speeches and wishes: such you will be forced to recall again with sorrow. As David, when he was in fears, uttered a desperate speech, namely, that Samuel's prophecy concerning him, and message to him from God, that he should be King, would prove false; and he says not only, that one day he should perish by the hand of Saul, 1 Sam. 27. 1. (The ground of which speech was, that he […] himself every day in some danger or other of his life; and so, though God had preserved him again ⟨p. 16⟩and again, yet he thought that some of those many arrows which were shot against him so continually, and which still so narrowly mist him, might at one time or other hit and speed him, it were a wonder else:) but he says further I said in my hast, Psal. 116. 11. that all men are liars, the Prophet Samuel and all; that it was but a promise of a vain man; but he soon recalls himself and adds, I said this in my hast. So likewise Ps. 31. 22. I said in my hast, I am cut off; they were rash speeches (as he confesses) spoken in hast. Even so doth many a poor […] break forth and say, after they have had strong hopes at first conversion, that a Kingdom is theirs, that heaven is theirs, and that it is reserved for them, and they kept for it also through the power of God: Yet the devil being let loose to […] them as Saul did him, and God hiding his face, and the arrows of the Almighty flying thick about their ears, the sorrows of hell encompassing them, and well nigh every moment cutting them off; they (although upheld again and again, yet) are apt to say, that one day or other, they shall in all likelihood be cut off by Gods hand, swallowed up of Satan and everlastingly destroyed. And when they are told of the hopes they had at their first conversion, and the promises that are made to them, they are apt to say, that their grace by which they should now claim those promises are all a lie, false and counterfeit, and but in hypocrisy; this they say in their hast, too often. So at another time; […] David was in doubt about that other prosse of an eternal Kingdom, made to him […] he says God will never be merciful; […]