A01898:325
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.
The second thing to be searched into is;1 What is the chief and main reasoning in thy heart, which makes thee call all into question, whether God be thy God. What is the reason why thou thinkest so, what makes thee conclude so?
The second thing to be searched into is;1 What is the chiefe and maine reasoning in thy heart, which makes thee call all into question, whether God bee thy God. What is the reason why thou thinkest so, what makes thee conclude so?
- 12. What is the main reasoning in thy heart, that causeth this question of thy estate2. What is the maine reasoning in thy heart, that causeth this question of thy estate
For this you must consider, that although God for some sin committed doth hide himself from thee, terrifies, and lasheth thy conscience, yet that which causeth in thee, and worketh in thee this apprehension [that God hath cast thee off,] is usually some false reasoning or misapprehension, some mere mistake, some devise and sophistry of Satan. When the Corinthian was excommunicated for his sin, Satan had leave to terrify his conscience for it, but Satan went further, he would have swallowed him up of sorrow, by persuading him that such a sin was unpardonable, and that God would never own him again: now the reasoning Satan used to bring this upon him was a false one, some trick and devise, 2 Cor. 2. 7. compared with the ⟨p. 22⟩eleventh verse, whereof if a man be ignorant, he may go mourning a long while, as a cast-away. Therefore take thy soul aside, and seriously ask it, and examine it Why it is thus troubled? What reason, what ground thou hast to think that God is not thy God? and then examine it whether it be a true ground yea, or no? As the Apostle bid us,