A01898:330
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 third direction I give to such is,1 that they keep and lend one ear as well to hear and consider what makes for their comfort, as unto what may make against them.
THe third direction I give to such is,1 that they keepe and lend one eare as well to heare and consider what makes for their comfort, as unto what may make against them.
- 13. To consider as indifferently what may make for them, as against them
This direction meets with a great infirmity of such as are in distress, who through Satan's temptations have their hearts so deeply possessed with prejudicial conceits of the misery of their estates, that as the people of God in Exod. 6. 9. through the anguish of their hearts were so far distempered, that they listened not to the good message which Moses brought them, nor believed that so good news could be true of them: So are the souls of many that are in distress, so filled with anguish and sense of misery, and so strongly prepossessed with desperate opinions, and so far put out of hopes, that they reject all that is spoken for their comfort; so as they will not so much as be brought to cast an eye or a thought upon any thing that may be an occasion of comfort to them: Like some prisoners at the bar, through extremity of fear they cannot read that in their hearts and in the word which might save them. Tell them of what God hath wrought for them and in them, as evidences of his love, and as they cannot, so often they will not read them over; or if they do they read them over but as a man doth a book he means to confute, they pick quarrels, and make objections at every thing that is said: as if they were hired as Lawyers to plead against themselves, and to find flaws in ⟨p. 26⟩