A01898:344
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 6.
Then sixthly, stand not now disputing it, but be peremptory & resolute in thy faith & turning to God,1 let the issue be what it will be. Faith is never nonplussed, it is a most desperate thing; Job vows he will trust him though he kills him, Job 13. 15. So do thou, whether he will damn or save thee, do what he will with thee, leave not to cast thy self upon him for mercy, nor to serve and love him. Go thou on to use the means diligently and constantly; and be so much the more diligent, fear and hate sin still, pray day and night as Heman did when he thought himself cut off, Psal. 88. ver. 1. I have cried day and night, though I be as one thou rememberest no more, ver. 4, 5. and so at the ninth verse I have called daily, though ver. 10, 11, 12. he thought himself in hell, and thought it a miracle ever to be raised up again, yet says he ver. 13. But I have cried to thee, that [But] seems to come in as an expression of his resolution, that though these were his ⟨p. 37⟩apprehensions of his condition, yet howsoever, he had, & would go on to seek the Lord. Suppose thou findest no relish in the ordinances, yet use them; though thou art desperately sick, yet eat still, take all is brought thee, some strength comes of it: Say, be I damned or saved, hypocrite or not hypocrite, I resolve to go on. And there is good reason for it: for if thou shouldest leave off to serve the Lord, and resolve never to look after him more, then thou art sure to be damned; if there be an evil heart in thee to depart from the living God, thou art undone, but this other way of seeking him thou mayest in the end prevail, Who knows but God may be merciful? in the third of the Lament. 29. this counsel is given to a soul being yoked and deserted, to put his mouth in the dust; and it waiteth, says he, suffers, and doth any thing, not only if he hath hope, but if there may be hope, if there be but such a thought it may prove so, he will make a venture, and so do thou. See what Ester did in the like desperate case; thought she, if I hold my tongue (and so Mordecai told her) God will destroy me: and better it was to make a venture upon the King to speak, and so to carry her life in her hand; and therefore she says, if I perish I perish. And so the Lepers, see how they reasoned in a desperate case,