A01898:362
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.
And so I come to the proof of this: namely, That when the name of God and Christ are thus simply and alone apprehended, they may be sufficient ground for faith to rest upon; then which nothing can be more comfortable to a poor distressed believer. Num. 14. When Gods wrath waxed hot against his people, (as sometimes in like ⟨p. 42⟩manner it doth against a poor soul) that God began to say, how long shall they provoke me? ver. 11. and speaks of destroying them, and of making Moses a great Nation: what hath Moses his faith recourse unto, but to that proclamation of his Name you heard of before? and urgeth that, ver. 17, 18. Let the power of my Lord be great according as thou hast spoken: The Lord is long suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and he desires him to show his power in pardoning, because as much power is seen in overcoming his wrath, as in making a world. Let thy power be great; it was his name you see that was alleged by Moses and prevailed with God for mercy. So also for his Sons sake, The Lord our Righteousness, Elihu says Job 33. when a mans soul is in deepest distress, as in the 19, 20, 21, 22. ver. he describes it, yet says he ver. 23. If there be a messenger to show a man his uprightness, that is, that righteousness, that is laid up for men in the Lord Jesus: then God is gracious to him, and says, deliver him, and he resting thereupon, his flesh returns to him again; it is a means to stay him and restore him. I mention these places of the old Testament rather then of the new; out of which you see Gods name and his Sons name are all-sufficient to uphold and support a soul. So the pen-man of that Psalm, whether David or whoever, Psal. 130. when he was in his depths, as ver. 1, 2. plunged over head and ears in sorrow and discomfiture, what hath his faith recourse unto […]. 4. to Gods name, to nothing that was in himself, but simply to what his faith apprehended to be in God. Mercy it with thee; he says ⟨p. 43⟩no more; in him, and with him, it is to be had: and he confirms his faith in that, by this argument, because else none would fear him: and If thou wert extreme to mark what were amiss, no man could stand, or would be saved: therefore surely (says he) mercy is with thee, and therefore let Israel hope in the Lord, ver. 7. And why? what, because Israel sees he hath grace in himself?