A01898:396
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.
Thou mayest be yet bolder. Yea desire him to look into his own heart, and therein to view the Idea he had of thee, & those secret ancient thoughts he bore towards thee, from all eternity. And if at first he seems yet silent at it; then desire him to look upon thee again, & ask him if he doth not know thee, and if he hath not known and taken thee for his from everlasting, and engraven thee in the palms of his hands, and table of his heart, with such deep and lasting letters of loving kindness, as are not as yet, yea which will not for ever be blotted out. (Tell him) thou darest refer thy self wholly to ⟨p. 65⟩what past between him and his Son concerning thee, and let his own heart cast it. Appeal to Christ as thy surety and a witness thereof for thee, who was privy to all his counsel, whether thou art not one of those he gave unto him with a charge to redeem and save. And desire him to look into Christs heart also, if thy name be not written there with his own hand; and if that Christ did not bear thy name written up in his heart (as the high Priest did the names of all the Tribes,) when he hung upon the Cross, and when he ascended into the Holy of holies. Thus Habakkuk putting up a prayer in the name of the Church, hath taught us to plead, Hab. 1. 12. Oh Lord, Art not thou from everlasting my God, and mine holy One? It was a bold question, yet God dislikes it not, but approves it, and presently assents to it in a gracious answer to their hearts ere they went any further: for their next words, and those abruptly spoken, by reason of a sudden answer, are an assurance of this, We shall not die. God being put thus to it, and his own thoughts being spoken, could not deny it; he acknowledgeth it was true. And thus whilst thou mayest be a speaking blindfold as it were, casting anchor in the dark, yet speaking his very heart, he haply may own thee, and fall upon thy neck and kiss thee.
Thou maist be yet bolder. Yea desire him to look into his own heart, and therein to view the Idea he had of thee, & those secret ancient thoughts he bore towards thee, frō all eternity. And if at first he seems yet silent at it; then desire him to look upon thee again, & ask him if he doth not know thee, and if he hath not knowne and taken thee for his from everlasting, and engraven thee in the palmes of his hands, and table of his heart, with such deep and lasting letters of loving kindnesse, as are not as yet, yea which will not for ever bee blotted out. (Tell him) thou darest referre thy selfe wholly to