A01898:404
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.
That you may further conceive the meaning of this, in one that is Gods child, and in a wicked man (though both may be, and are troubled in mind and conscience, yet) there is a main difference, both in the main cause of their trouble, and also in the issue and removal of their trouble. A wicked ⟨p. 70⟩mans trouble is for the anguish and present smart he feels in sin, and in Gods wrath lashing his conscience, and out of fears that his sin will not be pardoned, but that he shall endure these tortures for ever in hell: So it was in Judas, Cain, and many others: but a godly mans trouble (though it hath often all this in it, yet the chiefest of his trouble is a further thing) it is not only the smart, the sting of sin; but also the filth, the foulness, the offence of it done to God, that wounds him: for he hath an heart after Gods heart, and therefore looks on sin with the same kind of eye that God doth; and as God accounts the offence done to him the greatest evil in sin, so doth a godly heart also. It is not the sting of this serpent only, but the poison of it that disquiets him; neither is it only the want of pardon of sin, and the fear of Gods everlasting wrath which mainly troubleth him, but the want of Gods favour, the parting with him, whom he sees so excellent and glorious; the want of seeing his face, his desire is to live in his sight, and to have God to be his God. Now such as the wound is, such also is the remedy. Therefore the one being but troubled with the sting, the smart of sin; pull but that sting out, take that load off, and he is well enough, as jocund, as pleasant as ever: it being present ease that he seeks, and to that end confesseth his sin, and doth any thing for the present to come out of it; As Pharaoh, Exod. 10. 17. Take away this death only: or at the utmost, his aim is but pardon of sin, and peace with God, that he may be freed from the fears of undergoing that for ever, the earnest whereof he feels in his conscience ⟨p. 71⟩now. And hence therefore the remedies they often have recourse unto are suitable; they are but like rattles to still children with: they run to merry company, and to music, &c. as Cain fell a building Cities; and so they put off the terrors of their consciences. It is ease they seek and no more: or they run to a formal performance of duties: