A01898:408
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.
ISAI. 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.—
ISAI. 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darknesse and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.—
Some gleanings there yet remain of this Text, which I thought good to bind up into one sheaf, and thresh out at this time.
SOme gleanings there yet remaine of this Text, which I thought good to binde up into one sheafe, and thresh out at this time.
The second Doctrine is,§2 That though it may befall one that fears God to walk in darkness, yet but to a few, he says, Who is among you? he singleth such out of a crowd: if simply he had spoken of those that fear God and obey him, without this limitation added, and walk in darkness, he might well have spoken thus sparingly, who is among you: For to the wicked he says, All you that kindle a fire, &c. for there are but few that fear God, in comparison of them. If he had spoken of those that fear God, and have been in darkness for some little while, happily some few days among many, there are yet fewer, for there are ⟨p. 76⟩that walk in the light of Gods countenance to their death, and never knew what terror of conscience means, but when he shall speak of those that fear God, and walk in darkness, and suffer terrors from their youth, as Heman did, such an one is one of a thousand, of such an one (he says) who is among you? few have experience of such a condition. Job had friends, who certainly were godly, for Job was to pray for them, and God said he would hear Job for them; and they, as is likely knew many godly men besides Job; yet when this condition of darkness befell Job, it was so strange a trial to them, that they thought him therefore an hypocrite, as never having themselves felt, or heard of the like in others. When Christ was to go into his agony, he would not have many of his Apostles, so much as by him, to be witnesses of it, much less to feel the like, he takes but two or three. The reasons are,