A child of light walking in darknessA childe of light vvalking in darknesse

First, that our own hearts should be the causes and producers of such distress and darkness, when the holy Ghost thus deals with us, is at all no wonder: because

First, that our own hearts should be the causes and producers of such distresse and darknesse, when the holy Ghost thus deales with us, is at all no wonder: because

1. As we are creatures, ¹there is such a weakness and infirmity in us as David speaks;² by reason of which, if God doth but hide himself and withdraw his presence, (which supporteth us in comfort, as in being) we are ready presently to fall into these fears of our selves. The Psalmist saith of all the creatures, ³Thou hidest thy face and they are troubled: and this by reason of their weakness, and dependence upon God: And no less, but far greater is the dependence of the new creature upon Gods face and presence, that it cannot be alone and bear up it self, but it fails if God hide himself, as Isaiah speaks, Chap. 57. Especially now in this life during the infancy thereof, whilst it is a child, as God speaks of Ephraim, Hos. 11. 1. then it cannot stand, or go alone, unless God bear it up in his arms, and teach it to go, as he speaks there, ver. 1, 3. And then also as children left alone in the dark, are afraid of bugbears, and they know not what, and are apt to stumble and fall, which is by reason of ⟨p. 30⟩their weakness: So is it with the new creature in its childhood here in this life, It was my infir••• says David; and again, Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled.⁴