A01898:97
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.
Especially seeing 3.1 There is so much strength of carnal and corrupt reason in men,2 ready to forge and invent strong reasons and arguments to confirm those sad fears and darkened apprehensions; and those drawn from those dealings of Gods Spirit mentioned. For as it is said of the Gentiles, that when their foolish heart was darkened, (that is, when left and given over to their own natural darkness) they became vain in their imaginations, 3or (as the original hath it) in their reasonings: Rom. 1. 21. and this even in those things which God had clearly revealed in his works, to the light of nature: (of which that place speaks,) So may it be said even of those who have been most enlightened, that their hearts are apt to become much more vain in their reasonings about, and in the judging of their own estates before God, •ut of his word and dealings with them, if God once leaves them unto darkness. And this that great caveat given to professors, James 1. 22. gives as to understand, when they are exhorted to take •eed that in hearing the word they be not found deceiving themselves by false reasonings: James 1. 22. •o the original, [Greek or Hebrew], renders it; which is, as if we should say, false reasoning themselves; ⟨p. 32⟩as we use to say in a like phrase of speech, befooling themselves. And this is spoken of judging of their own estates; concerning which, men are more apt through the distempers and prejudices of self-love, to make (to speak in that phrase of the Apostle) false Syllogisms, and to misconclude, then about any other spiritual truth whatever. And in men that want true faith,4 the unsound hearers of the word (of whom the Apostle there speaks,) are thus apt, through carnal reason misapplying the word they hear, to frame and draw from the (as he insinuates) multitudes of false reasons to uphold and maintain to themselves a good opinion of their estates: So on the contrary, in those who have true faith, all that carnal reason, (which remains in a great measure unsubdued in them) is […] apt to raise & forge as strong objections against the work of faith begun, and as peremptorily to conclude against their present estates by the like misapplication of the word; but especially by misinterpreting Gods dealings towards them.