A01898:98
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.
And they being sometimes led by sense and reason, whilst they walk in darkness, they are apt to interpret Gods mind towards them, rather by his works and dispensations, which they see and feel, then by his word, which they are to believe. This we may see in Gideon, Judges 6. Who because God wrought not miracles as he had formerly for his people; but had delivered them into their enemies hands, from thence reasoneth against the message of the angel, (Christ himself) who had told him, the Lord is with thee ver. 12. But he objects, oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen ⟨p. 33⟩us? Where be all the miracles which our fathers told us of? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, &c. This we may also see in Asaph, or what other holy pen-man of the 73. Psalm; his heels were well nigh tripped up in the dark: My feet were almost gone (says he) ver. 2. that is, from keeping his standing by faith, as the Apostle speaks, Rom. 5. and this by an argument framed by carnal reason, from Gods dispensation of outward prosperity to wicked men; but on the contrary, chastening of him every morning, with outward afflictions, as the opposition doth there import. And how peremptory is he, in his conclusion thence deduced? Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain: ver. 13. and what reason hath he? For all the day long I have been plagued, &c. ver. 14. He thought his reason strong, and irrefragable, else he would not have been so concludent [Verily, &c.] But what would this man have said and thought if he had been in Heman's condition? or in Jobs, or Davids? if in those shallows of outward troubles, which are common to man, his faith could not find footing; but he was well-nigh carried away with the common stream and error of wicked men; to have condemned himself, and the generation of the righteous, ver. 15. How would his faith have been over-borne, If all Gods waves and billows had gone over him? as David complains; Psal. 42. 7. How would he have sunk in Heman's deeps, Ps. 88. or in Davids, Ps. 69. 2. I sink in the deep mire where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods over-flow me. Speaking of such waters as came in unto his soul; ver. 1. Even the floods of Gods immediate wrath breaking