I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

And if a good man may be under some Temptation, and Sin, then he may be in the dark: Temptation time, is a dark time. When a man cannot see his own hand, though he lift it up before his Eyes, then he is in the dark indeed. Now possibly, a good man may be in such a Temptation, that he shall not be able to see the lifting up of his own hand in prayer, saying, I go to prayer, but I cannot pray at all; and that which I do perform, it is no Duty. Sometimes it is so with him, that he cannot read his own Graces, nor see them. Though the Fish lie playing upon the Water, and you may see them in a fair Sun-shine; yet in a storm, or night, ye see them not, though they be in the Pond, or River still. So here, though when the Light of Gods Countenance doth shine upon the Soul, he is then able to see, and read his own Graces; yet if it be a ⟨p. 10⟩storm, or the night of Temptation, he cannot see them; Why? not because they are not in his heart, & life as before; but because he is in the dark. Possibly therefore, a good man may be in the dark, upon a dark ground, and in a dark condition. That's the first thing.

And if a good man may be under some Temptation, and Sin, then he may be in the dark: Temptation time, is a dark time. When a man cannot see his own hand, though he lift it up before his Eyes, then he is in the dark indeed. Now possibly, a good man may be in such a Temptation, that he shal not be able to see the lifting up of his own hand in prayer, saying, I go to prayer, but I cannot pray at al; and that which I do perform, it is no Duty. Somtimes it is so with him, that he cannot read his own Graces, nor see them. Though the Fish lie playing upon the Water, and you may see them in a fair Sun-shine; yet in a storm, or night, ye see them not, though they be in the Pond, or River stil. So here, though when the Light of Gods Countenance doth shine upon the Soul, he is then able to see, and read his own Graces; yet if it be a ⟨p. 10⟩storm, or the night of Temptation, he cannot see them; Why? not because they are not in his heart, & life as before; but because he is in the dark. Possibly therefore, a good man may be in the dark, upon a dark ground, and in a dark condition. That's the first thing.