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.

CHAP. IV.

How Satan and our hearts increase this darknesse by false conclusions from the Spirits worke, illustrated by the like in the illumination of Temporaries. The Spirits work in both compared.

ANd now the Spirit of God having proceeded thus farre himselfe in causing such darknesse, and terrors of conscience in them that feare him: Sathan and their owne hearts (unto which hee may and doth often further also leave them) may take occasion from these dispensations of the holy Ghost, (which are all holy righteous and true) to draw forth false and fearefull conclusions against themselves, and their estates; and start amazing doubts, and feares of their utter want of Grace and lying under the curse, and threatnings of eternall

wrath at the present; yea and further, of eternall rejection for the future, and that God will never be mercifull; and so lay them lower, and cast them into a further darknesse and bondage then the holy Ghost was cause of or intended: Misinterpreting and perverting all these his righteous proceedings; as interpreting, that withdrawing his light and presence, and hiding himselfe, to be a casting them off: Thus Heman, Psal. 88. 14. So likewise mis∣construing that temporary wrath, chastising and wounding their spirits for the present, to bee no other, then the impressions and earnest of Gods e∣ternall vengeance: and arguing from their being under wrath, themselves to be children of wrath; and misapplying the application of all those threat∣nings of eternall damnation made by the Spirit but in relation, and under a condition of such and such courses for the future, to bee absolute against their persons, and to speake their present estate; and because such examples of men cast off are pre∣sented to them, to shew them what advantage God might take against them; they mistaking, thinke they reade their owne destiny laid before them in them; and conclude that God will deale so with them: And thus as the Apostle sayes of sinne, Rom. 7. 11. That sinne taking occasion by the Commandement, (he misunderstanding the scope of it, when a Pharisee) it deceived him, and thereby slew him: and yet the Commandement is holy, just, and good, ver. 12. So Satan and our hearts, by occasion of these dealings of the Spirit (which are righteous and true, as himselfe is, who is the Spirit of truth and leades into truth,) doe deceive beleevers, and

lay them in their apprehensions among the staine whom God remembreth no more, as Heman speakes, Psal. 88. 5.

And as in these, so in other workes and dispen∣sations of Gods Spirit, it is ordinary for Satan and our hearts to practise the like delusions, and false conclusions upon them. To instance in those more common and inferiour workes of the Spirit on the hearts of men, not as yet savingly regenerated: The Spirit enlightning them, together with im∣pressions of joy, and a tast of sweetnesse in the pro∣mises of the Gospell, and of salvation revealed therein, which under a condition of true repen∣tance and conversion, the Spirit of God doth make the offer and tender of Knowne unto their hearts. Thus hee wrought upon the stony ground, and in the Iewes by Iohns ministery: Iohn 5. 35. which light, and taste, and revelation of this conditionall proffer, tending in a way unto salvation, by allu∣ring their hearts to seeke it, they often through Satans abuse of this good worke, and the selfe-slat∣tery of their owne hearts, doe too hastily take to be that grace which accompanies salvation, on which hath salvation annexed to it: from which, the A∣postle by that very expression, Heb. 6. 9. doth dif∣ference those enlightnings, ver. 4. They thus mis∣taking these workes precursory to grace, even as the Iewes mistooke Iohn, that was but sent before to prepare the way for Christ, to bee that very true Christ that was to come into the world: and mis∣understanding the entendment of Gods most bles∣sed Spirit in such his dealings, they make up too hasty a conclusion not meant by the Spirit in those promises.

And I instance in these the rather, because these his dispensations of desertion (which wee have in hand) towards men already regenerated, and those formentioned visitations towards such as often at∣taine not to regeneration, are in an opposite way of comparison exceeding parallel, and much alike in the dispensations themselves; as well as in the dif∣fering false conclusions which are drawne from ei∣ther, and doe therefore exceedingly illustrate the one the other. God withdrawing himself as much in their sense, from those who are in covenant with him: as hee drawes neere unto, and visits their hearts from on high, who are as yet strangers to him: The needle of Gods favour and love varying as much (that I may so allude) towards Hell in their Compasse who shall be saved: as it doth heaven∣ward in the other, many of whom arrive not thi∣ther: and as they are brought nigh to the kingdome of heaven, (as Christ told him:) so of true belee∣vers, it may be said, that their soules doe often draw neere to hell, in their owne sense and appre∣hension; and the paines of hell doe take hold upon them. And as the other are enlightned, as Balaam was; so they are left to walke in darknesse and see 〈◊〉〈◊〉 light; and doe taste of that wrath which the Law threatens; as those other taste the goodnesse of that salvation the Gospell offereth; God out of a temporary anger cha∣stising them for a moment: as with a temporary favour he shineth upon the other: That as they for a season rejoyce in that light, John 5. 35. So Gods dearest children may bee for a season in much heavi∣nesse, (as the Apostle speakes, 1 Pet. 1. 6. and walke in darknesse. And as the similitude of the dealings

themselves runne along so farre in a parallel line of comparision: So it holds in the false apprehensi∣ons which Satan and our hearts doe make out of both: and the cause of the mistake in each, is also alike. For Gods dealings with those Temporary belee∣vers, being so like to those dealings towards such as receive a state of adoption from him: They thence too hastily conclude their acceptance unto life. And on the contrary, Gods dealings with these Tempo∣rary despairers, (as I may so call them) being so like in their sense, to his proceedings with those hee cuts off for ever, they in like maner as hastily con∣clude (I said in my haste sayes David) their eternall rejection. Onely in the issue they prove unlike; tending but to their present discomfort, through their frailty: but in the other through their owne willing neglect, their enlightnings turne to their destruction.

So as to conclude, wee must warily sever the worke of Gods Spirit herein, from that of Satan, and our owne hearts; not attributing such despe∣rate conclusions to the Spirit. Thus that depth of sorow wherewith that humbled Corinthian was well nigh swallowed up, 2 Cor. 2. 7. is ascribed unto Satan, when ver. 11. it is made and termed one of his devices, which word doth in part referre to the Corinthians sorow. Thus David also imputes that his questioning, Psal. 77. Whether God would be mercifull to him, ver. 7. unto his owne heart: this is My infirmity sayes he, ver. 10. So as the blame herein is to be divided betweene Satan and our hearts.

Notes

• From which worke of the Spirit, Satan and our hearts make false con∣clusions.
• The like in∣stanced in Temporaries.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• A comparison betweene the worke of illu∣mination in them, and of darknesse in these.
• Mar. 12. 34.