Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	jesus_n	light_n	shine_v	5,880	5	9.7269	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01898	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.	Goodwin, Thomas, 1600-1680.	1636 (1636)	STC 12037; ESTC S103254	155,960	295

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 thither Mar. 12. 34. and as they are brought nigh to the kingdome of heaven as Christ told him so of true beleevers it may be said that their soules doe often draw neere to hell in their owne sense and apprehension 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 chastising 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 heavinesse 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 apprehensions 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 beleevers 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 Temporary 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 conclude 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 desperate 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 CHAP. V. How our owne hearts are the causes of this darknesse The principles therein which are the causes of it TO speake more particularly of either 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 §. 1. there is such a weaknesse and infirmity in us as David speakes 1. By reason of our weaknesse as we are creatures by reason of which if God doth but hide himselfe and withdraw his presence which supporteth us in comfort as in being we are ready presently to fall into these feares of our selves The Psalmist saith of all the creatures Psal 104. 29. Thou hidest thy face and they are troubled and this by reason of their weaknesse and dependance upon God And no lesse but farre greater is the dependance of the new creature upon Gods face and presence that it cannot be alone and beare up it selfe but it failes if God hide himselfe as Esay speakes Chap. 57. Especially now in this life during the infancy thereof whilest it is a childe as God speakes of Ephraim Hos 11. 1. then it cannot stand or goe alone unlesse God beare it up in his armes and teach it to goe as he speaks there ver 1 3. And then also as children left alone in the dark are afraid of bugbeares and they know not what and are apt to stumble and fall which is by reason of their weaknesse So is it with the new creature in its childhood here in this life It was my infir●●● sayes David and againe Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled Psal 30. 6. There is not onely such a weaknesse in us as wee are creatures But 2. Also an innate darknesse in our spirits as we are sinfull creatures §. 2. since the fall 2. Of an innate darknesse as we are sinfull creatures our hearts of themselves are nothing but darknesse and therefore no wonder if when God drawes but the curtaines and shuts up the light from us that our hearts should engender and conceive such horrid feares and doubts Thus in the 2. Cor. 4. 6. The Apostle compareth this native darknesse of our hearts unto that Chaos and lumpe of darknesse which at the first creation covered the face of the deepe when he sayes that God who commanded light to shine out of darknes hee referreth to the first creation Gen. 1. 1 2. hath shined into our hearts even of us Apostles to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ So that no longer then God continues to shine either the light of comfort or of grace no longer doe our hearts even of us beleevers retaine light in them And if at any time he withhold that light of comfort in his face when yet he continueth an influence of grace Then so farre doe our hearts presently returne to their former darknesse And then doth that vast wombe of darknesse conceive and forme all those feares and doubts within it selfe Considering withall that our hearts are a great deepe also so deepe in darknesse and deceitfulnesse as no plummet can fathom them Deceitfull above all things who can know it Jer. 17. 9. Darknesse covereth not the face of this deepe only but it is darknes to the bottome throughout darknesse No wonder then if when the Spirit ceaseth to move upon this deepe with beames of light it cast us into such deepes and darknesse as Heman complaining speakes of Psal 88. 6. and frameth in it selfe such hideous apprehensions and desperate conclusions of a mans owne estate Especially seeing 3. §. 3. There is so much strength of carnall and corrupt reason in men 3. Principles of carnall reason ready to forge and invent strong reasons and arguments to confirme those sad feares and darkened apprehensions and those drawne 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 naturall darknesse they became vaine in their imaginations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as the originall hath it in their reasonings Rom. 1. 21. and this even