Chapter II
The particulars of that distress, as contained in those two phrases,
walking in darkness, having no light, What the condition of such a one is ; as expressed
1. By having no light,
Sight distinct from faith,
. A threefold light added to faith to cause assurance
(1.) The immediate light of God s countenance, . Which a believer may want,
Proved, . . 240 And how the want of it may stand with God s love still
continued, and with the real influence of his grace, 240
graces and evidences, .... Which he may want, .... The reason of both, .... How grace may be exercised and not discerned, The reason,
(2.) The light of present graces,
. . . .240
Which he also may want,
(3.) Or, light may be taken for the remembrance of former
( walking in darkness -
2. What his condition is, as expressed by
(3.) Filled with terrors,... .242
(1.) To be in doubt what will become of him,
(2.) Stumbling at all comforts, . . . .242
CHAPTER III.
I. The efficient causes of this distress three,
1. The Spirit ; whether he hath any hand therein, and how far, 248 The Spirit not the cause of doubting and despairing thoughts, 243
Yet the Spirit hath some hand in the distress
(1.) Privative, by withdrawing his testimony,
(2.) Positive, in two things
[1.] By representing God angry through immediate im
pressions of wrath on the conscience, . . 244
[2.] By shaking over us the threatenings of eternal
wrath, . 245
CHAPTER IV.
How Satan and our hearts increase this darkness and distress, by false
conclusions from the Spirit s work, illustrated by the like in the
illpmination of temporaries ; the Spirit s work in both compared,
CONTENTS.
thereof, ....... 249
CHAPTER V. PAG
The second efficient cause of this darkness
2. Our own hearts ; the principles therein which are the causes
(3.) Of carnal reason, ..... 250 Which as in men unregenerate doth reason for their bad
(1.) By reason of our weakness as we are creatures, . 249
(2.) Of an innate darkness as we are sinful creatures, . 249
estates, ..... 250
estate, so in the regenerate against the goodness of their
[1.] How potent and prevalent carnal reason is with
us, 251
desertion, ..... 252
[2.] And how desperate an enemy unto faith; and the reason of it, . . . .251
[3.] The great advantage carnal reason hath in time of
(4.) Of corrupt affections which join with carnal reason in
this, as jealousy, suspicion, &c., . . .253 The rise of them, and of their working in the heart, . 253
(5.) The guilt in our own consciences remaining in part
defiled, . . . 254
CHAPTEE VI.
The third efficient cause
3. Satan : his special malice in this temptation, commission ; access
to, and advantage over us in this temptation, by reason of the darkness in us, . . . . .256 Five things in general premised to explain Satan s working herein
(1.) Satan hath a special inclination to this kind of temp tation, . . . . . . 256 The reasons, ..... 257
(2.) God may and doth give up his child into Satan s hands, and permit him thus to tempt him, . . 257 Which permission is granted him either
At Satan s own motion and request, . . 258
3.] Or when that ordinance is neglected, in case of some gross sin, .... 259 Yet this permission is with difference from that
2.1 Upon the ordinance of excommunication, . 258
11.1
giving up of wicked men to Satan, . . 259
(3.) How able Satan is to tempt,
. . . 259
(4.) That the exercise of this his power is much from the darkness in us, . . . .260
(5.) A double advantage that Satan hath over us in the exercise of his power in tempting us
[1.] Of more near and intimate access to suggest in
wardly to our spirits, . . . 260
[2.] Of fit matter and fuel in our spirits to work upon, 261
A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS.
first, on carnal reason,.... 262
CHAPTER VII. PAGB More particularly how Satan works upon those three principles in us :
1. Satan s abilities to invent false reasonings, . . 262 Increased by so long a time of experience, . . 262 And his continual exercise in this great controversy in all ages, 262 Which of all controversies is the most subtle and intricate, 262
2. Satan knows how to suit his false reasonings to all sorts of
believers, . . . . . 263 The conditions of men are exceeding various, and so are capable
of the several sorts of temptations,.
. . . 263 Satan fitly knows how to apply his temptations unto those various conditions, . . . . .264
3. Satan is able undiscernibly to communicate the most spiritual false reasonings, and in such a manner as to make them take with us, ...... 264
(1.) To suggest even the most subtle and abstracted rea
sonings about things spiritual, . . 264
(2.) To suggest them in such a manner as to deceive us, 265
4. Satan is able to continue the dispute, arid often to make replies
to answers made to his false reasonings,
. . 266