A Glimpse of God, Part 9
A Diſcourſe of Gods Omniſcience.
Pſal. 94. 8, 9, 10. Underſtand, O ye brutiſh among the people, and ye fools, when will ye be wiſe? He that planted the ear, ſhall he not hear? He that formed the eye, ſhall he not ſee? He that chaſtiſeth the Heathen, ſhall not he correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, ſhall not he know?
CHAP. I.
FRom God's Omnipreſence, I proceed to his Omniſcience: for ſeeing all things are done in his preſence, he cannot but know all things, he being intimately and indiſtantially preſent to every creature, and in every creature, he muſt neceſſarily know the creatures, and all their actions, inward, outward, in all circumſtances. Now for the coherence and opening of theſe words.
In the two fi…ſt Verſes, the Pſalmiſt makes earneſt requeſt to God, to whom all vengeance belongeth, that being Ju…ge of the world, he would lift up his iron rod of vengeance, and break to piec…s the proud of the earth. In the five following Verſes, he deſcribeth the wicked, upon whom he prays divine vengeance may fall.
1. They were proud and inſolent, boaſting of their own heart's deſire, triumphing in their ungodly courſes. v. 4, 5
2. They were ſuch, who for a long ſeaſon, had abuſed the patience of God: therefore the Prophet cries out, How long, Lord, ſhall the wicked thus triumph? They grow the more wicked and inſolent, becauſe thou Lord takeſt not vengeance; long impunity breed's impenitency and impudency; Therefore how long, Lord, ſhall the wicked triumph? how long ſhall they utter and ſpeak hard things, &c.
3. They are ſuch as tyranically and barbarouſly abuſe the people of God, l…ke wild Bores in the Lord's Vineyard, treading down his people like mire in the ſtreets, miſerably affl…cting and perſecuting them: They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage; They ſlay the widow and the ſtranger, and murder the fatherleſs, Verſ. 5, 6. where he amplifieth their barbarous cruelty, in that they ſpare none; unto the deſtitute widows, the poor fatherleſs children, the helpleſs and friendleſs ſtrangers, to whom all compaſſion ſhould be ſhewen, they ſhew cruelty.
In the ſeventh verſe, is the depth and height of their impiety, the fountain of all their impudency and cruelty and ungodlineſs, viz. they perſwade themſelves, that God beholds them not, and what they do in earth: They ſay, the Lord ſhall not ſee, neither ſhall the God of Jacob regard it. Hence they run into all wickedneſs with greedineſs, and reſolve ſo to do; becauſe they think God knoweth not them, nor their miſchievous doings, and ſo they ſhall eſcape divine vengeance.
Now in the Text, the Pſalmiſt upbraids them for that Atheiſm, and tells them, that God takes notice of all their wickedneſ he underſtands and knoweth all that they do, and will take vengeance on them.
Underſtand, O ye brutiſh among the people.] By brutiſh ſome underſtand the ordinary common people of the world: But it is rather meant of thoſe men, whether high or low, noble or baſe, rich or poor, that are Enemies to God's people, and yet think God ſeeth them not acting their wickedneſ he ſaith of ſuch, they are no better then brute creatures, they know God no more than the Horſe, or the brutiſh Aſs.
Underſtand] that is, know, and take this for an undoubted truth, that the Lord ſees and knows what ye do. Now ſee how he doth illuſtrate and prove it.
He that planted the ear, ſhall not he hear?] He that gives man the hearing ear, he much more muſt hear [himſelf;] there is for all your words, your hard, proud, and ungodly ſpeeches.
He that formed the eye, ſhall not he ſee?] He that gives man the ſeeing eye, ſhall not he much more ſee? there is for all your actions.
He that chaſtiſeth the heathen, ſhall not …he correct?] He that hath taken vengeance upon others, that hath drown'd the World, burnt up Cities with fire and brimſtone, ſhall not he take vengeance upon ſuch proud, inſolent wretches as ye are?
He that teacheth man knowledge, ſhall not he know?] i. e. He that hath given to man an underſtanding faculty, whereby he is able to know and perceive things, ſhall not he much more know what is done? the Lord knoweth your vain thoughts, verſ. 11. much more your outward actions.
CHAP. II.
SO then from theſe words [hear,] [ſee] and [know] I purpoſe to handle the glorious perfection of God's Wiſdom and Knowledg. Thence I obſerve,
That God is an all-knowing and wiſeObſerv. God.
You ſee here, how God knows all our words, actions, and thoughts; for proof of the Point, read Job 28. 23, 24. God ſeeth and knoweth all things far and near, all that is under the heavens, as well as above the heavens: All things are naked, and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do, Heb. 4. 13. that is, all things are known of him perfectly and evidently, the foreign with foreign all things that are, with the cauſes and reaſons of things. Act. 15. 18. Known unto God from the beginning of the world are all his works. I ſhall fu…ther prove the Point in the explication of God's Omniſcience, which I will plainly thus deſcribe.
God's knowledg, is that gloriousDeſcript. Attribute whereby he perfectly knows all things whatſoever. Here I will ſhew …hree things; 1. Some Diſtinctions of God's Knowledg; 2. The Object of his Knowledg; 3. The manner and Properties of this his Knowledg.
As to the diſtinctions of Gods knowledg.
1. There is ſcientia ſimplicis intelligentiae, which is the knowledg of things that were, are, or ſhall be, or may be, though actually it ſhall never come to paſs: whatſoever his power can do, he knoweth many things he can do, which he will not do, theſe he perfectly knoweth.
2. There is ſcientia Viſionis, which is God's knowledg of all things, that were, are, or ſhall be, becauſe they are neceſſary, free or contingent: This knowledg in reſpect of things to come, is called praeſcience or foreknowledg, but in reſpect of things paſt and preſent it is called knowledg. There is this difference between Gods knowledg and foreknowledg of things.
1. His knowledg, is general of all things whatſoever; his foreknowledg, is of things to come.
2. His knowledg, is of objects internal and extrinſecal; his fore knowledg, is onelyonly of extrinſecall objects.
3. Knowledg is properly in God, fore knowledge is improperly in him, becauſe 'tis in reſpect of things themſelves, and in reſpect of us.
Again, Gods knowledg, is
General.
Speciall.
General; ſo he knows all things whatſoever; every creature, the cauſes andEminenter novit omnia in ſ…ip ſo ut in cauſa, an t…cedentèr in rebus ſ… cundis, praeſentèr in ſ…i…ſis: infallibiliter novit omnia p…opter inſinitatem & immutahilitatem eſſentiae. reaſons of all in himſelf, in themſelves, in their cauſes with their circumſtances: he knows all things in himſelf, as in the firſt cauſe eminently, antecedently in ſecond cauſes, at preſent in the things themſelves: he knoweth all things by reaſon of the infiniteneſs and immutability of his eſſence, ſo he knoweth them infallibly.
His knowledg is alſo ſpecial: and ſo it is of the elect and reprobate of what Men or Angels do think: This again is twofold, either general, of all Men and Angels; or ſpecial: ſo he is ſaid onelyonly to know his elect, which is a knowledg with ſpecial love and approbation of their perſons and actions, Pſal. 1. 6. The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, that is with a knowledg of approbation.
CHAP. III. Of the Objects of Gods knowledg.
NOw for the Objects of God's knowledg: In a word! omneſcibile, whatſoever can be known he knoweth, but I will rank the objects of his knowledg into theſe three heads.
1. He knows all things that are paſt, as if they were now preſent: Pſa. 90. 8. All thy ſins ſecret and publick, long agoe committed are before God, as if they were now in acting, thy adultery, thy oathes, thy drunkenneſſe committed 10. or 20. years agone: Thou haſt ſet our iniquities before thee, our ſecret ſins in the light of thy countenance.
2. God knoweth all creatures, all things preſent: here I ſhall ſpeak eſpecially of his knowledg in reference to man. 1. He knows all our works, there is nothing thou canſt do, or doſt, whether in the light or in the dark, in cloſets or in the houſe tops; but he knows it. Rev. 3. 1. Thus ſaith he that hath the ſeven ſpirits of God, and the ſeven ſtars, to the Angel of the Church▪ in Sardis, I know thy works, &c. I know what manner of works they are.
2. The Lord knows our hearts; he knows the ſinfulneſs of the heart, he knows the deceitfulneſſe of the heart, he knows w…at abominations are in the heart. The heart of man is deceitfull above all things, and deſperately wicked, who can know it? he anſwereth, I the Lord ſearch the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jerem. 17. 9. 10. The Lord knoweth all the errors and ſins which thou didſt act in thy heart; who can underſtand▪ his error. ſaith David cleanſe thou me from the ſecret faults. Pſal. 19. 12. They are a people that do erre in their hearts, ſaith the Lord. Pſal. 95. 10. God knows all the thoughts of our hearts, how momentany, ſuddain and tranſient ſoever they be; though they come in, and go out again in a moment, in the twinckling of an eye, yet he knows and obſerves them all: The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Pſal. 94. 11. Job. acknowledgeth this to God. I know that thou canſt do every thing, and that no thought is with-holden from thee. Job. 42. 2. He knoweth all the imaginations of man's heart. God ſaw that the wickedneſs of man was great upon earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, Gen. 6. 5. The Lord likewiſe knoweth all the purpoſes and intentions, and counſels of the heart; he knoweth what your aimes are in all your undertakings; whether you intend his glory, or your own ſelf intereſt, his word is a diſcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb. 4. 12. When the Jews came with queſtions to Chriſt, as if they deſired to be informed by him, our Saviour knowing their thoughts, knew that they came to entrap him.
3. The Lord knoweth all the words that we ſpeak. There is not a word in my tongue, but loe, Oh Lord, thou knoweſt it altogether. Pſal. 139. 4. The Lord knows every idle word that you ſpeak, and will one day bring you to an account for it, Matt. 12. He hath likewiſe a book of remembrance to ſet down every good word, that they that fear the Lord ſpeak one to another. Malach. 3. 16.
3. God knoweth all things to come; Thou underſtandeſt my thoughts afar off, ſaith David, Pſal. 139. 2 When God ſent Moſes to Pharaoh, he tells him: I am ſure, that the King of Egypt will not let you go, no not by a mighty hand; and I will ſtretch out my hand, and ſmite Egypt with all my wonders, which I will do in the midſt thereof, and after that he will let you go. Exod. 3. 19. 20. ſo he ſpeaks of the Iſraelites, I know their imaginations which they go about, even now before I have brought them into the land which I ſware. Deut. 31. 21.
CHAP. IV. Of the Properties of God's Knowledg.
NOw concerning the Properties of God's Knowledg, we are to underſtand that,
1. God beholdeth all things uno intuitu, by one ſimple act, not by divers, as Angels and Men do; he knoweth all things intuitivè, not diſcurſivè, or ſucceſſivè, as a man may ſee many particular objects at once that lie before him: but God ſees infinite objects intuitively at once, and therefore all things are ſaid to be before him, even things paſt, and things to come: there is no praeterition nor futurition in God's Knowledg (to ſpeak properly) for all things are preſent before him.
2. God knoweth all things moſt perfectly and evidently, not in part, or obſcurely, as men do: but he knoweth all things fully and exactly; his knowledg is a perfect knowledg, that cannot be increaſed or diminiſhed. God moſt perfectly knoweth himſelf▪ he alſo moſt perfectly knoweth all other things beſides himſelf: His underſtanding is infinite, Pſal. 147. 5. he knoweth things actually infinite.
3. God knoweth all things diſtinctly, not confuſedly or univerſally, but he knoweth every particular and individual whatſoever; and by this diſtinct and proper knowledg he knoweth ſingular things to come, even contingent: for to him, their firſt cauſe, they are neceſſary things; in reſpect of ſecond cauſes, contingent: and by this diſtinct knowledg of his, he knoweth all the circumſtances of all our words and actions, with all the aggravations of them, as to perſons, time, place, &c. The Lord diſtinctly knoweth the perſons of all his choſen people. The foundation of the Lord ſtandeth ſure, having this ſeal, The Lord knoweth who are his. 2 Tim. 2. 19. I am the good ſhepherd, and know my ſheep, ſaith our Saviour, Joh. 10. 14. he knoweth all their names. So the Lord to Moſes, Thou haſt found grace in my ſight, and I know thee by name, Exod. 33. 17. he knoweth the number even of the very hairs of their heads, they are all numbred by him, Luk. 12. 7.
4. God knoweth all things neceſſarily, immutably, and infallibly. God is his own knowledg, he underſtandeth all things therefore neceſſarily, and infallibly, neither can the knowledg of God be any more deceived than his will; this knowledg of God is ſemper eadem, always the ſame, not ſubject to any change or alteration: There be many devices in man's heart, but the counſel of the Lord that ſhall ſtand▪ Prov. 19. 21.
CHAP. V. Reaſons to prove God's Omniſcience.
THere are many Reaſons may be given to prove God is Omniſcient.
1. Becauſe God created all things;Reaſ. 1. therefore no creature is hid from him, but is open and naked before him, becauſe all are the works of his hands. Now the Rule is this, Agentes cum conſilio, thoſe Agents that do work with counſel, do know all their works; and what Agent worketh with counſel, if the moſt wiſe God doth not? He makes all things with moſt deliberate and wiſe counſel: ſo then for the things themſelves, God doth fully know them, making them by his knowledg and wiſe counſel; he knoweth thee likewiſe, unleſs thou wilt deny thy ſelf to be his Creature.
2. Becauſe there is no action whichReaſ. 2. any creature doth, but God cooperates and concurreth with and in the action: God enableth natural cauſes to produce natural actions; contingent cauſes to produce contingent actions; free and voluntary agents to produce free and voluntary actions: You cannot think a thought, you cannot ſpeak a word, you cannot do an action without God: 'Tis the Lord enableth you to lie down, to riſe up; or whatſoever any man doth, the Lord enables him to do it; yea, no wicked man can commit ſin, act ſin, either in ſecret, or in publique, if God did not uphold him in the act; every action, as it is an action, is from God, but the ſinfulneſs or obliquity of it is from the Devil, or our ſelves: the Drunkard could not go to an Ale-houſe, nor the Adulterer to the houſe of the ſtrange woman, if God did not uphold them in their actions and motions; in Him, the worſt ſinner liveth, moveth, and hath his being, even in the worſt action that he goes about: Therefore God muſt needs know all, becauſe God doth not concurr with the creature ignorantly or raſhly, but with knowledge and counſel.
3. God muſt neceſſarily know allReaſ. 3. things, becauſe there is nothing done but what God did fore know, and from eternity decree ſhould come to paſs: All his decrees are acts of the Underſtanding and Will of God; but God did decree what ſhould be: God knoweth he can make a thouſand Worlds, and many thouſand Creatures more than he hath made, onelyonly God decrees to make but ſo many, who took an handful of clay out of the infinite maſs, and made this world: So there is no action of any creature, but God hath decreed it, as it is an action; therefore he muſt needs foreknow it. There is not a thought in thy mind, nor a word in thy tongue, nor an action of thy hand, but comes within rhe compaſs of God's decree; therefore he is ſaid to know our thoughts afar off: and the ſame may be ſaid concerning his knowledg of our words and actions, yea, every circumſtance of all thy actions, what words, or what thoughts, at ſuch a time, of ſuch an object; therefore he muſt needs know all things altogether.
4. God doth order, guide, direct,Reaſ. 4. all creatures, and their actions, to ſome determinate end; therefore he muſt needs know all things, otherwiſe he could not guide and direct them: He guides and governeth all the inanimate creatures, and all the brutiſh creatures to their proper particular ends: Yea, when the World ſeemeth to be all out of order, the courſe of nature to be in a confuſion, God wiſely guideth tumults and confuſions to a good end. God doth order, guide, and direct the ſins of wicked men, therefore he muſt needs know all their ſins; he prefixeth a time how long they ſhall ſinne; the number of their ſins, the meaſure of their ſins; therefore he muſt needs know all their ſins, he could not otherwiſe guide, direct, limit, permit, reſtrain them; wicked men cannot ſin when they pleaſe, nor do what they liſt.
5. Becauſe God's underſtanding isReaſ. 5. infinite, intenſivè & extenſivè: His underſtanding is his own Eſſence, therefore he muſt know infinite objects, which could not be if he did not know all things, every particular individual object that is or can be. Whither ſhall I go from thy Spirit, ſaith David? Pſal. 139. 7. that is, from Gods underſtanding; ſo Spirit is taken there: I can go no where, but God will know where I am, what I do, think or ſpeak; in Heaven, in Hell, at the uttermoſt part of the earth, in dark or lightſom places; Gods Spirit is there, he underſtandeth and knoweth what thou and I do.
6. Again we may draw a Reaſon from two Inſtances.
1. That God knoweth what every man doth in publique or ſecret, may appear by the griping accuſations of our own Conſciences, bringing to mind our old tranſgreſſions, acted a g…eat while ſince, and it may be forgotten for a long time, yet Conſcience hath brought them to mind: Now who make Conſcience to conſider▪ and to call to mind by-paſt tranſgreſſions, but God who is greater than our Conſciences, and knoweth all things, and preſen…s theſe to the eye of our Conſciences? And what is the language of our Conſcience, but God will judge thee for theſe things?
2. Again, God manifeſteth the knowledge of all our counſels, plots, and ſecret devices, becauſe he often turneth the malicious counſels of Deviliſh Achitophels, into their own ſhame and deſtruction: 'Tis God that knoweth the thoughts of men to be vanity, and turneth their thoughts into vanity, their wiſdom into folly, their miſchievous plots into their own downfall and deſtruction; he takes the wiſe in their own craft. God did reveal to David, what the men of Keilah would do to him, and how Saul would follow him to Keilah, and ſo diſappointed them; this is a moſt pregnant Argument of Gods Omniſciency: When wicked men ſit and take counſel together, againſt the Lord, and his Anointed, God ſits in Heaven, and laughs them to ſcorn.
7. Becauſe without knowledge ofReaſ. 7. all particulars of our thoughts, words and actions, with all their circumſtances, God, who is the juſt Judge of all the world, cannot give righteous judgment. God hath ſaid, That he will judge every man according to his works, which he cannot, did not he know the actions of men good and evil, with all their circumſtances: Verily, ſaith our Saviour, Men ſhall give an account of every idle word, then God muſt know every word altogether that we ſpeak. In the laſt day God will judge the ſecrets of mens hearts; how can he judge thee for thy ſecret thoughts and intents, and aims, if the Lord did not know thy thoughts, every particular action of thy mind, though they paſs away in thy mind in a moment? Gods judgment is infallible; if he did not know all; he may be deceived, and we might hide many things from God. Gods judgment is true; did not he know all things, he would not know how to judge men either to eternal death, or eternal life. Gods judgment ſhall be perfectly proportionable to the good or evil actions of men: How can he render proportionable vengeance to wicked men, and render to every man according to his works, if he did not know all particulars. Gods judgment will be publique in reſpect of bringing to light all ſecret wickedneſſes, and all ſecret duties; and this he could not do, did not he know all things?
CHAP. VI.
Sect. 1.
1. THe firſt Uſe of this Point, is forƲſe 1. Terrour to the wicked, whoſe atheiſtical hearts licence them to commit ſin upon this blaſphemous conceit: Tuſh, God knows not what we do; God regards, and ſees us not: Well! He that made the eye, and gives to thee a ſeeing eye, he ſees thee; there is for all thy actions. He that gave man the hearing ear, he heareth every word; there is for all thy words. He that gives to man the knowing heart, he knoweth all; there is for all thy thoughts: Therefore rejoyce thou Atheiſt, and let thy heart chear th…e; be filthy ſtill in thy thoughts and affections; be thou unjuſt ſtill in thy words and actions but yet know the Lord knows all, and for theſe things will bring thee to Judgm…n….
Mark what God will one day ſay to the wicked, and all Hypocrites, Depart from me ye wicked, I kniw you not, ye workers of iniquity. You may ſee God is ſaid to know, and not to know the wicked: He knows that they are workers of iniquity, and knows all their works: He knows the Drunkard, and his drunkenneſs, &c. He knows their perſons, and their actions, ſo as to hate them. He knows them ſo, as to bring them to judgment for all their works of iniquity. He knows them ſo, as to take vengeance on them, and to deſtroy them from his bleſſed preſence; but yet God knows them not ſo, as to approve of their perſons or courſes, ſo as to ſhew them the leaſt love, the leaſt favour or mercy. God will ſay to them, I know you not ſo, as to have any communion with you; to eternity you ſhall never know me, nor I you; better it were to be ſtricken thorow with a thouſand Thunderbolts, than to hear God ſay, Depart, I know you not. So God retaliates wicked men in their own Coyn. The profane Drunkard ſaith to God, Tuſh, thou God knoweſt us not, or ſeeſt us not: And the Lord in anſwer ſaith, Tuſh, thou Drunkard, I know thee not, therefore depart from me. Depart from us, ſaith the wicked man, we deſire not, or love not the knowledge of thy wayes; the Lord anſwers them, Depart from me, I deſire not thy company in my Kingdom. When God ſhall thus doom them, the wicked themſelves ſhall admire Gods knowledge of them, and their wayes; when he ſhall bring to mind their tranſgreſſions, then they ſhall be forced to ſay to their ſhame and confuſion, Verily there is not, and cannot be a thought in my mind, but thou Lord knoweſt it altogether.
2. The ſecond Uſe is of Reproof,Uſe 2. to thoſe that excuſe or hide their ſins; or like the Harlot, Prov. 7. Wipe their mouths, and ſay they have done no evil, when ſhe had committed Adultery. All excuſes, and whatſoever men uſe to juſtifie themſelves, are meer vanity, becauſe God knows thy ways altogether, and will condemn thee, yea with a ſevere condemn…tion, and that becauſe thou doſt juſtifie thy ſelf.
Some men conceive themſelves to be innocent, becauſe the darkneſs cove…s them and their ſins; but God is light, and light will diſcover the ugly deeds of d…rkneſs to th… ſhame and damnation. Some men juſtifie themſelves becauſe of ſ…crefie, they act ſin in their thoughts, and God will condemn them in publique view: Job ſaith▪ How ſhould man be juſt with God, if he will contend with him he cannot anſwer him one of a thouſand? Job 9. 2, 3. He will b…ing forth a thouſand ſins to condemn hi…. Job would not juſtifie himſelf: If I juſtifie my ſelf, mine own mouth ſhall condemn me; if I ſay I am perfect, it ſhall alſo pr…ve me perverſe, ver. 30, 31. If I waſh my ſelf with Snow-water, and make my hands never ſo clean, yet ſhalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own cloaths ſhall abhor me. Though thou waſh thy ſelf with Snow-water, and to publick view, thou haſt a Snow-like innocency; yet God will plunge thee in a Ditch, thou wilt be as vile and loathſom in Gods eyes, as if thou wert vvallovving in a miry Ditch.
Sect. 2.
3. The third Uſe may ſerve forUſe 3. Exhortation, to humble our ſelves before God, not to hide or extenuate any ſin, but lay open our ſelves to the utmoſt by acknovvledging all to him vvho is greater than our hearts, and knovvs all.
1. It is a fooliſh conceit, to think vve inform God by our Self-accuſations and confeſſions; God knevv all before, and therefore Self-acc…ſ…tion and confeſſion, is for our ovvn abaſement, and the magnifying of Gods grace, to juſtifie him in all; this is, and muſt be the end of all our confeſſions: It is impoſſible for any one to make a particular confeſſion of all his ſins, yet God knovvs all, both the unknovvn errous, and the confeſſed tranſgr…ſſions.
2. It is as fond likevviſe to fear to confeſs ſins, for fear of ſhame and ſorrovv iſſuing from it; becauſe God knovving vvhat ſins vve are guilty of, can ſhame and ſadden us, if vve confeſs them not: God can ſet our ſins in order before us, if vve fooliſhly caſt them behind our backs. Oh vvhat ſhame of face, and horrour of ſpirit vvill ſeize upon all thoſe vvho hide their ſins, vvhen God that knovvs all, ſhall vvitneſs to their faces, that theſe things they have done: When God ſhall ſay, You thought that I vvas an ignorant God, that I ſavv not, neither regarded vvhat you did in your bodies: Lo all ye Angels and Saints, theſe ſins did this man commit, let him deny one ſin among a thouſand if he can, his ovvn Conſcience is my Witneſ I vvill appeal to himſelf, and let the vvicked man ſpeak vvhether he be not guilty of all the ſins that I novv lay to his charge: Therefore Brethren, Humble your ſelves for your ſecret ſins, before the great day come, when God ſhall judge the ſecrets of your hearts: If ye will not humble your ſelves before God, the juſt God w…ll humble you to the loweſt Hell: If you will not confeſs what God knoweth, and your own Conſcience with him, God will witneſs all your ſins to your faces, before Angels, Men and Devils.
Sect. 3.
4. Doth the Lord know all thingsUſe 4. perfectly and infallibly, the ſecret thoughts, intents and purpoſes of all our hearts? Then let us be admoniſhed of theſe following things.
1. Let us take heed of acting private ſins, for God knows what thou art doing: He whoſe eyes are fiery flaming eyes, ſeeth what thou doſt in the darkeſt corner: If I ſay, ſurely the darkneſs ſhall cover me, even the night ſhall be light about me; yea, the darkneſs hideth not from thee, but the night ſhineth as the day; the darkneſs and the light are both alike to thee, Pſal. 139. 11, 12. There is nothing covered, that ſhall not be revealed; nor hid, that ſhall not be known, L…k. 12. 2. Yea, there is no ſin done covertly and cloſely, but the Lord knoweth it.
2. Be ſure to walk uprightly; and whatſoever ye do, do all for God for upright ends; for Gods eye of approbation is not upon our duties and works, ſo much as i… is upon the ſincerity and perfectneſs of our hearts; he diſcerneth the ſecret intents of our hearts, Hebr. 4. 13. Fair pretences, (like Jacoh's diſguiſe) may make men to hope well, and to judge well of men; and as Iſaac bleſſed Jacob inſtead of Eſau; ſo may men bleſs God for your gifts, parts, dut…es, and bleſs you too; but the Lord knows all your pretences to be but vain, and looks thorough them upon your hearts.
It is a frequent phraſe uſed of the Kings of Judah, They did what was right in the ſight of the Lord, yet the Lord regarded neither them, nor their right actions, becauſe they did not right actions with an upright and perfect heart. Men may pray, and do other duties which are right in Gods eye, but 'tis the heart, the uprightneſs and perfection of it, that makes the work or duty gracious; ſo that the Lord knows with what hearts men do duties, confeſs his Name, profeſs Religion, &c.
3. Seeing God knows all, hears all, ſees all; then ſo think, ſpeak and do all, as before one whoſe eye is upon all thy wayes, thoughts and actions. Would any proud, unchaſte or wicked thoughts be harboured by us, did we conſider that God underſtood them afar off? I may invert that ſpeech of the Apoſtle to ſervants, exhorting them not to ſerve their Maſters with eye-ſervice; implying, they ſhould be faithful and diligent in their abſence, as well as in their Maſters preſence; but walk ye, ſpeak, think, do all with eyeſervice unto God, alwayes conſidering that God hears thee, God ſees thee, God knoweth thy very thoughts. It were good if that Motto were written upon thy Bed, thy Couch, in thy Shop, over thy Table, in thy cloſet, or whereſoever thou art.
Cave, Deus videt omnia.
O mortal Man beware,
God ſees all things that are.
Sect. 4.
5. This may ſerve as an an Uſe of▪ EncouragementƲſe 5. to the Godly, to go on in well-doing, to be fruitful and abundant in every good work, becauſe God ſees and knows all, and will one day acknowledge all that thou doſt to thy praiſe and unſpeakable comfort; as God ſaid to the Church of Epheſus, Rev 2. 2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canſt not bear them which are evil, &c. The ſame will he ſay to all that are Godly, I know thy works, and what thou doſt for me, and to me and mine, I know all thy ſecret prayers, ſighs, tears and gro…ns; I know all thy words which thou …aſt ſpoken: Gods knowledge is oftentimes put for his love, approbation …nd …elight; thy Prayers are my del…g…t, thy holy Diſcourſes my del…g…t; yea, one day God will openly a…k…owledge all thy good works: Mat. 25. 35. I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirſty, and ye gave me drink; I was a ſtranger, and ye took me in; Naked, and ye cloathed me; I was ſick, and ye viſited me; I was in priſon, and ye came unto me. Yea, God will recompence all thy gracious works with glory: Small expreſſions of thy love which thou madeſt little account of, will God recompence in that great day; a Cup of cold water, the Widows Mite ſhall have a great reward.
6. This may likewiſe afford ſingularUſe 6. comfort to the Godly in all their afflictions, in divers particulars.
1. In that God knows thee, O Chriſtian, by name, as he did Moſes; he will own thee in every condition, in thy meaneſt and moſt afflicted condition: When the World is aſhamed of thee, and thine ovvn familiar Friends dare not to acknowledge thee, he will acknovvledge thee: 'Tis no ſmall matter for a King to ovvn and acknovvledge a man in his miſeries.
2. Here's comfort in that God knows all thy wrongs, troubles, wants ſtraits, temptations, …ffict…ons: when Iſrael was ſorely opp…eſſed by the Egyptians: the Lord ſaid unto Moſes, I have ſurely ſeen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reaſon of their taskmaſters, for I know their ſorrows, and I am come down, to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians Exod. 3. 7, 8. So God ſaith to his people in affliction; I ſee how it is with thee: do not think thou art forgotten, or caſt out of ſight, when men are caſting ſtones at thee, I ſee what they do, and what thou doſt ſuffer amongſt them.
3. Here's ſpecial comfort to the godly, becauſe when they are walking in their innocence, thinking no evil to the wicked▪ but praying for their good, yet then wicked men are plotting miſchief to ruine them, and digg deep to hide their pernicious counſells againſt the Righteous: then the Lord knoweth all their thoughts, intents, and deviliſh purpoſes, and can fruſtrate, and often doth diſappoint them: he ſits in heaven, and laughs them to ſcorn, and bringeth their conſulted deſigns upon their own head.
4. Here's comfort: becauſe when the Godly are entrapped in the ſnares of the wicked at any time, and to preſent ſenſe no hope of deliverance is manifeſt, yea, they know not how it is poſſible for them to eſcape, yet let them not be diſcouraged, for God knows how, when, and by what means to deliver his own ſervants. 2 Pet. 2. 9. You are perhaps like righteous Lot, vexed from day to day, not onelyonly with the filthy converſation of the wicked, but alſo by the malitious machinations of the ungodly to bring you to ruine, yet deſpair not, but comfort your ſelves in God, who knoweth how to deliver all that put their truſt in him.
7. Hence be encouraged in God in all conditions; not onelyonly becauſe he knows your conditions, but alſo becauſe he knows how to carry you out in all conditions, to his glory and to your comfort. There be three times wherein we have need of Gods wiſdome to help us, leſt we be overborn.
1. Times of afflictions: when theſe come thick upon thee, thou knowſt not what to do; God by theſe teacheth thy heart knowledg, that theſe are his hand and providence, and their meſſage is to teach thee to repent, to pray more fervently, to walk more humbly and cloſely with God.
2. Times of tentation, not only of tryal, but when thou art dogged with ſinful tentations; God k…ows how to turn poiſon into Phyſick, and our ſoreſt maladies into curing medicines; he can turn ſinful tentations to a great and ſpiritu…l advantage, and cauſe us thereby to be the more fruitful.
3. Times of ſtraits and wants: then the Lord knoweth how to help and ſatisfie us: Your heavenly Father knoweth what things you ſtand in need of. Mat. 6. 32. And your God will ſupply all your wants.
Finally, when you cannot ſee the reaſon of things, Gods ways being above your reach, let this be your determination, God is wiſe, and knows what he doth, and all he doth is moſt juſt: and cry out with Paul; oh the depths of his wiſdome, how unſearchable are his judgments; and his ways paſt finding out? and give to the only wiſe God the glory of his wiſdom, and of all his actions.