[2.] From the danger of dissembling with God in acts of worship, or putting him off with feigned pretences. The scripture sets forth three phrases — a mocking of God, a lying to God, and a tempting of God. A mocking of God : Gal. vi. 7, ' Be not deceived, God is not mocked ;' that is, ini'pune, there is no escaping the accurate search of tlie all-seeing God. Ananias and Sapphira's sin was hypocrisy in keeping back part of what was devoted ; they would seem liberal and pious as others who were joined to the church, and so, by a part of godliness, seek to be ex- cused from the whole. And whilst they observe externals, neglect inter- nals, own religion when profession is not costly, put on a garb of devotion at times, but lay it aside ordinarily ; do what is plausible to men, but neglect what is acceptable to God ; now this is called a lying to the Holy Ghost, Acts v. 3. Why to the Holy Ghost, rather than the Father and the Son ? Because of his special precedency and iuspec-
VeR. 27.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIIl. 247
tion over cliiirch affairs: Acts xx. 28, 'Take heed tlierefore unto jourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made }ou overseers ; ' Acts xv. 28, ' For it seemed good uuto the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.' They pretended to do it by his instinct ; as all christians that pray, profess or pretend to pray by the Holy Ghost. Oh ! observe this. Many make a false confession of faith, or promise of obedience ; this is called a lying, not to men, but to God, Acts v. 4. Oh ! then, we should be exceedingly fortified against hypocrisy in worship ; it is to think to deceive God, whom we profess to be omniscient ; nay, it is a tempting of the Spirit of the Lord : ver. 9, ' How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the spirit of the Lord ? ' a putting it to the proof whether he will discover us or no. Now, rather than rim this hazard, it con- cerneth us greatly and thoroughly to be possessed of this truth, that God searcheth the heart.
[3.] There can be no true worship unless we be deeply possessed with a thorough sense of the infinite knowledge of God.
(1.) Tiiere can be no faith unlei3s the worship be performed and tendered to God as an all-seeing spirit : Heb. xi. 6, ' Without faith it is impossible to please God ; for he that cometh to God must believe Ihat he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' If God know me not, nor in what manner I serve him, it is all one whether I serve him religiously, or with a cold, faint, formal worship ; for he seeth not with what heart I go about it. If we pray, and think to be never the better for praying, there can be no life in prayer ; for a persuasion to be heard and accepted must be at the bottom of all duties ; therefore all that would serve him diligently must believe that he is omniscient, and knoweth all things.
(2.) There can be no reverence ; for it is all one to pray to an idol, and to a God that heareth not and seeth not ; yea, it is worse, for 'they ■were persuaded of a virtue or a divine power belonging to their idols ; therefore all your worship will be but a conformity to the common custom and fashion : Ezek. xxxiii. 31, ' They come before thee as thy people cometh, and sit before thee as thy people ; and they hear thy words, but they will not do them ; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness ;' it is but a show of devotion.
Use 1. Is comfort to sincere worshippers.
1. God knoweth their persons ; that there is such a man in the world, the desires of whose soul are to the remembrance of his name. It is an usual temptation which haunteth the children of God, that in the throng of his creatures he forgetteth us : Isa. xl. 27, ' My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is jmssed over by my God ;' God looketh not after me, taketh no notice of those things which conceru me, or regardeth not my cause and complaint. How doth God know all things, and not know you ? AH things are under a providence, but his people are under a special providence. Christ saith of the sparrows, Luke xii. 6, ' Not one of them if. forgotten before God ;' and are his children forgotten ? No, ' Christ kaoweth his sheep by name/ John x. 5 ; and to Moses, Exod. xxxiii. 12,, ' I know thee by name.' A father
248 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XXXVI.
Ccannot forget how many children he hath, though his family be never so lai'ge and numerous.
2. He knoweth their condition, and wants, and weaknesses : Mat. vL, ' 32, ' Your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of these things;" and ver. 8, 'Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before you ask him.' Yet asking is necessary, solemnly to act your' faith and dependence; but he will not neglect or forget us; his omni- sciency giveth all that have interest in him that hope.