2. Some question it, if they do not deny it : Isa. xxix. 15, ' Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us ? and who knoweth us ? ' Ezek. viii. 12, ' They say, Who seeth us H the Lord hath forsaken the earth.'
3. Some forget it : he is not far from us, but we are often far from him ; they acknowledge this truth in the general, but they forget it in particular, in the course of their conversations : Ps. xxxvi. 4, * The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before their eyes.' What could he do worse, if no God to take notice of him ? Profaneness is practical atheism ; they do not deny, but forget ; or they deny not in words, but in works. We should often revive this thought, God knoweth, and taketh notice of what we do : Ps. cxix. 168, 'I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies ; for all my ways are before thee. '
4. Some slight it through impudence and obduration in sin : Zeph. i. 12, ' The Lord will do neither good nor evil.' They acknowledge there is a God, and that he is omniscient, holy, and just, yet dare sin against him : Ps. x. 17, ' He hath said in his heart, The Lord will not require it.'
5. Most carry themselves as too unmindful of it, as appeareth by these evidences.
[1.] In the general ; men would be other manner of persons, in all holy conversation and godliness, if they did always set God before them. The all-seeing eye of a holy God would make them more circumspect and watchful. But because men live without God in the world, therefore are their conversations so full of vanity and sin : Gen. xvii. 1, ' I am God Almighty, walk before me, and be thou perfect.'
[2.] More particularly ; men would make more conscience of their
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tlioughts, if tiiey did remember that God knoweth their thoughts afar off, Ps. cxxxix. 2. Would they indulge themselves in such a liberty of lustful, covetous, envious, malicious, and unbelieving thoughts, and feed their minds with these things, if they did well consider that God knoweth all things ?
[3.J The disproportion of our respects to God's eye and man's : they can fancy a matter in the dark, and not be troubled about it. We are usually more awed with the presence of a man than with the presence of God. You will do that which God knoweth, which you would not do when man knoweth it. He knoweth your fraud, your uncleanness, your licentiousness : Jer. ii. 26, ' The thief is ashamed when he is found.' Job xxiv. 17, ' If a man know them, they are in the terrors of the sha- dow of death.' If a man know anything amiss by them, they are full of anguish and shame. Why should not conscience be awakened more by thoughts of God's knowledge ? It would trouble us to have a win- dow into our hearts ; is not all open and naked to God's eye ? In short, how watchful are we not to incur the penalty of man's law ! but of- fences against God are lightly passed over.
[4.] The best have not such a sound and serious belief of this truth, nor do not improve it as they ought to do, as appears partly because we are more troubled with this or that branch of corruption which breaks out to our disgrace, than about the body of death, or indwelling sin, which is the cause of all ; the root should be more grievous to us than the branches. Partly by this ; in company, what lofty expres- sions and flowing eloquence will men enlarge themselves in prayer ! but how slight and overly in closet duties, if not too commonly neglect- ful of them ! What is this but in effect to say that our Father doth not see in secret ? Partly, also, what will you say if we are troubled more with brokenness of expression than unbrokenness of heart ? the one layeth us open to shame and disgrace with men, the other is more offensive and displeasing to God.
IV. What use shall we make of it ?
1. Terror to the wicked. God seeth them here and hereafter, and will call them to an account ; there is no escaping his sight here, nor shifting his tribunal hereafter. Adam, by running to the bushes, did not hide himself from the Lord, neither did he hide the Lord from himself. God seeth, and God seeth as a judge : Jer. xxxii. 19, ' Thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways, and according to his doings.' God is not a bare spectator of what is done in the world, but a judge, an avenger of what is evil: and his solemn judgment at the last day will most dis- cover his omnisciency, ' When tiie hidden things of darkness are made manifest, and the counsels of the heart are brought to light,' 1 Cor. iv. 5. In that, as you cannot evade his knowledge, you cannot escape liis power.