[2.] There is a performance of obedience under the eye of God, as one that is peculiarly concerned in that obedience. God says to David, Ps. xxxii. 8, "'I will guide thee with mine eye/ The consideration of mine eye being upon thee, shall instruct thee, or teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. Mine eye is on thee, as concerned in thy ways and obedience." This is to walk before God, — to consider him as looking on us, as one deeply concerned in all our ways, walking, and obedience.
Now, we consider the Lord as thus concerned, as one from whom we receive, — -1st, Direction ; 2dly} Protection; odly, Examination and trial.
1st. Direction. So before, — " I will guide thee with mine eye." Consideration of the eye of God on us, sends us to him for counsel and direction in the whole course of our obedience. If a child walk in any way with his father looking on him, if he be at a loss at any time which way he ought to go, will he not inquire of him who knows, who looks on him in all his ways? Are we at any loss in our way? know we not what to do, or how to steer our course? — [Let us] look to Him whose eye is upon us, and we shall have direction, Prov. xxii. 12.
Idly. Protection in our walking in our obedience: Ps. xxxiv. 15, His eyes are so upon them, that his ears are open to them, to give them protection and deliverance: so fully, 2 Chron. xvi. 9. This is one end why the eyes of God are upon his and their ways, — that he may show himself strong in their behalf. " I have seen it," he lays at the bottom of all their deliverance.
3dly. For trial and examination: Ps. xi. 4, 5, His eyes are upon us, for to search and try if there be, as David speaks, any way of wickedness in us. This use he makes of the consideration of the omnipresence and omniscience of God, Ps. cxxxix. 7-18. Having
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set forth God's intimate knowledge of and acquaintance with him, and all his ways, verses 23, 24, he makes use of it, by appealing to him about his integrity in his obedience. So saith Job to God, " Hast thou eyes of flesh ? or seest thou as man seeth ? " chap. x. 4 ; that is, thou dost not. And what is this spoken in reference unto? Even his trying the paths and obedience of the sons of men, verse 6. When our Saviour comes to try, examine, and search the obedience of his churches, he is said to have " eyes of fire," Rev. i. 14. And, in pur- suit of it, he still tells his churches, "I know thy works;" — or, " I have not found thee perfect ; I have something against thee : " — all arguing a trial and examination of their obedience.
This, I say, is to walk before God, or under his eye, — to consider him looking on us peculiarly, as one concerned in our ways, walking, and obedience; that we may constantly take counsel of him, fly to him for protection, and consider that he weighs and tries all our ways and works, whether they are perfect according to the tenor of the covenant of grace.
Now, there are two things that will certainly follow this considera- tion of our walking with God, being under his eye and control : —
(1st.) Reverential thoughts of him. This God, who is a consuming fire, is nigh to us; his eyes are always on us. " Let us," saith the apostle, " have grace, whereby we may serve him acceptably/' Heb. xii. 28, 29. If men order their deportment and carriage, at least, unto a reverential appearance before their rulers or governors, who see only their outside, shall we not have a regard of Him who always hath his eye upon us, searches our hearts, and tries our reins, — the most secret reserve of our souls ? But of this afterward.
(2dly.) Self-abasement under a sense of our great vileness, and the imperfection of all our services. But both these belong properly to the next consideration, — of what it is to walk humbly with God.
(5.) Our walking with God in our obedience, argues complacency and delight therein, and that we are bound unto God in his ways with the cords of love. He that goes unwillingly, by compulsion, with another, when every step is wearisome and burdensome to him, and his whole heart desires to be discharged of his company, can very improperly be said to walk with him, and no farther than as the mere motion of the body may be so expressed. The Lord walketh with us, and he rejoiceth over us, and in us, Zeph. iii. 17; as also he ex- presseth his delight in the particular service that we yield unto him, Cant. ii. 14. So also saith the Son and Wisdom of God, Prov. viii. 31 ; his joy and his delight is in the obedience of the sons of men. Hence are those longing expressions of God after the obedience of his people, " ' 0 that there were such an heart in thee, that thou would st fear me ! Turn ye, turn ye ; when shall it once be ! ' What have you