himself: " Such knowledge is too wonderful for us ; we cannot attain unto it." As for light or darkness, it makes no difference to him: " the night and the day to him are both alike." " All things" without exception, even the most hidden recesses of the heart, " are naked and open before him;" as the inmost parts of the sacrifices, when cut down the back-bone, were to the priest appointed to inspect themb.]
These are solemn truths : and the importance of them will forcibly appear, whilst we suggest,
II. Some reflections naturally arising from them —
On this subject we might multiply reflections with- out end, seeing that there is not any part of a Christian's experience which is not most intimately connected with it. But we will confine ourselves to two ; namely,
1. That many, however high they may be in their own estimation, will be found most awfully to have deceived themselves in the last day —
[Among the foremost of these are the ungodly and profane. These, with an atheistical contempt of God, go on in their own way, saying, " Tush, God shall not see, neither shall the Almighty regard it:" " How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud ? Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth notc." But how will they be surprised in the day of judgment, to find, that not one single act, word, or thought of their whole lives had escaped the notice of the Deity ! They, if no human eye beheld them, prosecuted their licentious pleasures without fear ; little thinking Who was pre- sent, beholding their every act, hearing their every word, noting their every thought. Had but a child been present, they could not have proceeded with such indifference : but Jehovah's pre- sence they regarded not, any more than if he had been, like the heathen gods, unknowing, unconscious, unconcerned. Truly, it is a fearful account which they will have to give, when they shall see the long catalogue of their crimes written with unerring- accuracy, and brought forward against them as the ground of their eternal condemnation.
Next to these are the proud formalists, who, because they have never run to any excess of riot, applaud themselves as righteous and secure of the Divine favour. But whilst they boast of their negative righteousness and their performance of some external duties, and look with contempt upon those who have been less moral than themselves, little do they think in
b Heb. iv. 12, 13. Tnpayj)\i(T\iiva. See also Jer. xvi. 17. and Job xxxiv. 22. ° Job xxii. 13, 11. Ps. lxxiii. 11.