quartei- of the globe, and however hidden from mortal eyes,
are visible to him'' All future events, whomsoever
they concern, even the eternal states of all that ever shall be born, are known by him with as much certainty as if they were already accomplished *= ]
2. All men —
[The actions of men are not only noticed by him, but
weighed in a most perfect balance ^ Their words are
all distinctly heard by him, and recorded before him^. Their very thoughts, how secret or transient soever they be, are also marked, and written by him in the book of his remembrance *^
The priests, when inspecting the sacrifices that had
been flayed and cut asunder, did not so inftillibly discern any blemish that might be found, either on their external part or in their inwards, as God discerns " every imagination of the thoughts of our hearts^" ]
That we may not give our assent to this truth without being suitably affected with it, let us con- sider, II. The concern we have in it —
The words of the text include a double inter- pretation—
We shall include both senses by observing, 1. " We have to do with God" in every transaction of our lives —
[The law of God extends to the whole of our conduct : every action therefore, with every word and thought, is an act of obedience to him or of disobedience : there is not a possibility of detaching ourselves from him for an instant, so as to assert our independence in the least respect. Qui minds should be constantly full of love to him ; and our every pur- pose and desire should have respect to his glory '^. How deeply then are we interested in approving ourselves to him ! If we had merely to do with our fellow-creatures, it might suffice to have our actions right, even though there were some defect in our motives and principles ; but when we have to do with the heart-searching God, we should be careful that every motion of our hearts be agreeable to his mind and will.]
** Job xxviii. 24. '^ Isai. xlvi. 9, 10. Acts xv. 8.
^ 1 Sam. ii. 3. Job xxxi. 4. ^ Ps. cxxxix. 4. 2 Kings vi. 12. f Ezek. xi. 5. Gen. vi. .5.
s Tvfxva Kai T£Tpay(_rj\i(7nira. This may be further ilkistrated by Ps. xi. 4. " his eye-lids try," &c. '" 1 Cor. X. 31.
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