1This doth impose upon us the duty of careful and reverent walking with God: Would we speak carelessly, or ill of any man, if he heard us? When we slight a man, we say we care not if he heard us himself; But shall we slight God so? Shall we swear and lye, and blaspheme, and say we care not though God hear us that will lay every thing to our charge, not only words but thoughts?2 We shall give an account for every idle word, and for every idle ⟨p. 83⟩thought, and shall we not regard it? It is from the horrible profaneness of the poysonfull rebellious heart of man that men do not consider these things, God hearkens and hears, he is at our studies, he is at our windows, he hears us in our chambers, when we are in company, when we meet together, when we take liberty to censure and detract, when we swear and revile. What if men hear not, yet conscience hears, and God hears? and when God shall lay open the book of conscience, and lay before a man all his naughty speeches, and wicked works, what will become of him then for not making use of this principle, that God hearkens and hears? God sees now with what minds and affections we come about this business, whether it be formally to put off God, to make it a cover for our sinful courses after, as if God were beholding to us for what we do now, and therefore might the better bear with us, though we make bold with him hereafter, he not only hears what we say, but sees our minds and purposes, nay he knows our thoughts long before they are ▪ This is the cause why godly men have alway walked so carefully and circumspectly,3 they knew that Gods eye and ear was over them; as of Enoch and Noah, it is said in this regard that they walked with God, and Joseph when he was tempted, Shall I do this (saith he) and sin against God? and shall not God see if I do this▪ Doth not he see my ways and count all my steps, saith ⟨p. 84⟩Job. So again, What makes wicked men so loose? The Prophet tells, Psal, 94.7. they say, the Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Or as it is, Job. 22.12. &c. Is not God in the height of Heaven? How doth God know, can he judge through the dark cloud, thick clouds are a covering to him that he sees not, and he walketh in the circuit of the Heavens. Tush he regardeth not, he is immured and shut up there:
1This doth impose upon us the duty of carefull and reverent walking with God: Would we speake carelesly, or ill of any man, if hee heard us? When we slight a man, we say wee care not if he heard us himselfe; But shall wee slight God so? Shall we sweare and lye, and blaspheme, and say we care not though God heare us that will lay every thing to our charge, not onely words but thoughts?2 We shall give an account for every idle word, and for every idle ⟨p. 83⟩thought, and shall we not regard it? It is from the horrible prophanenesse of the poysonfull rebellious heart of man that men doe not consider these things, God hearkens and heares, hee is at our studies, hee is at our windowes, hee heares us in our chambers, when wee are in company, when we meete together, when we take liberty to censure and detract, when wee sweare and revile. What if men heare not, yet conscience heares, and God heares? and when God shall lay open the booke of conscience, and lay before a man all his naughty speeches, and wicked works, what will become of him then for not making use of this principle, that God hearkens and heares? God sees now with what minds and affections we come about this businesse, whether it bee formally to put off God, to make it a cover for our sinnefull courses after, as if God were beholding to us for what we doe now, and therefore migh• the better beare with us, though we make bold with him hereafter, he not onely heares what we say, but sees our mindes and purposes, nay hee knowes our thoughts long before they are ▪ This is the cause why godly men have alway walked so carefully and circumspectly,3 they knew that Gods eye and eare was over them; as of Enoch and Noah, it is said in this regard that they walked with God, and Ioseph when hee was tempted, Shall I doe this (saith he) and sinne against God? and shall not God see if I doe this▪ Doth not hee see my waies and count all my steps, saith ⟨p. 84⟩Iob. So againe, What makes wicked men so loose? The Prophet tells, Psal, 94.7. they say, the Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Iacob regard it. Or as it is, Iob. 22.12. &c. Is not God in the height of Heaven? How doth God know, can he judge through the darke cloud, thicke cloudes are a covering to him that hee sees not, and hee walketh in the circuit of the Heavens. Tush he regardeth not, he is immured and shut up there:
- 1To enforce car• in our carriage
- 2Mat. 12.36.
- 3Ground of circumspect walking.
