An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

To work this upon our hearts, let us consider,¹

1. 1What it is in God that a sincere heart looks upon.

First, What are those things in God, that the sincere man doth thus fix himself upon, living as if there were none in the world, but he and God alone. And

First, The Omniscience of God, that all-seeing eye of his, whereby he knoweth ¹every secret turning, and winding of the soul, yea our thoughts afar off, while they are but in the minting and womb, and thereby seeth that in us, which we cannot our selves. This is that, which is often in the thoughts of a sincere man. This all searching knowledge of God, David largely celebrateth, Psal. 139. 1, 2, 3, &c. Thus God commandeth Abraham, To walk before him, and be perfect, Gen. 17. The consideration of Gods presence, that he is with us, that he knoweth every thought, and every word, this will make us perfect and upright. Had Gehezi thought that Elijahs spirit would have gone along with him, as it were, and taken notice of the actions he did, he would not with such confidence have come into the Prophets presence, as if all had been well. Oh then, how vain is it to hide thy designs and intentions to men, to make protestations and professions of thy integrity to men, if the all-seeing eye of God behold other things in thee? What greater obligation can there be, to have all the motions and turnings of thy heart cordial and faithful towards God, seeing no man can more perfectly behold the outward gestures of thy body, then he doth the inward motions of thy soul? Oh say. God knoweth what I think, what my heart is upon, what is the spring of every duty I do!