Use 2. of Exhortation. Is God so infinite in his Knowledge, then we should always set our selves as under his Omniscient Eye. Sic vivendum est tanquam in conspectu, Seneca. Let us set David's Prospect before our Eye, Psal. 16.8. I have set the ⟨p. 32⟩Lord always before me. Seneca counselled Lucilius, that whatever he was doing, he should imagine some of the Roman Worthies beheld him, and then he would do nothing dishonourable. The consideration of God's Omniscience would, 1. Be preventive of much sin. The Eye of Man will restrain from sin, and will not God's Eyes much more? Esther 7.8. Will he force the Queen before me, when I stand and look on? Will we sin when our Judge looks on. Would Men speak so vainly if they considered God over-heard them? Latimer took heed to every word in his Examination, when he heard the Pen go behind the Hangings. So what care would Persons have of their words, if they remembered God heard, and the Pen is going in Heaven. Would Men go after strange Flesh, if they believed God were a Spectator of their wickedness, and would make them do Penance in Hell for it? would they defraud in their Dealings, and use false Weights, if they thought God saw them? and for making their Weights lighter, would make their damnation heavier. 2. The setting our selves, as under the Eye of God's Omniscience, would cause Reverence in the Worship of God. God sees the frame and carriage of our Hearts when we come before him: How would this call in our straggling thoughts? how would this animate and spirit Duty? it would make us put fire to the Incense. Acts 26.7. The Tribes instantly served God day and night, [Greek or Hebrew], omnibus venibus, with the utmost zeal and intenseness of Spirit. To think God is in this place, he beholds us, would add Wings to Prayer, and Oil to the flame of our Devotion.
Use 2. of Exhortation. Is God so infinite in his Knowledge, then we should always set our selves as under his Omniscient Eye. Sic vivendum est tanquam in conspectu, Seneca. Let us set David's Prospect before our Eye, Psal. 16.8. I have set the ⟨p. 32⟩Lord always before me. Seneca counselled Lucilius, that whatever he was doing, he should imagine some of the Roman Worthies beheld him, and then he would do nothing dishonourable. The consideration of God's Omnisciency would, 1. Be preventive of much sin. The Eye of Man will restrain from sin, and will not God's Eyes much more? Esther 7.8. Will he force the Queen before me, when I stand and look on? Will we sin when our Judge looks on. Would Men speak so vainly if they considered God over-heard them? Latimer took heed to every word in his Examination, when he heard the Pen go behind the Hangings. So what care would Persons have of their words, if they remembred God heard, and the Pen is going in Heaven. Would Men go after strange Flesh, if they believed God were a Spectator of their wickedness, and would make them do Pennance in Hell for it? would they defraud in their Dealings, and use false Weights, if they thought God saw them? and for making their Weights lighter, would make their damnation heavier. 2. The setting our selves, as under the Eye of God's Omnisciency, would cause Reverence in the Worship of God. God sees the frame and carriage of our Hearts when we come before him: How would this call in our stragling thoughts? how would this animate and spirit Duty? it would make us put fire to the Incense. Acts 26.7. The Tribes instantly served God day and night, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, omnibus venibus, with the utmost zeal and intensness of Spirit. To think God is in this place, he beholds us, would add Wings to Prayer, and Oil to the flame of our Devotion.
