A Body of Practical Divinity

Resp. Not that his sin was hid from God, but his sin is hid, that is, it is recorded, ⟨p. 31⟩it is laid up against a Day of Reckoning. That this is the meaning, is clear by the fore-going words, His iniquity is bound up; as the Clerk of the Assizes binds up the Indictments of Malefactors in a Bundle, and at the Assizes brings out the Indictments and reads them in Court, so God binds up Mens sins in a Bundle, and at the Day of Judgment this Bundle shall be opened, and all their sins brought to light before Men and Angels.

That God is thus infinite in his Knowledge, 1. It cannot but be so: For he who is the Original Cause, and gives a Being to things, must needs have a clear inspection into them; Psal. 94 9. He that planted the Ear, shall not he hear; he that formed the Eye, shall not he see? He who makes a Watch or Engine, knows all the Workmanship in it. God that made the Heart, knows all the Motions and Fallacies of it. He is like Ezekiel's Wheels, full of Eyes; and as Austin saith, Totus oculis, all eye. 2. It ought to be so: for, he is to be Judge of all the World, Gen. 18.25. There are so many Causes to be brought before him, and so many Persons to be tried, that he must have a most exquisite perfect Knowledge, or he could not do Justice. An ordinary Judge cannot proceed without a Jury; the Jury must search the Cause, and give in their Verdict; but God can judge without a Jury. He knows all things in and of himself, and needs no Witness to inform him. A Judge judgeth only Matters of Fact, but God judgeth the Heart. He not only judgeth wicked Actions, but wicked Designs. He sees the Treason of the Heart, and punisheth it.

That God is thus infinite in his Knowledge, 1. It cannot but be so: For he who is the Original Cause, and gives a Being to things, must needs have a clear inspection into them; Psal. 94 9