Of the Knowledge of God

For the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed (1 Samuel 2:3). Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts and the angels' praises. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his excellent excellencies, this is not the least: the Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, el Degnoth, a God of knowledges. Through the bright mirror of his own essence he has a full idea and cognizance of all things; the world is to him Corpus diaphanum, a transparent body. He makes a heart-anatomy; he is [illegible] (Revelation 2:23). I am he which searches the reins and the heart. The clouds are no canopy, the night is no curtain to draw between us and his sight (Psalm 139:12). The darkness hides not from you. There is not a word we whisper but God hears it (Psalm 139:4). There is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, you know it altogether. There is not the most subtle thought comes into our mind, but God perceives it (Isaiah 66:18). I know their thoughts. Thoughts speak as loud in God's ears as words do in ours. All our actions, though never so subtly contrived, and secretly conveyed, are visible to the eye of omniscience (Isaiah 66:18). I know their works. Achan hid the Babylonian garment in the earth, but God brought it to light (Joshua 7:21). Minerva was drawn in such curious colors, and so lively penciled, that whichever way one turned, Minerva's eye was upon him: so whichever way we turn ourselves, still God's eye is upon us (Job 37:16). Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the works of him who is perfect in knowledge? God knows whatever is knowable; he knows future contingencies: [illegible], Chrysostom. He foretold Israel's coming out of Babylon, and the virgin's conceiving. By this the Lord proves the truth of his godhead against idol-gods (Isaiah 41:23). Indicate Futura — show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know you are gods. The perfection of God's knowledge is that it cannot be searched out to perfection (Job 11:7). What angel can reach the top of these pyramids? But first, God's knowledge is primary. He is the original, the pattern and prototype of all knowledge; others borrow their knowledge of him; the angels light their lamps at this glorious sun. Second, God's knowledge is pure. It is not contaminated with the object. Divina Natura non est immista rebus aut sordibus inquinata, Augustine. Though God knows sin, yet it is to hate and punish it. No evil can mix or incorporate with his knowledge, no more than the sun can be defiled with the vapors which arise from the earth. Third, God's knowledge is easy; it is without any difficulty. We study and search for knowledge (Proverbs 2:4). If you seek for her as silver. But the lamp of God's knowledge is so infinitely bright, that all things are easily intelligible to him. Fourth, God's knowledge is infallible; there is no mistake in his knowledge. Human knowledge is subject to error and misprision. A physician may mistake the cause of a disease; but God's knowledge is unerring; he can neither deceive, nor be deceived. He cannot deceive, because he is truth; nor be deceived, because he is wisdom. Fifth, God's knowledge is instantaneous. Our knowledge is successive; one thing after another. We argue from the effect to the cause. God knows things past, present, and to come, uno intuitu, at once. They are all before him in one entire prospect. Sixth, God's knowledge is retentive; he never loses any of his knowledge; he has reminiscentia as well as intelligentia; he remembers as well as understands. Many things elapse out of our mind, but God's knowledge is eternized. Things transacted a thousand years ago, are as fresh to him as if they were done but the last minute. Thus he is perfect in knowledge.

Object. But is it not said (Genesis 18:21), I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry which is come up to me, and I will know?

Response. It could not be a nesciency that God was ignorant, because there is mention made of a cry; but the Lord speaks there [illegible], after the manner of a judge, who will first examine the cause before he passes the sentence. God when he is upon a work of justice, is not in a riot, as if he did not care where he hits; but he goes in the way of a circuit against offenders; he lays judgment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet (Isaiah 28:17).

Object. Hosea 13:12. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is hid?

Response. Not that his sin was hid from God, but his sin is hid, that is, it is recorded, it is laid up against a day of reckoning. That this is the meaning, is clear by the foregoing 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 men's 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, first, 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 (Psalm 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 Augustine says, Totus oculis, all eye. Second, it ought to be so: for, he is to be judge of all the world (Genesis 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 judges only matters of fact, but God judges the heart. He not only judges wicked actions, but wicked designs. He sees the treason of the heart, and punishes it.

Use 1. Is God infinite in knowledge (1 John 1:5). He is Light, and in him is no darkness; then how unlike are they to God, who are darkness, and in them is no light, who are destitute of knowledge, such as the Indians, who never heard of God. And are there not many among us, who are no better than baptized heathens? Who are to seek in the first principles of the oracles of God. It is sad, that after the sun of the Gospel has shined so long in our horizon, yet, to this day the veil should be upon their heart. Such as are enveloped with ignorance, cannot give God a reasonable service (Romans 12:1). Ignorance is the nurse of impiety: the Schoolmen say, Omne peccatum fundatur in ignorantia; (Jeremiah 9:3). They proceed from evil to evil, and know not me, says the Lord. Where ignorance reigns in the understanding, lust rages in the affections: (Proverbs 19:2). That the mind be without knowledge, it is not good; neither faith nor fear: no faith, for knowledge carries the torch before faith: (Psalm 9:10). They that know your name will put their trust in you. A man can no more believe without knowledge, than the eye can see without light. Nor fear of God; How can they fear him whom they do not know? The covering of Haman's face was a sad presage of death. When people's minds are covered with ignorance, this covering of the face is a fatal forerunner of destruction.

2. If God be a God of knowledge, then see the folly of hypocrisy. Hypocrites do not virtutem facere, but fingere, Melanct. they carry it fair with men, but care not how bad their hearts are; they live in secret sin: (Psalm 73:11). They say how does God know? (Psalm 10:11). God has forgotten, he hides his face, he will never see it. But (Psalm 147:5). His understanding is infinite. He has a grate (Crates) that looks into men's breasts: he has a key for the heart, he beholds all the sinful workings of men's spirits: As in a glass hive we can see the bees working in their combs (Matthew 6:4). he sees in secret; [illegible], in impios habet, Rivet. As a merchant enters down debts in his book, so God has his diary or day-book, and he enters down every sin into the book. He makes a critical discant upon men's actions. Jeroboam's wife disguised herself that the prophet should not know her, but he discerned her (1 Kings 14:6). Why do you feign yourself to be another. The hypocrite thinks to prevaricate and juggle with God, but God will unmask him; (Ecclesiastes 12:14). God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing. (Jeremiah 29:23). They have committed villainy in Israel, even I know and am a witness, says the Lord. I, but the hypocrite hopes he shall color over his sin, and make it look very specious. Absalom masks over his treason with the pretense of a religious vow. Judas dissembles his envy at Christ, and covetousness, with a pretense of charity to the poor (John 12:5). Jehu makes religion a stirrup to his ambitious design (1 Kings 10:16). but God sees through these fig leaves. You may see a jade under his gilt trappings. (Jeremiah 16:17). Their iniquities are not hid from my eyes. And he that has an eye to see, will find a hand to punish.

Use 2. of Exhortation. Is God so infinite in his knowledge, then we should always set ourselves as under his omniscient eye. Sic vivendum est tanquam in conspectu, Seneca. Let us set David's prospect before our eye (Psalm 16:8). I have set the Lord always before me. Seneca counseled Lucilius, that whatever he was doing, he should imagine some of the Roman Worthies beheld him, and then he would do nothing dishonorable. 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 overheard 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 ourselves, 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 inspire duty? It would make us put fire to the incense. (Acts 26:7). The tribes instantly served God day and night, [illegible], 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.

2. Is God's knowledge infinite, study sincerity, be what you seem; (1 Samuel 16:7). The Lord looks upon the heart. Men judge of the heart by the actions, God judges of the actions by the heart. If the heart be sincere, God will see the faith, and wink at the failing. Asa had his [illegible], his blemishes, but his heart was right with God (2 Chronicles 15:17). God saw his sincerity, and pardoned his infirmity. Sincerity in a Christian is like chastity in a wife, which does excuse many failings. Sincerity makes our duties acceptable, like musk among linen, that perfumes it. As Jehu said to Jehonadab (2 Kings 10:15). Is your heart right with me? And he said it is: if it be (says he) give me your hand; and he took him up into the chariot. So if God sees our heart is right, that we love him, and design his glory, now, says he, give me your prayers and tears, now you shall come up with me into the triumphant chariot of glory. Sincerity makes our services to be golden, and God will not cast away this gold, though it may want some weight. Is God omniscient, and his eye chiefly upon the heart, wear this girdle of truth about you, and never leave it off.

Use 3. of Comfort. Is God a God of infinite knowledge, then there is comfort, 1. To the Saints in particular, 2. To the Church in general, in three respects.

1. In case of private devotion. Christian, you set hours apart for God, your thoughts run upon him as your treasure, God takes notice of every good thought (Malachi 3:17). He had a Book of Remembrance written for them that thought upon his name. You enter into your closet, and pray to your Father in secret; he hears every sigh and groan (Psalm 38:9). My groaning is not hid from you. You water the seed of your prayer with tears, God bottles every tear (Psalm 56:8). Put your tears into your bottle. When the secrets of all hearts shall be opened, God will make an honorable mention of the zeal and devotion of his people, and he himself will be the herald of their praises (1 Corinthians 4:5). Then shall every man have praise of God.

2. The infiniteness of God's knowledge is a comfort, in case the saints have not so clear a knowledge of themselves. They find so much corruption, that they judge they have no grace (Genesis 25:22). If it be so, why am I thus? If I have grace, why is my heart in so dead and earthly a frame? O remember, God is of infinite knowledge, he can spy grace where you cannot; he can see grace hid under corruption, as the stars may be hid under a cloud. God can see that holiness in you, which you cannot discern in yourself. He can spy the flower of grace in you, though overtopped with weeds (1 Kings 14:13). Because there is in him some good thing, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. God sees some good thing in his people, when they can see no good in themselves; and though they judge themselves, he will give them an absolution.

3. It is comfort in respect of personal injuries. It is the saints' lot to suffer. The head being crowned with thorns, the feet must not tread upon roses; if saints find a real purgatory, 'tis in this life, but this is the comfort, God sees what wrong is done to them. The apple of his eye is touched, and is not he sensible? Saint Paul was scourged by cruel hands (1 Corinthians 11:35). Three times I was beaten with rods; as if you should see a scullion whip the king's son. God beholds it (Exodus 3:7). I know their sorrows. The wicked make wounds in the backs of the saints, and then pour in vinegar: God writes down their cruelty. Believers are part of Christ's mystical body, and for every drop of a saint's blood spilt, God puts a drop of wrath in his vial.

2. Comfort to the church of God in general. If God be a God of knowledge, he sees all the plots of the enemies against Zion, and can make them prove abortive. The wicked are subtle, having borrowed their skill of the old Serpent; they dig deep to hide their counsels from God, but he sees them, and can easily counterwork them. The Dragon is described with seven heads (Revelation 12:3), to show how he plots against the church. But God is described with seven eyes (Zechariah 3:9), to show that he sees all the plots and stratagems of the enemies, and when they deal proudly, he can be above them. Come, says Pharaoh, let us deal wisely (Exodus 1:10), and he never played the fool more, than when he thought to deal wisely. In the morning watch the Lord looked to the host of the Egyptians, by the pillar of fire, and troubled their host (Exodus 14:24). How may this be as sap in the vine, and may comfort the church of God in her militant state, the Lord has an eye in all the counsels and combinations of the enemy, he sees them lay their train, and can blow them up in their own mine.