Chap. 34. An Expofstion rayon the Book,of J Verf. 22. though they heare that God feeth them. To feare to doe a thing whenthe eye of a creature is upon us, and yet to doe it notwith fiandingCod feeth us, what is this but either an unbeliefe that the eye of God feeth us , or a contempt of his All feeing eye ? This Divine Attribute, the All feeing eye of God, wet wrought n yon the heart by faith, is enough to over-aw the finfullnefie of our hearts. And though the people of God have a higher prince ple,uponwhich they forbeare the doingof evill,then this,becaufe God will fee it , and punifh ir, yet to keep the heart in a holy feare of doing evils upon that principle, is both needful( and our duty. The Apofile would not have fervants doe their Matters commands with eyefervice as men-pleafers. It is indeed a bafe- nefs in a fervant todoe his duty meerely becaufe hisMatters eye is uponhim, or to forbeare to doe what is againft or betide his du- ty, becaufe his Matter Teeth him; but howgreat is the impudence and wickednefs of that fervantwho will not keep to his duty,when his Matters eye is upon him !:So, in this cafe, meerely to forbeare doing evill,becaufe we heare God fees us, is eye-fervice,buthow great is their wickednefs , who will not forbeare to doe evill, though they heare and know that God Teeth it?WhichElihu con- firmes yet further in the next words. Vert. 22. There is nodarknefs nor fhaddowof death, where the workers ofiniquity may bide thernfelves. This verfe holds outthat truth negatively, which the former heldout affirmatively. There Gods knowledge of mans wayes, was afferted, herehis ignorance or nefcience of the wayes ofman is denied. There is no darknefs, &c. The words feeme to be the prevention of an obje&ion. For force poffiblymight fay,'Tis true indeed, Godbath a large know- ledge, his eye feeth farre, but we hope we may fometime be un- der covert, or compaffed about with fuch darknefs, that the Lord cannot fee us. Therefore ( faith Elihu) there isno darknefs nor fbaddow of death,where theworkers ofiniquitymay hide them(elves. The Prophet gives a parallel proòfe and teftimonyof this know- ledge of God both in the affirmative and negative part of it. X999 66
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=