erliì. LXXXL Knóuw1edg'e ofGod take` within our own Breath ? This is an Argument Of the fecret Atheifm that lies at the bottom ofour Hearts. He that allows himfelf in anywicked, Thoughts and Imaginations, which (out of a regard to Men) he will not put in praóìice, this Man plainly declares, That he reverenceth Men more than God ; that he either disbelieves a God, or defpifeth him. Therefore keep your Hearts with all diligence, bècaufe they are peculiarly tinder God's infpedion ; and when you are ready to take the liberty of your Thoughts, becaufe no Eye fees you, ask your felves, Doth not he that pondereth the Heart confider it ? and he that keepeth thy Soul Both he not know it ? as the Wife Mari fpeaks, Pray. 24. rz. . And whatever you do in the fervice of God, do it heartily as to the Lord. In= deed if we did only wòrfhip God tobé feen of Men, an external Worship would{ be fufficient : but Religion is riot intended to pleafe Men but God ; he is á Spi- rit, and fees our Spirits, therefore we mutt worfbip him in Spirit and in Truth, r Their 2.. 4. Not as pleafngMen but God, who trieth our Hearts. David ufeth this Argument to his Son Solomon, r Chron. 18. 9. And thou, Solomon my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and ferve him with a perfefl heart, andwith a milling mind ; for the Lordfearcheth all hearts, and underflandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. Whatever liberty we may take to our felves now,and how carelefs foever we are ofour thoughts, and the inward frame df our Hearts, yet the Scripture affures us, that he, who knows dur Hearts, will oné day judgeus ac- cording to them. ger. 57. to. I the Lord fearch the heart, I try the reins, even to give every Man according to his ways. And the Apoftle fpeaks of á dáj! coming wherein Godwill judge thefecretfof Men by Jefus Chrifl, Heb. 4.. i 3. Rev. 2. z3. 3. This is matter ofencduragenient to us in many cafes. Inour fecret Troubles Pfal. 542.. 3. When my Spirit was overwhelrrred within hw, then than knowejl mypath: In cafesofdifficulty which depend upon the Hearts of other men,, whichtho' we do not know; yet God !Mows them. Só the Apoftles, Aíïs r. 2.4. when they did not know whom to chufe for ari Apoftlé, they refer it toGod, and theyprayed and faid, thou Lord which knowefl the hearts of all, Phew whether of there two thou ball chofen. But efpecially this is matter ofcomfort to us, when we fuffer by the Calumnies and Reproaches ofMen, . when the World chargeth us with Crimesof Hypocrify, and Falfenefs; and Infincerity, then to be able toappeal to the Searcher of hearts, as toour Innocency and Sincerity, and to fay with the Prophet per. O Lord of hofls, that tryefl the righteous, and feefl the reins and the heart, unto thel have I openedmy Caufe, Ch. ad. Ia.: andwithSt. Peter, Godwhich knoweth the hearti bear them wilnefs, Ads 15. 8. 4. This renders all deep and profound Policies Of Wicked Men a vain thing: The Lordknows the Thoughts of men that they are Vanity, becaufe he knowsthem, and can defeat them ; he can bring their councels to nought, and maketheir devices of none effeli. He is confcious to the firft motions of their Hearts ; he fees thofe Cobwebs which theyare fpinning, and can blow them away with a Breath, he can fame them in their own Policies, and turn their counts into fóolifhnefs. Thou that putteft a Mask upon a wicked Defign, and hideft the Malice and Re- venge of thine Heart, under a diffembling Countenance, God fees thy Defign and hath a thoufand ways to prevent it. When the Politicians of the World think they have laid their Defign with all imaginable caution, arid that their Councels cannot mifcarry, being out of all poffibilityof Humandifcovery or pre- vention, for all this their counfels may come to nought, and tho' they have refolvedit yet it may not hand; he that fits in the heavens laughs at them, the Lord hath them in derifion. As Wife as they are, they are guilty of this over-fight, that they did not take God into confederation, by whom they are furprized and dif covered. He that feestheir Defign can Waft it in amoment; he canfpeak the word, and thy breath mall go forth, and thou (halt return to thy dull, and in that every day thy thoughts perifl, Pfal. 146. 4. S. ItGod only knows the Hearts of Men, thenwhat art thou, 0 man that jag.;' eh another' s heart? This condemns the Uncharitablenefs of Men, who take upon tier I
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