Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-02
The All.Seeing Eye.

The All-Seeing Eye.
Some years since, physician had glass
model Of the human body made. His design
was to show through the transparent outside
the position Of the different organs within
and by colored fluids to represent the circula-
ton Of the blood How he succeeded we do
not know. But suppose our bodies were
transparent like this model how many sour
ces Of physical weakness and disease would
be revealed to the eye And what if the
souls Of men were thus transparent what an
exhibition would present itself as one soul
looked into another-a sight sometimes beau
titul, but often revolving, We can hardly
imagine the results of such revelations on
practical life ; and whether the possibility of
such inspection would work good or evil in
society, is question which might easily find
strong advocates on either side.
But men cannot thus clearly see each 9th
er there is One to whom body and soul are
both as visible az if made of transparent
crystal. II is impossible to conceal ourselves
from His all-seeing eye Wherever we 90,
that eye beholds US. Though lost to others
IN crowded street, we are not lost to His
view. Though in wilderness away from
our tellow-men He sees us. Whatever we
do is seen by Him. There are many acts of
Christian charity unseen, unknown by men,
that are perfectly visible to Him. SO there
are many deeds of darkness concealed from
human gaze that God behods. He sees the
torger's hand as he seeks to make property
his that rightly belongs to another He sees
the midnight murderer as he steals to the bed
Of his victim. Criminals Of various sorts
may suppose themselves unseen while engag-
ed in their deeds of darkness but they forget
God.
1t must not be overlooked that this all.
seeing eye has a perfect knowledge of us.
Men only look specifically. They gaze on
that which is without, but can only guess at
what is inward. Their reasonings and infer
ences are often proved to be sadly at fault.
But when God secs, there is something more
than this superficial view. He has a perfect
knowledge Of what he beholds He looks be-
yond words and deeds, and sees the motives
which lie behind and actuate them Every
thought INDUCED is exposed to His view, and
he knows every desire that nestles in the
heart He sees all the weak excuses that
men make for sin, and all the refugees Of lies
to which they flee for shelter He likewise
behods the inward struggle against tempta-
ton, and the earnest longings for better
life
To some these facts are encouraging. Gods
omniscience is connected with His goodness.
If malicious being like Satan, were omnis.
cient, what an immense advantage it would
give him over US But this is an attribute
which belongs to the good God, and to Him
alone, and it makes US hopeful that we shall
not be deserted in our time of secret trouble
We also find encouragement in the fact that
Gods all-seeng eye is closely related to his
all-poweriul hand. If a wicked being were
endowed with all power and all knowledge,
who could stand before himl Or if it were
possible for being TO exist who should be
! perfectly good and omniscient, and yet whose
power should be limited, he could do nothing
but morn over his incapaety. He would
know all the wants Of men, he would be moved
with strong desires to supply those wants, but
his lack Of infinite power would prevent. He
would be like man who, through the iron
bars Of dungeon, should see his loved ones
perishing, but be unable to help them. But
Gods power is equal to his wisdom and his
goodness, and herein His people may find hope
and cheer.
But to others these facts should be alarm.
ing Gods omniscience is connected with His
justice. We can imagine a human Judge OF
ruler, who with a knowledge of guilt would
conniye at it, and thus the criminal might es.
cape merited punishment. We can also sec
how a man might, with sincere and honest desire
for strict justice, be deceived as to the facts
and thus the guilty, being supposed innocent
might escape. But consider that call thing,
are naked and opened unto the eyes Of Hin
with whom we have to do" He cannot be
deceived as to the facts nor can He be bribed
or hindered from the administration of mer.
tied punishment. Surely this thought ought
to alarm the careless man. Gods eye follow,
him, beholding every act and discerning all
the hidden depths Of the heart Secret sin,
carefully concealed from the world are all
known to Him. And the hand of Him who
looks with this all-seeing eye grasps the SWORD
Of justice, and will use it in His own GOOD
| time.
If men could see God in person as they
behold Him in His works, their conduct would
be generally different from what it now is
But is Gods existence the less real because
His person is concealed from view Why
should men live as if there were no God ? IL
theory they profess belief in the divine ex.
istence; but in practice they are atheists
having no hope, and without God in the
world. Methodist.