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God. For this is good, to see Him who seeth. For they who worship false gods, see them
easily; but they see them “who have eyes and see not.” But to us is promised the Vision of
the Living and the Seeing God, that we may desire eagerly to see that God of whom Scripture
saith, “He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, doth he not con-
sider?”2310 Doth He then not hear, who hath made for thee that whereby thou hearest? and
doth not He see, who hath created that whereby thou seest? Well therefore in the foregoing
words of this very Psalm doth He say, “Understand therefore ye unwise among the people,
and ye fools at length be wise.”2311 For many men commit evil deeds whilst they think they
are not seen by God. And it is difficult indeed for them to believe that He cannot see them;
but they think that He will not. Few are found of such great impiety, that that should be
fulfilled in them which is written, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”2312
This is but the madness of a few. For as great piety belongs but to the few, no less also does
great impiety. But the multitude of men speak thus: What! is God thinking now upon this,
that He should know what I am doing in my house, and does God care for what I may choose
to do upon my bed? Who says this? “Understand, ye unwise among the people, and ye fools
at length be wise.” Because as being a man, it is a labour for thee to know all that takes place
in thy house, and for all the doings and words of thy servants to reach thee; thinkest thou
that it is a like labour for God to observe thee, who did not labour to create thee? Doth not
He fix His eye upon thee, who made thine eye? Thou wast not, and He created thee and
gave thee being; and doth not He care for thee now that thou art, who “calleth those things
which be not as though they were”?2313 Do not then promise thyself this. Whether thou
wilt or no, He seeth thee, and there is no place whither thou canst hide thyself from His
eyes. “For if thou goest up into heaven, He is there; if thou goest down into hell, He is there
also.”2314 Great is thy labour, whilst unwilling to depart from evil deeds: yet wishest not to
be seen by God. Hard labour truly! Daily art thou wishing to do evil, and dost thou suspect
that thou art not seen? Hear the Scripture which saith, “He that planted the ear, shall He
not hear? He that formed the eye, doth not He consider?” Where canst thou hide thy evil
deeds from the eyes of God? If thou wilt not depart from them, thy labour is great indeed.
4. Hear Him then who saith, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour.” Thou canst not end
thy labour by flying. Dost thou choose to fly from Him, and not rather to Him? Find out
then whither thou canst escape, and so fly. But if thou canst not fly from Him, for that He
is everywhere present; fly (it is quite nigh2315) to God, who is present where thou art
2310 Ps. xciii. 9, Sept. (xciv. English version).
2311 Ps. xciii. 8, Sept. (xciv. English version).
2312 Ps. xiv. 1.
2313 Rom. iv. 17.
2314 Ps. cxxxix. 8.
2315 De proximo.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 28, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour…