Of the Baptist Catechism
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Question What are we especially taught by these words before me, in the first commandment?
Answer These words before me, in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of and is much displeased with the sin of having any other God. 1
[1] Exodus 8:5ff

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Doth God see all our actions?
Yes.

If we should say the darkness shall cover us, even the night shall be light about us,
Psalm 139:11

Doth he see our most secret duties?
Yes.

I know thy works and thy labour,
Revelation 2:2

And should this be an encouragement in duty?
Yes.

Your father which seeth in secret will reward you openly,
Matthew 6:4

Doth he see our secret sins?
Yes.

He hath set our secret sins in the light of his countenance,
Psalm 90:8

And should this dissuade from sin?
Yes.

How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Genesis 39:9


Do idolaters often flatter themselves that God doth not see them?
Yes.

They do it in the dark, and say, the Lord seeth us not,
Ezekiel 8:12

But doth God see them?
Yes.

If we have stretched out oar hands to a strange god, shall not God search this out?
Psalm 44:20

Is this an aggravation of their sin?
Yes.

They provoke me to anger continually to my face,
Isaiah 65:3

And should it be a preservative against it?
Yes.

We must serve God with a perfect heart, for the Lord searcheth all hearts,
1 Chronicles 28:9


Is Idolatry spiritual robbery?
Yes.

I am the Lord, and my glory I will not give to another,
Isaiah 42:8

And spiritual adultery?
Yes.

Thou hast gone a whoring from thy God,
Hosea 9:1

Is God therefore greatly displeased with it?
Yes.

They provoked him to jealousy with strange Gods,
Deuteronomy 32:16

And is this a reason why we should be aware of it?
Yes.

For who knoweth the power of his anger?
Psalm 90:11

From A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

The Westminster Larger Catechism Copy a link to this section

#106 Copy this
Question What are we specially taught by these words "before me" in the first commandment?
Answer These words before me, or before my face, in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh special notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God: that so it may be an argument to dissuade from it, and to aggravate it as a most impudent provocation: 1 as also to persuade us to do as in his sight,: Whatever we do in his service. 2
[1] Ezekiel 8:5–6; Psalm 44:20–21
[2] 1 Chronicles 28:9