When we say God is Omniscient, we intend both his Prescience, and immediate observation of all things, whether projected or done. As to God's fore-knowledg, thus saith God by the Prophet, Isa. 44. 7. Who, as I, shall call, and declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the Ancient People? and the things that are coming, let them shew unto them. By this Speech God proves himself to be the only true God, declaring hereby that no other could know these things as He, they being the things determined by his own Will, and wholly inscrutable as to any created being. To the same purpose is that passage, Isa. 45. 21. Tell ye, and bring them near, let them take counsel together; who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? Have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and Saviour, there is none be∣side me. David setteth forth the Omniscience and Prescience of God very fully, Psal. 139 throughout; O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me; thou knowest my down sitting and up-rising; thou understandest my thoughts afar off. — For there is not a word in my Tongue, but loe, thou know∣est it altogether. And excludes all created Beings in respect of this Know∣ledg; Such Knowledg (saith he) is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can∣not attain unto it. — Yea, the Darkness hideth not from thee, but the Night shineth as the Day; the Darkness and the Light are both alike to thee. Herein is the Wonderful Wisdom of God held forth, in that he knoweth our Thoughts before they be ours, yea, hundred of years before the Creature hath any being at all; Thine Eyes did see my Substance, yet be∣ing unperfect, and in thy Book all were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when yet there was none of them, vers. 16.
As to his present observation of all things, we do not suppose that God knoweth things gradually, or by degrees, for that would argue im∣perfection