Chap. 38. e,4fs Expofition upon the Book, of Jos. Verf. Jifciples (verf. 39.) To there morofe Mailers, Chrill anCwered (verf. 40) I tell yon,thst ifthefe (hould hold their peace , theflanes would immediately cry oat. As it he had laid , you labour in vain to fupprefs or hinder the tef}imony given me by my Difciples; for if they (hould be filenr, the (tones would cry frameof them, for neglebtrng their duty : and God would rather caufe fenfelefs creatutes to proclaim his praife , in giving me an honourable teflimony , than I fhould want it. Now as there was fuch -a worth in the work of Redemption , and in all the works of the k Redeemer , while here onEarth , that the (iones wouldhave (hewed forth his praife, ifmen hadnot : So there is fuch aworth in that Work of God , the Creation of the Earth , that rather than God (hould not have the glory of it , the Stars wouldhave done it by breaking out into joyful finging. Lafily , As Birds praifeGod by their finging , fo Stars may be Paid to fing the high praifes of God by their (tuning , by their brightnefs , by their motion , by their influence ; for all which God is tobe praifed and glorified. And hence we may infer, If not only irrational , but inani- mate creatures fing the praifes of God , at leaf+, by giving coca- lion of his praife ; then how much more fhoald men fa forthhis praife , who are not only living , but reafonable creatures 1 and if creatures without life and reafon fhould provoke mankind"in general, as having life and reafon to praife God ; how much more, fhould godly men be provoked by them to fing his praife, they having not only life , which Stars have not ; and reafon, which Birds and Beafts have not but grace , which the moll of men have not 1 Among vifible creatures , Men have mofi reafon ( becaufe they have reafon) to praife God , and among Men, GodlyMen have moll reafon to praife God , becaufe they have Grace. And therefore as foon as ever David had Paid , 4lt thywort {s (hall praife thee, OLord (Pfal. t4 S. o, I.) headds in the next words , and thy Saints fhall6lefs thee, they (hall [peak ofthegloryof thyKingdonse , and talk ofthy power. As if he had Paid, As all thy works,O Lord,praife thee, foSaints (who are the choicefi pieces of thy workmanhip) have caufe todo it, more than , and above all: they cannot but be (peaking and talking of thy Kingdome and Power , which are very glorious. Upon which account , the tongue of Man, cfpecially the tongue of a Godly
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