ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 2, 3. 99 to glorify and admire the works of the Lord too. It is not enough to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanks- giving, except withal we " declare his works with rejoicing," Psa. cvii. 22. There is a private thankfulness of the soul within itself, when, meditating on the good- ness of God, it Both in secret return the tribute of an humble and obedient heart back again unto him, which is to praise God on the bed ; and there is public thanksgiving, when men " tell of the wondrous works of God in the congregation of his saints," Psa. cxlix. 5. xxvi. 7. 12. Now here the church pro - miseth this public thanksgiving, it shall not be the thankfulness of the heart only, but of the lips too. As it is noted of the thankful leper, that " with a loud voice he glorified God," Luke xvii. 15. " The living, the living shall praise thee," saith I3ezekiah ; but how shall they do it ? " The father to the children shall make known thy truth," Isa. xxxviii. 19. There are some affections and motions of the heart that do stop the mouth, are of a cold, stupifying, and con- straining nature, as the sap stays and hides itself in the root while it is winter. Such is fear and extremity of grief. " Come," saith the prophet, let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there, for the Lord our God bath put us to silence," Jer. viii. 14. Other affections open the mouth, are of an expansive and dilating nature, know not how to be straitened or suppressed, and of all these, joy, and sense of God's mercy, can least contain itself in the compass of our narrow breast, but will spread and communicate itself to others. A godly heart is in this like unto those flowers which shut when the sun sets, when the night comes, and open again when the sun returns and shines upon them. If God withdraw his favour, and send a night of affliction, they shut up 12
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