100 THIRD SERMON themselves and their thoughts in silence; but if he shine again, and shed abroad the light and sense of his love upon them, then their heart and mouth is wide open towards heaven in lifting up praises unto him. Hannah prayed silently so long as she was in bitterness of soul and of a sorrowful spirit, 1 Sam. i. 12. 15. but as soon as God answered her prayers, and filled her heart with joy in him, presently her mouth was enlarged into a song of thanksgiving, ch. ii. 1. There is no phrase more usual in the Psalms, than to sing forth praises unto God, and it is not used without a special emphasis. For it is one thing to praise, and another to sing praises, Psa. cxlvi. 2. This is, to publish, to declare, to speak of, abundantly to utter the memory of God's great goodness, that one generation may derive praises unto another, as the expressions are, Psa. cxlv. 4. 7. , And therefore we find in the most solemn thanksgivings, that the people of God were wont in great companies, and with mu- sical instruments to sound forth the praises of God, and to cause their joy to be heard afar off, Neb. xii. 27. 31. 43. Isa. xii. 4 -6. Jer. xxxi. 7. This then is the force of the expression, Lord, when thou hast taken away iniquity, and extended thy grace and favour to us, we will not only have thankful hearts, every man to praise thee by himself ; but we will have thankful lips to show forth thy praise, we will stir up and en- courage one another, we will tell our children, that the generations to come may know the mercy of our God. This is a great part of the communion of saints, to join together in God's praises. There is a communion of sinners, wherein they combine together to dis- honour God, and encourage one another in evil,
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