Psalms 148

he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Who hath made them not only illustrious, but everlasting monuments of his splendour and glory: having fixed and settled them in. an admirable order, which they constantly observe; and prescribed them laws which they never transgress. Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars.] The lofty mountains also and the lesser hills; the fruit-bearing trees, with the stately cedars; the pines, the firs, and all the rest (which he hath created for several ends and uses), let them all be called upon to tell how great and how bountiful he -is.

Psalms 148:7

Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps. O let all creatures here below accompany those celestial hosts, in their praises of the Lord: whose power the vast whales in their several kinds, and all that move in the profound drpth of the sea, abundantly declare.

Psalms 148:8

Fire and hail; snow and vapour; stormy tvind fulfilling his word. Let the lightnings, thunder, and hail; the snow, hoary frost, and ice; the winds, storms, and tempests; all make a part of this song: for they constantly execute his sovereign will, and serve his wise designs.

Psalms 148:10

Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl. The wild beasts also of the forest, and all the cattle that feed in the fields; whatsoever creeps upon the earth, or swims in the sea, or flies in the air; let it join in this hymn of praise to him: who hath shewn his manifold wisdom and diffusive goodness in them all.

Psalms 148:11

Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth. But especially let mankind praise him; who (after he had made these things) brought them into the world, last of all, to contemplate his wonderful works: and first let kings (who here on earth resemble the angels or the sun in heaven), and then let their ministers of state, and lieutenants in their several provinces; and next, all the judges of the earth (who are like the moon and the stars) give a good example unto all the subjects; and stir them up, to meditate his praise.

Psalms 148:12

Both young men and maidens; old men and children. Let no scX, no age, think themselves exempted from this heavenly employment; but let the young men praise him for their strength, and the virgins for their beauty; they that are going out of the world, for all that they have seen and heard of him: and they that are newly come into it, for all the goodly spectacles that are before them.

Psalms 148:13

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; and his glory is above the earth and heaven. Let them praise the incomparable wisdom, goodness, and power of the Lord: for how great soever any other beings are, there is no other god but he; whose most excellent majesty infinitely surpasses all that the earth or the heavens can tell us of him.

Psalms 148:14

lie also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord. And yet so great is his condescension unto us (who are bound therefore more’’ particularly to praise him), he takes a peculiar care of us; and hath set over us a powerful prince for the defence and safety of his people, (Psal. lxxxix. 19.) Whose fame he hath thereby raised to the highest pitch of honour; having obliged the children of Israel by many peculiar benefits, especially this; that they are a people more nearly related to him, than any other whatsoever: for he dwells among them in" his holy place, where they approach to him. O praise him there for this singular favour.