5. It discovereth plenty of knowledge and a good esteem of the word. (1.) Plenty of knowledge, when it is so apt to break out. When these living waters run out of the belly, it is a sign of a good spring there : Col. iii. 16, ' Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teachino; and admonishinsr one another.' It is a sign
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we have gotten the riches of understanding ; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. So Prov. xvi. 23, ' The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.' When our speech hath weight and worth in it, and we are ready upon all occasions, it argueth a good stock of the word. You know a man that puts his hand in his pocket, and brings up gold at every draught, it is a sign he hath more plenty of it than silver ; so when we are ready to bring out gracious discourses, it argueth a treasure and stock within. (2.) It argueth a good esteem of the word. Things that are dear and precious to us, we use to discourse of them. What we love, admire, and affect, the tongue will be occupied about such things : John iii. 31, 'He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth ;' and 1 John iv. 5, ' They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world.' I know it is spoken in the first place of ordinary teachers. All men, whose original is of the earth, they savour of it in their speech ; when they speak of divine things, there is some earthiness in it. The other scripture is meant of false teachers, they savour of the world, all their teaching doth savour of their affections. But both places give this general truth : What a man's affections are upon, it is most ready in his mouth. Therefore it argueth we are affected with the word of God when we are declaring it upon all occasions.
6. It is for our benefit to be talking of good things to others. The breasts that are not sucked do soon gi'ow dry, but the more they are milked out and drawn, the greater is the increase ; so in spiritual things, we gain by communicating ; by discourse, truths are laid more in view. We find in any art of common learning, the more we confer about things with others, the more understanding we get ourselves : Prov, xi. 25, ' The liberal soul shall be made fat ; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself It is spoken of alms ; it is true of spiritual alms, as plain experience shows. By watering and refreshing others, the more are we comforted and refreshed ourselves. The loaves were increased in the dividing. Solomon compares conference to the whetting iron upon iron ; the more one iron is whetted upon another, both are sharpened ; so by conference our gifts are increased. Earthly goods, the more they are given out, we have the less in view and visible appearance, though God can increase them ; but now, in heavenly and spiritual things, in the very giving out to others, they are increased upon our hands.
Use 1. To shame us for our unprofitableness in our relations and converses ; for these are two things wherein a Christian should take occasion to declare the judgments of God's mouth.
1. In our relations, that we do no good there in declaring the judgments of God's mouth to one another. Surely every relation is a talent, and you will be accountable for it, if you do not improve it for your master's use. The husband is to converse wntli his.wile as a man of knowledge ; 1 Peter iii. 7 ; and the wife to gain upon the husband, 1 Peter iii. 2 ; and both upon the children and servants. The mem- bers of every family should be helping one another in the way to heaven. With what busy diligence doth an idolatrous family carry on their way and their course ! See Jer. vii. 18, ' The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire/ &c., saith the Lord. Every one
126 5EKM0NS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XIY.