Secondly, Positively ; we are to edify one another, as David pro- fesseth here that his tongue should speak of God's word ; his confer- ences and discourses should be filled up of no other matter.
1. Because our tongue is our glory : Ps. x. 9, ' My heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth.' Compare Acts ii. 26, 'My heart rejoiceth, and my tongue was glad.' Now, why is our tongue our glory ? Not only as it was given us for the use of tasting meat and drink (so the tongues of the brute beasts serve them), but because thereby we must express the conceptions of our minds. So speech is the excellency of man above the beasts ; but Christianity giveth us a higher reason, because thereby we may express the conceptions of our minds to the glory of God, and the good of others : James iii. 9, ' Therewith we bless God, even the Father.' That is our glory, that we cannot only think of God, but speak of God, his word and works.
2. Because conference and edifying discourse is one means of spiri- tual growth and spiritual improvement to ourselves and others. (1.) To ourselves : Prov. xvi. 21, ' The wise in heart shall be called pru- dent, and the sweetness of his lips increaseth learning.' The more he venteth what he knoweth, the wiser himself groweth, and learneth by teaching others; for the more he draweth forth his knowledge, the more it is impressed upon his own heart. It is a truth, he that watereth shall be watered, and our gifts, as the loaves, are increased in the breaking, or as the widow's giving oil to the prophet was enriched by it; not only as we occasion others to draw forth their knowledge, but as our own is confirmed and strengthened by using it, as to him that hath shall be given, Mat. xxv. 29. As venting of sin and folly increaseth sin and folly, so doth venting spiritual knowledge still increase it. (2.) Others: it is a great benefit to them when we com- municate our experiences to them : Luke xxii. 32, ' When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.' When he was converted by repentance, he should be more careful to convert and strengthen others, that they fall not in like manner, or help them to recover out of the mire of sin. And the apostle saith, 2 Cor. i. 4, ' That God
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comforteth us, that we may be able to comfort others in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we are comforted of God.' The Lord comforts one that another may be comforted ; as in the celestial bodies, what- ever light and influence the moon and stars receive, they bestow it on these inferior bodies : they have their light from the sun, and they reflect it again on the creatures below. Or as the official part in the body ; as the heart and liver receive, and convey, and derive the blood and spirits to all the other parts, so a Christian, when he is strength- ened in himself, ought to convey his comfort and strength to others. It is mighty edifying, when we have found the usefulness of the word, to speak of it to God's praise ; if we have gotten direction in doubtful cases, or benefit by it in the mastery of our lusts, and the promises have afforded any support and deliverance in our distresses, we are debtors of the comfort and experiences we have, and are stewards to dispense it to others. Many take a glory that they have cordials, strong waters, and medicines in their closets and repositories, that may be a relief to the bodies of others ; so should we delight to refresh their souls with what has done us good. The humiliation and broken- ness of heart which thou hast found may be powerful to persuade others of the bitterness of sin. David, when he had smarted for sin, saith, Ps. li. 13, 'I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.' He had found how bitter a thing it was to provoke God by sin, and he could tell them such stories of it as would make their hearts to wake, and cause them to hate it. The faith and knowledge which God hath given thee may direct and pre- serve others ; thy temptations may conduce to the succouring of others who are tempted.
3. It is a mighty comfortable duty, that hath much sweetness in it, to confer together of holy things : Eom. i. 12, ' That I may be comforted by the mutual faith of you and me.' Holy discourse doth refresh more than vain and foolish jesting ; it is a far sweeter thing to talk of the word of God, and those spiritual and heavenly things which are contained therein, than to spend the time in vain and foolish jesting, or discoursing about mere worldly matters. Should anything be more delightful to a Christian than Christ and heaven, and the promises of the world to come, and the way that leadeth thither ? and should it be burdensome to talk of these things, which we profess to be our only hope and joy? Certainly our relish and appetite is mightily depraved if we think so, judge ourselves in a prison when we are in good company who remember God ; and when they invite you to remember him with them, will you frown upon the motion, because it is some check and interruption to your carnal vanity ?