[2.] Because holy conference and edifying discourse is one means of spiritual growth and mutual improvement : Pro v. xvi. 21, ' The wise in heart shall be called prudent, 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 thereby it is more im- pressed upon his own heart, as the loaves are multiplied by being divided, as venting sin and folly increaseth sin and folly. But as to others : Luke xxii. 32, ' When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren ; ' either by cautioning them, that they fall not in like manner, or helping them to recover out of the mire of sin. And the apostle saith, 2 Cor. i. 4, ' Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble with the comforts wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.' As in the celestial bodies, whatever light the moon and stars receive from the sun, 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, in the body of man, the heart and liver receive and drive the blood and spirits to all the other parts ; so what we receive from God, as good stewards we should dispense it again, and so propagate the knowledge of God in the world, which is better than gold and fine silver.
[3.] It is a great comfort and quickening to confer together of holy things : Kom. i. 12, * That I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me.' It is a far sweeter thing to talk of the word of God and spiritual and heavenly things, than to employ our tongues in vain and foolish mirth, or discoursing about mere worldly matters. Should anything be more delightful to a christian than God, and Christ, and heaven, and the promises of the world to come, and the way thither ? And therefore surely we should take all meet occasions to confer of these things. Certainly our relish and appetite is mightily depraved, to judge ourselves as 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 carnal vanity ? Had you rather hear the ravens croak or the nightingale sing ? the grunting of a swine or the melody of an instrument ? Such a difference there is between vain and worldly talk and heavenly discourse.
SERMONS UPON PROVERBS X. 20. 395
[4.] The well-ordering of our words is a great point of Christianity, and argueth a good degree of grace. He that bridleth his tongue is a perfect man : James iii. 2, ' If any man offend not in words, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.' And Solomon saith, Prov. xviii. 21, ' That death and life are in the power of the tongue.' Upon the good or ill use of it a man's safety doth depend ; not only temporal safety, but eternal. And a greater than Solomon tells us, Mat. xii. 37, ' By thy words shalt thou be justified, and by thy words shalt thou be condemned.' Therefore it concerneth us to look to our discourses as well as our actions. Solomon often describeth the righteous by his good tongue : Prov. x. 31, ' The mouth of the just bringeth forth wis- dom ; ' Prov xii. 8, ' The tongue of the wise is health.'
The first use is to inform us —
1. What an happiness it is to converse with just and renewed men : ' Their tongue is as choice silver.' You are enriched by converse with them with such treasures as, if you were well in your wits, you would prefer above fine gold and choice silver ; and so showeth what teachers you should live under, and what families you should put yourselves into, if you be at your own disposal, and what company you should choose. You should go into the mines, those places where the vein of choice silver is to be had.
2. That it is not enough to avoid evil communication, but our speech must be ordered by grace, to the benefit of others. Besides vain babbling, there are two defects : some are dumb and tongue-tied in holy things ; they can speak liberally of any subject thatoccurreth, but are dumb in spiritual matters, which concern edification. Men show so little grace in their conferences because they have so little grace in their hearts. Many carry it as if they were ashamed to speak of God, or had nothing to say of him or for him. You are not bound always to speak of religious things, but sometimes you are bound. Now when do you inter- pose a word for God in a serious and affectionate manner ? Others jangle about disputable opinions, and all their talk is controversy, as if the plain and uncontroverted points were not worth the owning ; yet in these the life and power of godliness consisteth ; this is like leaving bread, and gnawing upon a stone. In nature necessary things are obvious ; so in the universe of religion, to inculcate on each other the vital truths and the most necessary duties. Controversies have their place, but the ordinary discourse of christians should be about the most necessary things.