'Tis good to speak to refresh our selves, but 'tis much better to speak for the refreshing of others; yea, we should speak. (though to our own pain) that we may refresh others, and speak away their pain (Isa: 50.4.) Thou hast given me the tongue of the learned, to speak a word in season to him that is weary; They are good words indeed which refresh both the speaker, and the hearers. But the design of speaking is rather for the refreshing of hearers, then of the speaker. How vainly then do they spend their breath in speaking, who speak without any design of good, or of refreshing, either to themselves or others, who speak only to be applauded and taken notice of, to be cried up and commended for eloquent speakers. These are sad designs of speaking; better be a stammerer, then such an Orator, better be dumb and not able to speak, then to speak for such ends, with greatest ability. Unless we speak, that others may be informed, converted, comforted, edified, saved, some way or other bettered, we were as good hold our peace and say nothing. The holy Apostle professed (1 Cor: 14.19.) I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might teach others also, then ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. To speak strange words in an unknown tongue, may gain us a name among men; But neither are any souls gained, nor doth any soul gain the worth of one farthing in spiritual knowledge by hearing thousands and ten thousands of words spoken in an unknown tongue. We should think all those words even as lost to us, by which we have not, at least, intended the gain and good of others. But suppose, while we sincerely intend the good of others in speaking, they get no good by what is spoken; yet it shall not be without good to us: for as Elihu here hoped, so may we to be refreshed by it; for when a man hath discharged his duty to God and man, in speaking his mind, it cannot but be a great ease to his mind. Elihu had a great duty upon him, to moderate and set this business right between Job and his friends, to take down that height of spirit that was in Job, and to allay that sharpness ⟨p. 117⟩and bitterness of spirit that was in his friends. When we have in sincerity discharged our duty to all others, and done that which our Consciences charge upon us, how doth it quiet and refresh our minds?
'Tis good to speak to refresh our selves, but 'tis much better to speak for the refreshing of others; yea, we should speak. (though to our own paine) that we may refresh others, and speak away their paine (Isa: 50.4.) Thou hast given me the tongue of the learned, to speak a word in season to him that is weary; They are good words indeed which refresh both the speaker, and the hearers. But the designe of speaking is rather for the refreshing of hearers, then of the speaker. How vainly then doe they spend their breath in speaking, who speak without any designe of good, or of refreshing, either to themselves or others, who speak only to be applauded and taken notice of, to be cryed up and commended for eloquent speakers. These are sad designes of speaking; better be a stammerer, then such an Orator, better be dumb and not able to speake, then to speak for such ends, with greatest ability. Unlesse we speak, that others may be informed, converted, comforted, edified, saved, some way or other bettered, we were as good hold our peace and say nothing. The holy Apostle professed (1 Cor: 14.19.) I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might teach others also, then ten thousand words in an unknowne tongue. To speak strange words in an unknowne tongue, may gaine us a name among men; But neither are any soules gained, nor doth any soule gaine the worth of one farthing in spirituall knowledge by hearing thousands and ten thousands of words spoken in an unknowne tongue. We should thinke all those words even as lost to us, by which we have not, at least, intended the gaine and good of others. But suppose, while we sincerely intend the good of others in speaking, they get no good by what is spoken; yet it shall not be without good to us: for as Elihu here hoped, so may we to be refreshed by it; for when a man hath discharged his duty to God and man, in speaking his mind, it cannot but be a great ease to his minde. Elihu had a great duty upon him, to moderate and set this businesse right between Job and his friends, to take downe that height of spirit that was in Job, and to allay that sharpnesse ⟨p. 117⟩and bitternesse of spirit that was in his friends. When we have in sincerity discharged our duty to all others, and done that which our Consciences charge upon us, how doth it quiet and refresh our minds?
