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4. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
‘This sentence expresses the depth, the abundance, the clearness, and the force of the counsels of the wise man.’† The last clause gives this restriction to wisdom. When “a man has intermeddled with all wisdom” (Chapter 18:1), his words are in themselves deep waters, and in their communication fruitful as a flowing brook. His wisdom is a well-spring, ‘which sends up full brooks that are ready to overflow their banks. So plentiful is he in good discourse and wholesome counsel!’† So deep were the waters from the wise man's spring, that his words nearly overwhelmed the capacity of his royal hearer. (1 Kings 10:4-8.) One “greater than Solomon” “astonished the people” by the clearness, no less than by the depth of the waters. (Matthew 7:28, 29.) No blessing is more valuable than a “rich indwelling of the word,” ready to be brought out on all suitable occasions of instruction.† If the wise man sometimes “spares his words,”† it is not for want of matter, but for greater edification. The stream is ready to flow, and sometimes can scarcely be restrained.† The cold-hearted, speculative professor has his flow — sometimes a torrent of words, yet without a drop of profitable matter; chilling, even when doctrinally correct; without life, unction, or love. Lord! deliver us from this barren “talk of the lips.” (Chapter 14:23.) May our waters be deep, flowing from thine own inner sanctuary, refreshing, and fertilizing the Church of God!
This well-spring is specially invigorating, when, as in Chrysostom, it gives an heavenly glow to outward eloquence. Consecrated mind and talent are the gifts of God. Oh! let them be improved in simplicity, not for the creature's honour, but for the glory of the Great Giver.
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