The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Ver. 21. The lips of the righteous feed many.] A great housekeeper he is, hath his doors ever open, and, though himself be poor, yet he "maketh many rich." 2Co 6:10 He well knows that to this end God put "honey and milk under his tongue," Son 4:11 that he might look to this spiritual lip feeding. To this end hath he communicated to him those "rivers of water," Joh 7:38 that they may flow from him, to quench that world of wickedness that, being "set on fire of hell, would set on fire the whole course of nature." Jam 3:6 They are "empty vines that bear fruit to themselves." Hos 10:1 Those are void houses, we say, where the doors daily open not. The people hung upon - εξεκρεματο - our Saviour's lips as the young bird doth on the dam's bill. Luk 19:48 Bishop Ridley preached every Lord's day and holiday, except letted by some weighty business, to whose sermons the people resorted, saith Master Foxe, a swarming about him like bees, and coveting the sweet juice of his gracious discourses. Look how Joseph nourished his father's household with bread, "according to their families," or "according to the mouths of their families" b Gen 47:12 So doth the righteous man those of his own charge especially. Welfare Popery for that, saith a grave divine. c I have heard old folks talk, that when in those days they had holy bread, as they called it, given them at church, they would bear a part of it to those that did abide at home. So should heads of families carry home the bread of life to their households.
But fools die for want of wisdom.] By their either refusing or abusing the food of their souls As the Pharisees, they "pine away in their iniquities." Lev 26:39
a Acts and Mon., fol. 1559.
b Chepi tappam.
c Mr Sam. Hier.