John Trapp on Proverbs 12:14

Verſ. 14. A man ſhall bee ſatiated with good, &c.] There are empty Vines that bear fruit to themſelves, Hoſ. 10.1. And as empty Casks ſound loudeſt, and baſe metal rings ſhrilleſt: ſo many empty Tatlers are full of diſcourſe, ſed cui bono? as hee ſaid. Plato and Xenophon thought it fit and profitable that mens ſpeeches at meals ſhould bee written. And if Chriſtians ſhould ſo do, what kinde of books would they bee?Mat. 12. Mal. 3. And yet for every idle word account muſt bee given; as for every good word there is a book of remembrance. Much fruit will redound by holy ſpeeches, to our ſelves, much to others. Paul ſheweth that the very report of his bands did a great deal of good in Ceſars houſe. A poor captive Maid was the means of Naamans converſion: As afterwards the words of his ſervants were greater in operation with him, than the words of the great Prophet Eliſha. One ſeaſonable truth, falling upon a prepared heart, hath oft a ſtrong and ſweet influence. Sometimes alſo, though wee know that which wee ask of others as well as they do; yet good ſpeeches will draw us to know it better, by giving occaſion to ſpeak more of it, wherewith the Spirit works more effectually, and imprints it deeper, ſo that it ſhall bee a more rooted knowledge than before; for that ſatiates the ſoul that is graciouſly known; and that is graciouſly known, that the Spirit ſeals upon our ſouls. In the morning therefore ſow thy ſeed, and in the evening with-hold not thy hand, for thou knoweſt not whether ſhall proſper, this or that, or whether they both ſhall bee alike good, Eccleſ. 11.6.

And the recompence of a mans hands ſhall bee given unto him] Hee ſhall eat the fruit of his doings, Iſa. 3.10. For the talk of the lips (if that bee all) tendeth onely to penury, Prov. 14.13. Nos non eloquimur magna, ſed vivimus, ſaid they of old. Origens teaching and living were ſaid to bee both one. Hee cannot look to bee ſatisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, qui operibus deſtruit quod recte docet, who ſayes one thing, and doth another. A ſmoothe tongue, and a rough hand carries away double judgement.