Wherefore, my beloved brethren
Since the Gospel, the word of truth, is the means and instrument
which God makes use of in regeneration, and in forming people for
himself:
let every man be swift to hear;
not anything; not idle and unprofitable talk, or filthy and
corrupt communication; but wholesome advice, good instructions,
and the gracious experiences of the saints, and, above all, the
word of God; to the hearing of which men should fly, as doves to
their windows; should make haste, and be early in their
attendance on it, as well, as constant; and receive it with all
readiness, and with a sort of greediness of mind, that their
souls may be profited, and God may be glorified: the phrase is
Jewish; things easy and smooth, a man is (Nemvl ryhm) , "swift to hear them F12: slow
to speak"; against what is heard, without thoroughly weighing and
considering what is said; and this may regard silence under
hearing the word, and is also a rule to be observed in private
conversation: or the sense may be, be content to be hearers of
the word, and not forward to be preachers of it; and if called to
that work, think before you speak, meditate on the word, and
study to be approved to God and men. Silence is not only highly
commended by the Pythagoreans, among whom it was enjoined their
disciples five years {m}; but also by the Jews: they say, nothing
is better for the body than silence; that if a word is worth one
shekel, silence is worth two, or worth a precious stone; that it
is the spice of speech, and the chief of all spices; that it is
the hedge of wisdom; hence it is the advice of Shammai; "say
little, and do much" F14: and they cry up, as a very
excellent precept, "be silent, and hear"; and as containing more
than persons are aware of F15:
slow to wrath;
in hearing; when admonitions and reproofs are given, sin is
exposed, and vice corrected, and the distinguishing doctrines of
grace, are preached; which are apt to fill natural men with
wrath, and which must greatly hinder the usefulness of the word;
see ( Luke 4:28
) . This is omitted in the Ethiopic version.
F12 Gloss. in T. Bab. Megilla, fol. 21. 1.
F13 Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 2. c. 25.
F14 Pirke Abot, c. 1. sect. 15. 17. & 3. 13. T. Bab. Megilla. fol. 18. 1. Vajikra Rabba, sect. 16. fol. 158. 3. Midrash Kohelet, fol. 71. 1.
F15 Philo Zuis Rer. Divin. Haeres. p. 482. Vid. T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 7. 1.
