The liberal soul shall be made fat
Or, "the soul of blessing" F3: that is, as the Vulgate
Latin version renders it, "the soul which blesseth"; not that
merely prays for a blessing upon others, and wishes them well,
and gives them good words; but bestows blessings on them, gives
good things unto them liberally, cheerfully, and plentifully; and
so is a blessing to the poor, and receives a blessing from them
again; as such also do from the Lord, by whom they are "made
fat"; or are blessed with temporal and spiritual blessings; and
are in thriving and flourishing circumstances, both in soul and
body. So he that comes full fraught with the blessing of the
Gospel of Christ to others is enriched with it himself, and
becomes more and more flourishing in gifts and grace; and
he that watereth shall be watered also himself;
he that largely shares with others, like a flowing fountain of
water, shall have an abundance communicated to him again from
God, the inexhaustible fountain of mercies. Watering the plants
in Christ's vineyard is one part of the work of a Gospel
minister; "I have planted, Apollos watered" ( 1
Corinthians 3:6-8 ) ; and such who do their work well are
watered, rewarded, refreshed, and comforted of God, being largely
taught and richly furnished for such service by him; so the
Targum,
``and he that teacheth, also he himself shall learn.''