Speaking unto yourselves in psalms and hymns. Ephesians 5:19. Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns. Colossians 3:16. For, God recommended every one his neighbour. Sirach 17:15.
If we are obliged to promote the temporal good of our neighbour, how much more the spiritual, by edifying discourses. But how is it? The children of God, when somebody visits them, (says a certain divine,) are sometimes troubled and know not what discourse to enter upon; at last they begin, if not entirely vain, yet perhaps unprofitable discourses, or at least they suffer others to do it, and are silent to it. I will tell you what I have done in such cases: I first prayed to God, saying, O good God, there I received a guest, and having nothing to set before and treat him with, I pray thee to give me the right bread for him, which the Lord was pleased to hear in such a gracious manner, that I could soon enter into an edifying discourse. And thus we keep our conscience clean, though perhaps the lips were frozen up. Some foolish philosophers, to the great offence of others, mock at divine things, and even at prayers, as if natural reason and will was not corrupted, and highly wanted to be prayed for. But what St. Paul says, Romans 1:22. is fulfilled in them. What will become of these poor scoffers upon their dying bed, and at the day of judgment! O that they would take warning while it is time!
Now if some proper hour appear,
Let none be overawed;
But let the scoffing sinners hear,
That we can speak to God.