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63. But whether a man is going to address the people or to dictate
what others will deliver or read to the people, he ought to pray God
to put into his mouth a suitable discourse. For if Queen Esther
prayed, when she was about to speak to the king touching the temporal
welfare of her race, that God would put fit words into her mouth, how
much more ought he to pray for the same blessing who labors in word and
doctrine for the eternal welfare of men? Those, again, who are to
deliver what others compose for them ought, before they receive their
discourse, to pray for those who are preparing it; and when they have
received it, they ought to pray both that they themselves may deliver
it well, and that those to whom they address it may give ear; and when
the discourse has a happy issue, they ought to render thanks to Him
from whom they know such blessings come, so that all the praise may be
His "in whose hand are both we and our words."
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