The Elixir of Life
Psalm 34:12
What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?


Rosenmuller, the celebrated sacred critic, quotes the following instructive anecdote from the book of Mussar: — "A certain person, travelling through the city, continually called out, 'Who wants the elixir of life?' The daughter of Rabbi Joda heard him, and told her father, who bade her call the man in. When the man entered, the Rabbi asked, 'What is the elixir of life which thou sellest?' He answered, 'Is it not written, "What man is he that loveth life, and desireth to see good days? let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile." This is the elixir of life, and is found in the mouth of man.'" The hero of this anecdote wisely says, "This is the elixir of life." The government of the tongue — consisting, of course, in a proper regulation of the passions — will do more both to sweeten life and to lengthen it, than all the medicines in the world. "The tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison; it setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell." Most of the wars which desolate the earth, most of the tumults which afflict society, and many of the excitements which produce anxiety, sleeplessness, fever, and multitudinous disease, arise from rash, false, or malicious speaking. None but a Christian has this elixir, — no soul, but such as has been "created anew in Christ Jesus," can enchain the malignant passions, making them captive under a reign of holy love, and pour a balm of honeyed words into the wounds of his own or his neighbour's miseries. "The tongue can no man tame." God alone can achieve the deed. Whoever would find "the elixir of life," must seek it in that Heavenly Physician's laboratory, who "healeth all our diseases," who "satisfieth our mouth with good things," and who "reneweth our youth like the eagle's."



Parallel Verses
KJV: What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

WEB: Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?




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