Silence and Speech

I believe Isaac Penington is still relevant to modern Friends even though he lived in the 17th century. After all, Penington is still read along with Fox and Penn as one of the founding fathers of Quakerism.
         
Penington counsels silence in Meeting but only as a preparation for vocal ministry. As I read him, Penington sees vocal ministry as the goal of Meeting. Here is what he says on the subject:
               
God is to be worshipped in spirit, in his own power and life, and this is at his own disposal. His church is a gathering in the Spirit. If any speak there, they must speak as the oracle of God, as the vessel out of which God speaks; as the trumpet out of which he gives the sound. Therefore there is to be a waiting in silence till the Spirit of the Lord move to speak, and also give words to speak. For we are not to speak our own words, or in our own wisdom or time; but the Spirit’s words, in the Spirit’s wisdom and time, which is when he moves and gives to speak. 
 
~ Richard Russell