1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:1

PRophecy,] that you may receave the miraculous gift of Gods spirit, to be able blikely to expound Gods word, and apply it to his churches use. Num. 11. 25. 29. 1 Sam. 10. 5. 10. which amongst all these other gifts is the most protable and edifying. Whereas the Corinthians did more desire the gift of tongues, as that which caused more admiration, noregarding what fruit the Church reaped thereby.

1 Corinthians 14:2

For,] prophecie is a gift more excellent the that of strange tongues, for by it is communicted light and instruction to the Church, to the and with vnderstanding of it, which ought to be the proper and of speaking, out which, speaking is but an profitabel sound vnto God,] who onelie vnderstands iMisteries,] what he propounds of the vnknowne doctrine of saluation, in an vnknowne language, by this gift of the spirit. is a incomprehenciable as i it were a hidden secrets neuer reuealed.

1 Corinthians 14:3

To edification,] namely, things which serve 〈◊〉 the instruction advancement, and confirmation of the faith, even as the two subsequent vses are referred onely to a mans manner and custome o living.

1 Corinthians 14:4

Edifieth,] because he only understandeth it See upon 1 Corinthians 12:10.

1 Corinthians 14:5

I would,] I say not but that they who have received the gift of tongues may put it in practise so it may be for a holy vsee, as to confirme the faith: and not for a vaine ostentation, the church not vnderstanding it, these miraculous gifts beeing often ioyned with personall vices, great,] that is to say he hath a more precious gift, because it profiteth more then that of strang tongus, which without being understood, roduceth nothing but a vaine admiration he interpret,] for in that case he doth the office of a prophet, these two gifts beingsometimes ioyned on with the othr see concerning this gift of interpreting upon 1. Cor. 12. 10.

1 Corinthians 14:6

Now,] that which you admire in others, would you finde it good in mee, who am your Apostle, namely that I should come unto you with the gift of tongues onely, which gift is so largly conferred upon mee by the holy Ghost. v. 8. would you not rather expect from me an understanding se. mon more befitting mine office of Apostle, and more profitable for you, by revelation,] namly if I should propose unto you some particular thing belonging oyour faith or salvationwhich I had learned of God by some immediate reelation, or apprehnded and taken out by discourse and reasoning out of the generall grounds of Gods word, by prophecy ng,] namely by a genrall exposition of Gods truth, whither it be by a miraculous gift which is prophecying, or by an ordinary faculty which is learning.

1 Corinthians 14:10

Ofvies,] that is to say of nations which have differing languages.

1 Corinthians 14:11

Therefore if,] as the diversity of languages they being not understood breeds a kinde of alienation amongst men, and makes them one alien to another, hindering their communication so this gift of unknowen tongues, wihout understanding them, cannot any way do the Church any service in its true communion.

1 Corinthians 14:13

That speaketh,] namely by a miraculous gift Pray that,] let him desire o god to grant him the power likewise by such another motion of the holy Ghost, to propound that in the vulgar tongue, as he had popounded in an vnknowen tongue see vpon 1. Cor. 12. 10.

1 Corinthians 14:14

For if,] the necessitie of this is most exprese Knowne in publicke praier wherein according to Christs command, common consent is required. Math. 18. 19 which cannot be vless it be vnderstood, and therefore if the moon of the spiret driueth on to make a praye in an vnknown language, it is necessarie that it should be inepreed either by him that made it i he hve the gt or y some other My spirit.] Gods st frameth 〈◊〉 me by way of supernaturall inspiration the concepsions and words of the prayer, and driues me to the uttreing of them: but in the meane time, the naturall facultie of the mind, or vnderstanding by which the naturall and ordinarie speechis produced to communicate it. self to others, ceaseth in me, and yeelds no edification. Therefore the conclusion is that one was not to vse this gift of tongues publicklie for a vaine ostentation. V. 28. but onlie in a time of need, when They,] were to reproue infidels or conuert nations of an oknowne language, and if that gift were made use of in a Church, which had not the naturall use of his language that did speake, he himself was to interpret it, or some bodie else for him: that the church understanding it might be instructed, and by the miraculous expression confirmed.

1 Corinthians 14:16

Else When,] the meaning is. That the praiers made and praises givan to God publikelie in the Church, ought to be made by the same spirit motion and affection in all, which is imposible, if all doe not understand the mening He that,] namelie the common sort of people, which in the holie assemblies sate in places destinct from the pastors and other Ecclesiasticall persons, such as those were who had that gift of tongues Say Amen,] that is to ay ioyne his vows assents and intentions to a speech which he vnderstandeth not.

1 Corinthians 14:18

Speake more,] hence it appears that this gift of tongues as well as of other miracles was more largelie bestowed upon one then upon another, and that it was generaly bestowed upon all the Apostels who weare to goe ouer all the world.

1 Corinthians 14:19

With mine,] see upon v. 14.

1 Corinthians 14:20

Children,] to feed your selues with and glorie in, vaine things, as the gift of toungs was out of its right vse: and to preferre them to things which were more usefull and necessarie.

1 Corinthians 14:21

In the law,] namlie in the old testament. as Iohn. 15. 25. now that passage which containeth a reprf of the peopls wilfull stupiditie is drawen by a certaine agreeablenesse to this subject, in this regard: namelie that as god did not cease propounding of his word to his people, though they had made themselues vncapable of vnderstanding it to their owne saluation: onlie to reproue, them, and seale their condemnation to them. So when it is taught and brought vnto them, in a language wich they, vnderstand not, it is a signe that god will not make it an instrament of conversion and enlightning, but of conviction, as to hrdened vnbeleuers.

1 Corinthians 14:22

Wherefore,] this passage may be applied to that which I say namelie that Gods word set forth by this gift of vnknowen tongues, may well be a miracle to convince and teriefie vnbleeuers, but not to feed and strenghten the faith of beleuers to life and saluation Propsying,] namelie the same word of God declared and expounded by the publick ministerie.

1 Corinthians 14:23

If therefore,] if you should all obtaine at Gods hands that gift of strange languages, which you so much desire above all other gifts, and that you should abuse it as you doe, consider what would become of it, namely that in stead of teaching the ignorant, convicing of un beleevers, and edifying of every one the whole action would turn to contempt and mokery, and all,] namely, all those who by reason of any miraculous gift, or by any expresse calling have authority to speake in Church assemblies, unbeleevers,] he meaneth not those unbeleeving strange nations or persons which weare to be converted or convinced by that gift in their owne proper language mirrculou infused Acts 2:8. but those of the same nations and language as that Church was of, to whom these languages were unknown, that ye are,] speaking without witt or, understanding as frantick persons.

1 Corinthians 14:24

He is,] namely by the only word of God intelligibly and lively taught by them who have the charge thereof, his conscience is a wakened to redargue him for his sinne, and by this meanes he is prepared to have recourse to Gods grace in Christ, and to embrace it being presented unto him by the same preaching.

1 Corinthians 14:25

The secrets,] that is to say he makes a voluntary confession of his secret sinnes. Matth. 3. 6. Acts 19:18. or hee discouers the distees and anguishes of his heart, to seeke a remedy and comfort for them. Acts 2 37. See Luke 2:35.

1 Corinthians 14:26

A psalme,] namely some spirituall song dictated and imspired by the holy Ghost, which was a thing very frequent in the primitiue church, revelation,] See upon v. 6.

1 Corinthians 14:27

If any man,] if this gift be found in some, I doe no meane it should be supressed, but it ought to be used soberly by 2 or 3, that the time of action may not be lost in things lesse profitable, and regularly one afte the other, to avoid confusion, and profitable, with interpretation.

1 Corinthians 14:28

Let him speake,] by meanes of that gift let him glorifie God, and edifie and instruct himself, seeing he can doe the Church no good by cleere interpretation v. 2. 4. added by himself, or mde by some other.

1 Corinthians 14:29

Speake,] for the same reasons, let but two or three of those that have the gift of prophecy speake every time the Church is gathered tog her, the othe,] namely prophets, judge,] let them examine by the gift of discerning of spirits, or by the the rule of Gods word whither that which is spoken be by the motion of Gods spirit, or whither it be human or diabolicall falshood. See 1. Cor. 12 9 and 14. 37. 1. Iohn. 4. 1.

1 Corinthians 14:30

To another,] if whilst on of the prophets speakes, the spirit vrgeth another to speake. let the first moderate his speech in such sort, that the other may have time to speake in his turne.

1 Corinthians 14:31

Ye may all,] namelie those who have the gift and calling of prophicie, Prophicie,] namely by turnes, add in diuerse or severall assemblies That ll] that by that gift which is equall in all prophets, they may all giue and receaue instruction, and enterchangable comfort.

1 Corinthians 14:32

The spirits,] namelie the inspirations and doctrine of everie prophet, ought to be subiect to the examination and ensure of other prophets, and therefore everie prophet may speake in publicke, that he may be knowne by the other prophets, and none ought to afect this Superoitie of speaking alwaies and so to keepe himself from being iudged o censured.

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God,] a generall reason for all things which have b said from. v. 26.

1 Corinthians 14:34

K epe silence,] let it not be lawfull for them to conrre publickelic in the Church, nor reach, and teach.

1 Corinthians 14:36

The wrd,] ve are not the first, nor yet the onlie Christins, and there fore you ought to follow the precepts of those from whom yee have receaved the Gospell: and the examples of other Churches.

1 Corinthians 14:37

Thinke himself,] or make profession of beeing such Spirituall,] that is to say endowed with aie of those miraculous gifts of Gods spirit Let him acknowledge,] he may, and ought to acknowledge it by that divine light, otherwise his spirit i not the true spiit see. 1. Iohn. 4. 6 are the] by reason that God speakes in me, and guides me inlliblie by his spirit. see 1. Cor. 7. 25. 40.

1 Corinthians 14:38

But if,] the Italian And if,] any one though he haue such expresse proofes, of my vocation, and Apostolicall authoritie, will neverthelesse be obstinatelie ignorant thereof, let it be at his perill I meane to ague no further with him.