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A. D. 57. ther there be knowledge, it fhall vanish

fpeaking unlearned Languages, and fuch like prefent Endowments, will one Day be laid afide and cease, as no further useful. But the Love of doing Good will be a Grace that will adorn you to all Eternity.

away.

9. For we know in part, and we prophefie in part. State of the Church, and of Mankind. Knowledge and Abilities are but short and temporary.

9. For these prefent Gifts of the Spirit, are only fuited and adapted to the present imperfect Our beft

10. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done

away.

11. When I was a child, I fpake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12. For now we fee through a glafs darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then fhall I know even as I am known.

13. And now abideth, faith, hope, charity; these three; but the greateft of these is charity.

10. Whereas, in the future State of Happiness and Perfection, there will be an End of these more imperfect Ways of Information, and gradual Means of Knowledge.

II. And there is as much Difference between the prefent and future Accomplishments of the Mind, as there is between the Notions and Behaviour of a Child and a Man.

12. Our very best Attainments and Gifts here, being but a narrow and cloudy Apprehenfion of Things: But that of the heavenly State will be direct, clear, and full, like that of the Angels and bleffed Spirits.

13. Nay, and when those two admirable Graces of Faith and Hope (which are indeed needful for us while we continue in this imperfect State) fhall then ceafe; the one being turned into perfect Vifion, the other into Enjoyment. This Love of GOD, and of our Fellow Saints, being, indeed, the Sum and Subftance of all real Virtue, of effential Obligation, and of eternal Ufefulness, will continue for ever even in Heaven itself.

CHAP.

CHAP. XIV.

The CONTENTS.

The Apostles continues his Advice to the gifted Perfons in their Church, particularly with respect to their infpir'd Performances in the publick Affemblies of divine Worhip. He inftances in fuch as prayed, fung, or prophefied in ftrange Languages. Orders all Parts of publick Worship or Teaching, to be performed in a Language known to the Congregation, or elfe interpreted to them. Shows the Vanity of Speaking a strange Language for mere Oftentation. Gives Rules for the more edifying and orderly Management of their publick Performances. Forbids Women to teach in the publick Affemblies, and exhorts them all to obferve his Directions.

Ollow after charity, and defire fpiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophefie.

1. Follow

I.

•L'

ET the Good and Edifica- A. D. 57. tion of the Church then *

be your chief Aim in the Exercife of your fpiritual Gifts; and be not forward to use them in your publick Affemblies of Worship, but in fuch a Manner as the People may understand and profit by them.

2. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue, fpeaketh not unto men, but unto God for no man understandeth him; how

2. I shall instance particularly
in the Gift of fpeaking ftrange
Languages, which fome of your
new Teachers are apt to do for
mere Oftentation, and without

beit in the fpirit he fuch People may fpeak very good
any good Effect. For though
fpeaketh myfteries.
and great Things, yet it is all be-
tween God and themselves; for the People, that do not
understand them, are not a whit the better for it.

3. But he that prophefieth, fpeaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4. He that fpeak

eth

3 & 4. Whereas to fpeak, or
pray in a known Language, is to
do fome Good toward the further
Inftruction of fome, and the Con-
firmation and Comfort of others:

But to fpeak in an unknown
Cc 2
Tongue,

Ch. xiii.

A. D. 57. età in an unknown Tongue, is to inftruct Nobody tongue, edifieth him- but yourself.

felf: but he that pro-phefieth, edifieth the church.

5. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophefied: for greater is he that prophefieth, than he that fpeaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you, fpeakingwith tongues, what fhall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophelying, or by doctrine?

5. To be able to speak divers Languages, is a Gift very defirable and ufeful to the Church, for fpreading the Gospel Doctrine the farther and wider. But in a particular Congregation, the moft useful Speaker is he that speaks fo as to be understood by the People.

6. For suppose I my self, or any other Teacher whatever, were to come among you, to declare fomething to you that God had Specially revealed to me, or to explain any Prophecies of the Old Teftament relating to the Chriftian Religion, or to teach any Doctrine of Faith and Manners, would

it do you any Service, unless I delivered it fo as you could understand me?

7. And even things without life giving found, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the founds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

7 & 8. Certainly it would fignify no more to you, than a confufed Noife of a mufical Inftrument would direct a Dancer, or the Trumpet a Soldier, when it founded no Point of War.

8. For if the trumpet give an uncertain found, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9. So likewife you, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how fhall it be known what is fpoken? for ye shall fpeak into the air.

2

9. And thus, if your Teachers, that are gifted with divers Languages, take not Care that the People they fpeak amongst, underftand what they fay, their Prayers or Difcourfes are nothing but empty Air and Sound to them.

10 & II.

10. There are, it may be, fo many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them are without fignification. 11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I fhall be unto him that fpeaketh a Barbarian,

10 & 11. There are, indeed, A. D. 57. great Variety of Languages in the World, and each of them have their proper Signification. But for any two Strangers to converfe together, and know nothing of one another's Meaning, is to talk Gibberish to no Purpose.

and he that speaketh shall be a Barbarian unto me.

12. Even fo ye, forafmuch as ye are zealous of fpiritual gifts, feek that ye may excel, to the edifying of the church. Church's Benefit.

13. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret.

14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my fpirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15. What is it then? I will pray with the fpirit, and I will pray with the understanding alfo: I will fing with the fpirit, and I will fing with the understanding also.

16. Elfe when thou fhalt blefs with the fpirit, how fhall he that occupieth the room of the unlearn

12. Wherefore, Let not any of you affect to fhow and difplay his Gifts with any other Design but to inform the Underftandings of the People. Defire not to excel, but in Endeavours after the

13. Let none pray in a strange Language, unless he be fure what he fays will be interpreted to the Affembly.

14. For to pray unintelligibly to others, may indeed be to exercife your Gift, and perform your own Devotion, but Nobody elfe can be the better for it.

15. The Sum is this then. All publick Prayers, Preaching, and divine Hymns, compofed by Infpiration, ought to be performed in a Language known or interpreted to the Congregation;

16 & 17. Because otherwife,
whatever Petitions or Thanksgiv
ings any infpired Man may offer
up to God, the People that know
nothing of the Language he fpeake
in, can never join with him in
Cc 3
ing

ed, fay Amen at thy giving of thanks, fee

them.

A. D. 57.ing he understandeth not what thou fayeft? 17. For thou verily giveft thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18. I thank my God, I fpeak with tongues more than you all:

19. Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with iny understanding, that by my voice 1 might teach others alfo, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20. Brethren, be not children in underftanding: howbeit, in malice be ye children, but in understanding

them. The Man may pray very well as to himself, but the Auditory is nothing the better for fuch Prayers.

18 & 19. I blefs GOD I have the Gift of Languages beyond any of your Teachers; but I am fo far from valuing myself upon mere Talking, and fhowing my Talent, that I think it much more Credit and Advantage, to fpeak five Words that are intelligible and ufeful, than to make a thoufand fine Difcourfes that Nobody understands but my self.

20. Brethren, be not like Children, affected with Novelties, and valuing Things that appear great, but are worth little. A&t like Men of Understanding, and imitate Children in nothing but their innocent, undefigning, and harmless Difpofition.

be men.

21. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips, will I fpeak unto this people: and yet for all that will

they not hear me,

faith the Lord.

22. Wherefore tongues are for a fign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe

not: but prophefying jerveth not for them that believe not, but

for them that believe.

21. You remember those prophetick Words of the Old Teftament (Ifai. xxviii. 11, 12.) Foretelling the Jewish Nation, That God would one Day Send Prophets to them, infpired with Variety of Languages for their Conviction and Reformation, but all to little Purpose.

22. Where you cannot but obferve, That the natural Design of God's beftowing the Gift of Languages upon any Perfons, is to be a miraculous Evidence for converting Unbelievers; but thofe that are already Chriftians, are to be inftructed and edified in Lan

guages they do understand.

23. And

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