was the most excellent gift: In the beginning of this Chapter hee infers an Exhortation by way of conclusi∣on, that they would affect it, and have all both gifts and spiritual offices in honour; but because some were proud of the gift of tongues, and most despised Pastoral gifts in comparison of this gift, and too much admired the gift of tongues: Therefore hee compares these gifts together, and proves that the gift of Prophecie or Exhor∣tation is more excellent than the gift of tongues, separa∣ted from the gift of interpretation. Hee gives thirteen Reasons.
Vers. 2. For hee that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God, for no man understandeth him: Howbeit in the Spirit he speak∣eth mysteries.
3. But hee that prophesieth, speaketh unto men, to edi∣fication, and exhortation, and comfort.
The first Reason; Hee that speaks in an unknown tongue, although by the gift of the Spirit, hee speaks the Mysteries of God, yet hee speaks without profit, be∣cause hee is understood by God alone, and not by men: But a Prophet or Pastor speaking in a known tongue, teaches, exhorts, comforts his hearers, and so speaks pro∣fitably: Therefore Prophecie is more excellent than the gift of tongues.
Vers. 4. Hee that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edi∣fieth himself: but hee that prophesieth, edifieth the Church.
Reason 2. Hee that speaks in an unknown tongue, e∣difies none 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himself; but a Prophet, the whole Church or Assembly: Therefore Prophecie is more excellent.
Vers. 5. I would that yee all spake with tongues, but rather that yee prophesied: for greater is bee that prophesieth, than hee that speaketh with tongues, ex∣cept hee interpret, that the Church may receive edi∣fying.
That hee might rightly bee understood, hee shews that hee doth not abolish tongues, though hee prefers a Pro∣phet before him that speaks in an unknown tongue.
Vers. 6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you, either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecying, or by doctrine?
Reason 3. From his own example; his Apostolical Ministery would not bee profitable to them, unless hee should speak to them in a known tongue by extraordinary Prophecie, by Revelation, or ordinary knowledge; ei∣ther by Prophecying, or exhorting, as a Pastor, or instruct∣ing, as a Teacher: Therefore the gift of tongues is infe∣riour to the gift of Prophecie.
Vers. 7. And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe, or harp, except they give a distinction in their sounds, how shall it bee known what is piped or harped?
8. For if the Trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself unto the battel?
9. So likewise you, except yee utter by the tongue words easie to bee understood, how shall it bee known what is spoken? for yee shall speak into the ayr.
Reason 4. As a Trumpet, or any other instrument touched or blown, sounding confusedly, utters an unpro∣fitable and an ungrateful sound, so also a tongue, not understood, gives no other than an uncertain and useless sound: But the Prophets in their Prophecying speak in a known tongue: Therefore the gift of tongues is inferiour to the gift of Prophecie.
Vers. 10. There are, it may bee, so many kinds of voi∣ces in the world, and none of them are without sig∣nification.
Reason 5. The voices of Brutes are many; whereof none is so inarticulate, but represents a certain species of the living creature to those that hear: It is therefore an unworthy thing, so to debase the gift of the Spirit, that it should profit no more, but should bee less valued than the blearing of a brute beast: In Prophecie it is not so: Therefore the gift of Tongues is inferiour to that of Prophecie.
Vers. 11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall bee unto him that speaketh a Barbari∣an, and hee that speaketh shall bee a Barbarian un∣to mee.
Reason 6. Because to speak things not understood, makes the Teachers and the Hearers Barbarians each to other: Therefore, &c.
Vers. 12. Even so yee, for as much as yee are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that yee may excell to the edi∣fying of the church.
13. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that hee may interpret.
Hee infers an exhortation to what was fore-spoken, that they might bee zealous of the gift of Prophecie, for the good of the Church, and to that end, that hee which hath the gift of an unknown tongue might pray, that hee might have also the gift of interpreting that tongue.
Vers. 14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Reason 7. If any one speak unto God, praying pub∣likely in an unknown tongue, hee doth ill, because though hee that prayes understands, yet the understanding of him that prays shall bee unfruitful to those that hear and do not understand, and hee doth ill much more who speaks publikely to men in a tongue not understood: Therefore the gift of Tongues is inferiour to that of Prophecie.
Vers. 15. What is it then? I will pray with the Spi∣rit, and will pray with understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the under∣standing also.
Hence hee draws forth his exhortation, because a∣mongst those who had the gift of strange tongues, some had the faculty miraculously to reason in divine mysteries, some had the faculty of praying, others did sing in those strange tongues, and others gave thanks; these gifts were divers, and for divers uses; hee commands them so to use them all, that they may bee understood by the hearers; for if any one pray by the Spirit, or from the gift of the Spirit, what profit shall it bee to the Church, unless hee pray also with understanding, i. e. so that the hearers may understand him?
Vers. 16. Else, when thou shalt bless with the Spirit, how shall hee that occupieth the room of the unlearn∣ed, say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, seeing hee understandeth not what thou sayest?
This hee confirms and adds the eighth Reason, from the unprofitableness of it, because when any one shall bless by the gift of the Spirit, those that occupy the room of private men in the Church, i. e. the rest of the hearers in the Assembly, cannot joyn their prayers with him, or say Amen, unless hee speaks in a known tongue. The matter is otherwise in Prophecying, where all things are uttered in a known tongue: Therefore, &c.
Vers. 17. For thou verily givest thanks well; but the other is not edified.
Hee gives a reason, because the hearers in the Church neither understand, nor are edified, although that which is spoken is most excellent.
Vers. 18. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all;
19. Yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an un∣known tongue.
Reason 9. From his own example, who was most ina∣bled in the gift of Tongues, and yet hee had rather speak a few words which might bee understood by the hearers, than many in a tongue unknown to the people: Therefore the gift of Prophecie excels that of Tongues.
Vers. 20. Brethren, bee not children in understanding;