It was an astonishing thing which the multitude assembled at Jerusalem witnessed on the day of Pentecost.1 "And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What is this?"

We cannot wonder if some of the disciples were elated to whom a portion of this new power was granted; and if they were fond of displaying it even where there was not the same occasion, as when it was used by the apostles.

St. Paul reminds the Corinthians of the design of all spiritual gifts not for personal display, but for the glory of God in the edification of his people. Desire spiritual gifts; but rather that ye may prophesy: that is, explain the word or the will of God as revealed by his Spirit: making your speech "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

2. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1 Acts ii. 1—14.

2 Because though he himself understands what he says, he does not render it to others, unless he interprets, as ver. 5.-Chrys.

3. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

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

They that hear, may take a lesson from this passage, as well as those that speak. The speaker is to give edification, and exhortation, and comfort. The hearer must be equally ready to receive edifying. No words can profit, if they merely fall upon the ear, and are not marked and inwardly digested. As the preacher who does not interpret his meaning is as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal: so the hearer who does not apply the truths and precepts taught him, is like "the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely."

Here, however, St. Paul's concern is with the Corinthian teachers, who made an unprofitable use of the gifts bestowed on them.

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 prophesying, or by doctrine?

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

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

3 Ps. lviii. 4.

9. So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Musical sounds have been used in all ages to excite certain ideas. There are sounds suited to joy, and sounds suited to sorrow. Sounds which rouse the passions, and sounds which compose and tranquillize them. Sounds which animate the soldier to advance against the enemy, and sounds which warn him to retreat. So that it passed into a proverb against those who paid no attention to what was piped or harped, "We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented." But if the persons who send forth these sounds, give no distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is intended by them? If they who "take the tabret and the pipe" do not issue notes of cheerfulness, who would be induced to dance? If the mourning women at a funeral did not utter notes of wailing, who would be excited to weep ?6 If the trumpet gave not the note which the soldier knew to be the signal for arms, who would prepare himself for the battle?

Just such is the sound which is uttered by one who

4 Matt. xi. 17.

5 See Job xxi. 11.

6 Jerem. ix. 18.

undertakes to teach, but does not utter by the tongue words easy to be understood. He speaks into the air. He is to them who hear a barbarian: a foreigner: they know not the meaning of the voice.

Any teacher commits the same error, and deserves the same reproof, who does not speak to the edifying of the church. Words and arguments may be employed, which shall be to the hearer no better than an unknown tongue. And one who thus misuses his opportunities, cannot be said even, like the speakers among the Corinthians, to edify himself. They in the spirit speaking mysteries might obtain spiritual advancement from a sense of the power possessed by them. But he, making truth obscure, and darkening the counsels of God by words hard to be understood, edifies no one, whilst he frustrates the gracious design that the Gospel should be preached to the poor. They can neither rejoice with him, when he invites them to rejoice in the glad tidings of the gospel; nor can they mourn with him, when he exhorts them to lament over their sins. They know not the meaning of the voice, and he is a barbarian unto them. He addresses them in a foreign language.

Such is the case if the speaker's LANGUAGE is not clear and simple, such as "may be understanded of the people." And the fault is the same, and the consequence the same, if the DOCTRINE be not clear: if he does not show the way of salvation with all plainness of speech, but gives an uncertain sound, perplexing the hearer rather than instructing him. In the "word of faith, which Paul preached," there was no uncertain sound. "If thou shalt confess with thy

mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth

unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

ד

LECTURE LXXXV.

THE NECESSITY OF SPEAKING TO EDIFICATION.

1 COR. xiv. 13-25.

13. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.1

14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.2

15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

16. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

7 Rom. x. 9, 10.

1 Pray that the gift may be bestowed on him not only of praying, but of interpreting his prayer so as to be understood by the assembly. Chrys. and Theod.

2 My spirit or mind prayeth, but my meaning profits no one else edifieth not.-Ecumen.

:

3 Who is in the place of a layman or private believer: ιδιωτης.