fied their assent and participation in the petitions which had been offered. Buxtorfs Talm. Lexicon, Vitringa de Synag. Great importance was attached by the Jews to saying Amen. Schoettgen quotes numerous passages to show to what a su- perstitious extreme this was carried. " He who says Amen is greater than he that blesses." " Whoever says Amen, to him the gates of Paradise are opened." " Whoever says Amen shortly, his days shall be shortened ; whoever answers Amen distinctly and af length, his days shall be lengthened." Ac- cording to Justin Martyr, Apolog. ii. 97, the custom passed over to the Christian church. This seems also intimated in this passage ; the expression is, " Say the Amen," i. e. utter the familiar formula of assent. The unlearned cannot thus assent, shice he knows not what thou sayest. Men cannot assent to what they do not understand, because assent implies the affirmation of the truth of that to which we assent. It is impossible, therefore, to join in prayers Uttered in an unknown tongue. The Romish church persists in the use of the Latin language in her public services not only in opposition to the very idea and intent of worship, but also to the express pro- hibition of the Scriptures. For the very thing here prohibited is praying in public in a language which the people do not un- derstand. It is indeed said that words may touch the feelings which do not convey any distinct notions to the mind. But we cannot say Amen to such words, any more than we can to a flute. Such blind, emotional worship, if such it can be called, stands at a great remove from the intelligent service demanded by the apostle. Thou verily givest thanks well^ i. e. in a way acceptable to God and profitable to yourself. This* proves that the speaker must have understood what he said. For if the unintelligible is useless, it must be so to the speaker as well as to the hearer. If it was necessary that they should understand in order to be edified, it was no less necessary that he should understand what he said in order to be benefited. This verse is therefore decisive against all theories of the gift of tongues which assume that those who used them did not understand their own words. The Scriptures recognize no unintelligent worship of God, or any spiritual edification (in the case of adults) disconnected from the truth ; whether that edification be sought by sounds or signs, whether by prayers or sacraments.
18. 19. I thank my God, I speak with tongues
nt I. CORINTHIANS 14, 18.19.20.
more than ye all : 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 (unknown) tongue.
That Paul should give thanks to God that he was more abundantly endowed with the gift of tongues, if that gift con- sisted in the ability to speak in languages which he himself did not understand, and the use of which, on that assumption, could according to his principle benefit neither himself nor others, is not to be beUeved. Equally clear is it from this verse that to speak with tongues was not to speak in a state of mental unconsciousness. The common doctrine as to the nature of the gift, is the only one consistent with this passage. Paul says that although he could speak in foreign languages more than the Corinthians, he would rather speak five words with his understanding, i. e. so as to be intelligible, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Jn the church, i. e. in the assembly. That I might teach others also, {Karrjxioi) to instruct orally. Gal. 6, 6. This shows what is meant by speak- ing with the understanding. It is speaking in such a way as to convey instruction.
20. Brethren, be not children in imderstanding : howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
There are two characteristics of children ; the one a dispo- sition to be pleased with trifles, or to put a false estimate on things ; the other, comparative innocence. There is a great difference as to every thing evil between a little child and a full-grown man. The former of these characteristics the apostle wished the Corinthians to lay aside. The latter he wished them to cultivate. They had displayed a childish dis- position in estimating the gift of tongues above more useful gifts, and in using it when it could answer no good purpose. A little child, however, is some thing so lovely, and is so often held up in Scripture for imitation, that he could not say, with- out qualification, JBe not children. He therefore says. Be not children as to understanding / but as to malice, a comprehen- sive word for evil dispositions, be ye children. So our Lord said. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, Matt. 18, 3.