assumed to be subject to the prophets. They are from God ; but God is not a God of disorder or of commotion, but of peace. Therefore every spirit which is from him, must be capable of control. He never impels men to act contrary to the princi- ples which he has ordained. If he wills order to prevail in the church, he never impels men to be disorderly. This is a truth of wide application. When men pretend to be influ- enced by the Spirit of God in doing what God forbids, whether in disturbing the peace and order of the church, by insubordi- nation, violence or abuse, or in any other .way, we may be sure that they are either deluded or impostors.
34. Let your women keep silence in the churches : for it is not permitted unto them to speak ; but (they are commanded) to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
The Avords as in all the churches of the saints^ if connect- ed with verse 33, contain a proof of what had just been said.
* I may appeal to all the churches of the saints in proof that God is the God not of commotion, but of peace.' Most com- mentators, however, connect them with v. 34. * As in all the churches of the saints, let your women keep silence in the churches ; for it is not permitted to them to speak ; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.' The reasons for preferring this connection are, 1. That verse 33 has an appropriate conclusion in the words " God is not a God of confusion but of peace." 2. The words as in all the churches of the saints^ if connected with v. 33, do not give a pertinent sense. The apostle would be made to prove a con- ceded and undeniable truth by an appeal to the authority or experience of the church. 3. If connected with v. 34, this passage is parallel to 11, 16, where the custom of the churches in reference to the deportment of women in public is appealed to as authoritative. The sense is thus pertinent and good.
* As is the case in all other Christian churches, let your women keep silence in the pubUc assemblies.' The fact that in no Christian church was public speaking permitted to women was itself a strong proof that it was unchristian, i. e. contrary to the spirit of Christianity. Paul, however, adds to the pro- hibition the weight of apostolic authority, and not of that only but also the authority of reason and of Scripture. It is not