The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 449

chapter proves in o most striking way the may be imitated with most da11gcrous and close 11,n11logy between "the tongue" and objectionable results both to the speaker the impassioned soliloquies of inarticulate and to others. But when the expression is utterance which were poured forth in tones genuine, the fact that the tides of the Spirit of thrilling power among the Montanists, can thus sweep through the narrow channels and in modern times among the Irvingites. of individuality is in itself a sign that the In the spirit. It is uncertain whether this spirit of the man is alive and not dead; and means" in his own spirit," or "in the Spirit of thus he is an evidence of God's power both God," i.e. as 11 result of inspiration. Probably to himself and to others. Those who have the former (John iv. 21; Rom. viii. 13, etc.). heard "the tongue" have told me that its Perh11ps, however, the two imply the same force, melody, and penetrative quality pro- thing. The spirit is the one Divine part of duced an impression not to be forgotten. our human being, and wl,en a man is 11 true ·when we see the stuffed and stopped-up Christi11n his spirit is in union with, is as hearts and lives of thousands of frivolous it were lost in, tbe Spirit of God. St. Paul and worldly money-worshippen, we might recognizes the true tongue-for ii might be well echo St. Paul's wish. Greater. Kot ~imulated by hysteria nnd even by mere of necessity greater obaolutdy or morally. physical imposture-as a result of inspira- but greater in the fact of his wider and tion, that is, of the overpowering dominance deeper useful ncss. Except he interpret. of the human spirit by e.snpernatuial power. From this we infer that sometimes, when N everthcless, he points out the extreme peril the passion had spent its furce, the spenker of yielding to or self-inducing th~se emotions in the tongue could give rational explana- public, or in leaving them uncontrolled. tion of the thoughts and feelings to which Mysteries. Secrets revealed possibly to he had given ecstatic utterance. him, but unrevcaled by this strange "tongue" Ver. 6.-Exoept I shall speak to you either to others. by revelation, or by knowledge, or by pro- Ver. 3.-To edifioation, and exhortation, phesying, or by doctrine 1 1\1 y "tongue•· will and comfort. The "to" should be omitted. be useless to you unless I also speak to you Hie words build up the Christian soul, by of what I know by revelation, or by my rousing its efforts and consoling its sorrows. thoughtful ,tudy, which may take the form The "Son of prophecy" (Barnabas) is, as of preaching or of teaching (eh. xii. 28). Stanley points out, also "11 Son of consola- Ver. 7.-Even things without life giving tion" (Acts iv. 36). "Support" (parahlesis) sound. Even mm,ieul in,lruments-tlute involves" comfort," i.e. strength and calm. or hnrp-dead instruments us they 11,re, must Ver. 4.-Edifieth himself. When the bo so playe,l us to keep up the distinction "tongue" was genuine, and under due con- of intervals, without which the melody is trol (ver. 32); when it avoided the physical ruined and the tuue is unreeogniznble. and orgiastic manifestations by which a sort l\1ueh more is this the case with the human of spirituul possession wa~ indicuted in the voice. ancient oracul11,r shrines; when the self- "How sour sweet music is, consciousness was not wholly oblitcrated,- When time is broke nnd no proportion a sense of ennobling conviction would b6 kept!" :produced by this spiritual outpouring. The indiscl'iminate use of the tongue is here Those who ho.ve experienced the emotion compared to the d issonnnco of j,uring and -describe this very result. 'fhey felt en- unmodulated instrumeutnl sounds. In har- lnrged and elevntcd-their whole being wns mony there must be due sequence and inter- for 11 time expanded-by this emotion. The vals of sound. Churoh. Primarily the body of 11,ssembled Ver. 8.-lf the trumpet give an unoertain Christi11ns which he is addressing, and sound. A spiritual exhortation ~hould be through them the Churcll of God in gencrnl. like the" blowing of 11 trumpet in Zion;" Ver. 5.-1 would that ye all spake with but if, us in "the tongue," the trumpet only tongues. 'l'he language of relative disparogo- g,tve forth an unintelligible blure, its sounds ment which St. Pnul uses throughout these wero useless. chnpters may lead us to regnnl this with Ver. 9.-Words easy to be understood; surprise. Yet it is perfectly intelligible. rother, distinguishable speer.h. Ye shall l\fonto.nus truly said thut each hunrnn spirit speak; rather, ye shall be (1111 the '.ime) is like n hnrp, which the Holy Spirit strikes 8pealdng. Into the air. Mere pulses of ns with 11 plectrnm, 11,nd which yields itself to useless innrliculnte brenth, spoken ;,., 11/auc the mighty hantl by which the chords 11,re hille-l,1. l'hilo ha~ the word aeromuthus, swept. We hnvc seen nil nlong-ancl hi&tory one who spcnks to the wind. hllS in vnrious uges confirmed the irupres•iou, Ver. 10.-It may be. A mero expres- on every occasion when theso phenomena sion of uncertainty us to the exuct number lmvc been reproduced in SCl\6011s of greut (comp. eh. xv. 37). It is uno of tl:o v,·ry spiritual revival-thnt the external Bymptoms few instnnce11 where even the \'erb whicll 458 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cII. xiv. 1-40.