24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

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doubt that you are devoid of all reason in employing yourselves in so useless a manner? But if, on the other hand, all exercise the spiritual gift of explaining the prophetical agreement between the Jewish and Christian dispensations; and there come in like manner into the assembly any unbeliever or uninspired Christian, such a one, if the former, is in the way of being convinced of the truth of the Gospel by the arguments addressed to his understanding by all; or, if the latter, of being by the same means, virtually, questioned respecting his former knowledge, and led to apply it to a con25 firmation of his faith; and so, according to the natural effect of such multiplied testimony and arguments, each of these persons may be so powerfully wrought upon, that the secret emotions of his heart become manifest, by his being impelled through the strong impression on his mind to make an immediate exhibition of them; and accordingly, he will at once fall down on his face, and worship God, declaring that the power of God is really operating among you by the spiritual gift thus exercised. 26 What then is it that I direct you to do brethren?

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27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

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why this, supposing that when you assemble together, each of you has a spiritual gift, that one has by inspiration a song of praise, that another has a point of instruction, another, an inspired mode of speech, another, a matter of revelation, another, the power of interpreting an inspired mode of speech; let all these gifts be exercised with a view to the confirmation of the assembly in their faith " and union. And to this end, if it is determined that the gift of speaking in an inspired mode of speech should be publicly exercised, let it be done by two, or at the most, three persons in the assembly, and that separately; and in each case, let " another interpret the mode of speech; but, if there be no one present who can interpret it, let the person so gifted be silent in the assembly, but use it mentally for his own benefit, and address himself 29 to God. And to the same end; let two or three persons in the assembly exercise the gift of explaining the prophetical agreement between the Jewish and Christian dispensations, and let the others exercise their judgments in applying the explanation to their own improvement; but, if any particular revelation on the subject in hand shall

30

31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

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.

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have been made to another spiritually gifted person, let the one who is already speaking cease before the other delivers his revelation; for though, as I have said, it is ordinarily sufficient, at one meeting, that two or three explain the prophetical agreement between the two dispensations, yet you may all do it by turns, when necessary, thus supplying each other with needful information; in order that all present may receive due instruction in their profession, and be encouraged to the prac2 tice of it: (and it is with a view to this regular method of instruction that the spiritual gifts of the prophetical expounders, unlike that of inspired modes of speech, are, in the exercise, altogether subject to their controul) for God, in bestowing his spiritual gifts on different persons does not 'design to unsettle the Christian union, but by 'enabling them therewith to be of mutual service, to promote among them peace and mutual regard, as is the usual effect of these gifts in all the societies * of Christians. Further, as to the exercise of the spiritual gifts, let your women, though inspired,

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

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refrain from speaking as teachers in the public assemblies, for in ordinary life the office appointed for them is not, to speak with authority, but to obey, and as Christianity alters none of the social obligations, it is their duty, even under those circumstances, to remain in a due subjection to men; as also, the scriptures of the Mosaic dispensation intimate to them that they should do; wherein God is related, in the history of the fall of man, to have said to the woman, "thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." But if, conformably to their proper province, they wish for instruction on any particular point, let them, at home, question their own husbands upon it; for, according to established opinion among Christians, it is contrary to the natural modesty of women to 36 speak with authority in a public assembly. And what claim have you to observe on this point, or that which I before noticed, of marking the relative condition of the sexes by the external appearance of the head, peculiar customs? Has the preaching of the word of God either originated from you, that you should be entitled to make regulations of your own? or, has it been established only among you, so that you should not be under the necessity of conforming to the general practice among Chris

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

CHAPTER XV.

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

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37 tians? Finally, if any one among you is really endowed with the gift of prophetical exposition, or is otherwise spiritually gifted, let him, as he must in that case, acknowledge that the directions which I have written to you on the subject of these spiritual gifts, are, virtually, the commands of our Lord. 39 But if, after all the pains that I have used to explain and enforce them on grounds of reason and scripture, any one professes ignorance of their utility and obligation, let him remain in his ignorance, as inaccessible to human reasoning, and leave him to the mercy of God; but do you regulate the public proceedings of your church as I have direct39 ed. And accordingly, brethren, be earnestly desirous of possessing and encouraging the exercise of the gift of prophetical exposition, and at the same time, hinder not the exercise of the gift of inspired modes of speech on proper occasions. 4o Let all the gifts be exercised in a suitable and orderly manner.

1. And secondly, respecting supernatural spiritual