1 Corinthians 14

1. God the Father is the God of peace. As he is the God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33), so the God of peace (Philippians 4:9). This was the form of the priests blessing the people (Numbers 6:26): The Lord give you peace.

But alas, this may be spoken of old men in these days, that in regard of this wisdom, they are very babes; a thing greatly disgraceful to their condition. For, Paul bids the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 14:20, that they should not be children in understanding, but of ripe age: yea…

Therefore a man must endeavor that all his speech be in one language, at least in such as his hearers understand: for else if he speak the body of his speech in one, and piece out the members in other, which the people understand not; he may indeed in his own spirit speak myster…

Where any of these three are wanting, miracles may be suspected — because sometimes false prophets have their miracles to try men whether they will cleave to God or no (Deuteronomy 13:1-3). Again, miracles are not done or to be done for them that believe, but for infidels that b…

Consideration 1. The gospel is the will of God from heaven; yet it is a riddle, a parable not understood (Matthew 13:14). In the Law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak to this people (1 Corinthians 14:21). And (Isaiah 29:11): And the vision of a…

So God is said to be terrible in his holy places, (Psalm 68:35) whether heaven, or the church; indeed the awful carriage of his people in his worship should be one means to convince of the excellency and majesty of God. (1 Corinthians 14:25) The Apostle shows there, that an unbe…

The Gospel is full of this, yes, this is the main hinge of our religion: you are not Christians, unless you make Jehovah your righteousness in all you do, as well as God your ultimate end: You will go away as the proud Pharisee without acceptance, if you plead your enlargements…

So he came upon Christ at Jordan, in the likeness of a Dove: and in the likeness of fire upon the Apostles and other believers. And this was the first sending of the Holy Spirit: which was necessary in the primitive church, for it was expedient that it should be established by m…

For commonly the eldest must be the heir, the next the lawyer, the youngest the divine. Students must love and prize this calling above all other (1 Corinthians 14:1). Lastly, all men must make prayer that God would prosper and bless all schools of learning where this kind of te…

Again, that kind of preaching is to be blamed, in which there is used, a mixed kind of variety of languages, before the unlearned. For this is a sign to unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22). And in this kind of preaching we do not paint Christ, but we paint out our own selves.

First, those that have received the Spirit of regeneration, and do begin to savor the things of the Spirit (Romans 8). Secondly, those that have received a greater portion of the Spirit, and a greater measure of spiritual graces, of whom Paul speaks (1 Corinthians 14:37): If any…

And therefore some foolishly join this verse and that place of Saint Peter together: for they make the Prophet speak as if the Lord should be brought in seeking such disciples as were emptied of all pride; and were become like children lately weaned. But he rather complains that…

The preaching of the Gospel is justly compared to a net sunk beneath the water, to inform us that the present state of the Church is confused. Our God is the God of order, and not of confusion, (1 Corinthians 14:33,) and, therefore, recommends to us discipline; but he permits hy…

When he enjoins his followers to become like a child, this does not extend indiscriminately to all points. We know that in children there are many things faulty; and accordingly Paul bids us be children, not in understanding, but in malice, (1 Corinthians 14:20;) and in another…

But we must attend to Paul’s admonition, not to be children in understanding, but in malice, (1 Corinthians 14:20).

For they are all one, and a spiritual people: and therefore they are all priests together, and all both may and ought to show forth the Word of God. Saving that, in the church, women ought not to speak, but to refer that to men to teach and preach there, because of the commandme…

For we can all utter and declare those things that appertain to the glory of God, and Christian life: we also (so far as is needful and expedient for us) can foretell of things to come, as that there shall be a day of general judgment, and that we shall all rise again from the d…

The Word in the Reading or Preaching of it is the principal means hereof. This the Holy Spirit employes and makes use of in his entrance into this Work, 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. For those Convictions befal not Men from the Word universally or promiscuously, but as the Holy Spirit will…

And therefore as all direction and consolation is derived from Christ; so should the husband likewise derive down and communicate knowledge, and comfort, and guidance to the wife; called therefore her guide (Proverbs 2:17). And St. Peter requires of husbands that they should dwe…

(4) The plow turns up, and discovers such things as lay hid in the bosom of the earth before, and were covered under a fair green surface, from the eyes of men. Thus when the Lord plows up the heart of a sinner by conviction, then the secrets of his heart are made manifest [reco…

So our Savior has told us (who, even after his resurrection, is called, the Holy Child Jesus (Acts 4:27)) (Matthew 18:3). And even when we have put away other childish things, yet still in malice we must be children (1 Corinthians 14:20). And as for the quarrels of others, in al…

They shall see since the people of God did close one with another, they are encreased in gifts; a poor boy, or girl, or servant, that understood nothing before, now they can understand more, and with their understanding their hearts are more humble then before; this is a great c…

The Church of Rome does directly transgress against the forenamed rule of joining the word and Baptism together. For though they have a public form prescribed, yet it being in an unknown tongue, not understood of the people, nor expounded to them, it is all one as if there were…

On the other hand, Genicola hates the Presbyterians for their scandalous Irreverence at the Sacrament: What, says he, dare any Man use so clownish and so rude a Gesture as sitting, when he receives the Seal of the Pardon of his Sins, and the Emblems of the Body and Blood of Chri…

This new birth is the same that Saint John calls the first Resurrection, and pronounces them blessed that partake of it, Blessed are they that have part in the first Resurrection, the second death shall have no power over them. The weak beginnings of grace in comparison of furth…

It is (says he) when good men, and such as are already inured to fear and serve God, are edified by his word. And not only that, but also if an unbeliever comes in, which was formerly a mocker, and never had any remorse of conscience, and hears what is uttered in the name of God…

All these are mysteries. So the wonderful effects of the word in convincing sinners (1 Corinthians 14:25). 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.

(Psalm 111:4) He has made his wonderful works to be remembered. So in his ordinances, when God makes any nearer approach to us by way of conviction, counsel, or comfort (1 Corinthians 14:25): and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so falling down on his face, h…

There is the matter of true spiritual comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:31. That all may learn and all be comforted. This follows from the former; God is the God of comfort.

Ministers should be, and, if faithful they will be as nurses to the people, they will prepare milk for the meanest and weakest, and meat for all; but never give dry crust or [illegible] instead of bread to any; for that was not to feed, but to starve the child. Hence the Apostle…

So repenting Ephraim professes it was the course the Lord took with him; After I was instructed I repented (Jeremiah 31:19). That which the eye sees not the heart rues not, that which is not apprehended by the understanding, is not affected by the will; so in (1 Corinthians 14:2…

Paul in Acts 9:7, and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:9), it is most probable they were in their middle age, as their places and employments together with their accustomed experience, and practice therein do [illegible]. Paul indeed is called a young man (Acts 7:58), yet his bringing up at t…

Verse 18: For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow. Paul spoke more with tongues than they all (1 Corinthians 14:18), but he was dead to that gift; he had rather have brought them nearer to Christ. 1 Corinthians 4:10: We are fools, and h…

First let us hold this, that if we see in every fellowship of men some policy to be necessary, that may serve to nourish common peace and to retain concord: if we see that in the doing of things there is always some orderly form, which is fitting for public honesty and for very…

Christian: You have spoken, for aught I know, the true gospel sense of these texts. And I will add another thing: Paul calls some men, indeed, and those great talkers too, sounding brass, and tinkling cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1, 3); that is, as he expounds them in another place…

And because this is the sense I chiefly must insist on, in handling the vanity of the thoughts, and also men usually think that thoughts are free; I will therefore prove this to you, which is the only doctrine raised, that thoughts are sins. 1. The law judges them (Hebrews 4:12)…

And he believed immediately, and was baptized; and such a wonderful change does a pricked heart make; of those very men, whom before he scourged and put in the dungeon, now they are [illegible], Lords; any reverence now little enough to show them — such work makes a pricked hear…

It is true, sometimes men come and find spoils in the ordinances, that never battled with their corruptions before, for sometimes God is found of them that seek him not, and so many a man that never struck a stroke gets spoils. They come and wonder at the presence of God there,…

It is better for lay persons, when they speak one to another of the things of God, when they meet together, to speak after the manner of Christian conversation, than to observe the formality of but one speaking at a time, the whole multitude silently and solemnly attending to wh…

It is therefore a great error, and sin in some persons, at this day, that they are fixed in their way, in some things that others account errors, and won't hearken to admonition and counsel, but are confident that they are in the right of it, in those practices that they find th…