Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 2 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Verſe 1. Follow after charity]
FOllow it hot-foot, as they ſay: purſue and practice it. It is more then to deſire or to be zealous of a thing, as it follows in the next words,foreign. be zealous of ſpirituall gifts. Follow charity cloſe, as the Hunter doth his prey,foreign. or as the perſecutour doth the Martyr, that will hide or eſcape if he can. Charity may be fitly compared to the precious ſtone Pantarbe ſpoken of by Philoſtratus. A ſtone of great beauty and of ſtrange property.Philoſtr. in vit. Apollony lib 3. cap. …4 So bright it is and radiant, that it gives light in the darkeſt midnight. And that light is of that admirable vertue, that it brings together the ſtones that it reacheth into heaps, as if they were ſo many hives of Bees. But nature, leſt ſo precious a gift ſhould be undervalued, hath not only hid this ſtone in the ſecret bowels of the earth, but hath alſo put into it a property of ſlipping out of the hands of thoſe that hold it, Niſi providâ ratione teneatur, unleſſe they hold it faſt indeed.
Verſe 2. In an unknown tongue] So they that preach in a kinde of Roman Engliſh, and not in a low language to the peoples capacity.
But unto God] Canit ſibi & Muſis, as the proverb is: And as good he may hold his tongue, for God needs him not.
Verſe 3. To edification, to exhortation] Theſe three ends every preacher ought to propound to himſelf; 1. Edification in knowledge and holineſſe. 2. Exhortation, that is, Reprehenſion and Admonition. 3. Conſolation, leſt that which is lame be turned out of the way, Heb. 12.13.
Verſe 4. Edifieth the Church] Therefore prophecy is the more worthy, becauſe profitable. Prodeſſe meliùs quam praeeſſe.
Verſe 6. If I come unto you, &c.] This you would not like in me. And is that Venus in Caio, that is, Naevus in Titio? a blemiſh in one, that is a beauty in another.
By revelation or by knowledge, or &c.] Piſcator reads it by revelation, or by knowledge, that is, either by prophecying or by doctrine. The Apoſtle expounding himſelf.
Verſe 7. Except they give a diſtinction] Ʋniſono nihil auribus moleſtius. Diſcords in muſick make the beſt harmony.Blunts voiage, pag. 106. Thorow all Turky there runs one tune, nor can every man play that: yet ſcarce any but hath a fiddle with two ſtrings.
Verſe 8. For if the Trumpet] Similies are excellent for illuſtration, and muſt be fetcht from things familiar.
Verſe 9. Ye ſhall speak into the air] You ſhall loſe your labour, and may as well keep your breath to cool your broth.
Verſe 10. So many kindes of voices] Seventy two maternall languages, they ſay.
Verſe 11. A Barbarian] So the Grecians called all Nations that ſpoke not their language. It is reported that no where at this day is ſpoken more barbarous language then at Athens, once the Greece of Greece.Neand. Chron.
Verſe 12. To the edifying of the Church] Clouds when full, pour down, and the preſſes over-flow, and the Aromaticall trees ſweat out their precious and ſoveraign oils, and every learned Scribe muſt bring out his treaſure for the Churches behoof and benefit.
Verſe 13. Pray that he may interpret] Pope Innocent the third never praied thus: for he ſaid that the Church decreed the ſervice in an unknown tongue, Ne ſacroſancta verba vileſcerent, leſt the holy words ſhould be under-prized. But publike praiers in an unknown tongue, ſaith one, muſt be attributed to the change of time it ſelf in Italy, France and Spain, for there a long time the Latine was underſtood of all.Eraſm. But when afterwards their ſpeeches degenerated into thoſe vulgar tongues now there uſed, then the language not of the ſervice, but of the people was altered.
Verſe 14. Is unfruitfull] In regard of others edification. It were a great grace, ſaid Lambert the Martyr,Act. and Mon. fol. 1015. if we might have the Word of God diligently and often ſpoken and ſung unto us in ſuch wiſe, that the people might underſtand it: then ſhould it come to paſſe that craftſmen ſhould ſing ſpirituall Pſalms ſitting at their work, and the husbandman at his plow, as wiſheth S. Hierome, Pavier Town-clark of London in Henry the eighths time, was a man that in no caſe could abide to hear that the Goſpel ſhould be in Engliſh: Inſomuch that he once ſware a great oath, that if he thought that the Kings highneſſe would ſet forth the Scripture in Engliſh, and let it be read of the people by his authority,Ibid 962. rather then he would ſo long live, he would cut his own throat. But he broke promiſe; for ſhortly after he hanged himſelf.
Verſe 15. I will pray with underſtanding] To an effectuall praier there muſt concur intentio & affectus, the intention of the minde, and the affection of the heart. Elſe it is not praying but parotting.Sphinx. Philoſ. I have read of a Parot in Rome, that could diſtinctly ſay over the whole Creed.
Verſe 16. Say Amen] This the Apoſtle reckons for a great loſſe. The poor miſled and muzled Papiſts are enjoined not to joyn ſo far with a Proteſtant in any holy action, as to ſay Amen. But in that,Specul. Europ. there is no ſo great loſſe.
Verſe 17. But the other is not edified] This we ſhould all labour, viz. to edifie others. Syneſius ſpeaks of ſome, who having a treaſure of tongues, and other abilities in them, would aſſoon part with their hearts as their meditations: the canker of whoſe great skill ſhall be a witneſſe againſt them.
Verſe 18. I thank my God, &c.] Skill in tongues is, as now, a great bleſſing. Indeed at firſt when men began foreign, to fight againſt God, they were compelled foreign, to brabble in divers languages, ſeventy two, as Epiphanius affirmeth. But God hath turned this curſe into a bleſſing unto his people, Act. 2. and as in the firſt plantation of the Goſpel, ſo in the late Reformation, God ſent it before, as his munition to batter the forts of Antichriſt, who had baniſhed arts and languages, overſpreading all with barbariſme and Atheiſme. Graecè noſſe ſuſpectum erat, Hebraicè ferè haereticum.
Verſe 19. In an unknown tongue] A Pariſian Doctour tels us that though the Apoſtle would have Gods ſervice to be celebrated in a known tongue,Benedict. Mo… tan. in 1 Cor. 14. yet the Church for divers weighty reaſons hath otherwiſe ordered and appointed it. The Mahometans reade their Alchoran (which they ſuppoſed were profaned, if it were tranſlated into vulgar tongues) and perform their publique devotions in the Arabique tongue,Breerw Enquit. 185. which is their learned language.
Verſe 20. Be not children] Mentibus ſcilicet, ſed moribus, Mat. 18.3. See the Note there.
In malice be ye children] In innocency and ignoſcency.
In underſtanding be men] Is it not a ſhame to have no more underſtanding at eighty, then at eight years of age?
Verſe 21. With men of other tongues] God threatned the Jews, that ſith they would not hearken to their own Prophets, they ſhould … forrain enemies, Iſa. 28.11. Jer. 5.15. So thoſe that will not obey the ſweet command of Chriſt, Come unto me, ſhall have one day no command to obey but that dreadfull diſcedite, Depart from me, &c.
Verſe 22. But for them which believe] To confirm and comfort believers: This is the chief end of preaching. Let this comfort thoſe that cannot ſay they have converted any by their Miniſtery.
Verſe 23. Will they not ſay, ye are mad!] And may they not ſay as much if we jangle and diſſent in opinion, one holding this,Lib. 2. cap. 2. and another that. Ammianus Marcellinus taxed the ancient Biſhops of his time for their hatefull miſcarriages in this kinde.
Verſe 24. He is convinced of all] God ſmiteth the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips doth he ſlay the wicked, Iſa. 11.4. By his Word he telleth a man (as he did the Samariteſſe, Joh. 4.) all that ever he did.
Verſe 25. The ſecrets of his heart] Gods Word is a curious Critick, Heb. 4.12. a diſcerner of the thoughts, &c. It findes and ferrets out ſecret ſins.
Verſe 26. Let all things, &c.] There is edifying even in appointing of fit Pſalms.
Verſe 27. Or at the moſt by three] Leſt the hearers be tired out. Our infirmity will not ſuffer any long intention, either of body or minde. Long ſervices can hardly maintain their vigour, as in tall bodies the ſpirits are diffuſed. Eraſmus hath obſerved that Origen never preached above an hour, oft but half an hour: Conſultiùs judicabat crebrò docere, quam diu, ſaith he. He held it better to preach oft, then long.Eraſ praefat. ad Orig. opera.
Verſe 28. Let him keep ſilence] Such as ſtuff their Sermons with Greek and Latine are here ſilenced, further then they interpret the ſame. If thou canſt help my hearers to Greek and Latine ears (ſaith a reverend Preacher) they ſhall have Greek and Latine enough.
Verſe 29. Let the other judge] But is not this a diſparagement to the Prophets? may ſome ſay: No, but an honour, 1 Theſſ. 5.20, 21. After Despiſe not prophecying, he ſubjoyneth, Try all things.
Verſe 30. That ſitteth by] And is extraordinarily inſpired and qualified: a little otherwiſe then our Enthuſiaſts, that brag of their lumen propheticum.
Verſe 31. That all may learn] The moſt learned may learn ſomething by the diſcourſes of others leſſe learned then themſelves. Apollos a learned teacher, may yet be taught by a Tent maker. The Jewiſh Rabbins acknowledge that they came to underſtand, Iſa. 14.23.foreign by hearing an Arabian woman mention a beeſome in her language to her maid.
Verſe 32.R. David. in Radic. Are ſubject to the Prophets] To be ſcanned and examined; which they ſhould not be, unleſſe they took their turns in courſe to prophecy. Eloquere, ſaid one, ut quid ſit videam, Speak that I may ſee what's in thee.
Verſe 33. Not the authour of confuſion] Nec author, nec fautor. Unquiet ſpirits are of the devil, who keeps adoe, and fils the Church with confuſion by his turbulent agents and emiſſaries, ſowing ſedition and ſpreading ſchiſmes.
Verſe 34. Let your women, &c.] See the Note on Rom. 16.1.
Verſe 35. Ask their husbands] Who therefore muſt dwell with them according to knowledge, 1 Pet. 3.7. and be manly guides unto them in the way to heaven. The maſters breſt muſt be the houſholds treaſury.
For it is a ſhame for women, &c] She was a ſingular example, that taught the Greek and Latine tongues at Heidelberg, anno 1554. Her name was Olympia Fulvia Morata an Italian, of the City of Ferrara.
Verſe 36. What? came the word, &c.] As if he ſhould ſay (and he ſaith it with ſome diſpleaſure) Are ye the firſt, or the only Chriſtians? Are ye too good to be admoniſhed? Take heed leſt God for your arrogancy and high ſpiritednes lay you low enough, even in that ſlimy vally, Job 21.31, 32.
Verſe 37. The Commandments] And therefore to be obeyed by the beſt of you. Aut faciendum, aut patiendum: Aut poenitendum, aut pereundum. Either do it or die for it.
Verſe 38. But if any man be ignorant, &c.] If ſtubbornly ignorant and uncounſellable, let him take his own courſe. I have cleared the truth in things now controverted, and there I reſt me. Who ſo blinde, as he that will not ſee?
Verſe 39. Wherefore, brethren] This he adds as a corollary, to prevent miſtakes, as if that he were an enemy either to prophecy, or tongues, ſo ſoberly and orderly uſed. Arbitror nounullos in quibuſdam locis librorum meorum, opinaturos me ſenſiſſe quod non ſenſi, aut non ſenſiſſe quod ſenſi, ſaith Auguſtine. Aug. lib. 3. de Trin. c 3.I foreſee that ſome will conſtrue many paſſages of my writings far otherwiſe then I intended them: and it fell out accordingly,Annal tom 6. ad annum, 450. n. 17. as Baronius teſtifieth.
Verſe 40. Let all things, &c.] A generall rule of great moment. In things both reall and rituall decency and order muſt be obſerved in Church-meetings. For this the Coloſſians are much commended, Chap. 2.5. Our Saviour cauſed the people whom he fed to keep order in their ſitting on the graſſe: they ſat down rank by rank, as rows, or borders of beds in a garden; ſo the Greek imports.foreign. Hebraiſ. ut Exod. 8.14. Cartwright. Whereupon an Expoſitour noteth, Ordinatim res in Eccleſia faciendae. Order muſt be obſerved in the Church.