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1. Public prayer must be understood here (ver. 16).

2. Praying in the Spirit must mean using the gift of prayer which the Spirit bestows. To pray in the Holy Ghost implies the having our infirmities helped by the Spirit of God; our graces quickened, our affections and desires raised into strength and fervency.

3. Understanding must not be referred to the understanding of the apostle, but to the understanding of others (ver. 19). Upon the words thus opened I build this thesis, That public prayer is not to be made in an unknown tongue, but in such a language as is understood by the common people.

I. THE JUDGMENT OF ROME IN THE MATTER.

1. In their general practice. Their Mass-book is in Latin; their Divine service is performed in a dead language.

2. The council of Trent determines (Canon 9), "Whosoever shall say that the Mass ought to be celebrated only in a vulgar language, let him be accursed."

II. PUBLIC PRAYER OUGHT NOT TO BE MADE IN A LANGUAGE UNKNOWN TO THE PEOPLE.

1. When prayer is made in an unknown tongue, the name of God is taken in vain (Matthew 15:8, 9).

2. Prayer in an unknown tongue is ignorant worship (John 4:22; Mark 10:38). And what is ignorant worship, if this be not — to make unknown prayers to an unknown God?

3. How can such prayers as are made in an unknown tongue be made in faith? And yet faith is a necessary ingredient in prayer (James 1:7).

4. The design of prayer is not to work any change in God, with whom there is not the least "variableness, neither shadow of turning"; but a change in us; that by prayer we may be the better disposed for the reception of what we ask. But how can prayer which is not understood be here available?

5. Though to speak in an unknown tongue was in the first age a miraculous gift, and served much for the confirmation of the Christian faith; yet unless there were an interpreter, the use of an unknown tongue was not permitted in the public worship of God (ver. 28).

6. The use of an unknown tongue in the Lord's service is expressly denied to be unto edification (ver. 26).

7. The apostle, having delivered this doctrine, That prayer and praise should be in a known tongue, adds that he taught the same "in all the Churches of the saints" (ver. 33; see also ver. 37).

III. ANTIQUITY IS UTTERLY AGAINST ROME IN THIS MATTER. And because the council of Trent hath anathematised all that are against Latin prayers, I will suppose another council, and Paul himself to be the president of it. The question to be debated is, "Whether prayer is to be made in a known or in an unknown tongue." Let the fathers speak in order. tells us: "On the day commonly called Sunday, assemblies are made of citizens and countrymen, and the writings of the apostles and prophets are read. The reader giving over, the minister makes an exhortation to the people, persuading to the imitation and practice of those good things that are propounded. After this we rise all, and pour out prayers: and bread and wine are brought forth. And the minister, to the uttermost of his ability, does send forth prayers and praises unto God; and the people give their consent, saying, "Amen." Behold the Scriptures read even to citizens, nay, to country-people, and prayers made which they did understand, and say Amen to. may speak next: "The Christians in their prayers use not the very words (he means the words of the original)" of the Scriptures: but they that are Greeks do use the Greek tongue; and those that are Romans, the Roman tongue. And so every one according to his dialect does pray unto God, and praise Him according to his ability: and He that is the Lord of every language does bear the prayers which are put up to Him in every language." speaks thus: "To pray otherwise than Christ has taught is not only ignorance but a great fault; for He has expressly said, 'Ye reject the command of God, that ye may establish your own tradition.'" Now where has Christ taught the use of an unknown tongue in prayer? may be heard in the next place: "If ye come together to edify the Church, those things ought to be spoken that the hearers may understand: for what does he profit the people who speaks in an unknown tongue to them?" And afterwards the same father adds: "There were some, of the Hebrews especially, that used the Syriac and the Hebrew tongue in their services; but these aimed at their own glory and commendation, not at the people's benefit." Let us hear : "We ought to understand what we pray for, that we may, not like birds, but like men, sing unto God. For blackbirds and parrots and crows and pies, and such kind of fowls, are taught to sound forth what they understand not; but to sing with understanding is granted, not to a bird, but to a man, through the good pleasure of God." speaks after this manner "In the Churches of the city of Rome, the voice of the people was like heavenly thunder, when they answered aloud 'Amen' at the end of the prayers which they put up unto God. The people understood, and gave their consent unto, the prayers which were used in those days; but the present Church of Rome, alas! how much is it altered from what it once was!" Great Basil exclaims, "Let thy tongue sing, and let thy mind search the meaning of what is spoken; that thou mayest sing with the spirit, and sing with the understanding also." says; "Take notice how the apostle does always seek the Church's edification. By 'the unlearned man,' Paul means the layman, and shows how this unlearned person does sustain a very great loss when prayers are made in such a language as [that] he, through want of understanding, is not able to say Amen to them." I shall add unto these passages of the fathers a Constitution of the emperor (123): "We command that all bishops and presbyters do celebrate the holy oblation, and prayers used in holy baptism, not speaking low, but with a clear voice which may be heard by the people, that thereby the minds of the people may be stirred up with greater devotion in uttering the praises of the Lord God." And for this is cited ver.16. But now let us hear the Romish doctors themselves. Cardinal Cajetan has these words: "From this doctrine of the Apostle Paul it follows, that it is better for the edification of the Church, that the public prayers which the people hear should be made in that language which both the priests and people understand, than that they should be made in Latin." Nicolaus de Lyra says: "If the people understand the prayer or thanksgiving which is performed by the priest, their minds will be brought the better and nearer unto God, and with greater devoutness they will answer 'Amen.'" "The angelical doctor," , says: "He gains most who prays and understands the words which he speaks; for he is edified both as to his understanding and also as to his affections." Again: "It is best that the tongue which blesses should interpret; for good words should be spoken to the edification of faith." But now at last let us be determined by the Apostle Paul (vers. 18, 19).

IV. ANSWER THE POPISH ARGUMENTS TO DEFEND THEIR CAUSE.

1. Bellarmine says that "prayer in an unknown tongue is not condemned, but prayer in a known tongue only preferred. Answer —

(1) Suppose this: why does the Church of Rome pray after the worse, and not after the better, manner of the two?

(2) But it is condemned by the apostle as not being for edification.

2. The same writer says that "of old the use of prayer was, that the people might be instructed and edified: but now the end of prayer is the yielding to God that worship which is due to Him." Answer —

(1) The apostles were as careful that God might have His worship as the Papists; nay, a great deal more careful.

(2) Disjoin not God's worship and the people's edification: and the more the mind understands and the heart of the worshipper is affected, God is the more honoured and the better pleased.

3. Again, "Prayer is not made to the people, but unto God; and He understands all tongues alike. If a courtier should petition for a countryman in Latin to a king, the countryman might be benefited by the Latin petition of the courtier, though he should not understand a word of it. Answer(1) It might have been said, that God understands all tongues alike in the apostles' days as well as now.

(2) The use of prayer is not to inform God; for He knows what things we have need of before we ask (Matthew 6:8); but to make ourselves more sensible of our needs, and consequently more meet to be supplied. But how can this be, if prayer be locked up in an unknown dialect?

(3) The God of heaven is not like the kings on earth, who will hear petitions made by favourites for persons that make no address themselves; but He requires that every particular person should ask if he will receive, and understand what he prays for. Again, if a king should forbid petitions in a strange language, a Latin petition would not be acceptable. But God has forbid the use of an unknown tongue. Therefore we may conclude that the Popish Latin prayers are to very little purpose.

V. THE TENDENCY OF THIS PAPAL DOCTRINE.

1. It gratifies the lazy disposition of men, who naturally like a liberty to rest in opere operato, "in the work done."

2. It is a notable device to keep the people ignorant, and to make them more dependent upon the priesthood.

3. Many prayers may well be made in Latin merely through shame.Application:

1. Bless the Lord that the day-spring from on high hath visited this land of your nativity, and that Popish darkness is so much dispelled.

2. It highly concerns you to fear, and to pray against, the return of Popish blindness.

3. Let the blind zeal of the Papists make you more frequent in your accesses to the throne of grace.

4. Take heed of distraction in prayer, and not minding what you ask, or what you are doing, when at the mercy-seat.

5. Content not yourselves with bare understanding the words of prayer; but know the Lord (whom) you pray to.

6. Let understanding and faith in this duty of prayer be joined together.

(N. Vincent, A. M.)

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KJV: What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

WEB: What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.