{"number":24,"title":"Of speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the People understandeth","part":null,"questions":[],"paragraphs":["24.1"],"clauses":[],"items":[],"text":"> It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the Custom of the Primitive Church, to have Publick Prayer in the Church, or to Minister the Sacraments in a Tongue not understanded of the People.\n>\n> *This Article, though upon the Matter very near the same, yet was worded much less positively in those at first set forth by *King Edward.**\n>\n> It is most fit, and most agreeable to the Word of God, that nothing be read or rehearsed in the Congregation in a Tongue not known unto the People, which St. *Paul* hath forbidden to be done, unless some be present to Interpret.\n>\n> *In King *Edward*’s Articles they took in *Preaching* with *Prayer,* but in the present Article this is restrained to *Prayer.* The former only affirms the use of a known Tongue, to be most fit and agreeable to the Word of God; the later denies the Worship in an Unknown Tongue to be lawful, and affirms it to be repugnant to the* Word of God; *to which it adds,* and the Custom of the Primitive Church.\n\nThis Article seems to be founded on the Law of Nature. The Worship of God is a Chain of Acts by which we acknowledge God’s Attributes, rejoyce in his Goodness, and lay claim to his Mercies. In all which the more we raise our thoughts, the more Seriousness, Earnestness, and Affection that animates our Mind, so much the more acceptably do we serve God, who is a *Spirit,* and will be worshipped in *Spirit and Truth.*[^1] All the Words used in Devotion are intended to raise in us the thoughts that naturally belong to such words. And the various Acts, which are as it were the Breaks in the Service, are intended as Rests to our Minds, to keep us the longer without weariness and wandring in those Exercises. One great end of continuance in Worship, is that by the frequent repeating and often going over of the same things, they may come to be deeply rooted in our Thoughts. The chief Effect that the Worship of God has by its own Efficiency, is the infixing those things, about which the Branches of it are imployed, the deeper on our Minds; upon which God gives his Blessing as we grow to be prepared for it, or capable of it. Now all this is lost, if the Worship of God is a Thread of such sounds, as makes the Person who officiates, a Barbarian to the rest. They have nothing but noise and shew to amuse them, which how much soever they may strike upon and entertain the Senses, yet they cannot affect the Heart, nor excite the Mind: So that the natural effect of such a way of Worship is to make Religion a Pageantry, and the Publick Service of God an *Opera.*\n\nIf from plain Sense, and the natural Consequences of things, we carry on this Argument to the Scriptures, we find the whole practice of the Old Testament, was to Worship God, not only in a Tongue that was understood, for it may be said there was no occasion then to use any other; but that the Expressions used in the Prayers and Psalms that we find in the Old Testament, shew they were intended to affect those who were to use them; and if that is acknowledged, then it will clearly follow, that all ought to understand them; for who can be affected with that which he does not understand? So this shews that the end of Publick Devotion, is the exciting and inflaming those who bare a share in it.[^2] When *Ezra* and *Nehemiah* were instructing the People out of the Law, they took care to have it read *distinctly, one giving the Sense of it.* After they were long in Captivity, though it had not worn out quite the knowledge of the *Hebrew,* yet the *Chaldee* was more familiar to them, so a Paraphrase was made of the *Hebrew* into that Language, though it was rather a different Dialect than another Language; and by the Forms of their Prayers, we see that one cried with a loud Voice, *Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever,* which shews, that all did understand the Service. When the *Syriac* Tongue became more familiar to them, the *Jews* had their Prayers in *Syriac*; and they did read the Law in their Synagogues in *Greek,* when that Language was more familiar to them; when they read the Law in *Greek,* we have reason to believe that they prayed likewise in it. In the New Testament, we see the Gift of Tongues was granted to enable the Apostles, and others, to go every where preaching the Gospel, and performing Holy Functions in such a Language as might be understood: The World was amaz’d when every Man heard them speak in his own Language.\n\nOne of the general Rules given by St. *Paul,* with relation to the Worship of God, is, *Let every thing be done to Edification:* Since then the speaking either to God in the Name of the People, or to the People in the Name of God, in an unknown Tongue, can edify no Person; then by this Rule, it is to be understood to be forbidden. When some who had the Gift of Tongues did indiscreetly shew it in the Church of *Corinth,* St. *Paul* was so offended at that, and thought it would appear to the World so undecent, as well as unfruitful, that he bestows a whole Chapter upon it; and tho’ a great part of the Discourse, is against the pretending to teach the People in an unknown Tongue, which yet is not near so bad, as the reading the Word of God to them in a Tongue not understood by them, it being much more important that the People should understand the words of the living God than the Expositions of Men; yet there are many Passages in that Chapter that belong to Prayer: The reason of the thing is common to both, since unless the words were understood, they who uttered them spoke only to the Air; and how should it be known what was spoken? For if the meaning of the Voice was not known, they would be Barbarians to one another. As to Prayer he says, *If I pray in an unknown tongue,*[^3] *my spirit* (that is the Inspiration or Gift that is in me) *prayeth, but my understanding* (that is my rational Powers) *is unfruitful*;[^4] and therefore he concludes that he will both *Pray* and *give Thanks* with the *Spirit,* and with the *understanding also*; he will do it in such a manner that the Inspiration with which he was acted, and his rational Powers should joyn together. The reason given for this, seems evident enough to determine the whole matter: *Else when thou shalt bless with the Spirit,*[^5] *how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say* Amen *at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.* In which Words it is plain that the People, even the most unlearned among them, were to joyn in the Prayers and Praises, and to testify that by saying *Amen* at the conclusion of them: And in order to their doing this, as became reasonable Creatures, it was necessary that they should understand what that was which they were to confirm by their *Amen.* It is also evident that St. *Paul* judged, that the People ought to be edified by all that was said in the Church; and so he says a little after this, *Let all things be done to edifying.* After such plain Authorities from Scripture, supporting that which seems to be founded on the Light of Nature;[^6] we need go no farther to prove that which is mainly designed by this Article.\n\nThe Custom of the Primitive Church is no less clear in this Point. As the Christian Religion was spread to different Nations, so they all worshipped God in their own Tongue. The *Syriac,* the *Greek,* and the *Latin,* were indeed of that extent, that we have no particular History of any Churches that lay beyond the compass of those Languages; but there was the same reason for putting the Worship of God in other Languages, that there was for these: That which is drawn from the Three Languages, in which the Title on our Saviour’s Cross was written, is too trifling a thing to deserve an Answer: As if a humour of *Pilate*’s were to be considered as a Prophetical Warrant; what he did being only designed to make that Title to be understood by all who were then at *Jerusalem.* There are very large Passages both in *Origen* and St. *Basil,* which mention every Tongues *praising of God*;[^7] and that the Gospel being spread to many Nations, he was in every Nation praised in the Language of that Nation. This continued so long to be the practice even of the *Latin* Church, that in the Ninth Century, when the *Slavons* were converted, it was considered at *Rome* by Pope *John* VIII. in what Language they should be allowed to Worship God.[^8] And as is pretended, a Voice was heard, *Let every Tongue confess to God*; upon which that Pope writ both to the Prince, and to the Bishop of the *Slavons,* allowing them to have their Publick Service in their own Tongue. But in the other Parts of the *Western* Church, the *Latin* Tongue continued to be so universally understood, by almost all sorts of People, till the Tenth or Eleventh Century, that there was no occasion for changing it; and by that time the Clergy were affecting to keep the People in Ignorance, and in a blind dependance upon themselves; and so were willing to make them think that the whole business of reconciling the People to God lay upon them, and that they were to do it for them. A great part of the Service of the Mass was said so low, that even they who understood some *Latin,* could not be the better for it, in an Age in which there was no printing, and so few Copies were to be had of the Publick Offices. The Scriptures were likewise kept from the People, and the Service of God was filled with many Rites, in all which the Clergy seemed to design to make the People believe, that these were sacred Charms, of which they only had the Secret. So that all the Edification which was to be had in the Publick Worship, was turned to Pomp and Shew, for the Diversion and Entertainment of the Spectators.\n\nIn defence of this Worship in an unknown Tongue, the main Argument that is brought, is the Authority and Infallibility of the Church which has appointed it; and since she ought to be supposed not to have erred, therefore this must be believed to be lawful: We are not much moved with this, especially with the Authority of the later Ages;[^9] so the other Arguments must be considered, which indeed can scarce be called Arguments. The Modern Tongues change so fast, that they say, if the Worship were in them, it must either be often changed, or the Phrases would grow old and sound harshly. A few Alterations once in an Age will set this matter right; besides, that the use of such Forms does fix a Language, at least as to those Phrases that are used in it, which grow to be so familiar to our Ears by constant use, that they do not so easily wear out. It is above Eighty Years since the present Translation of the Bible was made, and above One hundred and forty since our Liturgy was compiled, and yet we perceive no uncouthness in the Phrases. The simplicity in which such Forms must be drawn, makes them not so subject to Alteration as other Composures of Rhetorick or Poetry; but can it be thought any inconveniency now and then to alter a little the Words or Phrases of our Service? Much less, can that be thought of weight enough to balance the vaster prejudice of keeping whole Nations in Ignorance, and of extinguishing Devotion by entertaining it with a Form of Worship, that is not understood?\n\nNor can this be avoided by saying, that the People are furnished with Forms in their own Language, into which the greatest part of the Publick Offices are translated: For as this is not done but since the Reformation began, and in those Nations only where the Scandal that is given by an Unknown Language, might have, as they apprehend, ill effects; so it is only an Artifice to keep those still in their Communion, whom such a gross Practice, if not thus disguised, might otherwise drive from them. But still the Publick Worship has no Edification in it; nor can those who do not understand it, say *Amen* according to St. *Paul.* Finally, they urge the *Communion of Saints,* in order to which they think it is necessary, that Priests wheresoever they go, may be able to officiate, which they cannot do if every Nation Worships God in its own Language. And this was indeed very necessary in those Ages in which the See of *Rome* did by Provisions, and the other Inventions of the Canonists, dispose of the best Benefices to their own Creatures and Servants. That Trade would have been spoiled, if Strangers might not have been admitted, till they had learned the Language of the Country. And thus instead of taking care of the People that ought to be edified by the Publick Worship, Provision was made at their cost, for such Vagrant Priests as have been in all Ages, the Scandals of the Church, and the Reproaches of Religion.\n\n[^1]: John 4.23, 24.\n[^2]: Neh. 8.8. Neh. 9.5.\n[^3]: 1 Cor. 14.14.\n[^4]: Verse 15.\n[^5]: Verse 16.\n[^6]: Verse 26.\n[^7]: Cont Celsum l. 8. p. 402. Ep. 63. ad Neoces.\n[^8]: Johan. 8. Ep. 247. Concil. Tom. 9.\n[^9]: Con. Trid. Chap. 8. Sess. 22."}