(1) Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. (2) For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. (3) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (4) He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. (5) I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh, with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. (6) Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? (7) And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? (8) For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? (9) So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. (10) There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. (11) Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. (12) Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. (13) Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. (14) For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. (15) 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.
The Reader should observe, that here and elsewhere in the Scriptures, prophesying is a term used for preaching. See Matthew 7:22. And, the prophesying, or preaching the Gospel, when commissioned, and sent by the Holy Ghost, is, as the Apostle saith, rather to be desired, than any other gifts. If the Reader would wish to mark the vast difference, in those sent from God the Holy Ghost, to those who run unsent; let him compare Acts 13:2-5; Jeremiah 14:14 and Jeremiah 13:21 with Acts 16:9-10; Acts 16:9-10
What Paul saith, of speaking in an unknown tongue, by which is meant, one that was not understood by the people, it is probable, he alluded to the use of the original Hebrew; which, though some of the more learned among men might be able to speak, was now, for the most part, a dead language. But, the most interesting part to be considered, in what the Apostle hath here said, in laying down regulations for the due observance thereof in divine worship, is what to hath delivered, concerning the gifts of God the Holy Ghost. All institutions in the Church of God, to make them profitable, must be excited at the first, directed, and influenced in every part, and both at beginning and end, be wholly under the sweet, and sanctifying operations of God the Spirit. We must pray with the Spirit, and sing with the Spirit, when either, or both, are done properly, or the whole is nothing worth in the sight of God. All the preparations of the heart, and the answers of the tongue, are from the Lord, Proverbs 16:1. It is the Holy Ghost, which can alone excite a sense of want in the soul. It is the Holy Ghost, which can make sensible, where those wants from Christ's fulness can be alone supplied. It is the Holy Ghost alone, which can open a communication, between Christ and the soul, and give a refreshing, both in the spirit, and understanding, to the Lord's glory, and to his peoples' happiness. And very blessed it is, when the Lord's people are brought under the gracious impressions of God the Spirit, and know, and feel, and enjoy these things, in seasons of holy worship. Blessed is the people which know the joyful sound; they shall walk, 0 Lord, in the light of thy countenance! Psalms 89:15.