Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Corinthians 14:15

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

What is to be done then? I will (saith the Apostle) pray with the Spirit, that is, either use the extraordinary influences of the Spirit of God upon me: or with my own Spirit, with the inward attention of my thoughts, and the utmost intension of my mind, and the greatest devotion and [illegible: 1 letter]ervour of affections.

But I will so pray, that my self and others may understand what I say, I will neither so pray, that my self shall not understand what I say, nor yet so, that others shall not understand me. Vnderstanding is here taken in a Passive sense, though the Active sense of the term be not to be excluded.

The same thing he also saith of Singing, to let us know, That all our religious Acts in publick Assemblies, ought to be so performed, that others may be benefited by them, which they cannot be, if they do not understand what we say, whether it be in preaching, praying, or singing.

Marginal references: Psal. 47.7. Eph. 5.19. Col. 3. 16.