dle, neglecting the exercise and improvement of their talents?

3. From the diversity of tongues and languages, wherein the church did
eminently excel. "In every thing ye are enriched by him, in all
utterance, and in all knowledge--So that you come behind in no gift,"
&c., i.e., ye excel in every gift, more being intended than is
expressed, 1 Cor. i. 5, 7. Among other gifts some of them excelled in
tongues which they spake, the right use of which gift of tongues the
apostle doth at large lay down, 1 Cor. xiv. 2, 4-6, 13, 14, 18, 19, 23,
26, 27. "If any speak in _an unknown_ tongue let it be by two, or at the
most by three, and that by course, and let one interpret." So that there
were many endued with gifts of tongues in that church. To what end? Not
only for a _sign to unbelievers_, ver. 22, but also for edification of
divers congregations, of divers tongues and languages within that church
of Corinth.

4. From the plurality of churches mentioned in reference to this church
of Corinth. For the apostle regulating their public assemblies and their
worship there, saith to the church of Corinth, "Let your women keep
silence in the churches." It is not said, in the _church_, in the
singular number; but in the _churches_, in the plural; and this of the
_churches in Corinth_, for it is said, _Let your women_, &c., not
indefinitely, _Let women_, &c. So that according to the plain letter of
the words, here are churches in the church of Corinth, viz. a plurality
of single congregations in this one presbyterial church. And this
plurality of churches in the church of Corinth is the more confirmed if
we take the church of Cenchrea (which is a harbor or seaport to
Corinth) to be comprised within the church of Corinth, as some learned
authors do conceive it may.[112]

POSITION II.

That there is in the word of Christ a pattern of one presbyterial
government in common over divers single congregations in one church.
This may be evidenced by these following considerations: For,

1. Divers single congregations are called one church, as hath at large
been proved in the second position immediately foregoing; inasmuch as
all the believers in Jerusalem are counted one church: yet those
believers are more in number than could meet for all ordinances in any
one single congregation. And why are divers congregations styled one
church? 1. Not in regard of that oneness of heart and soul which was
among them, "having all things common," &c.,