Comfortable Words» Blog Archive » Lancelot Andrewes on speaking as the Spirit gives us

Comfortable Words» Blog Archive » Lancelot Andrewes on speaking as the Spirit gives us

Lancelot Andrewes on speaking as the Spirit gives us

Bishop Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626)
SURELY the most spectacular of the Spirit’s gifts at that first Whitsun was the gift of “tongues” (Acts 2:1-6).

The Apostles spoke in Aramaic, but were heard to speak in the listener’s native language.

Stunning at this was, and rich in spiritual significance, Bishop Lancelot Andrewes wanted to draw our attention to the fact that it was inseparable from another gift: to edify the Church with profound content as well as arresting delivery.

THAT “the Spirit gave began to speak” is said; and wherewith, “with other tongues;” and how, “as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Lest therefore we might mistake, it was quicquid in buccam, “any thing that took them in the head,” it skilled not what, he tells us what it was in the last word, that He gave them αποφθέγγεσθαι, “utterance,” we read; it is of larger contents, a more pregnant word, and more full of significancy.

“They began to speak as the Spirit gave them.” Why not there stay, what needed any more? Yes; more it seems needed; there goeth more unto it than so. Speaking will not serve the turn; else, λαλήσαι [to speak] had been enough, and not any word more put to it.

He foresaw that to speak, and only to speak, would be enough for some. So we go up for an hour and speak, be it to the purpose or no, it is all one. For the common man it skills not, it contents him well enough; but the Holy Ghost is not content with λαλήσαι, it is not every speaking, but a kind of speaking it must be, and that kind is αποφθέγγεσθαι.

The word I wish well weighed. Chrysostom, Œcumenius, the interpreters, all weigh it; and assure us, it is no slight, or light word, but verbum talenti, a word of weight, of a talent, to tell you what it is. You have heard of apophthegms; (so doth both Greeks and Latins call wise and weighty sententious speeches:) that word, apophthegms, is the true and proper derivative of this here.

Such the Spirit gave them to utter. Not the crudities of their own brain, idle, loose, undigested gear, God knoweth; no, but pithy and wise sentences; those be sicut dedit Spiritus, “such as the Holy Ghost gave them.”

It is after said in the second verse, that by virtue of this, when they spake, they spake magnalia; magnalia, “great and high points;” not trivialia, “base and vulgar stuff,” not worth the time it wasteth, and taketh from the hearer.

Yet now, all is quite turned, and we are come to this, that this kind of speaking is only from the Spirit of God; and the other, said here to be given by the Holy Ghost, is study, or affectation, or I wot not what: but Spiritus non dedit, that is certain.

Of The Sending Of The Holy Ghost. Sermon II. 24th May, 1608 (Whitsunday)