likely to be without several congregations into which they were divided? 3.  When the apostle saith, “Though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers,” 1 Cor. v. 15; though his words be hyperbolical, yet they imply that they had great store of teachers and preachers. 4.  We have mention of many prophets in the church of Corinth:  “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge—­And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,” 1 Cor. xiv. 20, 31.  Here are prophets speaking two or three; and prophets judging of their doctrine, which sure were more than they that were judged; it being unreasonable for the minor part to pass judgement upon the major part.  And though these prophets had extraordinary gifts, (as the church of Corinth excelled all other churches in gifts, 1 Cor. i. 7,) and were able to preach in an extraordinary singular way; yet were they the ordinary pastors and ministers of that church of Corinth, as the whole current of this fourteenth chapter evidenceth, wherein so many rules and directions, aptly agreeing to ordinary pastors, are imposed upon them for the well ordering of their ministerial exercises.  Now, where there were so many pastors, were there not several congregations for them to feed?  Or were they idle, 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]