So what is it, sisters.brothers?
Suppose whenever you come together,
each one has a song of praise,
has a teaching,
has a revelation,
has a tongue,
has a interpretation,
let all these things be for building up (of the church).
If someone speaks in a tongue
– (it should) two or at the most three times,
– and one after the other
then let one interpret.
But if there is no interpreter
let them remain silent in the church,
Let them speak to themselves
and to God.
Let two or three prophets speak
and the others sift (what is said).
And if someone sitting is given a revelation,
let the first one be silent.
For you can all prophesy one at a time,
so that all might learn, and all might be encouraged.
And the spirits of the prophets
are subject to the prophets,
for God is not of disorder but peace.
O Lord, in whom is our hope,
remove far from us, we pray thee,
empty hopes and presumptuous confidence.
Make our hearts so right with thy most holy and loving heart,
that hoping in thee we may do good;
until that day when faith and hope
shall be abolished by sight and possession,
and love shall be all in all.
Christina Rossetti (1830-94)