Prophetess she did not lead the women from their men to worship in some place remote by themselves as we have shewed before 2dly He saith that God hath promised to pour out his Spirit in Gospel times to that very end that women might Pray together apart from men Answer Not mentioning again what was said before I add if by men he means the Brethren the Prophet will not be his Voucher for he neither saith nor intimates such a thing 2. And how far short this saying is of making of God and his holy Prophet the Author of Schism in Worship and an encouragement unto Schism therein 't is best in time that he looks to it For if they may withdraw to do thus at one time they may withdraw to do thus at another And if the Spirit is given to them to this very end that they may go by themselves from the Church to perform this Divine Worship at one time they may for what bounds this man has set them go by themselves to do thus always But as I said the whole of this Proposition being false the Error is still the greater 3dly God saith he hath so well approved of women meeting together to Pray in Gospel times as then and at that time to take occasion to make known his Mind and Will to them concerning Jesus Christ Acts 16.13 Answ. Let the Reader consider what was said afore and now it follows If this Assertion be true then Popish Doctrine of Merit is good yea the worst sort of it which is works done afore Faith For that we read of none of these women save Lydia feared or worshipped God and yet saith he God so approved of that Meeting as then at that time to send them his Gospel which is one of the Richest Blessings nor will it help to lay Cornelius now in my way for the deservings here were for ought we read of women that feared not God Here Lydia only bare that Character 't is said SHE worshipped God but she was not all the women But Mr. K. saith thus of them all I know also there was Faith in some in Messias to come though when he came they knew not his person but this is not the case neither These women who held up as he feigned this Meeting were not as we read of of this people 4. He said That Esther and her Maids Fasted and Prayed and the Lord gave a gracious return or answer and deliverance That is to the Church that then was under the Rage of Haman Answ. Let the Reader remember what was said before and now I ask this man 1. Whether Mordecai and the good men then did not Pray and Fast as well as she And if so whether they might not obtain at least some little of the Mercy as well as those women If so 2. Whether Mr. K. in applying the deliverance of this people to the prayer of the Queen and her Maids for he lays it only there be not deceitful arguing and doth not tend to puff up that Sex to their hurt and dammage yea whether it doth not tend to make them unruly and head strong But if they be more gently inclined to obedience no thanks to Mr. K. 3. And if I should ask Mr. K. who gave him authority to attribute thus the deliverance of this people to who and what Prayers he please I suppose it would not be easie for him to answer The Text saith not that the Prayers of these women procured the Blessing But Mr. K. hath here a Womans Meeting to vindicate and therefore it is that he is thus out in his mind Prayers were heard and the Church was delivered And I doubt not but that these good women had hand and heart in the work But should all be admitted that Mr. K. hath said as to this also yet this Scripture as hath already been proved will not justifie his womans Meeting 5. He makes his appeal to the women if they have not obtained by their Prayers in these their Meetings many blessed returns of Prayer from God both to themselves and the Church of God Answ. I count this no whit better then the very worst of his Paper for besides the silliness of his appeal by which he makes these good women to be Judg in their own cause his words have a direct tendance in them to puff them up to their destruction I have wondred sometimes to see when something extraordinary hath happened to the Church of God for good that a few women meeting together to Pray should be possessed with a conceit that they fetched the benefit down from heaven when perhaps ten thousand men in the Land prayed for the Mercy as hard as they Yea I have observed that though the things bestowed were not so much as thought of by them yet they have been apt to conclude that their meeting together has done it But poor women you are to be pittied your Tempter is to bear the blame to wit this man and his Fellows I come now to some Objections that may yet be thought on and will speak a word to them 1. Object It is said Where two or three are gathered together in my name I am there in the midst of them Matt. 18.20 Answer To gather together in Christs Name is to gather together by his Authority That is by his Law and Commandment Acts 4.17 18 30. Chap. 5.28.40 Colos. 3.17 But we have no Law of Christ nor Commandment that the Women of this or that Church should separate themselves from their Brethren to maintain Meetings among themselves for the performing of Divine Worship and therefore such Meetings cannot be in his name that is by his Authority Law and Commandment and so ought not to be at all 2. Object But Women may if sent for by them of their own Sex come to see them when they are sick and when so come together Pray in that Assembly before they part Answ. The Law of Christ is Is any sick among you let him and the Woman is included in the Man call for the Elders of the Church and let them Pray over him c. and to this Injunction there is a threefold promise made 1. And the Prayer of Faith shall save the Sick 2. And the Lord shall raise him up 3. And if he have committed Sin they shall be forgiven him Jam. 5.14 15. And considering this advice is seconded with so much Grace I think it best in all such cases as in all other to make the Word of God our Rule 3. Object But Women have sometimes cases which modesty will not admit should be made known to Men what must they do then Answ. Their Husband and they are one Flesh and are no more to be accounted two Let them tell their grief to them Thus Rachel asked Children of her Husband and went not to a nest of Women to make her Complaint to them Gen. 30.1 or let them betake themselves to their Closets with Rebecca Gen. 25.20
then with my manner of handling of them First he begins with this question Whether Women fearing God may Meet to pray together and whether it be Lawfull for them so to do which done he fals to a Wonderment saying It seems very strange to me that any who profess the Fear of God can make any question touching the Lawfulness thereof The rule for praying being so General to all and there being so many Instances for the Practice thereof upon several occasions in the Word of God for their incouragement therein In the next place he presents us with his Arguments which are in Number four but in Verity not one to prove that thing for the which he urgeth them as I hope to make appear by that I have done First saith he If Women may prayse God together for Mercies received for the Church of God or for themselves Then they may pray together the Proof whereof is plain Exod. 15.20 21. If it be objected the Case was Extraordinary and that Miriam was a Prophetess To which I Answer That the danger of Ruin and Destruction and our deliverance from it if the Lord grant it cannot be looked at but as Extraordinary The designs of ruin to the Church and Servants of God being as great as at that time when God delivered his People from the hand of Pharoah And will call for praises if the Lord please to send it as then And whereas it is further objected that Miriam was an Extraordinary Person To which I Answer That the Duty it self of praising God for the Mercie was incumbent upon all in as much as they were all partakers of the Mercie And the same Spirit of Christ that was in her is also in all his Servants Given for the same End both to Pray for Mercies we stand in need of and to praise God for Secondly If Women have in eminent danger to themselves and the Church of God Prayed joyntly together for deliverance and God hath Answered and approved of the same then may Women joyntly pray together The instance we have is famous Esther 4.16 We there see shee and her Maidens did pray and fast together and the Lord gave a gracious Answer and deliverance Thirdly If God hath in Gospel times promised the powring out of his Spirit to Women to that very end that they may pray together apart from Men Then it is not only their Liberty but Duty to Meet and Pray together But God hath promised his Spirit to that end Zech. 12.10 11 12 13. Which Scripture 't is plain is a promise of Gospel times And it is to be noted that the Text doth not in the singular number say HE shall Pray apart and. HIS Wife apart But THEY shall Pray apart and THEIR Wives apart And Malachi 3.16 God takes notice of all them that speak often together and CALL upon his name Fourthly If God hath so approved of Womens Meeting together to Pray in Gospel times as then and at that time to take an advantage to make known to them his mind and will concerning Jesus Christ then it is Lawfull for Women to Pray together But God hath so approved of their Meeting to Pray together Acts 16.13 By which Text it appeareth it was a frequent practise for Women to Meet and Pray together These are Mr. K's Arguments the Conclusion of his Paper Follows And besides ALL these particular instances says he what means those General rules to build up one another in our most Holy Faith and Pray in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. But it extends to all that believe both Men and Women unless any will say Women are not to be built up in their most Holy Faith Therefore let not any hinder you from a Duty so incumbent upon you in a special manner in such a day as this is Cannot many Women that have used this practise by experience say they have met with the Lord in it and have found many blessed returns of prayer from God both to themselves and the Church wherein God hath owned them Therefore what God hath Born Witness to and approved of let no Man deter you from Pray turn to the Scriptures quoted which I hope will give you full Satisfaction These are his Arguments and this his Conclusion in which I cannot but say there is not only Boldness but Flattery Boldness in Fathering of his mis-understanding upon the Authority of the Word of God and Flattery in Soothing up Persons in a way of their own by making of them the Judges in their own cause the which I hope to make further appear anon For since his Women in their Letter told me that Mr. K. expects my Answer I count my self called to shew the unsoundness of his Opinion Indeed he would as they insinuate confine me to Answer by Writing But his Papers have been I know not where and how to put check to his Extravagancies that also I know not but by Scattering mine abroad And as I will not be confined to an Answer in Writing So neither to his methods of Argumentation What Scholar he is I know not for my part I am not ashamed to Confess that I neither know the Mode nor Figure of a Sylogism nor scarce which is Major or Minor Methinks I perceive but little sence and far less truth in his Arguments also I hold that he has stretched and strained the Holy Word out of place to make it if it might have bin to shore up his fond conceits I shall therefore First take these Texts from the Errors to which he hath joyned them and then fall to picking the bones of his Sylogismes But as I shall not confine my self to his mode and way of Arguing So neither shall I take notice of his question upon which he stateth the matter in Controversie But shall propound the same question here which for the substance of it was handled among us when the thing it self was in doubt among us Namly Whether where a Church of Christ is Situate it is the Duty of the Women of that Congregation Ordinarily and by Appointment to Separate themselves from their Brethren and so to Assemble together to perform some parts of Divine Worship as Prayer c. without their Men This was our question this we debated and this Mr. K. might have sent for and have spoken to since he will needs be a confuter And courteous Reader since I have here presented thee with the Question I will also present thee with the method which I took when I handled it among my Brethren 1. I opened the Termes of the Question 2. Then shewed what Assemblies they were that used to perform divine Worship to God 3. And so shewed whose Prayers in such Worship was used or by Paul and others desired For the First 1. By Church of Christ I mean one gathered or Constituted by and walking after the Rule of the Word of God 2. By Situate I mean where such Church shall happen to be in whole or in the parts
31.11 12. Exo. 4.29 Chap. 12.21 Chap. 17.5 Also in after times they were the Elders and chief of the Church that did it Josh. 24.1 Ezra 10.5 6 7 8 9. Acts 14.26 27. Chap. 15.3 Or if their calling together to performe divine Worship was not by the Elders alone Yet it was by the Power that resided in the Church for that thing who joyntly ordered the same Judg. 20.8.18 Ezra 3.1 Zeph. 2.1 2 3. Acts 12.12 1 Cor. 5.4 Chap. 11 20. All these are plain cases But never as I ever did read of in the Bible did Women Ordinary beliving ones assume this Power of the Elders or of the Church to themselves If it be asked who did appoint that Meeting made mention of Acts 12.12 I Answer 'T was appointed by the Power of the Church who for her own conveniencie if she cannot come all into one place at once to perform the Duty as 't is not likely four or five thousand should in times of persecution which was their case may meet some here some there for their Edification and comfort compare Vers. 5. with Vers. 12 and Vers. 17. Nor do I Question the Lawfulness of this or that part of the Churches Assembling together for Prayer Tho the Elders and greatest part of the Brethren be absent If first such MEN that call such Assemblies are countenanced by the Elders or Church to do it 1 Tim. 2.8 2 Tim. 2.22 But that the Sisters of this or that Church may call their own Sex together to perform such Worship by themselves to God for this is the thing in debate I finde no warrant for Secondly Because This kind of Worship when done in and by a Company is MINISTERIAL to that Company as well as petitionary to God That is they that as the mouth in Assemblies Pray to God teach that Assembly as well as beg mercies of him And I finde not that Women may Assemble to do thus That such Prayer is a kind of Ministring in the Word to Standers by consider well 1 Cor. 14.15 16 17 18 19. Wherefore let them keep silence in the Church and in the parts thereof when Assembled to Worship God In all Publick Worship by Prayer Teaching is set on foot two wayes 1. By propounding to that Assembly the things that must by agreement be Prayed for 2. And by proving them to suit with the will of God that Prayer may be made in Faith 1 Joh. 5.14 For all such Prayer must be made for the things agreed upon first and consequently for things that by the Word are proved good and sutable for the Seasons Persons or things for or about which such Prayers are made For they that have Meetings for Prayer without this Pray at random and not by Rule If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask according to Gods will it shall be done for them saith Christ of my Father which is in Heaven Matt. 18.19 Now I say if things Prayed for in Assemblies must first be joyntly agreed upon then must such things by some one or more of that Assembly be first Propounded Expounded and Proved to be good by the Word Good for such Persons Seasons or things for which such Prayer is made And besides the Gifts required to do this if this is not Teaching I am out And yet this must first be done to instruct all present to help their Faith and to quicken their Spirits to and in that Worship That they may as one Man have their Eyes unto the Lord Zech. 9.1 But that this Power is given to Women to Ordinary believing ones that are in the highest account in Churches I do not believe I do not believe they should Minister to God in Prayer before the whole Church for then I should be a Ranter or a Quaker Nor do I believe they should do it in their own Womanish Assembly for the reason urged before And I will add if Brethren not heretofore called by the Church to open Scriptures or to speak in the Church to God in Prayer are not at first to be admitted to do this but before the Elders or Principal Brethren that they may hear and Judge 1 Cor. 14.26 27 28 29. how can it be thought to be meet or lawful for Women of whom it must be supposed that they have received no such Gifts that they should use this Power I say how can it be imagined that the Women should be bound of God to do this in such Sort as doth utterly exclude the Elders and all the Men in the Congregation from a possibility of understanding and of Judging of what they do And yet this is the Doctrine of Mr. K. For he saith that the Spirit of God is promised to Women to this very end that they may Pray together apart from Men. But God is not the Author of this Confusion in the Churches 2ly But Secondly As teaching by Prayer in Assemblies is thus set on foot so every one also that shall in such Meetings be the mouth of the whole to God Ministreth SO Doctrine to that Assembly as well as presenteth petitions to God Else how can that Assembly say AMEN at their Prayer or giving of thanks For to say AMEN is an effect of Conviction or of Edification received of the stander by from him that now is so Ministring in that Assembly before God 1 Cor. 14 15 16 17. Yea I believe that they that Pray in Assemblies or that shall give thanks for Mercies received there Ought to labor to speak not only with fervency of Words but with such soundness of Doctrine while they mention urge or plead the promise with God that that whole Assembly may be enlightned taught taken and carried away in their Spirits on the wing of that Prayer and of Faith to God whose face they are come to seek and whose Grace they are gathered together to beg Now this is called Praying and Praising to the Teaching and Edifying of others as by the Scripture afore named is made appear 1 Cor. 14.14 15 16 17 18 19. But by what Word of God the Sisters of the respective Churches may set up this way of Teaching of one another in their Assemblies I am ignorant of For. Thirdly The Holy Ghost doth particularly insist upon the inability of Women as to their well managing of the Worship now under Consideration and therefore it ought not to be presumed upon by them They are forbidden to teach yea to speak in the Church of God And why forbidden but because of their inability They cannot orderly manage that Worship to God that in Assemblies is to be performed before him I speak now of our Ordinary believing ones and I know none Extraordinary among the Churches They are not builded to manage such Worship they are not the Image and Glory of God as the Men are 1 Cor. 11.7 They are placed beneath and are called the Glory of the Man Wherefore they are weak and not permited to
to and did notwithstanding so high a calling still bear about with them the badge of their inferiority to them that were Prophets indeed And hence 't is said under pain of being guilty of disorder that if they Prayed in the Church or Prophesied there with their head uncovered they then dishonoured their Head 1 Cor. 11.5 The Prophetesses were below the Prophets and their covering for their head was to be worn in token thereof and perhaps 't was for want of regard to this Order that when Miriam began to perk it before Moses that God covered her face with a Leperous-Scabb Numb 12. Hence these VVomen when Prophets were present did use to lie still as to Acts of Power and leave that to be put forth by them that was higher then they And even Miriam her self though she was one indeed yet she came allwayes behind not only in name but VVorship unless when she was in her own disorders Num. 12.1 And it is worth your further noting that when God tells Israel that they should take heed in the Plague of Leprosie that they diligently observed to do what the Priest and Levites taught them that he conjoyns with that Exhortation that they should remember what God did to Miriam by the way Deut. 24.8 9. Intimating surely that they should not give heed to VVomen that would be perking up in matters of VVorshiping God Much less should we invest them with Power to call Congregations of their own there to perform Worship without their Men. Yet will I say notwithstanding all this that if any of these high Women had but we never read that they did separate themselves and others of their own Sex with them apart to Worship by themselves or if they had given out Commandment so to do and had joyned Gods name to that Commandment I should have freely consented that our Women should do so too when lead out and conducted in Worship by so Extraordinary a one Yea more If any of these high Women had given it out for Law that the Women of the Churches in New Testament-times ought to separate themselves from their Men and as so Separate perform divine Worship among themselves I should have Subscribed thereto But finding nothing like this in the Word of God for the Sanctifying of such a Practise And seeing so many Scriptures wrested out of their place to Justifie so fond a conceit And all this done by a Man of Conceit and of one that as his Sisters say expects my Answer I found my self engaged to say something for the suppressing of this his Opinion But to return to the good Women in the Churches and to make up my discourse with them First These Meetings of yours honourable Women wherein you attempt to perform divine Worship by your selves without your Men not having the Authority of the Word to Sanctifie them will be found Will-Worship in the day when you as to that shall be measured with that Golden Reed the Law of God And who hat required this at your hand may put you to your shifts for an Answer notwithstanding all Mr. K. has said to uphold you Isa. 1.12 Revel 11.1 2 3. Secondly These Meetings of yours need not be There are Elders or Brethren in all Churches to call to and manage this Worship of God in the World if you abide in your subjection and Worship as you are commanded Thridly These Meetings of yours instead of being an Ornament to the Church in which you are is a shame and blemish to those Churches For they manifest the unruliness of such Women or that the Church wants skill to Govern them Have you not in your stock a Male 1 Cor. 24 25. Malach. 1.14 Fourthly Suppose your Meetings in some cases were Lawful yet since by the Brethren they may be managed better you and your Meetings ought to give place That the Church together and the Brethren as the mouth to God are capable of managing this Solemn Worship best Consider 1. The Gifts for all such service are most to be found in the Elders and leading Men in the Church And not in the Women thereof 2. The Spirit for Conduct and Government in that Worship is not in the Women but in the Men. 3. The Men are admitted in such Worship to stand with open Face before God a token of much admitance to liberty and boldness with God a thing denyed to the Women 1 Cor. 11.4 5. 4. For that when Meetings for Prayers are Commanded the Men to be the mouth to God are mentioned but not an Ordinary Woman in all the Scriptures Where the Women and Children and them that suck the brests are called with the Bride and Bridegroom and the whole Land to mourn Yet the Ministers and Elders and Chiefest of the Brethren are they and they only that are bid to SAY spare thy People O Lord and give not thine Heritage to reproach Joel 1.13 14. Chap. 2.15 16 17. 5. The Word for encouragement to Pray believingly in Assemblies is given to men And it is the Word that makes and that Sanctifies an Ordinance of God Men therfore in all Assemblies for Worship should be they that should manage it and let others joyn in their place Object But the Woman is included in the Man for the same Word signifies both 1. Answer If the Woman is included here let her not exclude the Man But the Man is Excluded The Man is Excluded by this Womans Meeting from Worship from Worship though he be the Head in Worship over the Woman and by Gods Ordinance appointed to manage it and this is an Excluding of the worst Complexion 1 Cor. 11.3 2. Though the Woman is included when the Man sometimes is named yet the Man is not Excluded when himself as Chief is named But to cut him off from being the Chief in all Assemblies for Worship is to Exclude him and that when he for that in Chief is named 3. The Woman is included when the Man is named yet but in her place and if she Worships in Assemblies her part is to hold her Tongue to learn in silence and if she speaks she must do it I mean as to Worship in her Heart to God 4. Nor do I think that any Woman that is Holy and Humble will take offence at what I have said for I have not in any thing sought to degrade them or to take from them what either Nature or Grace or an Appointment of God hath invested them with But have laboured to keep them in their place And doubtless to abide where God has put us is that which not only highly concerns us but that which becomes us best Sisters I have said what I have said to set you right and to prevent your attempting to do things in such Sort unto which you are not appointed Remember what God did to Miriam and be afraid Be as often in your Closets as you will the oftener there the better This is your Duty this is your Priviledge This place is Sanctified to you for service by the Holy VVord of God Here you may be and not make Ordinances enterfere and not presume upon the Power of your Superiors and not thrust out your Brethren nor put them behinde your backs in VVorship Be also as often as possible you can in VVorship when the Church or parts thereof are Assembled for that end according to God And when you are there joyn with Heart and Soul with your Brethren in all Holy Petitions to God Let the Men in Prayer be the mouth to God and the VVomen lift after with groans and desires Let the Men stand with open Face in this VVorship for that they are the image and Glory of God and let the Women be clothed in modest Apparel with shame-facedness in token of the rembrance of what has been touched afore When Women keep their places and Men manage their Worshiping God as they should we shall have better days for the Church of God in the VVorld Jer. 29.10 11 12 13. VVomen are not to be blamed for that they are forward to Pray to God only let them know their bounds and I wish that Idleness in Men be not the cause of their putting their good VVomen upon this VVork Surely they that can scarce tye their Shoes and their Garters before they arive at the Tavern or get to the Coffe-house dore in a morning can scarce spare time to be a while in their Closets with God Morning-Closet-Prayers are now by most London-Professors thrown a way and what kind of ones they make at night God doth now and their Conscience when awake will know however I have cause as to this to Look at home And God mend me and all his Servants about it and wherein we else are out I have done after I have said that there are some other things concerning VVomen touching which when I have an Opportunity I may also give my Judgment But at present I intreat that these lines be taken in good part for I seek Edification not Contention FINIS