and fighting among themselves again contending for the true Christ when neither of them has him revealed as appears by their Fruits Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the King had rent his Clothes that he sent to the King saying Wherefore hast thou rent thy Clothes let him come now to me and he shall know that there is a Prophet in Israel O that all Kings and Rulers were turned to the true Prophet Christ Jesus to the true Light in themselves and would direct all their People to him then their Rents and Divisions would quickly come to an end for he is the Healer of the Breaches and he is the Prince of Peace all his subjects are peaceable their Song is Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace and good Will towards men Now when Naaman was come to the Prophet he directed him to wash in Jordan seven times and be clean but Naaman was wroth because the manner of his Cure came not according to what he had imagined to himself as you may read in the 11 12 verses of that chapter but his Servants gave him good counsel So you may see that it is good for great Men to have good Servants that may give good counsel in the time of need and pacifie wrath in time of Anger and it is good for Masters to take Advice from honest faithful Servants for if Naaman hâ—d gone away in his wrath and not taken his Servants counsel to obey the Prophet his Lâ—prosie had remained with him and he had not been cured There one thing more that I cannot let pass before I proceed to another place and that is concerning the Covetousness of Gehazi We see that the Prophet of the Lord Elisha would receive none of Naaman's gifts and although he urged him yet he refused Here is a true mark of a Prophet of the Lord and of a Disciple of Jesus Christ freely they receive from the Lord and freely they give to the People they covet no man's Gold Silver nor Apparel Honest Paul who was a faithful Minister and Apostle of Jesus Christ was such an one as is witnessed Matth. 10. 7 8. As ye go Preach saying The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand heal the Sick cleanse the Lepers raise the Dead cast out Devils freely ye have received freely give Also read Acts 20. 34 35. 1 Cor. 4. 11 12. 2 Thes 3. 8. But Gehazi received them and run after Naaman with a Lye in his Mouth to get the Silver and to get the Garments as too to many this day run after the great Men and great Women of the Nations with a Lye in their Mouth coveting the Gold and the Silver and the Apparel But what should I say more the Leprosie of Naaman did cleave unto Gehazi and the Leprosie of Gehazi doth cleave to his Seed forever according to the Prophets words And now the Gehazians have lost the knowledge of the true Prophet and they have lost the knowledge of spiritual Jordan and therefore their Leprosie remains their Sin remains their Defilements remain and they have now lost hope of ever being cleansed on this side of the Grave and preach this for Doctrine to the People And they are very angry with any that speak of a possibility of being made clean For a Body of Death and Sin say they will remain and Imperfection will remain while we are on this side of the Grave But what have I to do with them or what should I say more of them for the Day breaketh and the Light ariseth wherein they shall be made manifest to all that will but open their Eyes to see them and they that will not must continue in blindness and at present I will leave them with that saying of Christ Matth. 15. 14. Let them alone they be blind Leaders of the Blind c. And now to our purpose in hand Phlip the Evangelist had four Daughters Virgins which did Prophesie as you may read Acts 21. 8 9. And Paul and others of the Disciples tarried many dayes in Philip's House and yet we do not read that Paul reproved them for prophecying So here you may see that in those dayes there was Daughters that had the Spirit of Prophesie and did Prophesie And also we read Acts 18. 26. That not only Aquila but also Priscilla his Wife were Expounders of the Way of God and Aquila was a Trades-man and Tent-maker and Paul was of the same Craft And we read in Phil 4. 3. That there were Women which laboured with Paul in the Gospel And so you may see that there were Women-labourers in the Gospel as well as Men and yet we read not that Paul rejected their labour because they were Women And so you see there were Women-Prophetesses Women-Expounders and Women-Labourers and yet not rejected nor reproved by any of the Apostles that I read of And Paul desires Titus to speak the things which become sound Doctrine that the aged Men be sober c. and that the aged Women likewise be in Behaviour as becometh Holiness or holy Women not false Accusers not given to much Wine teachers of good things that they may teach the younger Women to be sober c. read Tit. 2. throughout and there you will see that Paul alloweth Women to be teachers of good things as well as Men and that Spirit is judged that would hinder what God aloweth or stop that mouth which God opens And if Women did not meet together how could the Elder teach the Younger Or it may be queried If their teaching the younger Women be not most proper comly and effectual in a Meeting apart from the Men But it clearly may be seen that God alloweth Women to labour in the Gospel and to teach good things and he hath promised to pour out his Spirit upon the Women as well as the Men and they are to meet often together and to speak often one to another and to wait upon God together and think upon his Name together and praise his Power together and call upon his Name together as well as the Men and the elder in the Truth to teach the younger in the Truth Obj. But some may say Seeing it is so clear from the Scriptures of Truth that there hath been Women labourers in the Work of the Gospel and Women-Prophetesses and Women-Expounders of the Way of God and that it is commanded the Elder Women to teach the Younger c. How shall I know what Women those are that Paul forbids to speak in the Church Answ All Women that are apt to usurp Authority over their Husbands all Women that are under the Law and that have not learned true subjection and every Woman that hearkens to the Voice of the Serpent and is deceived by him as Eve was while they continue in that state cannot nor may not be permitted to speak in the Church of God And all the Jezebelians who paint their Faces and tire their Heads and persecute the Prophets of
A Brief TREATISE OF Religious Womens MEETINGS Services Testimonies According to the Scriptures of Truth Also something concerning Womens Prophecying and Teaching c. With some other observable things distinguishing the Holy from the Vnholy in the Scriptures cited And an Objection answer'd which is commonly rais'd from Paul's words 1 Cor. 14. 34 c. and 1 Tim. 2. 12. c. Wâ—itten for the Satisfaction of all that desire to be informed by one who by the free Grace of God is become a Searcher of the Scriptures and a lover of Truth in the inward parts both in the Male and Female and is made a Witness in his day that God is pouring out of his Spirit both upon Sons and Daughters Servants and Hand-maids according to his Promise Joel 2. 28. Acts 2. 17 18. Printed and Sold by Andrew Sowle 1684. Womens Meetings in the Practice there of prov'd out of the Scriptures of Truth and also something concerning Womens Prophecying and speaking in the Church and who is permitted and who not with other observable things as they fall in from the Scriptures cited MAry and Elizabeth did meet in the Name of the Lord in the house of Zacharias as you may read Luke 1. 39. And you may see what a blessed Meeting it was Elizabeth was filled with the holy Ghost and did prophesie and Mary did magnifie the Name of the Lord and her Spirit rejoyced in God her Saviour and did likewise prophesie so both of them had the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophesie Rev. 19. 10. Here was the blessed Order Ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all be comforted 1 Cor. 14. 31. This was the Order of Christ's Church who walked and lived in the comely Order the Spirit of Truth dwelling and living in their hearts who led and guided them and and brought them into this Order of the Gospel But when Antichrist came to be set up in mans heart he led them from this Order and preacht against this Order and forbad this Order and persecuted and doth persecute them who are found in this Order calling Christ's comely Order Disorder In Christ's blessed Order Women met together as well as Men and preached and prayed together and prophesied one by one as well as Men. In this Meeting there is no mention made that there was any man at it and yet you may see they were filled with the holy Ghost and did prophesie and speak blessed words one to another as you may read at large in that first Chapter of Luke And though Zacharias was a Priest and righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless yet we do not read that he reproved them nor that he forbad them But the Dragon and his Servants are wrath with the Woman the true Church and makes war with them which keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 12. 17. And the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophesie as before is said which the Lord God hath promised to pour forth upon Daughters as well as Sons upon Hand-maids as well as well as Men-servants Joel 2. 28. Acts 2. 17 18. But the seed of the Woman Christ Jesus will bruise the serpent's head and is a bringing his sons and daughters servants and hand-maidens into the order of his own Gospel again Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I said Christ in the midst of them Here was but two that we read of at this Meeting Mary and Elizabeth and we see he was in them it is he in them that preacheth and prophesieth it is he in them that speaks or else the Serpent speaks but it was Christ Jesus that spake in those holy women for they were filled with his holy spirit of Truth and prophesied sweetly in his Name It was the serpent that instructed Eve when she taught her husband Adam to break God's command and to eat of the fruit of the forbidden Tree and you may see what was the end of such eating O cursed Doctrine for they were both driven out of the Garden of God to the ground that brought for thorns thistles it is to be lamented that we have too many teachers such as Eve was in this our Age Day and Generation both of men and women as clearly appeareth by the fruits their inward ground bringeth forth to wit Bryars Thorns and Thistles but such Earth said Paul Heb. 6. 8. is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned Such Teaching as this such Doctrine as this is forbidden both by Law and Gospel whether it proceed from men or women The Women who live in Pride and in the Vanities of their Minds cannot be teachers of good things But Women who are turned to Christ Jesus and by him redeem'd out of the vanities of this present evil World out of the Lusts of the Flesh out of the Lusts of the Eyes and out of the Pride of Life being fill'd with the spirit of Truth such womens teaching such womens praying and prophecying in the Church is not forbidden neither by Law nor Gospel they being first taught themselves by the eternal free spirit of God which is poured forth upon daughters as well as sons upon hand-maids as well as upon men-servants upon the female as well as upon the male for the man and the woman is all one in the Lord it was the serpent that at first made the difference and it is the serpent and his instructed that keep up the difference And you who are against Womens speaking in the Church what do you think of Anna the Prophetess that good old Widâ—ow who spake of Christ to all them that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem Do you think this good old Woman did right in so doing This Woman knew him and gave thanks to the Lord even in the Temple and spoke in the Temple of him even publickly to them all and yet we do not read that she was judged and rebuked for so doing neither was she hurried and put out of Doors nor put in Prison nor banished out of the Town good old Simeon who was inspired with the Spirit of God reproved her not neither did he forbid her but they joyned in their Testimony being filled by the same Spirit and gave thanks to the Lord together and spake of Christ one by one both being in the Temple together the one spake after the other as they were moved by the same Spirit of God and as the holy Ghost revealed unto them so they brought it forth they neither added nor diminished And here was the good Order the comely and lively Order the Man and the Woman in the Restoration by Christ Jesus made Meet-helps one to another in the work of the Gospel joyning their Testimony together speaking and prophecying of Christ in the Temple to all them who looked for Redemption in Jerusalem they are
if they were to Mourn apart then who shall hinder their Rejoycing and Praising God apart when the time is come Rev. 1. 7. Behold he cometh with Clouds mark and every Eye shall see him and they also which pierced him and all Kindreds of the Earth shall Wail because of him even so Amen And the gathering is and must be to him whom they have pierced when the Lord opens the Eyes both of the Male and Female to see him whom they have pierced they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first-born They that sow in Tears shall reap in Joy Psal 126. 5. Those Women who were gathered together to mourn for him who was crucified and pierced it was not long that they had waited at the Sepulchre Mourning till they were made Witnesses of his Resurrection and then joy and gladness filled their Hearts yea these holy Women were made Witnesses before the Men the Lord seeing it meet in his Wisdom to reveal himself to and in the weaker Vessels that he may stain the Pride of all Flesh and bring into contempt all the honourable of the Earth Matth. 27. 55 56. And many Women were there beholding afar off which followed Jesus from Galilee ministring unto him Here was Women Ministers ministring unto Christ among which was Mary Magdalen and Mary the Mother of James and Joses and the Mother of Zebedee's Children Here was a Meeting of Women following Jesus from Galilee And who can forbid a gathering of Women following the Light of Christ out of the World from all its Affections and Lusts even through the Cross to the Death that they may witness through him the Resurrection unto Life eternal and so rejoyce and praise him together Mark 16. 9. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the Week he appeared first to Mary Magdalen out of whom he had cast seven Devils and she went and told them that had been with him as they mourned and wept Here was Mourners and Weepers in the men's Meeting as well as among the Women And who can forbid the Women to come to the Men and declare it to the men when they are made Witnesses of the Resurrection of the Life of Jesus Christ in their own Hearts as Mary Magdalen did to the Apostles Acts 16. 13. And on the Sabbath we went out of the City by a River-side where Prayer was wont to be made and we sate down and spake unto the Women which resorted thither Here was a Womans meeting by a River-side And here Paul and those that were with him came and sate down with them and Paul spake to them and the Lord opened Lydia's Heart So as men feel a freedom from the Lord and a true desire raised up in them they may go to the womens meetings and visit the womens meetings and sit down with them and wait upon the Lord together and Pray and Prophecy together and Praise the Lord together Deborah was a Prophetess and judged Israel and was a Mother in Israel and what a Prophecy she prophesied in the Name of the Lord and what gracious Words proceeded from the Spirit of God through her you may read at large in the fourth and fifth Chapter of Judges Hannah was a good Woman and she prayed in her Heart and spoke in her Heart unto the Lord and the Lord heard her and gave her her Request he gave her Samuel and Samuel was one of the Lords Prophets and after she had brought forth her first-born she rendred Thanks unto the Lord and what gracious Words came from Gods own Spirit in this Woman you may read 1 Sam. 2. And there was a wise Woman in Abel of Beth-maacah who gave good Counsel unto Joab and to the men of the City and delivered the City from Destruction she was one that was peaceable and faithful and a Mother in Israel as you may read 2 Sam. 20. Such women as these may be permitted to speak in the Church and will not be hindred nor stopt by the Righteous But the covetous proud Priesthood of this Generation is of another mind warring against the appearance of God both in the Male and Female forbidding all either to Preach or Prophesie except those who are approved and licensed by themselves and has received-their Mark but their Building is shaken and their Foundation discovered and their Power is broken and scattered and the Consumption determined is come and coming upon them read Zach. 14. 12 13. And you may read 2 King 22. How Hilkiah the Priest found the Book of the Law in the House of the Lord and gave it to Shaphan the Scribe and he read it and also he read it to the King and we see how tender the Heart of good Josiah the King was and how he rent his Clothes and humbled himself and how he sent Hilkiah the Priest and others of his Counsellors to enquire of the Lord for him and the People and for all Judah concerning the words of the Book of the Law that had been lost and was found in the House of God for the King perceived that the Wrath of the Lord was great against them because they and their Fathers had not hearkened unto the words of the Book of the Law to do accordingly to what there was written and they went unto Huldah the Prophetess and enquired at her What! was there not a Prophet in all Jerusalem nor in Judea to enquire at that they went to the Prophetess Was there not a man that knew the Word of the Lord that they went to a Woman Yea there was howbeit they went to a woman and the Lord spake to them by a woman They read the Words in the Book of the Law without them Jer. 1. 2. But this woman read in the Book of Life Come hear all you who despise Womens Teaching and Prophecying in the Church answer me plainly What do you think of this Woman If she were in your dayes would you not forbid her and tell her that women are not permitted to teach or prophesie and that Paul permits not a Woman to speak in the Church Oh! that the Lord God may open your Eyes to see and know what Women those are that Paul speaks of there and then I know that the best of you who are against holy Womens speaking in the Church would be quiet your selves and forbear speaking in the Church till ye come to dwell in that holy Spirit wherein this holy Woman Huldah dwelt for I here declare that all men as well as women that is in their first fallen estate in their first birth in old Adam's nature let them be never so gloriously adorn'd with knowledge learning and wisdom arts parts and sciences I say they are nothing then but Women not permitted to speak in Christs Church But in the new and second Birth the man and the woman is all one in the Lord and the