that Song and others which he put in their Hearts and Mouths and which he did command to teach their Children even all along in the Wilderness and to David and afterwards And all the Children of Israel from the Red Sea were bound to teach and learn to sing the Lord's Songs in every Time and Generation wheresoever and under what Condition soever Deut. 31. 19 21 22. and chap. 32. I say these Songs were always to be kept in their Hearts and Mouths for God's Praise in his Worship And indeed a Psalm in any Language is more easily and readily learned by Heart and put in the Mouth better remembred and commonly received and familiar for frequent use than Words in another stile Writing in Verse is very suitable where the Matter is laid deep in it and truly wrought out of the Affections as those Scriptures which shew forth greatest Passions of Affections are composed as sacred Flames of pearless Love between Christ and his Spouse in Canticles the triumphant Joy and Praise by Moses and all Israel and Deborah and Barak who all sang saith the Word of God and no Incongruity as you do both dream and deny the afflicting Grief of Hezekiah and Jeremiah in his Lamentations and Habakkuk Passion is most free in Verse and hath the greatest Scope when tied to Numbers as that Deut. 32. and Hannah 1 Sam. 2. But the Book of Psalms is a Croud of all Affections Love Joy Fear Hope Anger and Zeal all acting their parts and wound up to the highest strains by the holy Spirit breathing poetical Eloquence and most divine Wisdom in those holy Songs where the direful Agonies and Sufferings of our ever-blessed Redeemer is the most precious Stone above all else fitly contrived for all times none can by singing them deny Christ come in the Flesh as it is ill imagined because it commonly speaks of that which is fulfilled as it were with God from the Foundation of the World who calls things which are not to us and which shall be as though they were Divine Songs raise the Soul and infuse Comfort Common and Prophane do Satan Service and Spiritual by Grace Joy Zeal do God Service If any thing be able to warm and fire the Soul and sweeten and ease the hard things which God's Servants meet with here this will and was the special Solace at all times of greatest Difficulties and very often then delivered of God to praise him and comfort and confirm them and a most special Blessing I say again it is what ever any think of it to the contrary that such Heavenly Cordials are made ready for us The Singing of Scripture-Psalms have continued in use as part of God's Worship ever since Christianity were and will be to the end of the World Christ and his Disciples used it and gave order for its Observation and Continuance And the most antient Records and Monuments of Antiquity which remain unto this Day And it did never yet lead any into Apostacy Tertullian in his Apology c. saith Saints met afore Day to sing Psalms to the Lord. Basil in his Epistle saith When one of us hath begun a Psalm the rest set in to sing with him all with one Heart and one Voice and this saith he is the common practice of the Churches in Egypt Lybia Thebes Palestine Syria and those that dwell on Euphrates and generally where Singing of Psalms is of any Account And Eusebius testifies the like in his Ecclesiastical History And the New-Testament Songs of which there are about twelve in Singing Stile if that will do which shews the Holy Spirit was not against Singing Stile tho he did not translate the Hebrew Poetry into Greek Poesy not at any time translating much together seldom verbatim but always the Substance and Truth of it you do not know whether he did not translate in Hebrew Poetry tho in Greek Words Those 12 aforesaid in the New-Testament being extended till the Judgment executed upon the Great Whore which preceeds the Marriage of the Lamb do intimate the allowed continuance of the Singing in God's Worship and singing Praise unto God will be for evermore so were it not a Type all Duties in this Life else will cease but the Triumphant Thanks Praise Love and Joy shall be for ever As touching Mens precomposing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs I shall not condemn their doing yet I will affirm that for Profit and Delight and which may truly be called Spiritual Songs and the Word of Christ the Psalms in the Holy Scriptures must have the preheminency far above whatsoever hath since been or ever shall be dictated in this World the which if God had not so approved he would have hinted it I come in the next place to Page 4. to your two Scriptures Ephes 5.18 19. and Coloss 3.16 to see if we have any better dealing You tell us that these two Scriptures are made a Foundation for vocal Singing together in the constant Worship of God in the Gospel-Church pag. 5. You might have told us who made them so that if they were taken away all the Building would fall it may be you suppose it and so flatter your self to prevail if you could dig them up c. You say that Ephes 5.19 is not to be understood speaking to your selves but in the Original it is speaking in your selves and that is keeping silence in the Church compared with 1 Cor. 14.28 and Pool's Annot. Then we may read it so Be not drunk with Wine wherein is Excess but be filled with the Spirit that you may speak in your selves keeping silence in the Church in Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs making Melody in your Hearts to the Lord any Novice would be ashamed of such an Interpretation for this is a Duty enjoined to the whole Church therefore they are all to be filled with the Spirit and speak in themselves keeping silence when they are all met together at least while they are so speaking in themselves If thus at every Meeting how much of the time some of it may be much of it may be and all may be at one time or at different times so that some may be speaking in silence and another vocally if all at any time in silence then the Men and Women too may be inditing and singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs making Melody in their Hearts to God in silence for this is to be in the Church-Assembly an Assembly carrying on an Ordinance in Silence and Women too as much Administrators as any Do you well to set your House on Fire on purpose to burn your Neighbours This intimates both Ministers and Members must keep silence in the Church tho filled with the Spirit and speak in themselves singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs making Melody in their Heart c. not one Word heard This is for that while a silent Meeting and time must be allowed for it it is a Duty and it is Quakerism Such a Meeting is a sign of
Information that cannot be gain-said and yet this neither clashes nor necessarily destroys the Word of God nor leaves us without a Rule of Worship though it may Mens Ignorance None of those Teachings or Speakings are such as Women are forbidden or commanded to learn in silence with subjection And they speak in the Church when they tell the next to them the Proofs which were quoted this is familiar and yet breaks no Rule of what you pretend if you have not spoken the Truth you are at a loss how to find it so you be in more things than this For it is evident you confound things not minding Matters contained in the Word of God which is such a sweet Harmony as there is no Absurdity nor Contradiction in it There is Teaching which Women are forbidden in the Church and yet Teaching which they are not forbidden in the Church and there is learning in silence and a learning vocally which Women are allowed as abovesaid likewise out of the Church they may pray and prophesy too if they be covered How should it be a shame for them to be uncovered if no Men see them nor hear them And what can a Woman do with her Hair on if the Place where it groweth be not covered with it none can tell which cannot be meant but of some place where it grows not viz. the Face Pag. 22. Your fifth Particular which is of the Order of Singing this you say We have plainly and clearly delivered in 1 Cor. 14.26 to 34. How is it then Brethren When ye come together every one of you hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine hath a Tongue hath a Revelation hath an Interpretation let all things be done to edifying Here you say we have plain and clear the Order of Singing c. I say If it be you have not left it so c. That we may have what is given us therein take it first as it is in the Original viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How is it Brethren when you come together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one of you this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one is only read in the Singular Number of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not near but separate as one Man is from another in fifteen places in the New-Testament and it includes each and all and that without exception except it be made 1 Thess 2.11 Eph. 4.16 Rev. 20.13 Phil. 2.4 which is the same word for every in all the places 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath it is near 130 times in the Present Tence hath in the New-Testament and in no other sense as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that from the Notation of the word hath and the following intimation in the 30th Verse which admits that if any thing be revealed to him that sitteth by there is a manifestation between hath and what might be therefore hath doth positively import that at the Church's coming together these five things specified in Vers 26 were or might be in some or all of the Church-Members even at their first coming together for it is not said if any of these be revealed but every one of you hath those Particulars were enjoined afore they might come already furnished with some or all of them So that it appears they were not then in the time of their Meeting as extraordinary Gifts immediately given or to be depended upon to be immediately given or received for if so the Text is no directive to the constant Worship of God but to some extraordinary kind Then I observe that some or all the Church-Members were furnished and prepared aforehand and had even at their coming together a Psalm Doctrine Tongue Revelation Interpretation all which for the constant Worship of God which they were in such a manner to communicate use and improve in the Church now met to God's Glory and their own Edification and Conviction of Unbelievers They had a Psalm Doctrine Tongue Revelation Interpretation all ready to use and improve else they might have and depend on or expect Silent-Meetings for the Lord gives his Blessings to Saints in their private Meditations Reading Studying Prayers and Converse in increasing and multiplying Graces and Knowledg of himself upon chewing the Cud contemplating upon what they have been taught seeking asking knocking unto which great Promises are annexed and fulfilled and the Grounds and Substances of most precious Truths are received and digested before the Church meets according as God distributes unto every one so that some or all may have a Psalm Doctrine Tongue Revelation Interpretation to use in the constant Worship of God for God gives these ordinary Gifts when and to whom he pleases and is not tied to give them when the Church is all met together only we are tied to Means and expect his Blessing in the Use Wherefore as that called Doctrine cannot be denied to be an ordinary and constant Gift or Means in the Church and by all allowed to be digested and one may or hath it as soon as the Church is met because as afore it follows that the other Four are likewise to be in readiness even as that or else that is all that is to be in readiness and the ordinary and constant use in the Church or else if the other Four are extraordinary and immediately to be received in the instant of being met so must Doctrine also And this plain Text is Direction for extraordinary Gifts only and none else from first to last and ordinary Gifts and constant Worship are not here to be found But I am not of that mind but that it is all of it respecting the ordinary and constant Worship of God in his Church as met together in all Ages to the end of the World therefore I must sort it a little laying the word Psalm and Doctrine a little by the last is not gainsaid and speak unto the latter three Tongue Revelation Interpretation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath a Tongue I say this is by a Metonymy of the instrumental Cause and is put for Speech or Language yea a strange Tongue though the word Strange be not there a Tongue which few or none might understand But now whether this must be of necessity understood an immediate Gift here because such there was while the Church was met together or such a Tongue as were either Learned for there might be as well Learned as Unlearned or a Tongue naturally spoken and yet strange to all most or some The first it could not only respect for then all the five Particulars may as well be so accounted extraordinary immediately given and Prophesy and Prophets too in the after Verses for such there were also in that time But there were then also Teachers Prophecy Revelations Interpretations in an ordinary manner and is so still so must there be Singing too And a Saint of a strange Tongue according to his Notion may upon occasion be at an Assembly and have a Gift to speak but being where none can
purpose and answering to as little compared with your former Part. In p. 20. you say that the 26th ver of 1 Cor. 14. cannot be taken for a positive Command to sing a Psalm seeing it is put by way of question if they had a Psalm c. You dare deal ill with holy Scriptures Pray in what Copy did you ever read that 26th verse so I could never find that word If nor any that I have heard of Would you bring Scripture to your Opinion which all your Discourse is strong of you have hoped for a credulous Reader but we must beware of you Your Fourth I leave to them concerned a little to your 5th Section c. In your handling 1 Cor. 14.34 you say this Scripture though it hath such relation to the following verse as to forbid Women asking any Question in the Church during the Worship and Service of God therein yet it tends to more c. 1. We are seeing it is so to enquire what is meant by Church 2dly What is meant during the time of Worship and Service of God therein The Church cannot be understood here but as it is in an Assembly together precisely then her Assembly is either when the Lord's Day is come or the time therein appointed by her to meet whether few or more be come then the Church is met And I question if Women be looked to that they say nothing nor ask Questions in the Meeting-place from first to last or that it is any Evil in so doing but if it intend that after the Minister hath begun till he ends then I think Men may not ask Questions in your Opinion while another is speaking But Women are under such Circumstances as Men are not I grant yet it is the Church in and to which they are to give an account of their Faith and evidence against an evil Doer and Acknowledgment of their Faults when dealt with in the Church therefore in several Cases Women cannot be under Silence nor hindred giving good Counsel and teaching in some kind yet not that Teaching which they are forbidden in the Church for all your Confidence with unreconcilable Objections it is through your ill handling them If she will learn any thing she must ask her Husband at home She must come into the Church to learn too or else what doth she there if not to learn She must learn in Silence So must every one else while one is speaking How if she have no Husband how if she be more able to teach him or he is an Unbeliever how if she be a Virgin or Widow Truly as she must learn in Silence as all others while one is speaking so she may learn all that come to her if she ask her Husband at home leave to learn all that will hear her pray or prophesy If she have no Husband she hath power in her own House and all the Church-Members and Pastors too may come and hear her it being no Church-meeting else Women may not pray nor prophesy any where at all in Mens hearing All the Members may teach and learn one another in Psalms c. but all Males and Females may not teach and learn one another in the time of publick Worship except in this and this is commanded without exception but an Exception is made against any thing else but Psalms in time of Worship nor is it possible that a Woman should be in a Transgression to lead Men to be deceived herein which otherways might be nor doth she usurp Authority over the Man by answering him in the same Sayings and Melody for she harmonizes with him and shews her greatest Agreement more than her Silence forced till she can vent it but she joins with her Heart making melody therein with all others to the Lord and is not guilty of any Breach of the moral Law more than Miriam and Deborah Hannah or the Virgin Mary which you can set up and pull down at your pleasure if one had nothing else to do but to trace you Your Sixth Section is a Presumption what shall be fulfilled in the 7th thousand Years of the World and we must not sing till then by your leave so let it go for your redolent Dream All your Appendix is out of my Question such as is concerned may look to you I well hope I have spoken in seriousness tho not so much as you would yet longer than I would if I knew how to help it I commend it to the Wise to judg The 70 and vulgar Latin upon Psal 19. latter end of the 4th Verse translate He hath placed his Tabernacle in the Sun which countenances Idolatry instead of he hath set in them a Tabernacle for the Sun POSTSCRIPT REader I never saw Mr. Keach's Book called The Breach Repaired c. till after I had quite finished this Tract but since I came up to London I have seen it and also Mr. Marlow's Sheet he has dispersed amongst the Churches c. wherein he pretends Mr. Keach has misrepresented what he has wrote and contradicted himself and intimates as if he had left most or great part of his chief Arguments unanswered which I find to be such a piece of Pride Falshood and Arrogancy as hath been hardly seen For if any wary and discreet Reader compares those Books they will see 't is no such thing which he boldly affirms which I suppose Mr. Keach or some other Person for him will suddenly make appear to his shame 'T is a strange and unaccountable way to answer a Book to leave all the argumentative Part and to quarrel with a few Words and that without any just reason too which will appear to all unbiassed and understanding Men upon a strict Examination of the Matter This Man 't is judged by wise and thinking Men who are not of our Mind has done more hurt and brought more reproach on the holy Name of God than any one Person for many Years and a Shame it is to his Abbeters who countenance him in his nonsensical and ridiculous way of Scribling in opposing a precious Ordinance of God FINIS An APPENDIX OR A Brief Answer to Mr. Marlow's Notion of the Essence of Singing By T. W. Pastor of a Baptized Congregation SIR THat Question the Lord useth to convince his Servant Job of his unadvised words I would have you to consider Job 38.2 Who is this that darkneth Counsel by Words without Knowledg for I find some hard words made use of by you in your little Book to darken and obscure a plain Truth And the best Construction I can put upon them is to hope you did deliver some things ignorantly not well understanding what you have affirmed And therefore that I might discharge my Duty towards the Lord in bearing Witness to and for that God-honouring Gospel-adorning and Soul-comforting Ordinance of Singing Psalms c. in the Publick Worship of God to his Glory and our mutual Edification and also toward you in shewing your great Mistakes
on Coloss tho restrained to a Ministring Brother as his Work and Office I have already proved it to be commanded to the whole Church Now that in the Church at Colosse Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs may be sung vocally as is confessed and in the Church at Ephesus they must not as is denied but the speaking and singing must be inwardly in the Heart in vocal Voice heard keeping silence in the Church is a fond Conceit For why should not one Church of Christ have allowance to have Singing vocally and not another as well And seeing there is neither difference in the Things to be sung both Places say the same viz. Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs and both require the like Singing and making Melody in the Heart to the Lord wherefore it must be Ignorance or worse that shall limit one short of the other and the Grant to one is to both and â—ll else And I affirm to all Men loving Truth and Honesty whatsoever that whatsoever one Church of Christ may do acceptably to God in matter of practice as part of his Worship all other Churches of Christ may yea ought to do if they can the same So then I have it against all Contradiction that the Church at Ephesus had the same Priviledg as the Church at Colosse any if any one will be so pertinacious in Error as to grant my Affirmative and deny it from Ephesians 5.19 let them do it at their peril there is no reasoning with them Likewise what one Church of Christ may do as part of God's Worship all others may do the same Now the Church of Christ at Colosse had a Precept given them to sing Vocally and Socially Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs as part of God's Worship so have all the Churches of Christ in the World to the end thereof all this stands together against all Opposition Nor is one or other of the Churches told that the Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs should be an extemporary Gift instantly revealed as they were together in their Church-Meeting and sung all of it by that Person only to whom by the Spirit that Gift was given nor forbid to sing all or that the Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs in the Holy Scripture must not be sung in the Church which seeing they had been in constant use afore and were no Type nor Shadow must thâ—refore be continued And furthermore I will again put the case That there were but one Instance of an Infant Baptized would not all esteem that Man mad and out of his Wits that should deny it to be practised now though it had been done by the greatest Spiritual gifted Person in the Primitive Times And would not all Men rather conclude the greater the Minister the greater is the Confirmation and Approbation of the thing practised Wherefore I say seeing you grant that Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs in the Worship of God in the Primitive Times let the Persons be what they will then it is the greater Confirmation of the practice and is so far from taking it away that it both seals the Truth and Authority of the Continuance of it unto the end of the World as being that which among other things Christ commanded his Disciples to teach the Observation of All your Alligations are no better than those of the Non-Churchers who deny either Baptism Breaking of Bread and all Ordinances of Christ to be observed and practised by any in our Days And they say that because Christ and his Apostles by miraculous Power preached and administred Baptism and other Ordinances in the Churches in their Times that we should impose it on all Men and Women now as binding and constant and shew not alike Power we do they say impose that Authority on them we never had because we have not the like Power and could we shew them it they would readily submit to all the things we practise could they see such Administrators All that do these things now run afore they are sent and act without Commission they being only Spiritual gifted extraordinary Persons that were so commissioned and could work Miracles and they wait for God sending such The Ranters in their time said God was gone out of Scripture-Forms and therefore they ought not to be observed The Quakers their Successors said Scripture-Forms are Shells without Kernels and Shadows without Substances and not to be observed Most what you say against Scriptural Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs sung in the Church is like all this I wish you may make a good Retreat for you are on a Precipice and all that admire you for you ought not to take upon your self to deny that in one Church which you confess to be in another by the Lord's Allowance you to confess Singing to be a Primitive Practice in the Churches in the Worship of God and deny its Continuance all the miraculous Spiritual Gifts did confirm to us all the Duties which God required the Churches to practise Now inasmuch as you confess that God doth not require more of his Church and People than he hath given them Abilities to perform pag. 43. it being irrefragably proved that God doth require all his Church throughout all Ages to sing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs it doth likewise confirm and assure us that he hath given them Abilities and Qualifications to perform it tho not that which you run upon and would have yet that which doth sufficiently and to God acceptably answer his Requirement which is his Churches Patrimony that you labour to deprive her of but shall never prevail The next is your Demonstration in Six Particulars viz. 1. Of the Essence or Being of Singing 2. Of David's Psalms 3. Of Prescribed Precomposed Songs and Hymns 4. Of Womens Singing 5. Of the Order of Singing 6. Of Scripture and other Objections 1. The Essence of Singing What you would have by this new coined Appelation of the Essence sure I am I have heard your Notion counted a dull Invention for it Do you know what your Assertion about the Essence of Duties being in the Heart or Spirit doth and may tend to even to the exclusion of all vocal discharge or external Performance of every Ordinance of Christ but especially your absurd and vile Notion about the Essence of Sin is to be abhorred as leading into such an Errour that your weak-head cannot perceive nor are you aware of God deliver our People from such a Teacher All I can gather about it is that whether Singing Prayer or Teaching c. and you do grant all three to have been in the Primitive Church that except they be first truly rooted in the Heart whatsoever is in the Tongue only is not acceptable to God And that many times all three may be inwardly in the Heart in the Substance of them it must be understood for there is no need to draw them forth in length between our Heart and God to speak to him as must and ought to be to one another
for Prayer and Singing as well as Teaching is to be used outwardly for Edification I see little in this first Particular but noise and impertinent Expositions and Quotations all signifies nothing in those four Pages except you could prove that Singing ought to be Mental which we deny for indeed that is no proper Singing at all for though there is a mental Praying yet no proper mental Singing which you do not it seems understand or otherwise will not grant though all Mankind generally as one Man will tell you 't is so All are agreed about proper Singing i. e. what a kind of Act it is of the bodily Organ as they are agreed what Speaking Reading Preaching or Crying is c. though you are not the Objections you make and Answers are insignificant 2. Of David's Psalms You say there was no Institution of Singing before David's time that word Institution is not in Scripture not that I gain-say its use if pertinently placed I have affirmed Psalms and Songs were appointed to be sung and commanded before David's time in Worship to God and that is as sufficient as any Institution can be so that your Denial is of no value nor all you say about wilderness-State or your Notion in Parallels between Israel after the Flesh in all the time afore David and so with the Gospel Israel all the time till Christ's second Coming and between David's and Solomon's time and the seventh thousand Years reign which is but Conceit and not for to establish Ordinances nor our worshipping of God upon no more than that very little time of Solomon's Temple top-Glory could be a Type of as little time of the Glory you promise your self But that Singing should be a Type and all the time till David a Type and David's Psalms a Type and all the time from Christ's coming in the Flesh a Type till his second Coming Moses's Tabernacle was a Temple 1 Sam. 3.3 In New Jerusalem there shall be no Temple for whatsoever any may think about a thousand years Reign on this Earth and Christ's personal Presence all that time yet it is no Article of Faith on which Communion depends nor the Lord's present Worship I say all Types were fulfilled in Christ who was and is the Body of all Shadows and whatsoever did annul the Tabernacle and its Appurtenances which Moses made did also annul and dissolve Solomon's Temple and all its Top-glory I have seen Men and to my sorrow their Madness who begun after this rate and at length taught that the Jews must possess the Land of literal Canaan and build a third Temple prophesied of by Ezekiel and offer all the Sacrifices and observe the whole Law till the Messiah's coming to reign and should sing too though we may not and I can tell what End they made Some make a great doe with personal Reign and 1000 years as if the knowledg thereof was of such import and concernment and obliging to Duties and mighty Matters as nothing like it and whatever is their Text that is their Faith and Doctrine too But I see no such Cause nor Consequence for it is not likely that a thousand Pounds can do more with them than infinite thousands of Pounds can not If eternal Life and infinite Blessedness which will have no end prevail not I despair that 1000 years should except Persons be conceitedly affected with sensible and ending Objects and visible corporal Things and pleasing carnal Enjoyments the Delights whereof the like Nature can take in and apprehend but such as are invisible Realities and eternal they have no suitable Principle to nor satisfactory Apprehensions of And therefore from such Ideas as correspond therewith like Tempe Elyzium Helicon Parnassus and the Turks Paradise and the Jews present hopes that when their Messiah comes they shall be made Lords and enjoy all wordly Enjoyments above other Nations and feasted on Behemoth Zis and the Wine of Paradise Carnal things suit carnal Minds which have induced some into irregular Courses And yet this I will say more and how far your Notions tend that way which have no ground and less fruits to Edification but are Notions taking up Mens Minds and Time too from practical Doctrines And I care not who knows it That I had rather be ignorant of some things God may give his Saints hereafter than be ignorant or negligent in what is my present duty to do It is not for want what to say that I pass many of your Lines but because they are crude and I am tired with your obtruding by an huge pretence of Zeal those things upon us 3. As to prescribed Songs and Hymns and precomposed I shall say little let them that either use them or are for them answer for themselves Yet I do not see any thing you have offered to amount to a solid Confutation as you may hear more when I come to 1 Cor. 14. So I shall pass at present your third Particular for whatever Truth you oppose your many Arguments and Proofs against it signify nothing 4. Of Womens Singing c. You say That Women ought neither to teach nor pray vocally in the Church of Christ is generally believed by all Orthodox Christians and say it is asserted from 1 Cor. 14.34 35. But we must consider who you call Orthodox c. If you mean such as agree in Fundamentals of Faith though they differ in Ordinances then you take in for Orthodox Episcopacy Presbyterians Independents c. who all are for Womens singing in the Church and teaching too if singing Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs be teaching as it is in your sense else they are none of them Orthodox or else all are not against Womens singing and teaching in the Church for they are for Womens singing in the Church But if you will restrain the word Orthodox Christians unto some certain Professors distinct from them all and account them Heterodox then you steal away in a Presumption not hinted and is next to a strange Tongue For if you say the first you are false to your own knowledg and all Orthodox Christians do not generally believe it but otherwise else that Women singing in the Church Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs as part of God's Worship is not that Teaching in the Church which they are forbidden to do Women are under heavy Circumstances if all spiritual things some imagine are to be imposed upon them and what they are winked at in Civils which is forbidden in the Word of God 't is no marvel they are of so little account and useless in the Church Yet Women do speak and teach in the Church and must do so in their giving an account of their Conversion and their Faith sometimes long and excellently too and exceeding some Men teaching by experience in telling what God hath done for their Souls and in giving their Evidence and Witness to Accusations in the Rule of Discipline where some teach and speak notably and reprove soundly also and give