thta which is pure which will judge all Vnrighteousness which must never enter into the Kingdom of God and with the Eternal Spirit of God and in his Power ye may be kept from all Fancies in your own Wills So God Almighty be among you to do his Will in his Love G. F. DEar Friends Epist 198. Keep over all that which tends to Strife in the Seed Christ in which is Peace and Life for that which tends to Strife Fain'd Flattery and yet is in a fained Flattery will corrupt you And therefore live in that which is Pure and Stedfast and is not Changable and in that know one another And lay hands on no Man suddenly for that which is fickle and changable will bring People into an unsettled State and bring them out of their own Conditions and bring into a Questioning State And therefore keep in the Seed and Light and Power of Christ in which ye may walk safely and not give away your Power but dwell in it in Love Vnity and Peace one with another And in it keep your Meetings and be quiet and live and dwell in the Power of Truth over all the Vnruly Spirits And be faithful that the Seed Christ Jesus may reign in you and among you For the Truth is over all and reigns And so be Valiant for it upon the Earth Lancaster Prison the 2d of the 5th Month 1660. G. F. 1. About 1661. FRiends The matter concerning not putting off the Hat in Prayer and when they give Thanks to God Epist 199. which hath been said by some it is Heathenish and Romish and set up in the time of Darkness and Ignorance Concerning the Hat and in the Curse and in the Fall and Cursed Then they and ye who have put off your Hats when ye have Prayed and given Thankes to God must be wrong according to their Judgment which is false For who have known the Power of God and the Motions of it which Power was before Hats and Coverings were are out of this Judgment For there was a Sect of People amongst the Corinthians that were jangling about Meats Drinks Days Marriages and whether they should pray covered and whether the Woman should pray and prophesie uncovered There was such a Strife before the Papists got up And therefore the Apostle set up a Comliness amongst the Churches and says It was a Dishonour for a Woman to Pray or Prophesie with her Head uncovered And also a Dishonour for a Man to Pray or Prophesie with his Head covered Now say they who keep the Hat on when they Pray This Covering of the Woman is the Spirit and Power which is her Covering and not the Hat then the Spirit and Power must be Covered when she Prays and Prophesies And how can she Pray and Prophesie when the Spirit and Power is Covered For that is her Covering and her Head say they And this must be uncovered in the Man when he Prays and Prophesies So shewing hereby a Contradiction in the Male and Female which shews forth that the Spirit and Power must be covered in the one and uncovered in the other 2. They say Christ is the Head of the Woman spoken of in the Corinthians and her Head must be covered when she prays and prophesies and is it not meant of an outward Hat Then Christ which is the Head he must be covered in the Woman when she prays and prophesies and when a Man prays and prophesies his Head must be uncovered This also shews a Contradiction For Prophecy is in the Spirit and Praying is in the Spirit and by Prophecy they see Christ And if Christ be covered then they must consider it by what the Woman covers him and whether or nay she can prophesie when he is covered And so it is that Mind which runs into outward things that stumbles and ever was and ever will be so And this Mind and Spirit which hath given this Judgment so upon Friends and amongst Friends not only in a Paper to be spread up and down but also in Disputes and Jangligns about it in which is such a Judgment contrary to Truth and the Apostles comely Order and Practice which was set up amongs them This Judgment hath not only judged us but also the Apostle They may as well say He set up a Form in the Curse Ignorance Heathenish and Romish who calls it a comely thing for a Man to pray uncovered if not Praying and Prophesying he dishonours his Head and a Comely thing for a Woman to pray or prophesie with her Head covered So there was a Comeliness and an Honour in it We never use to preach up such things who are come to the Power of God before Coverings or Hats were And many would not have believed that ever such things would have come forth amongst us but now they see our Comely Order and Practice is likened to a Heathenish and Romish Order and curst Some such the Apostle had to do withal when he set up his comely Order before the Romish Way was Therefore are we necessitated to speak a little to such things that Friends may keep in the Power of God which was before Hats and Coverings were For when we see People run into such things and make a Sect of it and cry They have Attained to a greater Glory than before they run into such outward things which the Hat is and if they have Attained to that they have but Attained to that which is since Adam fell For they that have attained to that State which Adam was in before the Fall it is without Hats or Coverings And they that are come to Christ and abide in him are in a State beyond Adam before he fell The State beyond Adam far before outward Coverings were for Christ was with the Father before the World began before Adam was made And when the Apostle spake to the Corinthians how that he would have them to know that God was the Head of Christ and Christ was the Head of the Man and the Man was the Head of the Woman and the Woman was made for the Man and not the Man for the Woman and he is the Image and Glory of God and she is the Glory of the Man This the Apostle spake to the Corinthians who were not come to the State of Adam and Eve before they fell amongst whom there was a Sect about the Man being covered and the Woman uncovered Amongst whom he sets up a Comely Order and Practice and lets them see how they should pray prophesie and practise So he meant there of outward things when he speaks of a Man uncovered and a Woman covered or else he should be shaven and shorn Now these as I said before were not come to the state of Adam and Eve before the Fall for who are come there are come to that which was before Coverings were This was a comly and decent thing and of good report amongst the Primitive Christians Therefore
the Male and Female and told them he preached Christ in them and bid them examine themselves and prove themselves and to know him to be in them otherwise they were Reprobates and he brings them off from things that are seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things that are not seen are Eternal Now these things which they jangled about were things that were seen and not Eternal things but Temporal for if they did not come to Christ Jesus the Substance of those things they remained in the Reprobation from the Life Truth and Substance And also what Janglings there was amongst the Primitive Christians about Marriage of Believers and Unbelievers and the departing of the Believers from the Unbelievers which the Apostle told them That Marriage was honourable in all and the Bed undefiled and how that they should abide together the Believer with the Unbeliever and how that the Believer sanctifieth the Unbeliever by which their Children were not unholy but clean and how it was better to marry than to burn though he spake to the same Corinthians of a State which was beyond that And likewise also how there was Janglings about Ministers and Teachers about such as transformed themselves as into Angels of Light and such as preached for filthy Lucre and such as served not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies which the Apostle stops all such and brings them to the Life and Seed and Power of God over them all and shews concerning Marriage how God made them Male and Female in the Beginning which was the honourable Marriage before the defiled State was And likewise what Janglings there was whether the Woman should be covered or the Man should be covered when they Prayed or Prophefied in which the Apostle set forth a Comliness among them of the Man's being uncovered and the Woman covered in as much as the Man was the Image and Glory of God and the Woman the glory of the Man Nevertheless he would have them to know that God was the Head of Christ and Christ was the Head of the Man and the Man was the Head of the Woman and the Woman was made for the Man and not the Man for the Woman And thus ye may see that these Corinthians were not come up to the State of Adam before he fell and of Eve by the Apostles setting thus forth their States And whereas it is said by some That Christ is the Head of the Man c. Which Head of Man say they is the same that is Head of the Woman Mark Now if it be so according to this Interpretation which is wresting then Christ must be covered in the Woman when she Prays or Prophesies and the Woman must have Power over Christ and she be uncovered then Christ must be shorn or shaven which is ridiculous and shews then a difference of Christ in the Male and the Female which is not so for God is the Head of Christ and Christ the Head of Man as he was made and Man the Head of the Woman But as Woman received the Temptation and likewise also the Man and so are both in the Fall now this was spoken as Man was made before he fell which as Man comes up again out of the Fall and Woman Christ in the Male and in the Female he is Head of both But now this was spoken to the Corinthians who were not come up to the State that Adam and Eve were in before they fell among whom this difference about covering or uncovering was Whether the Man should be uncovered and the Woman covered when they Prayed c. Which was the comely Order which the Apostle set amongst them and told them there should be Heresies among them 1 Cor. 11 19. that they that were approved might be made manifest and looked upon them as Hereticks who jangled contrary to his comely Order and Practice which was as said before spoken to such as were not come to the State of Adam and Eve before they fell for they that are come thither to that State by Christ are come before outward Coverings were and them that are come to Christ are come to the end of Prophecy to the Seed Christ the Top-Stone in whom all things end which Top and Corner-Stone is over all that laid that Ends and Changes So let your Life be in that which never ends nor never changes and in whom there is no changing nor altering And who are come to this will not go back again into outward things And also ye may see what Jangling there was amongst such as did forbid Meats and Drinks and Marriage and such got up into worshipping of Angels and compelling Ways which after a time did separate and Apostatize from Christ and the Apostles and so afterwards became Anti-Christs in an Anti-Liberty and Anti-Freedom to such as know all things good and bless'd as they were in the Beginning which who are there are out of the State which Adam and Eve was in before the Fall where all the Janglings are about outward things which is in the fallen Wisdom but who are come up into the Wisdom and the Seed and the Life and the Substance and know the State of Adam in the Fall and his Sons and Daughters where the Curse Wrath and Woe is and know the State of Adam and Eve before the Fall how all things were good and blest to them These I say are above the Janglings about outward things for they that set up outward things are in the Fall and there keeps People from going home to the Beginning and there is the Ground of making Sects about outward things which keeps them from the Universal Power of God which was before the Fall and brings up out of it and that is not to preach the Gospel which is the Power of God which was before Types Figures and Shadows were and brings up out of them And in this Power of God is the Fellowship of the Gospel which lasts for ever so is the Fellowship everlasting that never hath an end For all the Janglings in the Apostacy brings into Sects and Schisms and Heresies since the Apostles Days from the Apostles out of the Life and Power of God as they were in it hath been in outward things and about outward things and their Eyes have been at them and about them have been Jangling which now ye that have seen the Everlasting Gospel and known the Everlasting Gospel preached again which was among the Apostles and have been reaped out from among the Apostates got up since the Apostles days I say live in it and dwell in it in which Life and Power ye see over to the Apostles Days by the Spirit that gives to have an Understanding of things in which Power of God ye do not only see to the Apostles Days but over the Jews Law without and its Figures Type and Shadows which was given to the Sons of Men and of Adam after he fell in the Fall
not they say then to their Neighbours and Friends Rejoyce with me for I have found the Piece which was lost Likewise I say unto you saith Christ there is joy in the Presence of the Angels of God over one Sinner that repenteth as you may see in Luke 15. Now here you may see all these renowned faithful Women were encouraged by Christ and his Followers and are recorded and set forth to encourage all that are faithful to wait upon Christ and to light their Candle at God's Light and Fire that so they may sweep their House and find their Treasure that they may declare their Joy of it to their Friends and Neighbours And also you may see Dorcas was full of good Works and Alms-deeds which she did Dorcas full of good Works And all the Widows stood by Peter weeping shewing the Coats and Garments which Dorcas made whilst she was with them to wit the Widows Mark and was not there a Womens-Meeting then whilst Dorcas was with them to wit the Widows and Dorcas was a Disciple of Jesus Acts 9. And Paul on the Sabbath went out of the City by a River-side where Prayers were wont to be made and spoke to the Women which resorted thither and was not there a Womans-Meeting also which resorted there to pray together And there was a certain Woman named Lydia THe Feithfulness of Lydia a Seller of Purple of the City of Thyatira which worshipped God whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things spoken by Paul and she besought him to come to her House if he judged her faithful to the Lord and abide there and she constrained him and them that were with him Acts 16. So you may see the Faithfulness of this Woman and the Practice of the other Women before they were converted And Priscilla Priscialla a Labourer in the Gospel which was a notable Faithful Woman whom Paul often mentions with her Husband Aquilla and Philip's four Daughters which were Prophetesses which were set forth to encourage others And you may see Phebe whom the Apostle Paul sends his Epistle to the Romans from Corinth by and calls a Servant of the Church of Cenchrea and he saith Greet Mary which bestowed much Labour upon us and Priscilla and Aquilla my Fellow-Labourers in Christ Jesus So here you may see there were Women Labourers and Helpers in the Gospel With other Women Labourers in the Gospel And he farther saith I commend unto you our Sister Phebe Who is a Servant unto the Church c. And saith That Priscilla and Aquilla my Fellow-helpers in Christ Jesus which for my Life have laid down their Necks unto whom not only I give Thanks but also all the Churches of the Gentiles So here you may see in what esteem was this Man and Woman and Phebe and other Women for their Faithfulness to the Churches as you may read Rom. 16. And the Apostle saith That the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the unbelieving Wife c. else their Children were unholy but now they are clean and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the believing Husband So here is an equal share in the Belief 1 Cor. 7. And the Apostle saith That every Woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her Head uncovered dishonoureth her Head So Women may Pray and Prophesie here according to Order in the Church as well as the Men 1 Cor. 11. And yet the same Apostle in the 14th Chapter forbids a Woman to speak in the Church And the Apostle saith Let the Women keep Silence in the Church and if they will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at home But when they have learnt of Christ their Husband at home What sort of Women forbid to speak in the Church they are not forbididen of Christ from Prophesying or Praying but to lie babbling and prating in the Church such Speaking in the Church is a Shame Now a Widow hath no Husband to ask but Christ nor a Virgin yet she may Prophesie and a believing Woman that hath an unbelieving Husband he is to be sanctified by her So she is not to learn her Salvation of him but of Christ and to do his work And the same Apostle saith Let the Men keep Silence in the Church if they speak in an unknown Tongue and there be not an Interpreter So here the Men must keep Silence in the Church in this case Men forbid in some Cases to speak in the Church as well as some Women as well as the Women 1 Cor. 11. and Chap. 14.27 And the Apostle further saith I permit not a Woman to speak in the Church but to be under Obedience as also saith the Law But tho' the Law did not permit their usurping Authority in the Church yet it did permit their Prophesying in the Church in the time of the Law as well as in the time of the Gospel as you may see by those Famous Women before-mentioned in the Old Testament as well as in the New And the same Apostle saith I beseech thee Euodias and I beseech Syntyche that they may be of the same mind in the Lord and I intreat thee also true Yoke-Fellow help those Women which laboured with me in the Gospel with Clement also und iwth other my Fellow Labourers whose Names are in the Book of Life So here the Apostle intreated his Yoke-Fellow to help those Women which laboured with him in the Gospel the Power of God So these Women were meet Helps with the Apostle in the Labour of the Gospel the Power of God as you may see in Phil. 4. And all that be of his Mind in the Lord will encourage either Women or Widows or Virgins that have received the Gospel to labour in it and all that have not the Mind of the Apostle in the Lord will discourage Womens labouring in the Gospel and not entreat others to help them but such will give them Liberty to labour in the Power of Darkness and to Slothfulness and Carelesness which the Wo is unto and not the Blessing And again the Apostle writes to Timothy That the Women should adorn themselves in modest Apparrel and Shamefacedness and Sobriety not with broidered Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array but which becomes Women professing Godliness with good Works and let your Women learn in Silence with all Subjection c. But I suffer not a Woman to teach nor to usurp Authority over the Man but learn in Silence c. For the Woman being deceived was first in Transgression c. Now for a Woman to Preach or Teach such a Teaching as Eve taught Adam such a Sermon as she had from the Serpent that drew her self and Adam her Husband from God's Teaching here in this Teaching she usurp'd Authority over the Man and therefore God se the Man to rule over the Woman but they were meet helps before while they were under God's Teaching Now to usurp Authority over the Man by such Teaching is
Spirit you may be led into all Truth up to God and Christ from him who is out of the Truth Amen saith my Soul G. F. DEar Friends every where Epist 289. be faithful to God who hath been faithful and true to you therefore be you true to God and faithful Witnesses to him To be faithful Witnesses of Christ in time of Persecution and to Christ Jesus that now ye may all have Riches and Treasure laid up in store against a time of want storms and tempests that you amy stand for if you do not stand now you are as bad as such Professors who stood only when the Sun shined and crept out when it was fine and fair Weather but when a Storm or Tempest came then they ran creeping into their Holes and Corners and sculked into by-corners and fled by bace-doors who were ashamed or their Religion and what they Professed but when the Sun did shine then they showed their Enmity to the Righteous And therefore be you of the Faith of Dvid and of his Spirit who said I was Young and now am old I never saw the Righteous for saken nor his Seed begging Bread and the Lord to encourage his People saith In all their Af-flicions he was Afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them and Christ tells you It 's he that Suffers and is Persecuted when his Children are persecuted And so it 's for the Lord's sake that the JusT suffer by the Unjust and you read how such as suffer the spoiling of their Goods and Scoffing and Mocking yet they were not to forsake the Assembling themselves together as the manner of some was for they that suffer with Christ shall reign with him for the Lord may try you who hath blessed you with outward things whether your minds do stand with him or in the outward things G. F. DEar Friends Epist 290. Live in Love for that is of God and doth edifie the Body of Christ and keep in the Truth of God which the Devil is out of To live in Love and Peace with God and one with another and walk in Righteousness and then you will walk in Peace with God and one with another and walk in Holiness for that becomes the House of God and in Holiness you will see the Holy God among you And so that you may keep the Vnity in the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace and dwell in Love one with another for all Eyes in upon you and some watches for Evil but do you answer the Good in all in your Words and Lives This is the Counsel of the Lord God to you all and that you may be the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World and as a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid so that all that do profess Christ and God may shew forth Christ and Godliness in Life and Word G. F. To all the Womens Meetings that are Belivers in the Truth FRiends Keep your Womens Meetings in the Power of God EpisT 291. which the Devil in out of and take your Possession of that which your are Heirs of and keep the Gospel-Order Man and Woman helps meet in the Image of God For Man and Woman were helps meet in the Image of God and in Righteousness and Holiness in the Dominion before they fell but after the Fall in the Transgression the Man was to rule over his Wife but in the Restauration by Christ into the Image of God and his Righteousness and Holiness again in that they are helps meet Man and Woman as they were in before the Fall Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord. Abraham did also obey the Voice of his Wife Sarah in casting out the Bond-Woman and her Son Dorcas a Woman was a Disciple So there was a Woman Disciple as well as Men Disciples and mind the Women that accompanied her And Wo-men are to take up the Cross daily and follow Christ daily as well as the Men and so to be taught of him their Prophet and fed of him their Shepherd and councelled of him their Councellor and sanctified by him who offered up himself once for all And there were Elder Women in the Truth as well as Elder Men in the Truth and these Women are to be teachers of good thins so they have an Office as well as the Men for they have a Stewardship and must give an Account of their Stewardship to the Lord as well as the Men. Deborah was a Judge Examples of amny good Women Miriam and Huldah were Prophetesses old Annah was a Prophetess and a Preacher of Christ to all them that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem Mary Magdalen and the other Mary were the first Preachers of Christ's Resurrection to the Disciples and the Disciples could not believe their Message and Testimony that they had from Jesus as some now adays cannot but they received the Command and being sent preach'd it So is every Woman and Man to do that sees him risen and have the Command and Message Daughters shall Prophesie as well as Sons So they are to be obedient that has the Spirit poured upon them Women are to Prophesie and Prophesie is not to be quenched Them that has the Testimony of Jesus are commanded to keep it whether Men or Women Priscilla and Aquilla were both Exhorters and Expounders or Instructers to Apollos So in the Church there were Women Instructers and Prophetesses and Daughters Prophetesses in the Church for Philip had four Virgins that were Prophetesses and there were Women Disciples in the Church and Women Elders in the Church as well as Men. So Women are to keep in the FGovernment of Christ and to be Obeyers of Christ and Women are to keep the ComelyOrder of the Gospel as well as Men and to see that all that have received Christ Jesus that they walk in Christ Jesus and to see that all that has received the Gospel do walk in the Gospel the Power of God which they are Heirs of for this is a Day for all to keep their Possession in the Gospel-Order who be Heirs with Christ of the increase of whose Government there is no end So the Foundation of our Womens Meetings is Christ to all them that be Heirs of him and of his Government And the ground of our Order of the Womens Meetings is the Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was and all that be Heirs of the Gospel which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in them which shines over him that hath darkned them and was before he was I say they are Heirs of the Comely Order of the Gospel and therefore I say take your Possessions of it and walk as becomes the Gospel and keep the Comely Order of it and in it keep your Meetings And here is the Ground and Foundation of our Womens Meetings Now Mothers of Families that has the ordering of Children Maids and Servants may do a great deal of Good
into such things And therefore they are to have an Esteem of Truth and Virtue above all such things and not to indulge any such things as will draw out their Minds from Vertue to Vice Now when the Women are met together in the Light Women when met to be helpful to one another and in the Gospel the Power of God some are of a more large Capacity and Understanding than other Women and are able to inform and instruct and stir up others into Diligence Vertue and Righteousness and Godliness and in the Love and Wisdom of God to Inform and Reform their Families and to help them that be of weaker Capacities and Understandings in the Wisdom of God that they may be fruitful in every good Work and Word So that they may see that all their Families are ordered to God's Glory and that which tends to Loosness or Evil either in words ways or actions that would corrupt them either in their Lives or Manners may be kept down and reproved So that all their Children and Servants may be trained up in the Fear of God in the New Covenant for among the Jews in the Old Covenant them that sojourned amongst them were to keep the Sabbath and if they did eat of their Sacrifice they were bo be circumcised And the Women had their Assemblies in the Days of the Judges and the Kings and old Ely's Sons abused them and old Ely did admonish his Sons but he did not resTrain them from their Wickedness and therefore God cut off his Sons and he lost the Ark of God and the Priesthood and his own Life also So many of you may admonish your Children but if ye do not restrain them by the holp of the Spirit of God which God hath given to you you will quench the Spirit of God in you by indulging them so by that you will lose your spiritual Offering and your Priesthood therein Ely an example to all Parents and take heed if you do not lose your own Lives and your Childrens also therefore mind old Ely for your Example Now old Ely was not against the Assemblies of the Women who assembled by Troops as in the Margent of the Bible you may see 1 Sam. 2.21 22. though some Men now a days may be against Womens Meetings or Assemblies in the Gospel-times and against Woments Speaking or Prophecying but they are ignorant of the universal Spirit and of their Service and Labour to God in his Grace and Gospel and are of a narrow Spirit and are not the true Servers of God themselves for if they were they would have all People to serve God in his Power and to keep the true Religion which is to visit the Fatherless and the Widows and to keep themselves from the Spots of the World And some there have been that would not have the Women to meet without the Men and some of them say the Women must not speak in the Church and if they must not speak what should they meet with them for But what Spirit is this that would exercise Lordship over the Faith of any And what a Spirit is this that will neither suffer the Women to speak amongst the Men nor to meet amongst themselves to speak But all this is for Judgment with that Spirit that gives Liberty unto all that Labour in the Gospel in the Light and in the Grace And some Men and Women there are that suggest if Women should meet by themselves in the Order of the Gospel the Power of God they would be too high but such Men and Women as so suggest are too high already and would be ruling over Men and Women's Possessions and waste their own for if they were in the Power and Spirit of God they need not fear any one's getting over them For the Power and Spirit of God gives Liberty to all for Women are Heirs of Life as well as the Men and so Stewards of the manifold Grace of God And they must all give an account of their Stewardship All must give account of their Stewardship and are to be Possessors of Life and Light and Grace and the Gospel of Christ and to Labour in it and to keep their Liberty and Freedom in it as well as the Men. And they are Believers in the Light as well as the Men and so Children of the Light and of the Day as well as the Men. And so the Assemblies of the Women Assemblies of Women to be in the Gospel as was in the time of the Law whom God hath poured out his Spirit upon are to be in the time of the Gospel as well as in the time of the Law that they may be helps meet to the Men in the time of the Gospel in the Restoration as they were in the Beginning and time of the Law So all the Women in all their Assemblies in the time of the Gospel and of the New Covenant of Light Life and Grace are to be incouraged as they were in the time of the Law and to be stirred up in the Wisdom of God to their Diligence and Service of God and Christ in his New Covenant in his Gospel-time Concerning the Substance to do the Lord's Business about the Heavenly Tabernacle and Heavenly Garnients as the Women were about the Figure in the time of the Law And now you that stumble at Womens Meetings had not your Women many vain Meetings before they were convinced and you were not then offended at them when they met to satisfie the Flesh and had Junketing Meetings to themselves did you reprove them for such Meetings And why should they not now meet in their Conversion in the Lord's Power and Spirit to do his Business and to visit the Fatherless and Widows and to keep themselves from the Spots of the World which is the Practice of the pure Religion wherein the Men and Women may be helps meet in the Religion that is not of the World that keeps from the Spots of the World But some have said That such Meetings must not be That they may be helpful with the Men to prevent Evil c. but as Business requires or occasions them As much as to say you must not make up the Hedges till the Beasts have devoured your Corn and then the Parish Overseers must meet together to compute the Damage And here their Wisdom is seen as if it were not more their Duty to meet to prevent bad Actions that may fall out and with the Power of God to stop up Gaps to prevent Evil or weak Places for when the Evil is entred into it is of the latest to meet then which rather brings Scandal that Remedy and therefore the Labourers in the Gospel Men and Women being helps meet are to see that all walk and live in the Order of the Gospel and to see that nothing be lacking then all is well For the Women in their Assemblies may inform one another of the poor Widows and Fatherless
and in the Wisdom of God may find the best way for the setting forth of their Children and to see that their Children are prerseved in Truth and to instruct them in the Fear of the Lord. And you may see the care of Abraham about Isaac taking of his wife The Care of Abraham Isaac and their Wives for their Children and the Care of Sarah that the Son of the Bond Woman should not be Heir with her Son and how that he sent his Servant that spoke to the Parents before he spoke to Rebecca the Daughter concerning the MessAge of his Master Abraham and they confessed it did proceed from the Lord as in Gen. 24. And also you may see the Care of Rebecca concerning Jacob who said If jacob Take a Wife of the Daaghters of Heth what good will my Life do me And here you may see Isaac and Rebecca helps meet and Isaac did not say Hold thy Tongue thou Foolish Woman For Isaac exhorted Jacob and charged him not to take a Wife of the Daughters of Canaan as you may see in Gen. 27. And when Rebecca was with Child the Children struggled in her Womb and she said If it be so why am I thus And she went to the Lord to enquire and the Lord said unto her Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People and the Elder shall serve the Tounger c. as in Gen. 25. So you may see that she had Recourse to the Lord and enquired of the Lord and he heard her and spoke to her and she heard the Lord's Voice she is an Example to all Women in that Condition to ask Counsel of the Lord as she did And when Sarah said to Abraham Abraham obeythe Voice of his Wife Cast forth the Bond-Woman and her Son for the Son of the Bond-Woman shall not be Heir with my Son Isaac but this thing was grievous in Abraham 's sight because of his Son Ishmael But God said unto Abraham Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the Lad and because of the Bond-Woman for in all that Sarah hath said unto thee hearken unto her Voice for in Isaac shall thy Seed be called Here you may see God justified this honourable Woman's speaking and her Husband Abraham did according to her words as in Gen. 21 for the Church was in Abraham's House at that time and so Sarah spoke in the Church And you may see the Counsel of Rebecca to Jacob and how she instructed her Son in Chap. 27. c. And likewise you may see Rechel and Leah their Counsel to Jacob who answered Jacob And Jacob was Counselled by his Wives and said unto him Is there yet any Portion or Inberitance for us in our Father's House Are we not counted of his as Strangers For be hath sold us and hath quite devoured also our Money for all the Riches which God hath taken from our Father that is ours and our Childrens and now therefore whatsoever God hath said unto thee do This was Rachel's and Leah's Counsel unto Jacob and were not these three a Church then And did he forbid them from speaking in the Church see Gen. 31.14 15 16. And in Exod. 1. there you may see the Midwives which feared God did not obey King Rharaoh's Command in destroying the Male-Children but saved them alive And after that the King of Egypt sent for the Midwives The Egyptian Midwife's an Example and asked them Why they had done so in saving the Male-Children Yet these Midwives after he had thus examined them and re-inforced his Command yet they still disobeyed his Command and would not yield to his Persecuting Murdering Devree and therefore it is said God dealt well with the Midwives And it came to pass because the Midwives feared God that he made them Houses And here you may see the Lord took Care for these honourable Women that feared him And do ye think that these honourable Women did not meet often together and took Counsel together to stand together and adventure their own Lives and Estates to preserve the Lives of those Male-Children Would you not say if this were in your Days that these were bold Women to answer the King after such a manner and to disobey the King's Commands thus as in Exod 1. And after the Children of Israel came out of Egypt and saw the Destruction of Pharaoh and his Host after Moses made an End of his Song and praising of the Lord then Miriam the Prophetess Miriam tra the Women's Song the Sister of Aaron took a Timbrel in her Hand and all the Women went out after her with Timbrels and with Dances mark all the Women and Miriam answered them and said Sing ye unto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the Horse and his Rider hath he overthrown in the Sea c. Now here you may see what an Assembly there was of the Women that praised the Lord which were instructed by Miriam the Prophetess and Moses and Aaron were not offended at them for they were sensible of their Joy and were Partakers of the Deliverance and Salvation the Women as well as the Men as you may see in Exod. 15. And Deborah a Prophetess she judged Israel Deborah a Judge and Prophetess and sent to Baruch and exhorted and encouraged him and she prophesied to him that he should not have the Glory of the Battel but that the Lord should sell Sisera into the Hands of a Woman as you may see in Judges 4 5. Chap. Then sung Deborah and praised the Lord and there you may see her large Declaration in praising and magnifying the Name of the Lord the whole Chapter throughout and how she said BlessEd be jael above all Women the Wife of Heber blessed shall she be in the Tent c. And we do not read that the Elders did reprove her or bid her hold her Prating for she was filled with the Power of the Lord to praise his Name Judges 5. And you may see how the Apostle set forth the honourable Women and their Faithfulness and Constancy who by Faith received the Dead raised to Life again Hebr. 11.35 And Hannah who prayed in the Temple before Ely as aforesaid Hannah's Prayer who was ignorant of her Condition he teproved her and thought she had been Drunk but she convinced him so that at last he encouraged her and desired the Lord to grant her Petition And when the Lord had granted it to her you may see how this honourable Woman exalts the Lord 1 Sam. 2.1 to the 10th And Ruth and Naomi you may see what vertuous Women they were and how the Women blessed the Lord on their behalf and how they declared of the Goodness of the Lord to them And Huldah the Prophetess which dwelt in Jerusalem in the College Huldah's Instruction to the King's Ministers where the King sent out the Priest Hilkiah and his Scribe and others to enquire of her Now the Jews here
out of the Unity which Teaching is forbidden both by Law and Gospel and they are not fit to Teach if they have not learn'd Subjection to the Spirit of God and know the Silence of all Flesh before the Lord and have not learn'd to adorn themselves with that which is modest and the Lesson of Sobriety whith becomes Godliness and with the good Works the Fruits of the Spirit And such Women as have learn'd this Lesson may Teach and Prophesie for the Spirit is poured upon them to that End And the same Apostle saith Elder Women Nurses Mothers Teachers c. in the Church of Christ 1 Tim. 5. That the Women should be as Mothers and a Mother is a Nurser and a Teacher and Instructer of her Children and the younger Women as Sisters with all Purity and Sisters in Christ and in Purity all have but one Father and a Sister is in the Vnity in the Spirit in the Gospel 1 Tim. 5. And if any Woman that believes have widows let them relieve them So here was the Womans Work to relieve their Widows c. And again The Apostle writes to Titus and saith unto him Speak thou the things which become sound Doctrine c. The aged Women that they be of good behaviour as becometh Holiness not false Accusers not given to much Wine teachers of good things Now here they must be qualified before they can be Teachers of those good things And that these aged Women teach the younger Women first To be Sober secondly To love their Husbands thirdly To love their Children fourthly To be Discreet fifthly To be Chaste and keepers at home and Good Obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Now here the aged Women not a Woman but the aged Women were to teach the younger Women these things And how could these Women be Teachers of all these Vertues and good Things if these Mothers and holy Woman did not meet togeter and converse together of Holiness and Vertue as in Tit. 2. And in 1 Pet. 3. Women to win Husbands by the Word and Conversation also he encourageth Wives and Women That if their Husbands will not be won by the Word they may without the Word be won by the chaste Conversation of the Wives whilst they behold your chaste Conversation saith he coupled with Fear and whose adorning saith he Let it not be that of the Outward with plaiting of the Hair or wearing of Gold or putting on costly Apparel but let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not Corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great Price And this he saith was the Ornament of the holy Women in the old time with which they adorned themselves who trusted in God as Sarch c. whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not afraid with any Amazement And likewise the Believing Husband and the Believing Wife are Heirs together of the Grace and Life And therefore the Believing Women being Heirs of Grace and Life as well as the Men they may impart of their Life which they do inherit as well as Men for an Heir of Life is beyond an Heir of the Earth And there is no Believing Husband will hinder his Believing Wife Men not to binder Wives from administring to the Necessity of the Poor c. being Heirs of Life to adiminister some of their temporal things to them that are in Necessity he will not have all the Earth to himself but let her have the disposing of some of it as well as himselfe whilst they do enjoy it and ministring of outward things is the least Love And Women many times know the Condition of poor Families and Widows and such as are in distress more than the Men because they are most conversant in their Families and about such things But there are many Idle Talkers and Busie Bodies that are out of the Sense and Service of God that will not do good themselves nor suffer others to do their Service of Love and Charity for the Lord in the Church And John writes in his Second Epistle unto the Elect Lady and her Chidlren whom I love in the Truth saith he and not I only Note John the Evang list sent his Epistle to a Woman but also all they that have known the Truth for the Truth 's sake which dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever c. I rejoyce greatly says he that I have found they Children walking in the Truth And further saith I write no new Commandment unto thee but that which we had from the beginning that we love one another And so he trusts to come and see her and speak Face to Face unto her the Children of thy Elect Sister greet thee Amen The elect Lady and her elect Sister So was not this an honourable Woman that had trained up her Children in the Truth as was commanded by John And he admonished her against such as did transgress and did not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Jesus that they had not the Father nor the Son but they that did abide in the Doctrine of Christ Jesus had both the Father and the Son So is not this an Encouragement to all faithful Women to see that their Children do walk in the Truth and abide in the Doctrine of Christ that they may have both the Father and Son And farther Solomon saith A gracious Woman attains Honour The vertues of a gracious Woman and a vertuous Woman is a Crown to her Husband and every wise Woman buildeth her own House Surely then she hath a work to do he that hath Ears let him hear But the foolishe Woman plucketh it down with her Hands And there are too many of those that are in the Transgression of the Spirit and Power of God with which they must build But a Woman that feareth God she shall be praised give her of the Fruit of her hands and let her Works Praise her in the Gates And then surely she hath a work to do that must praise her in the Gates She stretcheth forth her hands to the Poor yea she reacheth forth her hands to the Needy Prov. 31. And must she not then have something of the Outward to do it withal She opens her Mouth in Wisdom and in her Tongue is the Law of Kingness She looks well to the Ways of her Houshold and eateth not the Bread of Idleness She is like the Merchant 's Shir she bringeth her Food from far she riseth also whilst it is Night and giveth Meat to her Houshold and Portions to her Maidens she considereth a Field and buyeth it with the Fruit of her hands she planteth a Vineyard she guirdeth her Loins with strength and strengtheneth her Arms she perceiveth that her Merchandize is good her Candle goeth not out by Night c. And here is an Example to all Women a
be not blasphemed And likewise Titus was to exhort the young Men to be sober-minded and here you may see the Apostle which did forbid one sort of Women to be teachers which were Usurpers of Authority which both the Law and the Gospel forbids yet the Law and Christ and the Apostles in the Gospel incouraged the Honourable Women to Preach and to Teach For Christ sent the faithful Woman to declare and preach his aged And to be teachers of good things and honourable and faithful Women to Prophesied and Teach and to be teachers of good things as before That is his Charge to them in general Then he comes to Particulars charging them that they should teach the young Women to be sober and discreet chast and good and to love their Husbands and their Children that the Word of God be not blasphemed So these to be were as Mothers to the younger Women and were publick Women in their publick Services and Charge that was committed to them And a Bishop and an Elder or a Deacon was to order and rule well his own House and to have his Children in subjection with all Gravity For if a Man know not how to rule his own House And to rule well their own House how shall he take care of the Church of God So every Man and Woman is to teach instruct and order their own Children and Families as the Jews did in the old Covenant then much more they should Train them up in the new Covenant which exceeds the old so that in all things they might give thanks and praises to God that in all things the Lord might be glorified in all their Families So all Christian Families are concerned in these Particular Services before they come to the General Service to wit to be Overseers and Ministers faithful Men as Fathers and faithful Women as Mothers and Teachers of good things and the young Men and Women as Brethren and Sisters in purity And so let none spoile their Families with bad Lives And to keep their Tongue under the Bridle and unruly Tongues with letting the Poison of Asps be under their Tongue by which they spoile and corrupt their Families which begets into a loose and bad Language but that is to be bridled by the Word of God for a soft Tongue breaketh the Bone the Tongue of the Just is as choice Silver and the Tongue of the Just is Health and useth Knowledge aright and a wholsome Tongue is a Tree of Life and who keepeth his Mouth and his Tougue keepeth his Soul from Trouble And after that Solomon had spoken of a Vertuous Woman he saith And the Law of Kindness to rest in their Tongne In her Tongue is the Law of Kindness and her Children riseth up and calls her Blessed and her Husband also praises her He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear And therefore all is to keep in this Law of Kindness and there your Candle doth not go out by Night and your Virtue will flow for the Hoary Head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of Righteousness and Better is he that rules over his own Spirit than he that takes a City for he that hath no rule over his own Spirit is like a City that is broken down without Walls then the security and strength is gone And to rule over their own Spirit And therefore let every one keep his own little City with the Spirit and Power of God by which you have Power over your own Spirit and then the Power of God is your strength and keeps you safe in it that be led by the Spirit of God And so that all Men and Women may exercise their Talent their Gift that God hath given them in the true Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World that is the Light in Christ that they may become Children of the Light and grafted into Christ and walk as Children of the Light and of the Day And that all may profit in the Manifestation of the Spirit that God hath given them and be led by the Spirit that you all may be the Sons and Daughters of God in this day of his New Covenant and New Testament wherein God poureth forth of his Spirit upon all Flesh which none is to grieve vex nor quench nor rebel against but obey it And the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men to teach them to live Godly Righteously and Soberly All to be faithful Stewards of the Grace of God and to deny Ungodliness and Unrighteousness And therefore all are to be Faithful Stewards of this Grace of God which teaches them and brings them their Salvation For the Apostle saith As every one hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God that the God of all Grace and Christ by whom it comes may be glorified in all his People who gives unto them freely the spiritual and heavenly Gifts And the Gospel of Peace and glad Tidings God and Chrift hath sent to be preached to every Creature under Heaven And all you that have received it by which Life and Immortality is brought to Light in you by which you see over him that hath darkned you by the Everlasting Gospel the Power of God and are come to be Heirs of this Everlasting Gospel the Power of God so you are Heirs of the Everlasting Order of the Gospel for the Power of God is the Order and Authority of all your Meetings This Everlasting Gospel the Power of God is an unlimitted Order and this Glorious Order of the Gospel the Power of God is beyond the Order fo Aaron God's Order is beyond the Or-of Aaron and beyond all the Orders of the Heathen And the Power of God cannot be limitted though it may limit that which is contrary to it and out of the Truth So our Order and Government is of Christ and his Gospel and in his Light and Holy Spirit and we are Heirs of it Being Heirs of Christ and grafted into him by Belief and all his Sons and Daughters do know his Glorious Liberty and their rest in him The Liherty in Christ is a glorious Liberey For we have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we can cry Abba Father for the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ And now Friends as I said before Train up all your Children in the Fear of God in his New Covenant of Light and Grace Friends to train up thier Children in the Fear of God that they may know Christ who is their Baptizer and Circumciser and he sprikles your Consciences and Hearts with his Blood to cleanse you from all Sin and the Lord writes his heavenly Law in their Hearts that they may obey it and do it For doth
created he them and God blessed them And in this state God set them above all things that he had made But after Man and Woman had transgressed the Command of God they sewed Figg-leaves together to make them Aprons for their Eyes were opened and they came to see their Shame By their Transgression and by transgressing the Command of God the spiritual Eye came to be shut and Man and Woman came to fall from the Image of God And so after Man and Woman had transgressed the Command of God and fallen from his Image the Lord God made Coats of Skins to cloath them withal So you may see That the first Covering which Adam and Eve made after Transgression was made of Figg-leaves and the natural Sun would soon scorch and dry them to Powder But those that the Lord made them was of Skins So the transgression of the Command of God came when the Ear went out after the Serpent Sin the cause of Shame and Shame the cause of Covering and the Eye went after the Fruit of the Tree which God forbid them to Eat of So here they came to see their outward Shame and Nakedness who had fallen from the Image of God that covered them and therefore they went to cover the outward Shame And now Man and Woman in the Fall is taking thought what they shall eat and drink and what they shall put on And this is come upon them by forsaking the Lord's Teaching and following the Serpents And doth not John say Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him And farther saith For all that is in the World the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life this is not of the Father but of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof Now all may see what Man and Woman is fallen into by transgressing the Command of God and therefore it is not good for any to live in that which will pass away and is not of the Father but of the World And you may see how Pride is cried against throughout the Scriptures of Truth And they that fear the Lord do hate Evil The evil Consequences of Pride Pride and Arrogancy By Pride cometh Contention and a Man's Pride shall bring him low but Honour upholds the Humble in Spirit Prov. 29.23 For when Pride cometh then cometh Shame and Pride goeth before Destruction and an haughty Mind before a fall but with the lowly is Wisdom Prov. 11.2 and 16.18 And better it is to be of an humble Spirit with the lowly than to divide the Spoil with the proud And Isaiah saith The Lord of Host hath purposed to stain the Pride of all Glory and to bring into contempt all the Honourable of the Earth Isa 23.9 And therefore love not that which God will stain The Lord saith He will spread forth his Hands in the midst of them as he that swimmeth and he will bring down their Pride Isa 25.11 And therefore it is good to keep it down in every one And the Lord cries Wo to the Crown of Pride whose glorious Beauty is a fading Flower and when the Crown of Pride is trodden under Foot the Lord of Host shall be for a Crown of Glory Isa 28.1 5. And the Lord saith He will marr the Pride of Judah and the great Pride of Jerusalem Jer. 13.9 And doth not Jeremiah say Because of the Pride of Moab he was so exceeding Proud his Loftiness his Arrogancy and the Haughtiness of his Heart brought him unto Derision Jer. 48.26 29. And therefore it is good to keep in the Humility For Pride is that which deceives the Heart and brings the Judgments of God Jer. 49.16 And therefore take heed let not Pride budd lest the Rod blosom Ezekiel 7. to verse 11. And the Children of Israel they were grown in Pride and fulness of Bread like Sodom when they transgressed against the Lord like their Father Adam And therefore let them that profess themselves Christians take heed lest they be found in the same steps And see in Ezekiel 16.49 what became of Sodom and the Children of Israel And when Nebuchadnezzar confessed the Kingdom of God and Praised and Extolled and Honoured the King of Heaven and said All his Works are Truth and his Ways Judgments and those that walk in Pride God is able to abase Dan. 4.34 c. And Hosea saith The Pride of Israel doth testifie to his Face and therefore Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their Iniquity And Judah shall fall with them Hos 5.5 And therefore you may see and take heed of Pride for it is the cause of Man and Womans fall And in Hosea 7. you may see that Pride hath hindred Man from seeking after the Lord and turning to him And you may see Edom's Destruction was for his Pride Obad. 1. And you may see the Judgments that came upon the Philistines and Moab and Ammon and Ashur for their Pride Zeph. 2. And in Zachariah 10 and 11 Chapters Judgments of God because of Pride doth not Lord say The Pride of Jordan shall be spoiled and the Pride of Asyria shall be brought down and there shall be a Voice of Howling of the Shepherds for their Glory is spoiled And Christ saith in Mark Pride is one of those Evils that cometh out of the Heart and defiles the Man so take heed of that which defiles And as John saith The Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life this is not of the Father but of the World all this must be kept down in Christians And David saith The wicked in his Pride doth persecute the Poor but are they not taken in their Devices that they have imagined Psal 10.2 Again David saith The Lord hid them that feared him in the secret of his Presence from the Pride of Man and kept them secretly in a Pavillion from the strife of Tongues Psal 31.20 And also David saith That Pride compasseth the wicked as a Chain c. and they speak loftily and they set their Mouths against Heaven but the Lord casts down such to Destruction and saves the Righteous that fears him And so you may see how Pride was testified against by Christ and his Prophets and the holy Men of God both in the Old and New Testament since Man and Woman fell from the Image of God and therefore all is to fear the Lord and learn of Christ Jesus who is meek and low in Heart For it is said That Josiah's Heart was tender and he humbled himself before the Lord 2 Chron. 34.33 And if my People The effects of true Humility which are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my Face and turn from their wicked Ways then will I hear from Heaven and forgive them their Sins and heal the Land and mine Eyes shall be opened and mine