AND first in the time of the Law, you may read in Exod. 25. that Miriam, Moses's Sister, was a Prophe­tess, and prophesied in the Church or Congregation, for the Word Church is by worthy Tindal most frequently Transla­ted Congregation: And in Num. 11.29. you may read how Moses the Man of God, who had the Spirit of God, and knew the Mind of God, wished that all the Lords People, (Mark, all the Lords People) both Sons and Daughters, did Prophesie or were Prophets: Again you may read in the 4th and 5th Chapters of Judges, how Deborah that Judged Israel, and was a Mother in Israel, through the Spirit of Christ, Prophesied and Praised the Lord amongst the People, the Congregation or Army to whom the Lord had given a great Victory over their Enemies; further it may be observed, that Deborah was a Mother in Israel; and its the concern of Mothers to Instruct and Teach their Children, yea all others over whom God hath made them Judges and Over­seers.

Again in the 1st. and 2d. Chap. of 1 Sam. you may read how Hanah Pray [...] to, and Praised the Lord, and rejoyed in Gods Salvation, in many gracious Expressions; yea, and in the Temple, and in the presence of the High Priest Eli, and we read not that he for bad her: And in 2 King 22. you may read how good Josiah King of Judah, sent to Husdab the Prophetess to enquire of the Lord by her, and not by any other Prophet: And you may also read what a blessed effect her Words had upon both King, High-priest and People, to a great Reformation: Moreover in Luke 2. you may read how, that at the time, that the Child Jesus was by [Page 6]the Parents brought into the Temple, to do to him after the Custom of the Law: There was one Anna a Prophetess, a Wi­dow of about Fourscore and Four Years old, who departed not from the Temple, but served God with Fasting and Praying day and night; and in that instant (with good old Simeon) gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of Jesus there, in the Temple (Mark in the Temple) to the Church or Congregati­on there) yea to all them that looked for Redemption in Jeru­salem; now observe she was a Prophetess and departed not from the Temple, then where did she Prophesie but in the Temple, Pray in the Temple, gave Thanks in the Temple, and spake of Jesus in the Temple to all that looked for Redemption in Is­rael? And we read not that any of the Priests or Ministers of the Temple did forbid Her, neither good old Simeon that was filled with the Holy Ghost, and came by the Spirit into the Tem­ple, and knew the Mind of God, he did not forbid Her to Speak or Pray, or Prophesie in the Temple, the Church or Congrega­tion; no they joyned and was at unity in their Testimony, in that blessed Spirit by whom both their Mouths were opened to speak in Prayer and Prophecying to Gods Glory, and the Com­fort and Edification of all that looked for Redemption by Jesus Christ in Israel: Further you may read in Luke 1. how Eliza­beth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and did Prophesie, and Ma­ry blessedly magnified the Lord; what gracious Words proceed­ed from them through the operation of the holy Spirit that's one in Male and Female: Again in John. 4. it may be read how the Woman of Samaria that discoursed with Christ at Jacob's Well, went into the City Syehar, and Preached Christ to the Men therein, and what an effectual Sermon it was, though but short, Come said she, See a Man that hath told me all that ever I did, Is not this the Christ? and many of the Samaritans of that City, believed on him, for the Saying of the Woman which testified, He told me all that ever I did; now by whats above-said, its plain­ly evinced, that God in the time of the Law poured out of his Spi­rit upon Daughters and Handmaiden, as well as upon Sons and Servants, and they Prophesied, Preached and Taught, yea and Prayed too, and Praised the Everlasting God in the Church or Congregation, in the Temple, and in the prefence of the High-priests and other Ministers of the Temple, and we read not that they were for bidden.

But it may be Objected, This was in the time of the Law, but now the Gospel time is come, and hath not Paul, that was a Minister of the Gospel, prohibited Womens Speaking in the Church, in 1 Cor. 14.34. & 1 Tim. 2.12. &c.

To which is answered, that by whats above written its mani­fest, how God did pour out of his Spirit upon some Women, Daughters and Handmaidens according to measure in the time of the Law, and they Preached or Prophesied, and Taught in the Church or Congregation, and Praised and magnified God there also, through the operation of the Spirit then poured out upon them, though but in the time of the Law, which was to be ful­filled and come to an end (mark that) And then God promised, that cannot lie, to pour out of his Spirit more universally upon all Flesh, as may be read in Joel 2. And it shall come to pass after­wards, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh, and your Sons and your Daughters, (mark, Daughters also) shall Prophesie; your old Men shall dream Dreams, your young Men shall see Visions, and also upon the Servants and upon the Handmaids (mark Handmaids also) in those days will I pour out my Spirit: O blessed Promise to be fulfilled in the latter Days, the Gospel Days; yea, the A­postle Peter bears Record to the fulfilling thereof, as may be read in Acts 2. This is that, saith he, which is spoken by the Prophet Joel, And it shall come to pass in the latter Days saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh, and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie, and your young Men shall see Visions, and your old Men shall dream Dreams, and on my Servants, and on my Handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall Prophesie; mark, God saith they shall Prophesie, here is the time of the fulfilling of the Promise, this is the Gospel Day, wherein Daugh­ters and Handmaidens is to Prophesie more universally then in the time of the Law, though then God poured out of his Spi­rit upon some, and they Prophesied as before said: This is so glorious a Dispensation, that the Apostle Paul saith, You may all (mark all) Prophesie one by one, yea, he adviseth all to follow after Charity, and desire after spiritual Gifts, But rather, saith he (mark that) that you may Prophesie, for he that Prophesieth speaketh unto Men to Edification and Exhortation, and Comfort, yea, he that Prophesieth, Edifieth the Church, 1 Cor. 14. Now that the Church might be thus Edified, hath God Almighty in his infinite Kindness, in this latter Day, and Gospel Day, poured [Page 8]out of his Spirit upon both Sons and Daughters, and they may both Prophesie in the Church or Congregation; yea, God thats above all hath said, they shall Prophesie, who therefore can limit the Spirit of the Almighty, who can set bounds thereto, its one and the same in the Female as the Male, and is through both to speak, yea, for all in this Church of God, that hath the Spirit of God poured upon them, may by the same Prophesie to Edificati­on, For you may all (mark all) Prophesie one by one, that all may Learn, and all may be Comforted, &c. 1 Cor. 14.31. For its not the Woman that speaks, but the Spirit of the Father through the Male and Female, according to Christ's Saying in Mat. 10.20. Its not you, saith Christ, that speakes, but the Spirit of the Father that speaketh in you: Now its not the Man nor the Woman that speaketh, but the Spirit that God the Father hath poured upon Sons and Daughters, Servants and Handmaids in this Gos­pel Day, that Holy Day and Sabboth, testified of in Isa. 58.13. as followeth thus, viz. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabboth, from doing thy Pleasure on my Holy Day, and call the Sab­both a Delight, the Holy of the Lord, Honourable, and shalt ho­nour him, not doing thine own Ways, nor finding thine own Pleasure, nor Speaking (observe nor Speaking) thine own Words; here nei­ther Man nor Woman is to speak their own Words, for every Woman or Man either that speaks their own Words, are forbid­den to speak in the Church, in the Congregation, in the Meet­ings and Assemblies of Gods People, for such regard not the Ho­ly Sabboth, the Gospel-Day, and Holy, in which Male nor Fe­male are to speak their own Words, for who are Baptized into the one Spirit, who have drunk into the one Spirit, who have put on the Lord Christ, is a new Creature, as saith Paul in 2 Cor. 5.17. Therefore if any Man be in Christ, he is a new Creature, old things are past away, behold all things are become new; here is the blessed Restoration out of the Fall, through Christ thats one in both Male and Female, both hath he purchased by an high price unto himself; and such are not to speak their own Words in his Church, in this Gospel day and time of his holy Sabboth, but to adminster out of the Abundance of the Spirit, that God the Father gives; here the Spirit utters it self through the Male and Female, for both are one in the Spirit of Truth, both are one in Christ as may be read in Gal. 3.27, 28. For as many of you as have been Baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, there is neither [Page 9]Jew nor Greek, there is neither Bond nor Free, there is neither Male nor Female, for they are all one in Christ; Here is no difference in Christ, Christ may speak in Male and in Female, who is it that will limit him in his Church, may not he speak through the Daughters and Handmaidens that's filled with his Spirit, as well as through the Sons and Servants being there is no difference, all are one in him? yea, he doth and hath done it in his Church and Congregation, who is Lord and Law-giver, and is to be Obeyed, Worshipped and Served both by Male and Female. So its clear that its not the Woman that's filled with the Spirit, in whom Christ dwells, rules, and is Head that's forbidden, or not permitted to speak in the Church; but such as are silly Women that are ever learning, but never come to the knowledge of Christ the Truth, that's not taught by him, nor led by him, such as obey him not; so usurps an Authority, speaks their own Words, speaks of themselves, not from Christ, not out of the aboundance of the Spirit that God gives, but out of the abun­dance of their own unsanctified Hearts and Wisdom, such, whe­ther Men or Women, are forbidden to speak in the Church, in the Congregation they are to be silent, and to learn in Subjecti­on, its a shame for such to usurp Authority and speak. Now by whats before said its cleared that the Spirit is poured out upon Sons and Daughters also, and they are to prophesie; let's see what Testimonies the holy Scriptures affords, as with respect to Practice, since the time of the Gospel revealed.

First, Mary Magdalen was commissioned to Peach and Publish the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to his Disciples, as may be read in Matth. 28.7. where she was commanded to go quickly and tell his Disciples, That he is risen from the Dead, and behold he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall you see him, lo, I have told you. And in Mark 16.7, 9, 10. Mary Magdalen, and Mary the Mother of James and Salom were commanded to publish unto the Disciples the Resurrection of Christ, where its said, Go your way, tell his Disciples, and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall you see him, as he said unto you. Here you may see that these good Women were commissioned by the Angel to preach the Resur­rection of Christ to his Disciples: Furthermore, 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 she had been with him, as they mourned and [Page 10]wept. And in Luk. 24.9, 10. And returned from the Sepulchre, and told all these things unto the Eleven, and to all the rest (mark, all the rest) it was Mary Magdalen, and Joana, and Mary the Mo­ther of James, and other Women (Mark, other Women also) that were with them, which told these things unto the Apostles. Again, in John 20.16, 17, 18. Jesus saith unto her, Mary, she turneth her self, and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my Brethren, and say to them, (observe) and say to them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalen came and told the Dis­ciples, that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Hereby its clear that Mary was the first unto whom Jesus appeared after he was risen, and the first Preacher of his Resurrection; she and the other Women, before mentioned, spoke of and published the Resurrection of Jesus unto the eleven, and all the rest. Surely none will deny but the eleven and all the rest was the Church of Christ in that day; in this Church they spoke, preached and taught, and was commissioned thereto by the Lord, Christ, the Head of the Church, the everlasting High-Priest, whose Lips preserve true Knowledge, whom all are to hear and obey, and whoever doth not hear the voice of this Prophet, is to be cut off from amongst the People, is to be separated from his Church, and not to speak therein, for its whom he Commissions, whom he dictates to, and speaks in, whether Male or Female, that is to Speak, Preach and Teach good things to Edification, in his Church, in the Congregations and Meet­ings of his People. Further, Aquilla, and Priscilla his Wife, were both Expounders of the Way of God more perfectly, as may be read in Acts 18. vers. 27. Them doth Paul greet by Name in his Epistle to the Romans, Chap. 16. and there calls them both his Helpers in Christ Jesus: To whom not only Paul, but also all the Churches of the Gentiles gave thanks, whereby its evident, they had been both of them publick Labourers amongst the Believers in all the Churches of the Gentiles: Moreover, Paul greets the Church in their House; here was the Church in their House; and must not Priscilla speak in her own House? Must not she labour there? Must not she Pray and Prophesie there, and teach good things there? Must she not expound the Way of God more perfectly in her own House where the Church is? Is she pro­hibited to Speak or Teach good things? there doth not Paul will [Page 11]that Prayer be made every where; where then must this good Wo­man, Paul's helper in Christ pray, if not in her own house? If she may and ought to pray every where then in the Church? In her house she is not commanded Silence by Paul. Again, you may read in Acts. 21.8, 9. that Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven, had four Daughters Virgins, that did Prophesie; and Paul gave di­rections how, and in what manner Women shall Pray and Pro­phesie, as may be read, 1 Cor. 11. where he saith, Now I pray you Brethren, that you remember me in all things, and keep the Or­dinances, as I delivered them unto you, every man Praying and Pro­phecying, having his Head covered, dishonoureth his Head; but every Woman that Prayeth or Prophecyeth with her Head uncovered, disho­noureth her Head: for that is all one as if she were shaven, &c. Now he, even Paul, that gives this direction, hath advised to desire after Spiritual Gifts, but rather to Prophesie; for Prophesie ten­deth to the Edification of the Church, and the Apostles travel and labour was, that the Church might be edified by Prophecy­ing in the Church: So its clear he did not forbid the Female that had the Spirit of prophesie to speak in the Church, to prophesie and pray in the Church; nay, he hath given directions how they should demean themselves when they pray and prophesie, and saith he, You may all speak one by one (mark, all) that all may learn, and may be edified: God that hath poured out his Spirit is not to be limited in the Male nor Female; these four Daughters of Philip's Paul saith did Prophesie, God had poured out his Spirit upon them for that end, that they might edifie the Church, that it might be builded up and established in the most precious Faith of Jesus Christ; such Women as were thus endued, laboured in the Gos­pel as well as the Men, as may be read in Phil. 4.3. And I entreat thee also, true yoke-Fellow, help those Women which Laboured with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-Labou­rers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Now Paul bid help the Women Labourers in and Publishers of the Gospel, and not forbid them to speak nor publish the Gospel in the Church, for their names were written in the Book of Life, they were come to Christ, by him they had Life, he had poured out of his Spirit upon these Daughters and Handmaidens, and they were in his name, by his Power and Spirit to Prophesie, to Preach and Teach in the Church, to Labour with Paul and Clement in the Gospel [...]; yea, Paul was so far from forbidding, that he entreats his yoke-fellow to help them; yea, he com­mands [Page 12]them to be Teachers of good things, as may be seen in Titus 2. But speak thou the things (saith Paul to Titus) which be­come sound Doctrine, that the aged Men may be Sober, Grave, Tem­perate, sound in Faith, in Charity, in Patience: The aged VVomen likewise, that they be in Behaviour as becometh Holiness, not false Accusers, not given to much VVine, Teachers (mark, Teachers) of good things, that they may Teach the young VVomen, (observe, Teach the young Women) to be Sober, love their Husbands, to love their Children; to be Discreet, Chaste, keepers at Home, Good, Obedient to their Husbands, that the VVord of God be not Blasphem­ed, &c. Here is good Women Teachers, this is blessed Teach­ing; such Teachers are not forbidden to speak in the Church, such have Author [...] from Christ and the Apostle Paul to be Teachers of good things amongst them, with whom they Con­gregate and Meet, for how shall they Teach them with whom they do not meet? and where two or three are gathered in the Name and Fear of Christ, there is he present, there is his Church met together, though but two or three, and Females; here they may, yea, Paul saith, Let the Elder be Teachers of good things to the Younger, such as are learned in the School of Christ, have received the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, that leads into all Truth, and are led thereby, acted thereby; the Spirit speaking in them, may instruct others, teach others good things when they are gathered and con­gregated together, yea, in the Church.

Moreover, Paul commends Phebe to the Romans, as may be read in Rom. 16.1. And again, makes mention of her in the Conclusion, as followeth, I commend (saith he) unto you Phebe our Sister, which is a Servant of the Church, which is at Cenchrea, written to the Romans from Corinth, and sent by Phebe Servant of the Church at Cenchrea; here Paul calls Phebe our Sister and Servant (that is Minister) of the Church at Cenchrea, for a Minister is a Servant: So here all may see how Paul com­mends her to the Romans, as a Minister of the Church, and bids receive her in the Lord, as becometh Saints, and to assist her, not one Word of forbidding her to Speak and Minister; no, no, such as laboured with him in the Gospel was his fellow-Helpers therein, his Sisters in the Lord, and Companions in his Work and Ministry; yea, God Almighty through Christ had poured his Spirit upon them all, Sons and Daughters, Servants and Hand­maids, they are all therefore to Prophesie, Pray, Preach and Teach as the Spirit moves, leads, instructs and gives utterance; [Page 13]all is to wait upon God to be filled with the Spirit, as Paul di­rects the Ephesians, Ephes. 5.18. Be not Drunk with Wine, saith he, wherein is Excess, but be filled with the Spirit, &c. And fur­ther he adviseth not to grieve the Spirit, as may be read in Eph. 4.30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, by which you are seal­ed to the Day of Redemption; neither is this Spirit to be quench­ed, nor Prophecying dispised, as may be read in 1 Thess. 5.19, 20. Quench not the Spirit, despise not Prophecying; now to for­bid to speak, or command silence where God hath poured out his Spirit upon Daughters and Handmaids, is to grieve the Spi­rit, to quench the Spirit, to despise Prophecying, which Paul adviseth the Ephesians and Thessalonians not to do, but to be filled with the Spirit, to desire spiritual Gifts, and rather to Prophe­sie, and gives the Reason, because saith he, It tends to Edifi­cation.

Now by what's above written, its cleared by Scripture Testi­monies, that Paul did not forbid Women, filled with the holy Spirit, to Speak and Minister in the Church; so those that use Paul's Words against such Womens Speaking or Prophecying in the Church, are ignorant of the Spirit that spoke in Paul, un­learned by the same, knows not the meaning, mystery or inward sence thereof, but either takes it too Literally, or else as the Apostle Peter well observes, in 2 Pet. 3.16. Even, saith he, as our beloved Brother Paul, also according to the Wisdom given unto him; as also in all his Epistles, Speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are un­learned and unstable, wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own Destruction: Now its such as are unlearned by the Spirit of Truth, that leads into all Truth, from which Spirit the holy Scriptures were given forth, that wrests them, for its not by any other Learning that the heavenly Mystery in holy Writings of the Prophets and Prophetesses, Apostles and holy Women can be understood or known, its not all the natural nor acquired Learning that may be got, that can do it, its the Inspiration of the Almighty that gives this Knowledge and Understanding, its this Spirit that searcheth out all things, yea, the deep things of God; none can rightly read or understand the holy Book, but such as are come to the holy Spirit according to measure, by which holy Men were moved to give forth, and write the same, that's the only Key, who wants the same are the unlearned and unstable, [Page 14]though outwardly never so profoundly Learned, and its they that wrests the Scripture, as aforesaid, its such that knows not the ful­filling of that antient and blessed Promise of the Everlasting God, in Pouring out of his Spirit upon Sons and Daughters, Servants and Handmaidens, such forbids both Sons and Daugh­ters, yea, all besides themselves to Speak, Preach or Prophesie in the Church, they are not of Moses's mind, for he wished all the Lords People, Prophets; and Paul saith, You may all Prophe­sie one by one, and if any thing be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his Peace; but now none must Speak but them­selves, neither Son nor Daughter, neither Servant nor Hand­maid, although God hath poured his Spirit upon them, and said They shall Prophesie: Yet notwithstanding, such as are made Ministers by Men; Ministers of the Letter, but ignorant of the Spirit, for the love they have to the Gain of their Ministry, yea, for filthy Lucer sake they forbid all, both Men and Women be­sides themselves; and furthermore, if any that sits by have any thing revealed, and do Speak, he or she have been quickly hai­led out, and often either Beaten, Stockt or cast into Prison for three Months (by a Law made formerly to guard the Priests of that time) as a Disturber: And thus while they talk of God and Christ, Moses, Paul and the holy Scriptures, they are acting quite contrary, like the Scribes and Pharisees of old, who in Words pretended love to God, Moses and the Prophets and their Writings, and to be waiting for the coming of the Messiah, yet when he came, they knew him not, received him not, though Moses and the Prophets were by them read every Sabboth-day, that testified of him, and they no doubt thought themselves pro­found in the knowledge of them; yet as before said, they did not know him, nor receive him, but crucified him as the great­est of Malefactors, and the reason of their Ignorance is rendred, the Vail was over their Hearts, they knew not the meaning of the Spirit that spoke in the Prophets that testified of the coming of the Just One; none that's ignorant of the meaning of that Spi­rit that spoke in and through Paul, can understand his Writings, but either takes them too Literally, or else wrests them as before­said; for whoever draws that Conclusion from Paul's words in the Text before cited, that all Females are prohibited to Speak, Teach, Preach, Pray or Prophesie in the Church or Gather­ings of God's people, do make Paul not only to contradict God [Page 15]Almighty, and the Practice of many Godly Women before ci­ted, but also himself and his own Testimony: for first, God hath said, They shall Prophesie, Christ hath commanded Mary, and the other before-mentioned holy Women to preach his Resurrection in the Church to the eleven Apostles, and the rest, and they did it; and we read not that any of the eleven, or the rest of the Church then met together, did forbid them: Moreover, Paul himself bids help those Women that laboured in the Gospel, and com­mends Phebe as a Servant, which is a Minister of the Church at C [...]nchera; he hath given directions also how the Women are to demean themselves when they Pray or Prophesie, and saith he, You may all Speak or Prophesie one by one: All that have the Spirit poured forth upon them, may speak as the Spirit moves and gives utterance.

But it may be further objected, That if it be thus, that they may Speak and Prophesie, who have the Spirit poured forth upon them, who then are they that Paul prohibits or permits not to Speak in the Church? 1 Cor. 14.34. and 1 Tim. 2.11, 12. where he saith first to the Co­rinthians, Let your Women keep silence in the Church; for its not per­mitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under Obedi­ence, as saith the Law; and if they will learn any thing, let them ask their Husbands at home, for it is a shame for a Woman to speak in the Church.

Now let all seriously weigh the Words of the Text; for if the Words must be taken in the Literal sence, the Woman is not only prohibited speaking, but learning in the Church; for its said, If the Woman will learn any thing, let her ask her Husband at home. And if so, it doth not only contradict what God Al­mighty hath said shall be, and what holy Women have practised, as before clearly is demonstrated, but also Paul himself in the very same Chapter, vers. 30, 31. where he saith, If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his Peace, for you may all (mark, all) Prophesie one by one, that all may learn, (mark) all may learn, and all be comforted; Furthermore, by the Text, Womens Teaching or Prophecying is not prohibited, but to speak, which speaking must by the Words before related, be understood to be Questions tending to strife & the disturbance of the Church, wherefore its said, Let her ask her Husband at home: And such Speaking or Questions tendeth not to Edification & Comfort, but Disturbance and Contention, of which there is no custom in the [Page 16]Churches of Christ: And further, to manifest that this was Paul's sence, hear what he saith to the same Corinthians in Chap. 11. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that you come together not for the better, but for the worse; for first of all when you come to­gether in the Church, I hear that there be Divisions among you, and I partly believe it. Now its such speaking as tendeth to Division and Contention, that's for the worse, and not for the better in the Church, that's forbidden, but teaching good things, Praying or Prophecying, is for the better, praise-worthy, tends to Edi­fication and Comfort, and hath no tendance to Strife or Conten­tion, neither can any reason be rendred that such Women thus Teaching, Praying or Prophecying should be refered to learn of their outward Husbands at home; besides, many have none: Further, Paul in his second Epistle to Timothy very clearly de­clares what manner of Speaking, and the Spkeaers which are for­bidden in the Church, hear what he saith, Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord, that they strive not about Words to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hear­ers: Shun prophane and vain Bablings, for they will encrease unto more Ʋngodliness, and their Words will eat as doth a Canker: but foolish and unlearned Questions avoid, knowing that they gender. Strife, having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Power thereof, from such turn away; for of this sort are they which creep into Houses, and lead captive silly Women, loaden with Sins, led away with divers Lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth: Here are the Women described that are not permitted to speak in the Church; also the Speaking, the vain Babling and unlearned Questions that grenders Strife, from them that have a form of Godliness, but deny the Power, such Speakers and speaking is not permitted in the Church; this tends not to Edi­fication and Comfort, and teaching good things, and Prophe­cying doth, that all may do in the Church that hath the Spirit poured upon them. But such Questions are not proper or con­venient in the Church, they usurp Authority that are found in the Practice thereof; there's no such Order or Custom in the Churches of Christ, for what's there done, is to be to Edifica­tion, if Women that are thus idle, busie-Bodies and Disorderly shall propose, ask, or speak any such things or Questions, ought not to do it in the Church, they are not permitted there, but ra­ther let them ask their Husbands, or others at home, such are [Page 17]unlearned, not come to the knowledge of the Truth that sets Free, but in the Sin and Bondage, in the Transgression and Fall from God, where the Subjection is to be kept under, and the Husband is to rule over, as saith the Law; Its a Shame for such to Speak in the Church, such are not Witnesses of the Restoration by Christ, in whom Male and Female are all one, and he in both may Speak in his Church, Prophesie in his Church to Edification and Comfort, that all may Learn, and that all may be Edified and Comforted.

Secondly, As to the Words of Paul to Timothy, which are as followeth, viz. But I suffer not a Woman to Teach nor Ʋsurp Au­thority over the Man, but to be in Silence. Here is not one word of Teaching in the Church, but hath only relation to such as would usurp Authority over the Man, which Paul permits not, suffers not, to teach in that Usurpation, but such as are taught by the Spirit he permits and commands to teach others good things, to Love and Obey their Husbands, not to usurp Autho­rity over them; for all that comes to learn of Christ and his good Spirit, they learn Meekness, Humility and lowliness of Mind, and such know how to Honour their Husbands, Obey their Husbands, and are thereby preserved out of the Usurpati­on, though God by his Spirit, that's not to be limited, may make them Instrumental to Instruct their Husbands, as he did by Sa­rah, and Abraham her Husband was commanded of God to Obey and Answer what she Taught or Instructed him in, yet the Apostle saith, She called Abraham (her Husband) Lord; here is no Usurpation there.

Wherefore its clear that Paul's Words of not permitting or suf­fering Women to Speak, had only relation to the Unlearned, Un­ruly, the Usurpers of Authority amongst the Corinthians, or other Churches, such as usurped Authority over the Man, such are to be slent, they are not permitted to Speak in the Church, they Minister Strife and Contention, and there's no such custom in the Church of Christ. Further, it may very properly be queri­ed of all Objecters, in this wise, That if Women must Learn of their Husbands at Home, of whom then must they Learn that have no Husbands, if there be no other way of Learning, then must they be concluded in Ignorance to remain? But Philip's four Daughters had no outward Husbands to Learn of, Paul saith they were Virgins, yet well Learned, they did Prophesie, wherefore the prohibiti­on [Page 18]by him of not speaking, belongs not to, nor hath any rela­tion to them, nor such other, they may notwithstanding Speak and Prophesie in the Church, and all others who have the Spi­rit of Prophesie poured out upon them, as the same Spirit moves and gives utterance.

Now to conclude, God Almighty that's greater then all, hath said, They shall Prophesie; and Daughters and Handmaids have Prophesied, both in time of the Law and Gospel Dispensation in the Churches or Congregation, Christ the Lord and Law-giver hath Commanded and Commissioned Women to Teach or Preach or Prophesie in the Church, as before is clearly demonstrated, and they obeyed and practiced; moreover Paul hath commend­ed Daughters and Handmaids to the Churches, Commanded to receive and assist them, and to help those Women that laboured with him in the Gospel, they did Prophesie, saith he: Therefore let all Gain-sayers and Contradictors of God Alimighty, of Christ Jesus the Lord and Law-giver, and the Apostle Paul, cease there­from and stop their Mouths for ever, and let the Unlearned and Unstable, cease to pervert or wrest the Holy Scriptures, for such know not the meaning of the Spirit that spoke in the Prophets and Apostles, Holy Men and Women that have given out the Holy Scriptures by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righ­teousness, and are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith, which is in Christ Jesus, that the Man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good Works, Glory to God for the unspeakable Comfort thereof, administered through the Holy Spirit.