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Women in Church History
 Margaret
Fell
In the early 1630's, Thomas Fell, a judge, married Margaret. He
rode a circuit and so was often away from home. Thomas Fell left
his very capable wife Margaret in charge of the estate when he was away.
. .“Margaret Fell became a key leader among Friends, and remained
so until her death 50 years later in 1702. After Judge Fell's
death, Margaret married George Fox. Margaret wrote much, including
Women's Speaking, a tract to show that the ministry of women was
"Justified, Proved, and Allowed of by the Scriptures." In 1664, she was
imprisoned for holding illegal meetings.
Margaret Fell writes that the first 20 years of her marriage were spent
seeking the best ways to serve God, which included having traveling
ministers stay at Swarthmoor (picture below). “Swarthmoor Hall served as a place
for traveling Friends to rest, and a center of communication for the
Friends'
 movement.
William Caton says of Swarthmoor, "Oh! The love which in that day
abounded among us, especially in that family! And oh! The freshness of
the power of the Lord God, which then was amongst us; and the zeal for
Him and His truth, the comfort and refreshment which we had from His
presence - the nearness and dearness that was amongst us one towards
another, - the openings and revelations which we then had!"
Here is your opportunity to read one of her best writings.
Margaret Fell was one of history‘s women greats and the Mother of Quakerism.
See www.quakerinfo.com for
more information.
Women Speaking
Justified, Proved, and Allowed of by the Scriptures, All such as speak by the Spirit and Power of the Lord Jesus
And how Women were the first that Preached the Tidings of the
Resurrection of Jesus, and were sent by Christ's own Command, before he
Ascended to the Father, John 20. 17.
Whereas it hath been an Objection in the Minds of many, and several times
hath been objected by the Clergy, or Ministers and others, against Women's
speaking in the Church; and so consequently may be taken, that they are
condemned for meddling in the things of God: The ground of which Objection is
taken from the Apostle's Words, which he writ in his first Epistle to the
Corinthians, Chap. 14. Vers. 34, 35. And also what he writ to Timothy in the
first Epistle, Chap. 2. Vers. 11, 12. But how far they wrong the Apostle's
Intentions in these Scriptures, we shall shew clearly when we come to them in
their course and order. But first let me lay down how God himself hath
manifested his Will and Mind concerning Women, and unto women.
And first, when God created Man in his own Image, in the Image of God created
he them, Male and Female; and God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be
fruitful and multiply: And God said, Behold, I have given you of every Herb, &c.
Gen. 1. Here God joyns them together in his own Image, and makes no such
Distinctions and Differences as Men do; for though they be weak, he is strong;
and as he said to the Apostle, His Grace is sufficient, and his Strength is made
manifest in Weakness, 2 Cor. 12. 9. And such hath the Lord chosen, even
the weak
things of the World, to confound the things which are mighty; and things which
are despised, hath God chosen, to bring to nought things that are, 1 Cor. 1. And
God hath put no such difference between the Male and Female, as Men would make.
It is true, The Serpent, that was more subtle than any other Beast of the
Field, came unto the Woman with his Temptations, and with a Lye; his Subtlety
discerning her to be the weaker Vessel, or more inclinable to hearken to him,
when he said, If ye eat, your Eyes shall be opened; and the Woman saw, that the
Fruit was good to make one wise: There the Temptation got into her, and she did
eat, and gave to her Husband, and he did eat also; and so they were both tempted
into the Transgression and Disobedience; and therefore God said unto Adam, (who
hid himself when he heard his Voice) Hast thou eaten of the Tree, which I
commanded thee that thou should'st not eat? And Adam said, The Woman which thou
gavest me, she gave me of the Tree, and I did eat. And the Lord said unto
the Woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the Woman said, The Serpent
beguiled me, and I did eat. Here the Woman spoke the Truth unto the Lord. See
what the Lord saith, ver. 15. after he had pronounced Sentence on the Serpent,
I
will put Enmity between thee and the Woman, and between thy Seed and her Seed;
it shall bruise thy Head, and thou shalt bruise his Heel, Gen. 3.
Let this Word of the Lord, which was from the beginning, stop the Mouths of
all that oppose Women's Speaking in the Power of the Lord; for he hath put
Enmity between the Woman and the Serpent; and if the Seed of the Woman speak
not, the Seed of the Serpent speaks; for God hath put Enmity between the two
Seeds; and it is manifest, that those that speak against the Woman and her
Seed's Speaking, speak out of the Envy of the old Serpent's Seed. And God hath
fulfilled his Word and his Promise, When the fulness of time was come, he sent
forth his Son, made of a Woman, made under the Law, that we might receive the
Adoption of Sons, Gal. 4. 4, 5.
Moreover, the Lord is pleased, when he mentions his Church, to call her by
the Name of Woman, by his Prophets, saying, I have called thee as a Woman
forsaken, and grieved in Spirit, and as a Wife of Youth, Isai. 54. Again,
How
long wilt thou go about, thou back-sliding Daughter? For the Lord hath created a
new thing in the Earth, a Woman shall compass a Man, Jer. 31. 22. And David,
when he was speaking of Christ and his Church, he saith, The King's Daughter is
all glorious within, her Cloathing is of wrought Gold, she shall be brought unto
the King; with gladness and rejoycing shall they be brought; they shall enter
into the King's Pallace, Psal. 45. And also King Solomon in his Song, where he
speaks of Christ and his Church, where she is complaining and calling for
Christ, he saith, If thou knowest not, O thou fairest among Women, go thy way by
the Footsteps of the Flock, Cant. 1. 8. c. 5. 9. And John, when he saw the
Wonder that was in Heaven, he saw a Woman cloathed with the Sun, and the Moon
under her feet, and upon her Head a Crown of twelve Stars; and there appeared
another Wonder in Heaven, a great red Dragon stood ready to devour her Child.
Here appears the Envy of the Dragon, Rev. 12.
Thus much may prove, that the Church of Christ is represented as a Woman; and
those that speak against this Woman's speaking, speak against the Church of
Christ, and the Seed of the Woman, which Seed is Christ; that is to say, Those
that speak against the Power of the Lord, and the Spirit of the Lord speaking in
a Woman, simply by reason of her Sex, or because she is a Woman, not regarding
the Seed, and Spirit, and Power that speaks in her; such speak against Christ
and his Church, and are of the Seed of the Serpent, wherein lodgeth Enmity. And
as God the Father made no such difference in the first Creation, nor ever since
between the Male and the Female, but always out of his Mercy and
Loving-kindness, had regard unto the Weak. So also his Son, Christ Jesus,
confirms the same thing; when the Pharisees came to him, and asked him,
if it
were lawful for a Man to put away his Wife? He answered and said unto them, Have
you not read, That he that made them in the beginning, made them Male and
Female; and said, For this Cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother, and shall
cleave unto his Wife, and they twain shall be one Flesh; wherefore they are no
more twain, but one Flesh? What therefore God hath joyned together, let no Man
put asunder, Mat. 19.
Again, Christ Jesus, when he came to the City of Samaria, where Jacob's Well
was, where the Woman of Samaria was, you may read in John 4. how he was pleased
to preach the Everlasting Gospel to her; and when the Woman said unto him, I
know that when the Messiah cometh, (which is called Christ) when he
cometh, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that
speak unto thee am he. Also he said unto Martha, when she said,
she knew that her Brother should rise
again in the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection and the Life;
he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet should he live; and whosoever liveth
and believeth, shall never die. Believest thou this? She answered,
Yea, Lord, I believe thou art the Christ, the Son of God. Here she manifested her
true and saving Faith, which few at that day believed so on him, John 11. 25,
26.
Also that Woman, that came unto Jesus with an Alabaster Box of very precious
Ointment, and poured it on his Head as he sat at meat; it is manifest that this
Woman knew more of the secret Power and Wisdom of God, than his Disciples did,
who were filled with Indignation against her; and therefore Jesus saith, Why do
ye trouble the Woman, for she hath wrought a good Work upon me? Verily, I say
unto you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole World, there
shall also this that this Woman hath done, be told for a Memorial of her,
Mat. 26. Mark 14. 3. Luke saith farther, She was a Sinner, and that she stood at his
Feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his Feet with her Tears, and did wipe
them with the Hair of her Head, and kissed his Feet, and annointed them with
Ointment. And when Jesus saw the Heart of the Pharisee that had bidden him to
his House, he took occasion to speak unto Simon, as you may read in Luke 7. and
he turned to the Woman, and said, Simon, seest thou this Woman? Thou gavest me
no Water to my Feet; but she hath washed my Feet with Tears, and wiped them with
the Hair of her Head: Thou gavest me no Kiss; but this Woman, since I came in,
hath not ceased to kiss my Feet: My Head with Oil thou didst not annoint; but
this Woman hath annointed my Feet with Ointment: Wherefore I say unto thee, her
Sins, which are many, are forgiven her; for she hath loved much, Luke 7. 37. to
the End.
Also, there was many Women which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministring unto
him, and stood afar off when he was Crucified, Mat. 28. 55. Mark 15. Yea even
the Women of Jerusalem wept for him, insomuch that he said unto them, Weep not
for me. ye Daughters of Jerusalem; but weep for your selves, and for your
Children, Luke 23. 28.
And certain Women which had been healed of Evil Spirits and Infirmities,
Mary Magdalen, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's Steward's Wife; and
many others
which ministred unto him of their Substance, Luke 8. 2, 3.
Thus we see that Jesus owned the Love and Grace that appeared in Women, and
did not despise it: and by what is recorded in the Scriptures, he received as
much Love, Kindness, Compassion, and tender Dealing towards him from Women, as
he did from any others, both in his Life time, and also after they had exercised
their Cruelty upon him; for Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mother of
James, beheld
where he was laid; And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the
Mother of James, and Salom, had brought sweet Spices, that they might annoint
him: And very early in the Morning, the first Day of the Week, they came unto
the Sepulchre at the rising of the Sun; and they said among themselves, Who
shall roll us away the Stone from the Door of the Sepulchre? And when they
looked the Stone was rolled away, for it was very great, Mark 16. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Luke 24. 1, 2. and they went down into the Sepulchre, and as Matthew saith,
The
Angel rolled away the Stone, and he said unto the Women, Fear not, I know whom
ye seek, Jesus which was Crucified: He is not here, he is risen, Mat. 28. Now
Luke saith thus, That there stood two Men by them in shining Apparel, and as
they were perplexed and afraid, the Men said unto them, He is not here, remember
how he said unto you when he was in Galilee, That the Son of Man must be
delivered into the Hands of sinful Men, and be Crucified, and the third Day rise
again; and they remembered his Words, and return'd from the Sepulchre, and told
all these things to the Eleven, and to all the rest.
It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the Mother of
James, and the
other Women that were with them, which told these things to the Apostles, and
their Words seemed unto them as Idle Tales, and they believed them not. Mark
this, ye despisers of the Weakness of Women, and look upon your selves to be so
wise: But Christ Jesus doth not so; for he makes use of the weak: For when he
met the Women after he was risen, he said unto them, All Hail! And they
came and held him by the Feet, and worshipped him; then said Jesus unto them,
Be not afraid, go tell my Brethren that they go into Galilee, and there they
shall see me, Mat. 28. 10. Mark 16. 9. And John saith, when Mary was weeping at the Sepulchre, that Jesus said unto her,
Woman, why weepest thou? what seekest thou?
And when she supposed him to be the Gardner, Jesus said unto her, Mary; she
turned her self, and said 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 unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to
my God, and your God, John 20. 16, 17.
Mark this, you that despise and oppose the Message of the Lord God that he
sends by Women; What had become of the Redemption of the whole Body of Mankind,
if they had not cause to believe the Message that the Lord Jesus sent by these
Women, of and concerning his Resurrection? And if these Women had not thus, out
of their Tenderness, and Bowels of Love, who had received Mercy, and Grace, and
Forgiveness of Sins, and Vertue, and Healing from him; which many Men also had
received the like, if their Hearts had not been so united and knit unto him in
Love, that they could not depart as the Men did; but sat watching, and waiting,
and weeping about the Sepulchre until the time of his Resurrection, and so were
ready to carry his Message, as is manifested, else how should his Disciples have
known, who were not there?
Oh! Blessed and Glorified be the Glorious Lord; for this may all the whole
Body of Mankind say, though the Wisdom of Man that never knew God, is always
ready to except against the Weak; but the Weakness of God is stronger than Men,
and the Foolishness of God is wiser than Men, 1 Cor. 1 25.
And in Acts 18. you may read how Aquilla, and Priscilla, took unto them
Apollos, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly, who was an
Eloquent Man, and mighty in the Scriptures; yet we do not read that he despised
what Priscilla said, because she was a Woman, as many now do.
And now to the Apostle's Words, which is the Ground of the great Objection
against Womens Speaking. And first, 1 Cor. 14. Let the Reader seriously peruse
that Chapter, and see the end and drift of the Apostle in speaking these Words:
For the Apostle is there exhorting the Corinthians unto Charity, and to desire
Spiritual Gifts, and not to speak in an unknown Tongue; and not to be Children
in Understanding, nor to be Children in Malice; but in Understanding to be Men. And that the Spirits of the Prophets, should be subject to the Prophets; for God
is not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace: And then he saith, Let your Women
keep Silence in the Church, &c.
Where it doth plainly appear, that the Women, as well as some others that
were among them, were in Confusion: For he saith, How is it 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 is no Edifying, but Confusion speaking together: Therefore he saith, If
any Man speak in an unknown Tongue, let it be by two, or at most by three, and
that by course, and let one Interpret: But if there be no Interpreter, let him
keep Silence in the Church. Here the Man is Commanded to keep Silence, as well as the
Woman, when in Confusion and out of order.
But the Apostle saith farther, They are commanded to be in Obedience, as also 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.
Here the Apostle clearly manifests his intent; for he speaks of Women that
were under the Law, and in that Transgression as Eve was, and such as were to
learn, and not to speak publickly, but they must first ask their Husbands at
home; and it was a shame for such to speak in the Church: And it appears
clearly, that such Women were speaking among the Corinthians, by the Apostles
exhorting them from malice and strife, and confusion, and he preacheth the Law
unto them, and he saith, in the Law it is written, With Men of other tongues,
and other Lips, will I speak unto this People, Vers. 2.
And what is all this to Women's Speaking? that have the everlasting Gospel to
preach, and upon whom the Promise of the Lord is fulfilled, and his Spirit
poured upon them according to his Word, Acts 2. 16, 17, 18. And if the Apostle
would have stopped such as had the Spirit of the Lord poured upon them, why did
he say just before, If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the
first hold his peace, and you may all Prophesie one by one? Here he did not say,
that such Women should not Prophesie as had the Revelation and Spirit of God
poured upon them: But their Women that were under the Law, and in the
Transgression, and were in Strife, Confusion and Malice; for if he had stop'd
Womens Praying or Prophesying, why doth he say, Every Man Praying or
Prophesying, having his Head covered, dishonoureth his Head; but every Woman
that Prayeth or Prophesieth with her Head uncovered dishonoureth her Head? Judge
in your selves, Is it comely that a Woman pray or prophesie uncovered? For the
Woman is not without the Man, neither is the Man without the Woman in the Lord,
1 Cor. 11. 3, 4, 13.
Also that other Scripture, in 1 Tim. 2. where he is exhorting that Prayer and
Supplication be made every where, lifting up Holy Hands without Wrath and
Doubting; he saith in the like manner also, That Women must adorn themselves
in modest Apparel, with Shamefacedness and Sobriety, not with broidered Hair, or
Gold, or Pearl, or costly Array. He saith, Let Women learn in Silence with all
Subjection; but I suffer not a Woman to Teach, nor to usurp Authority over the
Man, but to be in Silence; for Adam was first formed, then Eve; and Adam was not
deceived; but the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression.
Here the Apostle speaks particularly to a Woman in relation to her Husband,
to be in subjection to him, and not to Teach, nor usurp Authority over him, and
therefore he mentions Adam and Eve: But let it be strained to the utmost, as the opposers of Womens Speaking would have it, that is, That they should not Preach
nor Speak in the Church, of which there is nothing here: Yet the Apostle is
speaking to such as he is teaching to wear their Apparel, what to wear, and what
not to wear; such as were not come to wear modest Apparel, and such as were not
come to Shamefacedness and Sobriety; but he was exhorting them from broidered
Hair, Gold, and Pearls, and costly Array; and such are not to usurp Authority
over the Man, but to learn in Silence with all Subjection, as it becometh Women
professing Godliness with good Works.
And what is all this to such as have the Power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus
poured upon them, and have the Message of the Lord Jesus given unto them? Must
not they speak the Word of the Lord, because of these undecent and unreverent
Women, that the Apostle speaks of, and to, in these two Scriptures? And how are
the Men of this Generation blinded, that bring these Scriptures, and pervert the
Apostles Words, and corrupt his Intent in speaking of them? And by these
Scriptures, endeavour to stop the Message and Word of the Lord God in Women, by
contemning and despising of them. If the Apostle would have had Womens speaking
stop'd, and did not allow of them; Why did he intreat his true Yoak-Fellow to
help those Women who laboured with him in the Gospel? Phil. 4. 3. And why did
the Apostles join together in Prayer and Supplication with the Women, and Mary
the Mother of Jesus, and with his Brethren, Acts 1. 14. if they had not allowed,
and had Union and Fellowship with the Spirit of God, where-ever it was revealed,
in Women as well as others? But all this opposing, and gainsaying of Womens
Speaking, hath risen out of the Bottomless Pit, and Spirit of Darkness, that
hath spoken for these many Hundred Years together in this Night of Apostacy,
since the Revelations have ceased and been hid. And so that Spirit hath limited
and bound all up within its Bond and Compass; and so would suffer none to Speak;
but such as that Spirit of Darkness approved of, Man or Woman.
And so here hath been the Misery of these last Ages past, in the time of the
Reign of the Beast, that John saw when he stood upon the Sand of the Sea, rising
out of the Sea, and out of the Earth, having seven Heads and ten Horns, Rev. 13. In this great City of
Babylon, which is the Woman that hath sitten so long upon
the Scarlet colour'd Beast, full of Names of Blasphemy, having seven Heads and
ten Horns. And this Woman hath been arrayed and decked with Gold, and Pearls,
and precious Stones; and she hath had a Golden Cup in her Hand, full of
Abominations; and hath made all Nations drunk with the Cup of her Fornication;
and all the World hath wondred after the Beast, and hath worshipped the Dragon
that gave Power to the Beast; and this Woman hath been drunk with the Blood of
the Saints, and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus. And this hath been the
Woman, that hath been Speaking, and usurping Authority for many Hundred Years
together: And let the Times and Ages past testifie how many have been murthered
and slain, in Ages and Generations past; every Religion and Profession, (as it
hath been called) killing and murthering one another, that would not join one
with another: And thus the Spirit of Truth, and the Power of the Lord Jesus
Christ, hath been quite lost among them that have done this. And this Mother of
Harlots hath sitten as a Queen, and said, She should see no Sorrow: But though
her Days have been long, even many Hundred of Years; for there was Power given
unto the Beast to continue forty and two Months, and to make War with the
Saints, and to overcome them: And all that have dwelt upon the Earth have
worshipped him, whose Names are not written in the Book of the Life of the Lamb,
slain from the Foundation of the World.
But blessed be the Lord, his time is over, which was above Twelve hundred Years,
and the Darkness is past, and the Night of Apostacy draws to an end, and the
true Light now shines, the Morning Light, the bright Morning Star, the Root and
Offspring of David, he is risen, he is risen, Glory to the Highest for evermore;
and the Joy of the Morning is come, and the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, is making
her self ready, as a Bride that is adorning for her Husband; and to her is
granted, that she shall be arrayed in fine Linen, clean and white; and the fine
Linen is the Righteousness of the Saints; the holy Jerusalem is descending out
of Heaven from God, having the Glory of God; and her Light is like a Jasper
Stone, clear as Chrystal.
And this is that free Woman, that all the Children of the Promise are born
of; not the Children of the Bond-woman, which is Hagar, which genders to Strife
and to Bondage, and which answers to Jerusalem, which is in Bondage with her
Children; but this is the Jerusalem which is free, Which is the Mother of us
all. And so this Bond-woman and her Children, that are born after the Flesh,
have persecuted them that are born after the Spirit, even until now: But now the
Bond-woman and her Seed is to be cast out, that hath kept so long in Bondage and
in Slavery, and under Limits; this Bond-woman and her Brood is to be cast out,
and our holy City, the new Jerusalem, is coming down from Heaven, and her Light
will shine throughout the whole Earth, even as a Jasper-Stone, clear as Chrystal,
which brings Freedom and Liberty, and perfect Redemption to her whole Seed; and
this is that Woman and Image of the Eternal God, that God hath owned, and doth
own, and will own for evermore.
More might be added to this purpose, both out of the Old Testament and New,
where it is evident that God made no difference, but gave his good Spirit, as it
pleased him, both to Man and Woman, as Deborah, Huldah, and Sarah. The Lord
calls by his Prophet Isaiah, Hearken unto me, ye that follow after
Righteousness, ye that seek the Lord; look unto the Rock from whence ye were
hewn, and to the hole of the Pit from whence ye were digged; look unto Abraham
your Father, and to Sarah that bare you; for the Lord will comfort Sion, &c. Isa.
5. And Anna the Prophetess, who was a Widow of Fourscore and Four Years of Age,
which departed not from the Temple, but served God with Fastings and Prayers
night and day; she coming in at that instant, (when old Simeon took the Child
Jesus in his Arms) and she gave Thanks unto the Lord, and spake of him to all
them who looked for Redemption in Jerusalem, Luke 2. 36, 37, 38. And Philip the
Evangelist, into whose House the Apostle Paul entred, who was one of the Seven,
Acts 6. 3. he had four Daughters which were Virgins, that did prophesie,
Acts 21.
And so let this serve to stop that opposing Spirit that would limit the Power
and Spirit of the Lord Jesus, whose Spirit is poured upon all Flesh, both Sons
and Daughters, now in his Resurrection; and since that the Lord God in the
Creation, when he made Man in his own Image, he made them Male and Female; and
since that Christ Jesus, as the Apostle saith, was made of a Woman, and the
Power of the Highest overshadowed her, and the Holy Ghost came upon her, and the
Holy Thing that was born of her, was called the Son of God; and when he was upon
the Earth, he manifested his Love, and his Will, and his Mind, both to the Woman
of Samaria, and Martha, and Mary her Sister, and several others, as hath been shewed; and after his Resurrection also, manifested himself unto them first of
all, even before he ascended unto his Father: Now when Jesus was risen, the
first Day of the Week, he appeared first unto Mary Magdalene, Mark 16. 9. And
thus the Lord Jesus hath manifested himself and his Power, without Respect of
Persons; and so let all Mouths be stopt that would limit him, whose Power and
Spirit is infinite, who is pouring it upon all Flesh.
And thus much in answer to these two Scriptures, which have been made such a
Stumbling-block, that the Ministers of Darkness have made such a Mountain of:
But the Lord is removing all this, and taking it out of the way.
M. F.
A further Addition, in Answer to the Objection concerning Women keeping silent
in the Church: For it is not permitted for them to speak, but to be under
Obedience; as also saith the Law, 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 this as Paul writing in 1 Cor. 14. 34. is one with that of 1 Tim. 2. 11.
Let Women learn in silence with all Subjection.
To which I say, If you tie this to all outward Women, then there were many Women
that were Widows, which had no Husbands to learn of; and many were Virgins,
which had no Husbands; and Philip had four Daughters that were Prophetesses;
such would be despised, which the Apostle did not forbid. And if it were to all
Women, that no Women might speak, then Paul would have contradicted himself; but
they were such Women that the Apostle mentions in Timothy, that grew wanton, and
were Busie-bodies, and Tatlers, and kicked against Christ: For Christ in the
Male and in the Female is one, and he is the Husband, and his Wife is the
Church; and God hath said, that his Daughters should prophesie as well as his
Sons: And where he hath poured forth his Spirit upon them, they must prophesie,
though blind Priests say to the contrary, and will not permit holy Women to
speak.
And whereas it is said, I permit not a Woman to speak, as saith the Law:
But
where Women are led by the Spirit of God, they are not under the Law; for Christ
in the Male and in the Female is one; and where he is made manifest in Male and
Female, he may speak; for he is the end of the Law for Righteousness to all
them that believe. So here you ought to make a Distinction what sort of Women are
forbidden to speak; such as were under the Law, who were not come to Christ, nor
to the Spirit of Prophecy: For Huldah, Miriam, and Hannah, were Prophetesses,
who were not forbidden in the time of the Law, for they all prophesied in the
time of the Law; as you may read in 2 Kings 22. what Huldah said unto the
Priest, and to the Ambassadors that were sent to her from the King, Go, saith
she, and tell the Man that sent you to me, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel,
Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and on the Inhabitants thereof, even
all the Words of the Book which the King of Judah hath read; because they have
forsaken me, and have burnt Incense to other Gods, to anger me with all the
Works of their Hands: Therefore my Wrath shall be kindled against this place,
and shall not be quenched. But to the King of Judah, that sent you to me to ask
Counsel of the Lord, so shall you say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel,
Because thy Heart did melt, and thou humbledst thy self before the Lord, when
thou heard'st what I spake against this place, and against the Inhabitants of
the same, how they should be destroyed; Behold, I will receive thee to thy
Father, and thou shalt be put into thy Grave in peace, and thine Eyes shall not
see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.
Now let us see if any of you, blind Priests, can speak after this manner, and
see if it be not a better Sermon than any of you can make, who are against
Women's Speaking. And Isaiah, that went to the Prophetess, did not forbid her
Speaking or Prophesying, Isai. 8. And was it not prophesied in Joel 2. that
Hand-maids should Prophesie? And are not Hand-maids Women? Consider this, ye
that are against Women's Speaking, how in the Acts the Spirit of the Lord was
poured forth upon Daughters as well as Sons. In the time of the Gospel, when
Mary came to salute Elizabeth in the Hill-Country in Judea, and when
Elizabeth
heard the Salutation of Mary, the Babe leaped in her Womb, and she was filled
with the Holy Spirit; and Elizabeth spoke with a loud Voice. Blessed art thou
amongst Women, blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb. Whence is this to me, that the
Mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as thy Salutation came to
my Ear, the Babe leaped in my Womb for Joy; for blessed is she that believes,
for there shall be a Performance of those things which were told her from the
Lord. And this was Elizabeth's Sermon concerning Christ, which at this day
stands upon Record. And then Mary said, My Soul doth magnifie the Lord, and my
Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour, for he hath regarded the low Estate of his
Handmaid: For, behold, from henceforth all Generations shall call me blessed;
for he that is mighty, hath done to me great things, and holy is his Name; and
his Mercy is on them that fear him, from Generation to Generation; he hath
shewed Strength with his Arm; he hath scattered the Proud in the Imaginations of
their own Hearts; he hath put down the Mighty from their Seats, and exalted them
of low degree; he hath filled the Hungry with good things, and the Rich he hath
sent empty away: He hath holpen his Servant Israel, in remembrance of his Mercy,
as he spake to his Father, to Abraham, and to his Seed for ever. Are you not
here beholding to the Woman for her Sermon, to use her Words, to put into your
Common Prayer? and yet you forbid Women's Speaking.
Now here you may see how these two Women prophesied of Christ, and preached
better than all the blind Priests did in that Age, and better than this Age
also, who are beholding to Women to make use of their Words. And see in the Book
of Ruth, how the Women blessed her in the Gate of the City, of whose Stock came
Christ: The Lord make the Woman that is come into thy House like Rachel and
Leah, which built the House of Israel; and that thou may'st do worthily in
Ephrata, and be famous in Bethlehem, let thy House be like the House of
Pharez,
whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the Seed which the Lord shall give thee of this
young Woman. And blessed be the Lord, who hath not left thee this day without a
Kinsman, and his Name shall be continued in Israel. And also see in the first
Chapter of Samuel, how Hannah prayed and spake in the Temple of the Lord, O Lord
of Hosts, if thou wilt look on the Trouble of thy Hand-maid, and remember me,
and not forget thy Hand-maid. And read in the second Chapter of Samuel, how she rejoyced in God, and said, My Heart rejoyceth in the Lord; my Horn is exalted in
the Lord, and my Mouth is enlarged over my Enemies, because I rejoyce in thy
Salvation; there is none holy as the Lord, yea, there is none besides thee; and
there is no God like our God. Speak no more presumptuously; let not Arrogancy
come out of your Mouths, for the Lord is a God of Knowledge, and by him
Enterprizes are established; the Bow, and the mighty Men are broken, and the
Weak hath girded to themselves Strength; they that were full, are hired forth
for Bread, and the hungry are no more hired; so that the Barren hath born seven,
and she that had many Children is feeble. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive;
bringeth down to the Grave, and raiseth up; the Lord maketh poor, and maketh
rich; bringeth low, and exalteth; he raiseth up the Poor out of the Dust, and
lifteth up the Beggar from the Dunghil, to set them among Princes, to make them
inherit the Seat of Glory: For the Pillars of the Earth are the Lord's, and he
hath set the World upon them; he will keep the Feet of his Saints, and the
Wicked shall keep silence in Darkness; for in his own Might shall no Man be
strong: The Lord's Adversaries shall be destroyed, and out of Heaven shall he
thunder upon them; the Lord shall judge the ends of the World, and shall give
Power to his King, and exalt the Horn of his Anointed.
Thus you may see what a Woman hath said, when old Eli the Priest thought she had
been drunk; and see if any of you, blind Priests, that speak against Women's
Speaking, can preach after this manner; who cannot make such a Sermon as this
Woman did, and yet will make a Trade of this Woman and other Women's Words.
And did not the Queen of Sheba speak, that came to Solomon, and received the
Law of God, and preached it in her own Kingdom, and blessed the Lord God that
loved Solomon, and set him on the Throne of Israel; because the Lord loved
Israel for ever, and made the King to do Equity and Righteousness? And this was
the Language of the Queen of Sheba.
And see what glorious Expressions Queen Hester used to comfort the People of
God, which was the Church of God, as you may read in the Book of Hester, which
caused Joy and Gladness of Heart among all the Jews, who prayed and worshipped
the Lord in all places; who jeoparded her Life contrary to the King's Command,
went and spoke to the King, in the Wisdom and Fear of the Lord, by which means
she saved the Lives of the People of God; and righteous Mordecai did not forbid
her speaking, but said, If she held her Peace, her and her Father's House should
be destroyed. And herein, you blind Priests, are contrary to righteous Mordecai.
Likewise you may read how Judith spoke, and what noble Acts she did, and how she
spoke to the Elders of Israel, and said, Dear Brethren, seeing ye are the Honourable and Elders of the People of God, call to Remembrance how our Fathers
in time past were tempted, that they might be proved if they would worship God
aright: They ought also to Remember how our Father Abraham, being try'd through
manifold Tribulations, was found a Friend of God; so was Isaac, Jacob, and
Moses, and all they pleased God, and were steadfast in Faith through manifold
Troubles. And read also her Prayer in the Book of Judith, and how the Elders
commended her, and said, All that thou speakest is true, and no Man can reprove
thy Words; pray therefore for us, for thou art an holy Woman, and fearest God. So these Elders of
Israel did not forbid her speaking, as you blind Priests do;
yet you will make a Trade of Women's Words to get Money by, and take Texts, and
preach Sermons upon Women's Words; and still cry out, Women must not speak,
Women must be silent: So you are far from the Minds of the Elders of Israel, who
praised God for a Woman's speaking. But the Jezabel, and the Woman, the false
Church, the great Whore, and tatling and unlearned Women, and Busie-bodies,
which are forbid to preach, which have a long time spoke and tatled, which are
forbidden to speak by the true Church, which Christ is the Head of; such Women
as were in Transgression under the Law, which are called a Woman in the
Revelations.
And see farther how the wise Woman cryed to Joab over the Wall, and saved the
City of Abel, as you may read, 2 Sam. 20. how in her Wisdom she spoke to
Joab,
saying, I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel, and thou
goest about to destroy a City and Mother in Israel: Why wilt thou destroy the
Inheritance of the Lord? Then went the Woman to the People in her Wisdom, and
smote off the Head of Sheba, that rose up against David, the Lord's Anointed:
Then Joab blew the Trumpet, and all the People departed in Peace. And this
Deliverance was by the means of a Woman's speaking. But Tatlers and Busie-Bodies
are forbidden to preach by the true Woman, whom Christ is the Husband, to the
Woman as well as the Man, all being comprehended to be the Church. And so in
this true Church, Sons and Daughters do prophesie, Women labour in the Gospel:
But the Apostle permits not Tatlers, Busie-bodies, and such as usurp Authority
over the Man, who would not have Christ to reign, nor speak neither in the Male
nor Female; such the Law permits not to speak; such must learn of their
Husbands. But what Husbands have Widows to learn of, but Christ? And was not
Christ the Husband of Philip's four Daughters? And may not they that are learned
of their Husbands speak then? But Jezabel, and Tatlers, and the Whore, that deny
Revelation and Prophecy, are not permitted, who will not learn of Christ; and
they that are out of the Spirit and Power of Christ, that the Prophets were in,
who are in the Transgression, are ignorant of the Scriptures; and such are
against Women's Speaking, and Men's too, who preach that which they have
received of the Lord God; but that which they have preached, and do preach, will
come over all your Heads, yea, over the Head of the false Church, the Pope; for
the Pope is the Head of the false Church, and the false Church is the Pope's
Wife: And so he and they that be of him, and come from him, are against Women's
Speaking in the true Church, when both he and the false Church are called Woman,
in Rev. 17. and so are in the Transgression, that would usurp Authority over the
Man Christ Jesus, and his Wife too, and would not have him to Reign; but the
Judgment of the great Whore is come. But Christ, who is the Head of the Church,
the true Woman, which is his Wife, in it do Daughters prophesie, who are above
the Pope and his Wife, and a-top of them. And here Christ is the Head of the
Male and Female, who may speak; and the Church is called a Royal Priesthood;
so the Woman must offer as well as the Man. Rev. 22. 17. The Spirit saith, Come,
and the Bride saith, Come; and so is not the Bride the Church? and doth the
Church only consist of Men? You that deny Women's Speaking, answer: Doth it not
consist of Women, as well as Men? Is not the Bride compared to the whole Church?
And doth not the Bride say, Come? Doth not the Woman speak then, the Husband,
Christ Jesus, the Amen? And doth not the false Church go about to stop the
Bride's Mouth? But it is not possible; for the Bridegroom is with his Bride, and
he opens her Mouth. Christ Jesus, who goes on Conquering, and to Conquer; who
kills and slays with the Sword, which is the Word of his Mouth; the Lamb and the
Saints shall have the Victory, the true Speakers of Men and Women over the false
Speaker.
"I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life." John 8:12
Our thanks to Larry Kuenning , for permission to
post this article
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