Quakerism the Path-Way to Paganism, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of Woman Preachers.
1. OUr Quakers, that in all things they may be like themselves, that is, opposite to all the Appointments and Ordinances of Christ in his house; plead for Women speaking or preaching, in the publick assemblies of the Church, as did the Anabaptists of old, and Famalists. And that notwithstanding Paul hath, in two distinct places, expresly prohibited the same; as first, 1 Cor: 14:34. Let your women keep silence, in the Churches: we might think, that this were indeed enough to satisfie us; but see what the Apostle addeth further to enforce this, for it is not permitted unto them to speak, to wit, in the Churches; as if he had said, they have no allowance thereunto, permission, or tollerance; And as if all this were not enough, he addeth; all that is permitted unto them, is to be under obedience, as also saith the Law. Whereby he giveth us to understand, that woman their speaking in the Churches is inconsistent with that subjection, that the Law of God hath laid upon them; And withall he insinuateth, that speaking in the Churches is an authoritative thing, and therefore no way allowed unto Women, whose proper deportment, according to the institution and Law of God, is subjection and to be under obedience. Nay he will not suffer them so much, as to ask questions, under colour of learning, in the Churches; lest that should make way for their usurping of Authori…y, and taking upon them to speak wi…h Authority, for he addeth vers. 35. And if they will learne any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. And so even at home he en…oyneth them to ask; contrare to what was practised by Mrs Hutchison in N. England, called by some, the American Iezabel, who had her weekly lectures in her owne house, and there broached her Familistical and Antinomian errors, to the no small trouble of the Church of N. England. Nay, he addeth that it was contrary to that modesty and shamefastness, that is the ornament of women, for, saith he, it is a shame for women to speak in the Church. What Patrons and abettors then of Immodesty and Shamlesness, must Quakers be, that plead for Womens speaking in the …hurches?
2. It is considerable also, what the Apostle addeth, in the following verses to confirme this injunction concerning Women; as also his former directions, which he had given to regulate the abuses of that Church. What? saith he, came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only? Are ye the first, and the last, and so the only Christians, that are? Or must ye give Laws to all the …hurches of Christ? And must they all follow you? Let the Quakers look to this; who▪ as to the particular we are now about, would make us beleeve, that the word of God came out from them, and that it came to them only, and not to any Church, Primitive, or Subsequent▪ beside themselves. Further vers. 37, he sayes, if any man think himself to be a Prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things, that I write unto you, are the commandements of the Lord. Let our Quaker ruminate upon this; and let all of them take notice of it; for when they contradict this expresse injunction of the Apostle, they declare themselves, say what they will to the contrary, to be neither Prophets nor spiritual: and further we see, that what Paul spoke, concerning this silence of women in the Church, was the commandement of the Lord. And therefore is obligeing to all Churches, who will owne any relation to Christ, their Lord and Head: and consequently the Quakers, rejecting this commandement of the Lord, renunce, in so far, their Interest in, and Relation to the Lord, as their Head and Lawgiver. And the next words vers. 38. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant, have their owne weight also; as if he had said, if any will not yet, for all this, acquiesce, let him take his pleasure; no more needs be said, for his conviction: he is wilfully ignorant; and he must remaine so: And so say we, in this particular: if the Quakers will remaine ignorant, we cannot helpe it; we must follow our rule, and declare them inconvinceable; and so leave them.
3. Another expresse passage we have against this Practice and Opinion of the Quakers 1 Tim. 2:11—14. Let the women learne 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. Where we may see, That Teaching publickly is an act of authority; and that it is inconsistent, with that silence and subjection, which is enjoyned to women: And therefore, the Apostle, as a faithful servant of Christ, will not give way to it; and acquants Timothy herewith, that he may suppress any such practice, where it is; or hinder it, if men would set it up. Nor is this all; for he addeth his reasons; saying, for Adam was first formed, then Eve. Whereby he teacheth us, That such a practice is contrary to the Law of Creation, the Law writ…en upon the Creation, and the Way and Method of Crea… ion, which the Lord was pleased to follow; and th…reby give Documents and Significations of his will to man. This practice then of the Quakers must be unnatural, and a plaine saying; that God created Eve first, and then Adam. And further the Apostle addeth, And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, was in the transgression. That is, the woman, being immediatly & first deceived by Satan, was the cause & occasion of Adams transgressing; & therefore was her subjection to the man laid further upon her, as a more grievous weight and burthen, as a part of her punishment. The Quakers then, who would have women usurping Authority and Teaching, in the Church▪ do seek to annul the sentence past upon Women by the just Lord, for Eve's being the cause of Adam's sinning: and do in a manner declare, that that sentence was unjust; and that Eve was not the devils instrument, to cause Adam sinne. Let them see to it; for it draweth deeper, than they are aware.
4. Let us now see, what he sayes for this. Seing (saith he Pag. 210.) male and female are one in Christ: and seing he giveth his Spirit to one, as well as to another, when the Lord moveth in women by his Spirit, we think it no way unlawful for them to preach in the meetings of God's people. Answ. (1.) That there is neither male, nor female, as there is neither Jew, nor Greek but all are one in Christ, we grant, in reference to the privileges of the Covenant, now under the Gospel dispensation, in opposition to what was under the Law; for of this Paul speaks Gal. 3:28. But that therefore, women may as well Preach in the Assemblies of the Church, as men, is a Quakers consequence, having no connexion, nor appearance of reason. (2.) That God giveth his sanctifying Spirit to women, as well, as to men, is very true: but that he moveth in them for any such end, as he here mentioneth, is simply denied: And by this we may see, what sentence to passe, upon these irregular motions, which they talk so much of. If the Spirit of God move in women, it will be to prompt them to duty, that is, to keep silence in the Church, and not to Teach there, or to usurpe authority, but to learne in subjection, remembering what her sex is called to, by the law of God, and what that punishment is, that is put upon all women, for Eva her carriage.
5. He thinks the passages we have cited out of Pauls Epistles do not oppugne their doctrine. And yet a more plaine contradiction is not imaginable. But what is his reason? Women, sayes he, have Prophecied and preached in the Church. Ans. That the Lord hath made use of women to be Prophetisses of old, we grant; for he is free to make use of whom he will. His rare and extraordinary acts are no rule to us; but his Law is our Rule, and to the Law must we goe & to the Testimony. He is absolute, and not bound by the Rules and Laws, he prescribeth unto us, Otherwise, sayes he, that of Ioel had been ill applied by Peter, Act. 2:17. Ans. That is wonderful and strange! What saith the Prophecie of Ioel, as it was applyed by Peter? Were there any women preachers among that company converted by Peter? Nay, Peter's applying of that Prophecie of Ioel to that present dispensation and exigent, wherein we hear not of the least appearance of any women-preachers, is a manifest declaration of the contrary.
6. But he saith further, That Paul himself in that same Epistle to the Corinthians gave rules how women should demaine themselves, in their publick preachings and Prayers Answ. Thus the Man would have the Apostle contradicting himself, in that same Epistle; Is it not saifer for us to say, that wh…tever rules he gave, they were such as did well consist, with this plaine peremptour and enforced prohibition of their Preaching, Teaching, or Speaking, in the publick meetings of the Church? But what were the rules he gave concerni…g women? He said Chap. 11:5. But every woman that prayeth or Prophecieth with her head uncovered, dishonoureth her …ead. This he taketh to be meaned of the womens carria…e, when they were Prophesying or praying publickly, before others, in the Assembly; but his mistake is manifest, for the Apostle is only shewing, what the carriage of both men and women should be, while they were present in the publick Assemblies, and at the time of publick worshipe, while the word was spoken and explained, and publick Prayers used, not by themselves, but by others appointed thereunto.
7: He tels us next, That paul speaketh of a certain woman, that laboured with him, in the Gospel. Ans. where he speaketh of a certain woman that laboured thus with him, I know not: but I finde Phil. 4:3 that he speaketh of women in the plural number, that laboured with him, in the Gospel. And all the question is, what way they did this? He imagineth, that it was by publick preaching, in the Assemblies; but what ground is there for this? what hint is there given of this? or thinketh he, that there is no labouring in the Gospel, but by publick preaching? It is written, saith he, that Philip had four Daughters, that Prophesied. It is true, we read so Act. 21:9. But where read we, that they preached, in the Publick Assemblies of the Church? To Proph…sie and foretell things to come is not to preach in publick. Finally he tels us, that it is observed, that this day, God hath converted many to himselfe by the ministrie of women, and frequently comforted the mindes of his sones: which manifest experience putteth the matter to us beyond all controversie Ans. (1.) That God may make use of women, for this effect, and hath oft blessed their honest endeavours, to his end, we most willingly acknowledge; but the question is not about their paines and labour in private, and in their particular and private stations and capacities, but about their publick preaching, in open and publick Assemblies of the Church. (….) Or meaneth he all this, as done in the publick assemblies of the Quakers? If so, I shall suspect that work of conversion, and take it rather for perversion, or delusion. (3.) Such experiences, being false, and fasly founded, can evince nothing against the standing and binding lawes of Christ, in his Church. This man speaketh much, on every occasion of their experiences; and it seemeth, these are all the Quakers bible▪ or their maine topick, from which all their arguments are brought, to defend all their erroneous and irregular practices; But we judge it saifest, to examine experiences by a standing rule; and if they agree not therewith, to account them delusions of Satan; or, at best, the result and acts of the power of their owne vaine imagina…ions▪ And if men will steer their course by such a Compasse, we think it little wonder, they dash on rocks, and make shipwrack of truth. Enough of this; seing I suppose truth could suffer no detrim…nt, though I should give way to women to speak in their meetings; for I cannot account them lawful Church Assemblies, but disorderly Routes.