Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Part 1 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Concerning Prophecying, & Womens ſpeaking in the Church.
PRophecying ſignifies Preaching, which is declaring the Word of God, as they receive his Will and Mind, by his Spirit of Grace, in and through the gift of his own Spirit by Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe gift of good ſpirit of Grace, is by meaſure in the Male and in the …emale alike, who are made partakers of his bleſſed Truth, and in this day called of God by Jeſus Chriſt, to declare his Truth, as the holy Men and Women were in days paſt; for he hath promiſed, To pour out of his Spirit upon all fleſh, and among the faithful, their old Men dream Dreams, and their Young Men ſee Viſi…ns, and their Sons and Daughters Prophecy. But many have wreſted the Apoſtles words, 1 Cor. 14 35 L…t our Wom… keep ſilence in the Church, for it is not permitted them to ſpeak but are commanded to be under Obedience; and if they will lea… any thing, let them ask their Husbands at home, for it is a ſham… for a Woman to ſpeak in the Church. Now the Apoſtle words do not include all ſpeaking by Women in the Church which if they did, it would then follow, that every true believing Woman is debarred from improving the gift of Gods holy Spirit among his People, which are the Church of Chriſt; for by meaſure is the gift of God, by Jeſus Chriſt, to the Man and Woman alike, wherefore they may pray and prophecy in the Church of Chriſt; for all may prophecy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted, 1 Cor. 14.31. So that here is no tye nor bar from believing Womens ſpeaking in the Church of Chriſt, but deparred by them which are not the true Church; for every Woman that praveth & prophecyeth with her Head uncovered, diſhonoureth her Head, 1 Cor. 11.15. By which it is evident, that their Women did in that day ſpeak in the Church; for its of no Edification for any Woman to prophecy alone by her ſelf, but where two or three are gathered together in the Name of the Lord, there will his Spirit be in the midſt o… them; which proves, that where two or three (Male or Female) are met together in the Lords Name, that there is his Church; and whether Male or Female, if called of him, they are to ſpeak, which is not that ſpeaking which Women in the Church are not permitted to do. For whereas they are not permitted to ſpeak in the Church, it is to be underſtood relating to the Government of the Church, in which they are to keep ſilence, and be under Obedience, as alſo in the Law; for the outward Government of the Church God hath committed unto men, of which if the Women will learn, they are to ask their Husbands at home; for it is a ſhame for a Woman to ſpeak in the Church, relating to the Government thereof; for in ſo … ſhe comes to uſurp in Government over the man, 1 T…o. 2.12. for Chriſt is the Head of his Church, and the Head of every Man is Chriſt, and the Head of the Woman is the Man, and the Head of Chriſt is God, 1 Cor. 11.3. And as to ſuch Women whoſe Husbands are Unbelievers, or that have no husband, a believing Brother hath liberty to inform them in things relating to the Government of the Church; in which the Women Prophets in days paſt, did not rule in the Government of the Church, as may be read of Miriam and Deborah, who were Propheteſſes in their day, Exod. 15 20. Judg. 4.4 and Haldah the Propheteſs, which propheſied of the evil to come upon Jeruſalem 2 Chron. 34.22.23. And we read of Anah that propheſied concerning Redemption; for it is ſaid, ſhe coming in that inſtant, gave Thanks likewiſe unto the Lord, and ſpake of him to all them that looked for Redemption in Jeruſalem; which all that looked for Redemption, did include the whole Church of Chriſt in Jeruſalem; and at that inſtant of her coming in, and giving Thanks likewiſe, was, when the Church was gathered together, and Chriſt himſelf at that time in the midſt of his Church in which, at that time, Anah the Woman Propheteſs did ſpeak, Luke 2.27. to v. 0. And Phillip had four Daughters which did propheſie, Acts 21.8, 9. And the Lord hath promiſed, That he will pour out his Spirit upon all Fleſh, and their Sons and Daughters ſhall prophecy; and their old Men ſhall dream Dreams, and their Young Men ſhall ſ…e Viſions, and upon the Servants and Hand-maids will the Lord pour out his Spirit, Act. 2 17, 18. Joel 2.28, 29. By which it appears, that prophecying is not altogether ceaſed among the People of God, whoſe promiſe doth continue among the faithful, whom he hath called, both Male and Female, to preach the everlaſting Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, and by his good ſpirit of Life, Light and Grace are they lead to preach, in order as becometh the Goſpel ſo to do, that the Prophets may ſpeak two or three, and the others to judge; and if any thing be ravealed to another that ſitteth by, let the firſt hold his p…ace, that all may prophecy one by one, that all may learn and be comforted; for the Spirit of the Prophets are ſubject to the Prophets; for God is not the Author of Confuſion, but of Peace, as in all the Churches of the Saints; but if any he ignorant, let him be ignorant, 1 Cor. 14, to v. 38. But all covet to propheſie and forbid not to ſpeak with Tongues, verſ. 39. Now among ſuch Profeſſors, where theſe things are not in practiſe, according to the Record of the holy Scriptures, which are for Peoples learning, that by the Spirit of God they may follow Chriſt, as the Apoſtles have done for Example, and to mark them which walk other ways; then whom is it that true Believers ſhould mark, but them who pretend to be Goſpel Miniſters, and with their Hearers are not in the holy Practice of the faithful in days paſt, whom they are commanded to follow, as they have followed Chriſt, which until ſuch time as they reform, in obedience to Gods holy Truth, and are found to worſhip him in the Spirit & in the Truth, they are to be marked by all true Believers in Chriſt Jeſus, To have a form of Godlineſs, but deny the Power, who are ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.