A Christian Family Built by God, Section 6
SECT. 6.
2. THe next part of Gods timber for his building are old women. Now theſe muſt be of ſuch behaviovr as becomes holineſs, Tit. 2. 3, 4.not falſe accuſers, not given to much wine, but teachers of honeſt things to yonger women. Object. If you argue, that women need not come to 1 Cor. 14. 35.the Word to be framed by it, becauſe Paul ſaith, Let them ask their husbands at home Sol. It is but a vain excuſe, for though Paul forbids the open and publike ſpeech of women in the Congregations, yet he takes for granted their ſubmitting to Gods Word, without which for want of good husbands, they would be miſerable.
Object. But it may be women are well enough, whether framed yea or no, becauſe they ſhal 1 Tim. 2. 15.be ſaved by childbearing.
Sol. Indeed this were a brave world for them if no childing women ſhould go to hell. All that Paul ſignifies is this, that though women have loſt many comforts which they might have had, if ſin had not entered by them, yet By or Thorough the worſt miſerie of their eſtate here they may be ſaved, if they continue in Faith, Love, Holineſs, and Majeſtie.
Object. You may think happily, that women need not trouble themſelves with the Scripture? becauſe they have other work enough at home.
Sol. But their beſt work is to know Chriſt thei… Mediatour, out of whom is no ſalvation. Therefore Solomons mother requires two things of a virtuous woman, To overſee the Prov. 31.wayes of her Family, and to open her mouth i… wiſedome, that ſhe may ſhew the law of Grace in her lips, that is, the Word of God. According to this rule Timotheus mother and grandmother taught him the Scripture from his Infanterie: and Macrina Baſils nurſe taught him: Ierome alſo commendeth Paula for teaching her maids the Scriptures: for which end Caecilia an honourable Roman Matron, never went without the New Teſtament about her; not to mention Sophia, Symphoriſsa, and other Martyrs in the Primitive Church.
And truly, whatſoever may be ſaid, there is great cauſe why women ſhould be ſquared by Gods Word. They are weaker veſſels, and Religion is their beſt comfort among their weakneſses. Women may have their names 1 Pet. 3. Phil. 4. 3. Acts 2. 47.written in the book of Life, as well as men; therefore muſt they be added to the Church, which muſt be by Knowledge, Faith, and Obedience. Beſides examples of good women in Scripture do preſs them, as the chief women of Theſſolonica, Dorcas, Priſcilla, Mary, Triphena, Acts 17. 4. Acts 18. 26. Rom. 16. 4. 6. 12.Triphoſa, Perſis, who believed, were in Chriſt, and lived.
Weigh therefore how they muſt be framed in particular.
1. They muſt be in behaviour as becomes holineſs, ſaith Paul. That is, their carriage muſt be ſuch as muſt witneſs the inward holineſs of their hearts both publikely and privately among themſelves. This muſt be diſcovered foure wayes.
In countenance, by expreſſing the inward holineſs of their hearts. When Eſay would Eſ. 3. 16.prove the women of Sion to be proud, he doth it by their countenance, and when David Pſal. 130. 1would prove that he had an humble heart, he doth it from his looks, ſo ſhall old Matrons do by themſelves.
In geſtures, when they expreſs the chaſtity of their hearts. The Church is ſaid to have Doves eyes; both beautifull to allure her own, Cant.and terrible to cruſh the temptations of wicked men.
In ſpeech, when it doth expreſs the wiſedom, grace and modeſtie of the heart. The faſhion of the harlot is to be babling and loud; Prov. 7. 11.but the modeſt woman keeps her tongue under a bridle.
In apparel, when by the outward ornaments of the body, the inward beautie of the ſoul is ſet forth. The matter of it muſt be meaſured by Abilitie, condition of Life, and Age. The form of it muſt not be wanton, ſtrange, ſavouring of lightneſs and ſingularitie, leſt God viſit them for ſtrange apparel.Zeph. 1.
2. They muſt not be falſe accuſers, or makebates or Devils; for ſo the word imparteth. This they muſt be carefull to obſerve, by reporting no falſ things of others, by reporting true things with a charitable mind, by not ſuborning falſ witneſs, or being ſinfully ſilent when they ought to maintain Innocencie. And truely, they had need to watch for this dutie, becauſe their age affords them more familiar acceſs into places, and ſo they may have more occaſion to ſpeak of themſelves and others. Yea, their example would more hurt yonger women, whom they may poyſon, and from whom they may ſteal the vail of modeſtie. Yea, and it would diſgrace their age if they ſhould turn Devils, and blow up like Satans gunpowder, the places of peace where they come. Therefore let them be warie, becauſe He that deals truely is Gods delight, and the good name of others Prov.is next to life.
3. They muſt not be given to much wine, or drink, that is, they muſt take heed of the Bibbing diſeaſe, of which too many women are guiltie. The very Heathens did account wine and ſtrong drink diſagreeable to the nature of women; therefore had they The kiſs of Oſculum probationis.Triall, by which the kinsfolk tried whether their women friends had been given to wine. Much more muſt Chriſtians be careful, though ſometimes for weakneſs, ſometimes for honeſt comfort; they may uſe that good creature.
If you ask why old women ſhould be thus? It may be it is, becauſe women of thoſe times had ſuch like meetings, upon womenly occaſions as they have now, and the like practices: therefore Paul puts a bridle upon them, or becauſe the moderation of old women ſhould be an example unto youger who might eaſily fall into exceſs. Oh therefore that it were thus every where for the honour of that uſefull, comfortable, and good ſexe.
4. They muſt be teachers of good things to yonger women. Though they are not permitted to teach in publike, yet privately they may among themſelves, as Paul warranteth. Every Chriſtian muſt gather with Chriſt, or elſe they ſcatter: and all the godly are deſcribed to be ſuch as whoſe lips feed many, and Prov.whoſe words are health to their bones, and their tongues a tree of Life. And that women are not excluded we ſee in Elizabeth, the bleſſed Virgin, and Bathſhebah, who ſaith, that the good woman opens her mouth in wiſedome.Prov. 31.
Queſt. But what good leſſons muſt they teach the yonger?
Anſw. Paul directeth in termes, That they muſt be Sober, not to be Joviall and merrie laſſes; Tit. 2. 4, 5, 6.That they love their husbands; not to be idle, wanton and careleſs which end in the Family goes forward; That they be Diſcreet, wiſely to diſcern what is good for their husbands and Families; That they be Chaſte; not immodeſt in Word, Geſture, Attire, but drink Prov.water out of their own ciſtern; That they be keepers at home; not gadders from houſe to houſe to carrie news; That they be good, not to ſuffer their hearts to ſwell with pride, or their tongues with ſcolding, ſlanders, or oathes; That they be obedient to their Hubands, not to ſtrive for maſterie, and making him to yield, either by flatterie, or brawling. Oh, want of theſe leſsons by the aged, and want of learning them by yonger women hath made this good ſex to be deſpiſed by Heathens.
Hence Ariſtippus beholding a little woman, Parum pulchrum magnum malum. Ille inducit quales eſſe deberent: Ego vero, quales ſunt.faire, ſaid, Behold a little beautifull Creature, but a great miſchief in an houſe; and Philoxenas being asked why he ſtill ſpake of wicked women, when Sophocles ſpake of good ones? Anſwered; He ſpeaks of ſuch as they ought to be, but I, of ſuch as they are. Redeem therefore the honour of your ſexe, and let old women be ſuch, and teach ſo as aged Paul would have them,