sought him to come to her house, if he judged her faithful to the Lord, and abide there, and she constrained him and them that were with him. Acts xvi. So you may see the faithfulness of this woman, and the practice of the other women before they were converted.

And Priscilla, who was a notable faithful woman, whom Paul often mentions with her husband Aquilla; and Philip's four daughters, who were prophetesses, who were set forth to encourage others. And you may see Phebe, whom the apostle Paul sends his epistles to the Romans from Corinth by, and calls a servant of the church of Cenchrea; and he saith, Greet Mary, which bestowed much labour upon us; and Priscilla and Aquilla, my fellow-labourers in Christ Jesus.'

So here you may see there were women labourers and helpers in the gospel. And he farther saith, 'I commend unto you our sister Phebe, who is a servant unto the church,' &c. And saith, Priscilla and Aquilla, my fellow-helpers in Christ Jesus, which for my life have laid down their necks, unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.'

So here you may see in what esteem were this man and woman, and Phebe, and other women, for their faithfulness to the churches; as you may read, Rom. xvi.

And the apostle saith, that 'the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife,' &c. ' else their children were unholy;' but now they are clean; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband:' so here is an equal share in the belief. 1 Cor. vii. And the apostle saith, that 'every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoureth her head.'

So women may pray and prophesy here, according to order, in the church, as well as the men. 1 Cor. xi. And yet the same apostle in the 14th chapter, forbids a woman to speak in the church.

And the apostle saith, 'Let the women keep silence in the church;" and 'if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home.'

But when they have learnt of Christ their husband at home, they are not forbidden of Christ from prophesying or praying; but to lie babbling and prating in the church, such speaking in the church is a shame.

Now a widow hath no husband to ask but Christ; nor a virgin, yet she may prophesy; and a believing woman, that hath an unbelieving husband, he is to be sanctified by her: so she is not to learn her salvation of him, but of Christ, and to do his work.

And the same apostle saith, Let the men keep silence in the church, if they speak an unknown tongue, and there be not an interpreter.' So, here the men must keep silence in the church in this case, as well as the women. 1 Cor. xi. and chap. xiv. 27.

And the apostle further saith, I permit not a woman to speak in the church, but to be under obedience;' as also saith the law.

But though the law did not permit their usurping authority in the church, yet it did permit their prophesying in the church, in the time of the law, as well as in the time of the gospel; as you may see by those famous women before mentioned, in the Old Testament, as well as in the New.

And the same apostle saith, 'I beseech thee, Euodias, and I beseech Syntyche, that they may be of the same mind in the Lord; and I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel; with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.'

So here the apostle entreated his yokefellow to help those women who laboured with him in the gospel, the power of God: so these women were meet-helps with the apostle in the labour of the gospel, (the power of God,) as you may see in Phil. iv. And all that be of his mind in the Lord, will encourage either women or widows, or virgins, that have received the gospel, to labour in it; and all that have not the mind of the apostle in the Lord, will discourage women's labouring in the gospel, and not entreat others to help them; but such will give them liberty to labour in the power of darkness, and to slothfulness, and carelessness; which the wo is unto, and not the blessing.

And again, the apostle writes to Timothy, that the women should adorn themselves in modest apparel, and shamefacedness, and sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array, but which becomes women professing godliness, with good works; and let your women learn in silence with all subjection, &c. But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man; but learn in silence, &c. For the woman being deceived, was first in transgression,' &c.

Now for a woman to preach or teach, such a teaching as Eve taught Adam, such a sermon as she had from the serpent, that drew herself, and Adam her husband, from God's teaching; here, in this teaching, she usurped authority over the man; and therefore God set the man to rule over the woman; but they were meet-helps before, while they were under God's teaching.

Now, to usurp authority over the man by such teaching, is out of the unity; which teaching is forbidden both by law and gospel; and they are not fit to teach, if they have not learned subjection to the spirit of God, and know the silence of all flesh before the Lord, and have not learned to adorn themselves with that which is modest, and the lesson of sobriety, which becomes godliness; and with the good works, the fruits of the spirit.

And such women as have learned this lesson may teach and prophesy; for the spirit is poured upon them to that end.

And the same apostle saith, 1 Tim. v. that the elder women should be as mothers;' and a mother is a nurser, and a teacher, and instructer of her children; and the younger women as sisters, with all purity;' and sisters in Christ and in purity, all have but one father; and a sister is in the unity, in the spirit, in the gospel. 1 Tim. v. • And if any woman that believes have widows, let them relieve them.' So here was the woman's work, to relieve their widows, &c.

And again, the apostle writes to Titus, and saith unto him, Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine, &c. The aged women, that they be of good behaviour, as becometh holiness; not false accusers, not given to much wine; teachers of good things.'

Now here they must be qualified before they can be teachers of those good things.

And that these aged women teach the younger women; first, to be sober; secondly, to love their husbands; thirdly, to love their children; fourthly, to be discreet; fifthly, to be chaste, and keepers at home, and good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Now here the aged women, not a woman, but the aged women, were to teach the younger women these things.

And how could these women be teachers of all these virtues and good things, if these mothers and holy women did not meet together, and converse together of holiness and virtue; as in Tit. ii.

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And in 1 Pet. iii. he encourageth wives and women, that if their husbands will not be won by the word, they may without the word be won by the chaste conversation of the wives; whilst they behold your chaste conversation,' saith he, coupled with fear; and whose adorning,' saith he, 'let it not be that of the outward, with plaiting of the hair, or wearing of gold, or putting on costly apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.'

And this, he saith, was the ornament of the holy women in the old time, with which they adorned themselves, who trusted in God, as Sarah, &c. whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.'

And likewise the believing husband, and the believing wife, are heirs together of the grace and life.

And therefore the believing women being heirs of grace and life, as well as the men, they may impart of their life, which they do inherit, as well as men; for an heir of life is beyond an heir of the earth.

And there is no believing husband will hinder his believing wife, being heirs of life, to administer some of their temporal things to them that are in necessity; he will not have all the earth to himself, but let her have the disposing of some of it, as well as himself, whilst they do enjoy it; and ministering of outward things is the least love. And women many times know the condition of poor families, and widows, and such as are in distress, more than the men, because they are most conversant in their families, and about such things.

But there are many idle talkers, and busy bodies, that are out of the sense and service of God, that will not do good themselves, nor suffer others to do their service of love and charity for the Lord in the church. And John writes in his second Epistle unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth,' saith he, and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth, for the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever, &c. I rejoice greatly,' says he, 'that I have found thy children walking in the truth.' And further saith, 'I write no new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.'

And so he trusts to come and see her, and speak face to face unto her; 'the children of thy elect sister greet thee.' Amen.

So was not this an honourable woman, that had trained up her children in the truth, as was commanded by John? And he admonished her against such as did transgress, and did not abide in the doctrine of Christ Jesus, that they had not the Father nor the son; but they that' did abide in the doctrine of Christ Jesus, had both the Father and the

son.

So is not this an encouragement to all faithful women, to see that their children do walk in the truth, and abide in the doctrine of Christ, that they may have both the Father and the son?

And farther Solomon saith, ‘A gracious woman attains honour, and a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, and every wise woman buildeth her own house.' Surely then she hath a work to do. He that hath ears let him hear. But the foolish woman plucketh it down with her hands.' And there are too many of those that are in the transgression of the spirit and power of God, with which they must build. But a woman that feareth God, she shall be praised; give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.' And then surely she hath a work to do, that must praise her in the gates.

She stretcheth forth her hands to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.' Prov. xxxi. And must she not then have something of the outward to do it withal?

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looks well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth

her food from far; she riseth also whilst it is night, and giveth meat to her household, and portions to her maidens; she considereth a field, and buyeth it with the fruit of her hands; she planteth a vineyard; she girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms; she perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night,' &c.

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And here is an example to all women, a pattern of virtue, and of fruitfulness, and faithfulness, and valour, and practice in the Lord's work; and such their children will rise up, and call her blessed. Many daughters have done virtuously, (says he,) but this woman excelleth them;' that is, the nurse of them.

And now friends, many of other examples in the scriptures might be showed, to encourage women's meetings in the service of God and Christ, both concerning their faithful testimony for the Lord and Christ, and their encouragement by the faithful in the old and new testament, how that they had their assemblies and their meetings. And now they being heirs of life, and of grace, and of the gospel of Christ, which hath brought life and immortality to light, you may see over him that has darkened you, and before he was.

Therefore this gospel, the power of God, which is the everlasting orderer, is to keep you in life and immortality, that you may be meethelps in the power and image of God to the men, as man and woman were in before they fell.

So, to administer of the heavenly and temporal refreshments, to such as want it; and to stand up for your liberty in the light, and life, and grace, and glorious gospel, being heirs of life, and grace, and of the gospel of salvation, and of Christ Jesus, as well as the men.

So that all, males and females, are one in Christ Jesus, who is the first and last, and over all from everlasting to everlasting, your everlasting joy, peace, and happiness.

And if there was no scripture for our men and women's meetings, Christ is sufficient, who restores man and woman up into the image of God, to be helps-meet in the righteousness and holiness, as they were in before they fell. So he is our rock and foundation to build upon.

Wisdom hath sent forth her maidens, she crieth upon the high places of the city, whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, come, eat of my bread, and drink of my wine, which I have mingled; forsake the foolish, and live, and grow in the way of understanding.'

Here you may see the wisdom of God sends forth maidens,* though the wisdom of the world will not receive them, (that make ministers

*True ministers, who are chaste to Christ.