1The apostle taketh power from all woman to speak in the assembly. Ergo he permitteth no woman to rule above man. The former part is evident, whereupon doth the conclusion of necessity 2follow. For he that taketh from woman the least part of authority, dominion or rule, will not permit unto her that which is greatest: But greater it is to ⟨p. 17⟩reign above realms and nations, to publish and to make laws, and to command men of all estates, and finally to appoint judges and ministers, then to speak in the congregation. For her judgement, sentence, or opinion proposed in the congregation, may be judged by all, may be corrected by the learned, and reformed by the godly. But woman being promoted in sovereign authority, her laws must be obeyed, her opinion followed, and her tyranny maintained:supposing that it be expressly against God, and the prophet of the common wealth, as to manifest experience doth this day witness. And therefore yet again I repeat that, which before I have affirmed: to wit, that a woman promoted to sit in the seat of God, that is, to teach, to judge or to reign above man, is a monster in nature, contumely to God, and a thing most repugnant to his will and ordinance. For he hath deprived them as before is proved, of speaking in the congregation, and hath expressly forbidden them to usurp any kind of ⟨image 18⟩authority above man. Howe then will he suffer them to reign and have empire above realms and nations? He will never, I say, approve it, because it is a thing most repugnant to his perfect ordinance, as after shall be declared, and as the former scriptures have plainly given testimony. To the which, to add anything were superfluous, were it not that the world is almost now come to that blindness, that what soever pleaseth not the princes and the multitude, the same is rejected as doctrine newly forged, and is condemned for heresy. I have therefore thought good to recite the minds of some ancient writers in the same matter, to the end that such as altogether be not blinded by the devil, may consider and understand this my judgement to be no new interpretation of God's scriptures, but to be the uniform consent of the most part of godly writers, since the time of the apostles.
1The apostle taketh power frome all woman to speake in the assemblie. Ergo he permitteth no woman to rule aboue man. The former parte is euidēt, wherupon doth the couclusion of necessitie 2folowe. For he that taketh from womā the least parte of authoritie, dominion or rule, will not permit vnto her that whiche is greatest: But greater it is to ⟨p. 17⟩reigne aboue realmes and nations, to publish and to make lawes, and to cō mande men of all estates, and finallie to appoint iudges and ministers, then to speake in the cōgregation. For her iudgemēt, sentence, or opiniō proposed in the cōgregation, may be iudged by all, may be corrected by the learned, and reformed by the godlie. But womā being promoted in souereine authoritie, her la wes must be obeyed, her opinion folowed, and her tyrānie mainteined:supposing that it be expreslie against God, and the prophet of the common welth, as to manifest experience doth this day witnesse. And therfore yet againe I repete that, whiche before I haue affirmed: to witt, that a woman promoted to sit in the seate of God, that is, to teache, to iudge or to reigne aboue man, is a monstre in nature, contumelie to God, and a thing most repugnāt to his will ād ordināce. For he hath depriued them as before is proued, of speakinge in the congregation, and hath expreslie forbidden them to vsurpe any kinde of ⟨image 18⟩authoritie aboue man. Howe then will he suffer them to reigne ād haue empire aboue realmes and nations? He will neuer, I say, approue it, because it is a thing most repugnant to his perfect ordinance, as after shalbe declared, and as the former scriptures haue plainlie geuen testimonie. To the whiche, to adde anything were superfluous, were it not that the worlde is almost nowe comen to that blindnes, that what soeuer pleaseth not the princes and the multitude, the same is reiected as doctrine newelie forged, and is condemned for heresie. I haue therfore thoght good to recite the mindes of some auncient writers in the same mater, to the end that suche as altogither be not blinded by the deuil, may consider and vnderstand this my iudgement to be no newe interpretation of Goddes scriptures, but to be the vniforme consent of the most parte of godlie writers, since the time of the apostles.
- 1A strong argument.A strong argumēt.
- 2NOTE.
