A30127:13
A case of conscience resolved viz. whether, where a church of Christ is situate,…
A case of conscience resolved viz. whether, where a church of Christ is situate, it is the duty of the women of that congregation, ordinarily, and by appointment, to separate themselves from their brethren, and so to assemble together to perform some parts of divine worship, as prayer, &c. without their men? : And the arguments made use of for that practice examined / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for Benj. Alsop, 1683
Dedication: The Epistle Dedicatory to those Godly Women concerned in the following Treatise.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I am not insensible but that for my thus writing, though I thereby have designed your Honour and good Order, I am like enough to run the Gantlet among you, and to partake most smartly of the scourge of the Tongues of some, and to be soundly Brow-beaten for it by others: Specially by our Author, who will find himself immediately concerned, for that I have blamed him for what he hath irregularly done both with the Word, to you, and me. I look also to be sufficiently Scandalized, and counted a man not for Prayer, and Meetings for Prayer, and the like, but I will labour to bare them with Patience, and seek their good that shall be tempted to abuse me.
I am not insensible but that for my thus writing, though I thereby have designed your Honour and good Order, I am like enough to run the Gantlet among you, and to partake most smartly of the scourge of the Tongues of some, and to be soundly Brow-beaten for it by others: Specially by our Author, who will finde himself immediatly concerned, for that I have blamed him for what he hath irregularly done both with the Word, to you, and me. I look also to be sufficiently Scandalized, and counted a man not for Prayer, and Meetings for Prayer, and the like, but I will labour to bare them with Patience, and seek their good that shall be tempted to abuse me.
I had not, indeed I had not spoke a Word to this question in this manner, had not Mr. K. sent his Paper abroad, and amongst us, for the encouraging this practise with us, in Opposition to our peace. I do not say he designed our breach, but his Arguments tended thereto; and had not our People been of a wise and quiet temper, his Paper might have set us into a Flame. But thanks be to God we are at quiet, and walk in love, notwithstanding the Lifts that have been to make us do otherwise.
There are also the mouths of some opened against me for this, who lie at wait for Occasions, and show that they are glad to take them before they are given by me: to whom I now show by this ensuing discourse, that I had a reason to do what I did.