A30127:156
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
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.
Now the reason why I waved the form of his Question, was, because it was both scanty and lean of Words, as to the matter of Controversy in hand: Also I thought it best to make it more ample, and distinct, for the Edification of our Reader. And if after all, Mr. K. is not pleased at what I have done, let him take up the Question, and Answer it better. The Man perhaps may fly to the case of utter necessity, and so bring forth another Question, to wit, whether, if the Men of a Church should all die, be murdered, or cast into prison: The Women of that Church may not Meet together to Pray? And whether it be not Lawful for them so to do? But when he produceth a necessity for the putting of such a Question, and then shall put it to me; I will, as God shall help me, give him an Answer thereto.
Now the reason why I waved the form of his Question, was, because it was both scanty and lean of Words, as to the matter of Controversie in hand: Also I thought it best to make it more ample, and distinct, for the Edification of our Reader. And if after all, Mr. K. is not pleased at what I have done, let him take up the Question, and Answer it better. The Man perhaps may fly to the case of utter necessity, and so bring forth another Question, to wit, whether, if the Men of a Church should all die, be murdered, or cast into prison: The Women of that Church may not Meet together to Pray? And whether it be not Lawfull for them so to do? But when he produceth a necessity for the puting of such a Question, and then shall put it to me; I will, as God shall help me, give him an Answer thereto.
But, may some say, Our Women in this, do not what they do, of their own Heads, they are allowed to do what they do by the Church.
I Answer, No Church-allowance is a Foundation sufficient to Justify that which is neither Commanded nor Allowed by the Word. Besides, who knows not, that have their Eyes in their Heads, what already has, and what further may come into the Churches, at such a gap as this.