A30127:26
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.
First, saith he, If Women may praise God together for Mercies received for the Church of God, or for themselves: Then they may pray together: the Proof whereof is plain, Exod. 15.20, 21. If it be objected the Case was Extraordinary, and that Miriam was a Prophetess; To which I Answer, That the danger of Ruin and Destruction, and our deliverance from it (if the Lord grant it) cannot be looked at but as Extraordinary: The designs of ruin to the Church, and Servants of God, being as great as at that time when God delivered his People from the hand of Pharaoh. And will call for praises, if the Lord please to send it, as then. And whereas it is further objected, that Miriam was an Extraordinary Person; To which I Answer, That the Duty it self of praising God for the Mercy, was incumbent upon all, in as much as they were all partakers of the Mercy. And the same Spirit of Christ that was in her, is also in all his Servants: Given for the same End, both to Pray for Mercies, we stand in need of, and to praise God for.
First, saith he, If Women may prayse God together for Mercies received for the Church of God, or for themselves: Then they may pray together: the Proof whereof is plain, Exod. 15.20, 21. If it be objected the Case was Extraordinary, and that Miriam was a Prophetess; To which I Answer, That the danger of Ruin and Destruction, and our deliverance from it (if the Lord grant it) cannot be looked at but as Extraordinary: The designs of ruin to the Church, and Servants of God, being as great as at that time when God delivered his People from the hand of Pharoah. And will call for praises, if the Lord please to send it, as then. And whereas it is further objected, that Miriam was an Extraordinary Person; To which I Answer, That the Duty it self of praising God for the Mercie, was incumbent upon all, in as much as they were all partakers of the Mercie. And the same Spirit of Christ that was in her, is also in all his Servants: Given for the same End, both to Pray for Mercies, we stand in need of, and to praise God for.
Secondly, If Women have in eminent danger to themselves and the Church of God, Prayed jointly together for deliverance, and God hath Answered and approved of the same: then may Women jointly pray together. The instance we have is famous,