A30127:78
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.
And he renders the reason of this his prohibition thus, For Adam was first formed, then Eve, (and therefore had the Headship in Worship) And Adam was not deceived, but the Woman being deceived, was in the Transgression. 1 Tim. 2.15, 16.
But again, it should seem, methinks, if Women must needs be managers of Worship in Assemblies, they should do it, as Eve, before Adam, in presence of the Men: But that I think none will allow, though that would be the way best to correct miscarriages; ⟨p. 16⟩how then should it be thought convenient for them to do it alone. If Children are not thought fit to help to guide the ship with the Mariners; shall they be trusted so much as with a Boat at Sea, alone. The thing in hand is a Parallel case: For,
But again, it should seem, methinks, if Women must needs be managers of Worship in Assemblies, they should do it, as Eve, before Adam, in presence of the Men: But that I think none will allow, though that would be the way best to correct miscarriages; ⟨p. 16⟩how then should it be thought convenient for them to do it alone. If Children are not thought fitt to help to guide the ship with the Marriners; shall they be trusted so much as with a Boat at Sea, alone. The thing in hand is a Parallel case: For,
Fourthly. If the weightiness of this Worship be, as indeed it is, so great, that the Strongest, and best able to perform it, do usually come off with Blushing, and with repentance for their shortness, as to the well performance thereof; though they engage therein by good and Lawful Authority: What will they do who are much weaker here, and when, as Eve, they set to it in a way of usurping of Authority, and of their own Head, and will.