A Looking-glass for Good Women

A LOOKING-GLASSE FOR GOOD WOMEN.

T His Text is Scripture, and such a portion of Scripture, as is but too proper for the times wherein we live: Other Apology, I shall need none for my taking it up, and handling of it in this place.

To make way to the words; Look but a little back into the Chapter, and you shall meet with a parcel of Apostolical Canons, partly concerning Men, partly Women. The former you have in the 8. ver. I will therefore that men pray everywhere, &c. The latter in the four verses following: Wherein the Apostle orders the female Sex: First touching their Apparel, ver. 9, 10. In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, &c. Then touching their demeanour in the public worship and service of God, ver. 11.12. Wherein (as Henimgius resolves those two verses) we may take notice of a double Injunction, and a double Prohibition. Two things commanded, and two things prohibited. The things enjoined, are, that women should hear and learn: 1. Silently, then submissively: Let the women learn in silence, with all subjection, ver. 11. The things prohibited are; First, their Public teaching; Secondly, their usurping authority over their husbands; I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp Authority over the man, ver. 12. And both these the Apostle presseth by a twofold Argument: The former taken from man's precedency in his Creation, ver. 13. For Adam was first formed then Eve. The woman was made after the man, and for the man; And therefore, for her to take upon her the office of Teaching, or to usurp authority over the man; what were it but to invert the course and order of nature: The latter taken from the Woman's priority in her defection: That you have in the words of the Text, And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

In which words for our better handling of them, we may take notice first of the Negative, then of the Positive part of them. The former concerning the first Man, denying him to have been deceived: And Adam was not deceived. The latter concerning the first woman; affirming her, first, to have been deceived; then, to have been in the transgression: But the woman, &c. Three clauses, yielding us three distinct Propositions, or Conclusions. 1. Adam was not deceived. 2. The woman was deceived. 3. Being deceived, she was in the transgression. Touch upon each, and but touch upon them, by way of Explication, Illustration, that so I may make way to Application, which is the main thing which at present I aim at.

And Adam was not deceived ] No? How came he then to fall? How came he to adventure upon the eating of that forbidden fruit, the core whereof yet sticketh in the throats and hearts of all his posterity to this day?

Ans. To this is answered variously: Six or seven resolutions (such as they are) I find returned to it by the Jesuit Estius. I shall only single out two or three of them, such as I find most approved of by Orthodox Expositors.

1. Adam was not deceived, that is (say some) not formally, not properly, Proprie nemo decipitur, nisi â decipiente (saith Estius ) Properly and formally no man is said to be deceived, but by a Deceiver; who must be such a one as hath animum fallendi; a mind and purpose to deceive; so was the woman deceived by the Serpent (or rather by Satan in the Serpent ) intending to deceive her. But so was not Adam deceived. The woman in tendering the Apple unto him, she had no purpose to deceive him. Hoc secit decepta, non decipiens (saith the foresaid Author) This she did being herself deceived, not with an intention to deceive her husband: No, that which herein she did, was only out of a desire to make him partaker of her supposed happiness. As for deluding, deceiving of him, it was far from her thoughts. And hereupon (say some) it is said, that Adam was not deceived: But this seemeth a little too acute, and curious.

2. More plainly and simply, (in the second place) Adam was not deceived, that is, not Primarily; he was not the first that was deceived: So some expound it, by borrowing a word from the verse foregoing, which they conceive should here again be repeated, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , but Adam was not first deceived, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , but the Woman, &c.

3. Adam was not deceived, viz. not Immediatly by the Serpent: So was the Woman deceived, giving ear to Satan, speaking in and by the Serpent, she was deceived; but so was not Adam deceived: Deceived indeed he was; but it was by the means of the Woman, handing those suggestions unto him, which she had received from the Serpent: withal, soliciting, and enticing him; to whom he yielded, partly, Ex àmicabili quâdam benevolentiâ, out of a loving and indulgent affection towards her, and so was overcome, even as Sampson was by his Delilah, and Solomon by his Wives.

These two last Resolutions, (being in effect one and the same) we may safely pitch upon. Adam was not deceived, viz. so as the Woman was deceived: not firstly, not immediately, so was the Woman deceived; and being so deceived, she was the Instrument to deceive her Husband: So it followeth; But The Woman being deceived, she was in the Transgression.

The Woman was deceived. ] So she was both properly, and primarily, and immediately. How deceived? By what Means? By what Agent? By what Instrument? By what Arguments and Suggestions? You may read them all in that third of Genesis, which I shall have occasion to reflect upon anon: For the present I shall only inquire;

Q. Why Satan singles out the Woman? Why he first sets upon her, to deceive and seduce her?

A. For this take a double reason: Satan looked upon her as a fitting Object, and a fitting Instrument: A fitting Object to work upon, and a fitting Instrument to work by.

1. A fitting Object to work upon: In as much as she was the weaker Vessel, less able to withstand the stroke of his Temptations. Had he encountered with the Man, there might have been more probability of resistance, less hope of prevailing: Therefore he singles out the Woman, as apprehending more hopes of prevailing there, by reason of the natural infirmity of her Sex.

2. As fit to work upon, so to work by; A fitting Instrument, being her sell deceived, to deceive her Husband, by conveying the same suggestions unto him, who would the less suspect what came through her hands, of whose cordial and entire affection he was so sully persuaded. Such Instruments Satan often maketh use of in seducing of others: Vnsuspected Instruments: such was the Woman to her Husband. And hereupon Satan singles out her, that she being herself deceived might be the Instrument to deceive him, which accordingly came to pass; so it followeth in the Text.

3. The woman being deceived, she was in the transgression; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , in the transgression. The phrase here imports two things.

1. Hereby she became a Transgressour; Obnoxia facta est Transgressioni; So Erasmus, she became obnoxious, guilty of the transgressionof the Law of God; a truth, but not the whole truth.

2. She being hereby made a Transgressour, she became also the Author and Original of transgression; so Beza, Causa transgressionis fuit; She was the cause of transgression, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 put for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; so Ambrose renders it well, Facta est in Praevaricationem. She became the means and instrument to seduce her husband, and so to draw him into the like transgression. A truth, which for the doctrinal part of it, is so clearly held forth by the Spirit of God in that third of Genesis, that it admits of no further, either Confirmation or Illustration.

That which I mainly aimed at when I took this Text in hand, was the making of it useful to the Times and Place wherein we live: Wherein, let not any of your jealous thoughts anticipate, and forerun my innocent Meditations, as if I intended to cast any Disrespect upon the weaker Sex, which as God hath many ways honored, so shall I; much less, any Disparagement upon any of the ways of God, wherein any of them desire to walk; not yet to rebate the edge, or cool the fervor of a holy and well tempered Zeal in them or any other. Far be all these from my thoughts, and yours: My intentions herein are candid, and so I hope shall my words be, free from all gall and bitterness, and (as much as may be) from sharpness; which yet (I must tell you) the Minister of Christ may in some cases make use of, and that not without good warrant from the Apostle; who writing unto Titus concerning some persons that were unruly, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , disorderly and Refractory, viz. to the Reprehensions, Admonitions, and Orders of the Church, (as the Reverend Diodate glosseth upon the word;) and Vain-talkers, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , whose discourses tended more to the ingendring of strife, then to Edification; and Deceivers, Seducers, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , such as deceived the minds, and so seduced otherwise well-meaning souls; such (saith the Apostle) Rebuke sharply, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Precise, in express & down right terms, not smoothing them up in their Errors; nor yet going about the Bush to tell them of their miscarriages; This course I might take: But I shall for the present (as much as may be) decline it, choosing rather to come unto you in the spirit of meekness, remembering who they are whom I have chiefly now to deal with; viz. the weaker and tenderer Sex, and some of those of tender Consciences, I shall deal with them accordingly; Even as Jacob dealt with his Children, which were tender, and his Cattle which were great with young, he will not over-drive them, for fear of miscarriage; but will lead them on softly, so as they may be able to endure it. So shall my desire be to deal with you, with as much mildness and tenderness as may be: And to that end, I shall baulk and decline Uses of Reprehension, which yet the Text gives a fitting occasion for, and the inordinate practices of some amongst us, have too justly merited, of whom I may say, and that but too truly, That they have been, and are but too willing to be deceived; Betaking myself only to Instructions and Directions; which I shall direct first to the one Sex, then to the other; Beginning with that which the Text directly and properly leadeth me to, the weaker Sex, the Woman; Concerning whom it informs us; First, that she was Deceived: And secondly, That being deceived, she was in the Transgression. Each useful.

Use. 1. [Use. 1] Was it the Woman that was so deceived at the first? Then, let those of that Sex learn hence to be forever jealous of themselves; Being Conscious of their own natural infirmity and weakness, withal of their natural proneness and propensity to be deceived and misled; let them be forever jealous over themselves, cautelous and wary, least they also should be deceived. That they are naturally more prone to be deceived and misled; had former ages never yielded any evidence for it, the present times would afford but too many instances of it; not to go out of those walls within which ourselves live. How many of Eves Daughters do we daily here see following their Mother? being deceived, drawn aside, to the embracing of the Errors of the times; someone way, some another.

The Woman is deceived: I wish I might speak it in the Language of the Text, and say, that The Man were not. It cannot be denied; some also of that Sex are gone along with them, being carried away with the stream: But (blessed be God,) the number of them is not considerable. As it was at the first, so now, (it cannot be hid) The Woman, the Woman, she is deceived.

Now surely, thus it would not be, were there not a natural aptitude, and inclination in that Sex to be deceived. Taking notice hereof, be excited in the name and fear of the Lord, to be the more wary, the more circumspect over yourselves: which if you be not, he that deceived your great Grandmother, (a good Woman ) as good, nay take it not amiss if I say, better then the best of you, (such I am sure she was, when Satan first met with her,) will also deceive you. Hereof the Spirit of God giveth you warning, by setting before you this fatal miscarriage of your first Parent. The Woman, the first Woman, she was deceived: And wherefore is this Recorded? Why? even as the Apostle saith of the Murmurings and Lustings of the Israelites in the Wilderness, and the consequents of them; These things were for our Examples, that we should not lust as they also lusted; we should not murmur, as they also murmured. So may I say of Eves being deceived. This stands upon Record for your Example, for your Admonition, to the intent, that you should not be deceived, as she also was deceived.

Q. As she was deceived? Why, How was that? The Resolution of this Question will prove very useful for our present design and purpose. As the Mother was deceived, so are her Daughters: As the first Woman was deceived at the first, so are many of that Sex deceived at this very day. Looking upon the one, you shall see the other. But how was the first Woman deceived?

Ans. To show you how, will you go along with me, with your Patience and Attention: I shall lead you through the several Doors, at which this deceit brake in upon her: And as I go along, I shall still shut and bar them after me, that the like deceit may not break in upon any of you at any of them.

These Doors, these ways and means (I mean) whereby the Woman came to be deceived, are many: I shall reduce them all to three Heads. They were either in the Woman herself, or in the Instrument, or in the Object: In every of these we shall meet with some particulars suiting very fitly with our present purpose: All which you shall find laid down in the beginning of that one Chapter, the third of Genesis.

1. Look upon the Woman herself, and see what there was in her that occasioned this her deception. In her take notice of three or four particulars.

1. Her dislike of, and discontentedness with her present condition. God had made her after his own Image, both Holy and Happy: So she was, and so she might have been, had she but known her own happiness. But upon Satan's tampering with her, she took some dislike that she was not so well, so holy, so happy, as she might have been, and as another was; she was not as God. Again, God had placed her in Paradise, where she had what ever her heart could desire, the free use of all the choice Fruits of the Garden: Only there was one Tree, which she might see, but not touch, at least not taste of; the Tree of Knowledge. And hereupon, being instigated by Satan, she groweth discontented, and that discontent was the first step to her fall and ruin: All which may be, and by Expositors generally is collected from Satan's Suggestions, and her Replies to them in the six first verses of that Chapter.

Now (beloved in the Lord) is it not the very self same door that the Errors of the Times do ordinarily first break in at upon those which are deceived by them, whether Men or Women? They first fall into dislike with their present state and condition: Notwithstanding, that they are well, yet they are not so well, so well as they would be, and as they apprehend some others to be: True indeed, they do enjoy many precious Liberties and Immunities: They do, or may partake in all the Holy Ordinances of God, Word, Sacraments, Prayer: Only there is one Ordinance, which the Church at present hath not the exercise of, viz. Discipline, Government: And when it hath it, yet they conceive (this I speak of Men, for Women never yet challenged it,) it shall not be put into their hands; they may no more touch it, then Uzzah might the Ark, or Eve the Apple. And hereupon they grow Discontented, and fall into dislike with the present state of the Church; and that discontent layeth them open to Satan's delusions, who readily worketh upon such an advantage. And indeed, a greater advantage he cannot have. A discontented spirit is a forge and Anvil fit for Satan to forge and hammer anything upon that is evil: In the fear of God would you not be deceived as your Mother was; take heed of such a spirit: Beware how you entertain groundless and causeless dislikes, which should make you discontented with your present personal state, or the state of the Church of God wherein you live.

Mistake it not: Not but that Christians may take notice of both: As of their own personal wants, so of what is defective or wanting in the Church: And taking notice of it, they not only may, but ought by all lawful ways and means to seek a supply: But through the apprehensions of that defect, to grow discontented and impatient, so as thereupon to sleight and undervalue all other the mercies which they enjoy: This is a dangerous weakness.

Yet such a weakness, as God's own dear, dearest servants are subject to. It was Abraham's case you know, Gen. 15. When God cometh to him, with as sweet and full a promise as could be brought to him, telling him that he was, and would be, his shield, and exceeding great reward: What saith Abraham? Lord (saith he) What wilt thou give me, so long as I go childless? Even so say some amongst us at this day, when they hear what great things God hath already done for this Church of his, and what further mercies he seemeth to be about to reach forth unto it, in the liberty and purity of his Ordinances; yet what are all these to them? so long as there is someone thing, which for the present they want, and for the future have little hope to enjoy.

O Brethren and Sisters (for to you I am now principally speaking) take we heed all of us of such dangerous, and pernicious discontents as these, the very Spawne, and first borne of Satan. So they were in the first woman; The first product and issue of Satan's temptations in her, was a secret dislike of, and discontentedness with her present condition, the condition wherein God himself had set her; and that letteth in a Sea of Temptations upon her, so making way from her seduction.

To prevent or heal the like evil in you, give me leave in the spirit of meekness a little to reason with you, about the ground of this discontent; I beseech you, what is it that should so far distaste any of you with the present state and condition of the Church of God in this Kingdom, and with the way, which you apprehend to be now laying forth unto you, as that you should desert the one, and decline the other? Certainly, if there be any ground at all for this dislike, it must arise from one of these two heads; either from something that you want and would have, or else from something that you have, and would be freed from.

Now for the latter: What burdens are there, which at the present lie upon this Church, which are so gravanimous, which the tenderest conscience, being rightly informed, may not submit unto. As for those stumbling blocks, the cause (or rather occasion) of the unhappy Separation of the last age, (viz. Ceremonies and human inventions, mingled with the worship and service of God. ) I think it will not be denied, but that they are removed, and taken out of the way: What then is the grievance?

Repl. But happily there is something that you want & would have. And what may that be? Why, Pure Ordinances. And have you not them? Is not the word truly preached unto you? Are not the Sacraments rightly-administered amongst you?

Possibly some may here hit that old blot, and challenge our mixtures in Church-Communion: That in participating in holy mysteries the Precious are not separated from the Vile, as they ought to be.

Ans. And are they not? I beseech you where lieth the fault? For us of the Ministry, what can we do mere then we have done? And for you, hath there not been a Liberty in this place publicly granted, for any who intended to come to the Table of the Lord, to give in any just exceptions (in time convenient) against any, who should tender themselves to that holy Ordinance, being persons justly obnoxious, either ignorant, or scandalous? together with a promise of a stricter scrutiny and discrimination for the future, according to power committed (or rather transmitted ) by lawful Authority: And what can be more done for the present?

Reply, Why, but there wants the Exercise of discipline and Government for the right ordering of the Church.

Ans. To yield it: What then? will you not stay and expect till that Order can be drawn up? and the power for the exercise thereof be duly and regularly transmitted?

You know whose speech it was, and how ill it was taken, What should I wait for the Lord any longer? Let there not be such a Rebellious thought in any of our hearts. We have waited, and let us yet wait. Shall we precipitate the work and run before God? it may happen unto us, as it daily doth to many others: Even as to passengers in a ferry boat, that will be stepping and leaping out before the Boat can be hailed to shore, where some are over shoes (as Separatists ) others over head and ears (as Anabaptists and some others) so drenching or plunging ourselves into dangerous and destructive errors.

Reply, But wherefore should we wait? When we have what is expected, yet will not that satisfy our desires. There is yet someone thing more: And what is that? Why, the entire and absolute government of every Church, every particular Congregation within itself, commonly (how fitly, I dispute not) known by the name of Independency.

Ans. Now herein God be merciful to us, and to his Churches: Was it not such another thing that undid the world at first: viz. The inordinate affectation of Independency: Our first parents would be absolute: Me thinks the remembrance hereof, should make us forever jealous both of the name and thing.

Rep. But what if Christ have purchased and given such a Liberty, such a Privilege to his Church? Ought not we to stand for the maintaining of it?

Ans. What if? As for those who make this plea, let them but show their Charter, and we shall yield to it.

In the mean time know we, that this is no such privilege, as it is by many taken to be: Nay, in truth no privilege at all. For a Church to subsist alone, and to exercise such an entire and absolute jurisdiction within itself, true, it may do it ( viz. In case of necessity ) but not so well: Adam when he was alone, he might have so subsisted. But he who knew what was better for him concluded it, that it was not good for the man to be alone. No more is it for Churches, which are likely to stand, and flourish, surer and better in a holy and brotherly Combination, and Go-ordinate subjection, then in a divided, and affected singularity.

I confess I am transported beyond my intentions: But you see how (as it is in errors ) one thing draweth on another: I shall make you amends in some of the following particulars: You now see the first of them; pass we to the second.

2. In the second place, the woman being discontented with her present state, she is inordinately desirous to better it by what ever way or means should be propounded to her. I, be it to touch, and taste the Apple, though a prohibited fruit, yet so there may be but hopes of bettering her condition, she will adventure upon it. And is it not so (beloved) with some amongst us (as it is with many in some other parts of the Kingdom?) who being discontented with their present condition, they will adventure upon any way or means that shall be reached forth unto them by what hand so ever, with hopes of bettering it; It matters not though prohibited by the Laws of men, and for ought they know, may be so by the Laws of God, yet they will try it; so running from way to way (even as Solomon did from vanity to vanity ) and from Church to Church, till they have run thorough, and out-run all the Churches in the world, and so have lost both the Church and themselves, coming at length to stand alone (like a lost sheep in a desert) as the new and strange Generation of seekers at this day are said to do.

Beloved, a dangerous adventure: For you (in the fear of God) take heed how you make it. Shall you so deal with your Bodies, take every medicine that is prescribed you, it matters not by what adventrous, and unskillful Emperick, you may make but ill work in the end: Surely your souls challenge as much, and more care from you: Take heed how you embrace every new way which is held forth unto you, how promising soever. In this case look before you leap; and Try before you Try: Be thoroughly convinced, and see good and clear evidence out of the word, before you renounce, and engage yourselves against any received truth; or yet against that way which the Church of God in this Kingdom is now holding forth unto you, betaking yourselves to new ways different from it, much more contrary to it. Otherwise you may be deceived; Nay, let me tell you, this is the next way to be so, to pitch upon new ways without due examination, and Trial: So was the woman deceived at the first; being discontented with her first condition, she adventureth upon a new way for the bettering of it, though held forth by Satan himself to her ruin and destruction.

3. A third thing in the woman, which made way for her deceiving, was her Curiosity, her affecting of Novelties, and that so much the rather, because prohibited; Such was the Tree of knowledge: The Fruit thereof she had not yet tasted: Besides there lay a prohibition upon it: She might not touch it; So she tells the Serpent, (though therein she seemed to add somewhat to the prohibition ) And no question this was one thing that edged her teeth, and made her fingers itch at it: It was a prohibited Novelty. And is there not a tang of this curiosity to be found generally in all the sons and daughters of this common Mother? Specially in the latter. The Female Sex, how exceedingly are many of them affected with novelties? New fashions in apparel, though never so uncouth and uncomely, yet if New, how are they taken up by them? Thus it should not be amongst Christian women. Paul teacheth them another Lesson in the ninth verse of this Chapter, I will that women adorn themselves in modest Apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety, not with broyded (or playted) hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; that is, not affecting new fashions, garish dresses, or rich apparel, unsuitable to their quality and degree. But thus it is amongst too many: And is it not so (I beseech you be not unwilling to hear of it) with new Opinions, new Ways, new Doctrines, new Truths, new Light, new Teachers, new Phrases and Expressions? O how do these affect? and that oft times for no other Reason, but for the Novelty of them, because they are New: Specially if Prohibited, that sets a further gloss upon them, making Women, (I, and Men too oft times) the more earnest in looking after them: The men of Bethshemesh will be looking into the Ark, though it cost them their lives for it, 1 Sam. 6.

Such is the corrupt nature of Man, that (like as it is with some Fishes) it delighteth to swim against the stream. Nitimur in vetitum. Things are the more desired because forbidden. Even as it is with sick persons; what the Physician prohibites, that they most long for. Thus what Authority forbids, that the sick nature of man oft times most affects; a truth which I might make good in many particular instances; But I spare you.

Thus it is, (and I think, if you will but everyone feel your own pulse, you will acknowledge it so to be,) but thus it should not be. In Religion, Novelty is no Commendation, but a Disparagement. Even as it is with Wines; The New may be sweeter, pleasanter, but the Old is wholesomer, I, and (to a judicious Palate) toothsomer too. No man having drunk Old Wine, (saith our Savior,) ( viz. being able to judge of Wine) streightway desireth New; for he saith the Old is better. Even so is it in Religion. New ways may be sweet, and pleasant to those that first enter into them. I, but the Old is better, safer, surer. And therefore it is that the Lord by the Prophet biddeth the people inquire for the Old way. Ask for the Old way, which is the good way, and walk therein. The Old way, that way which the Patriarchs and Prophets walked in. And so the Old way, that way which the Apostles and Apostolical Churches, being directed by the Spirit of God, walked in. This is the Old way, and this is the good way. Enquire we for this.

And is not this the way which the Kingdom is now seeking. To which end, the best course that can be thought of, hath been taken. It was the course which King Herod took, (and it was the wisest course that he could take,) when he would be rightly informed concerning Christ himself, touching the place of his Nativity, he gathereth the chief Priests, and Scribes of the people together, consulting with them about it. Like course hath Authority in this Kingdom, taken to find out the Way of Christ. They have to this purpose gathered together some, many (let it be spoken without Flattery, and heard without Envy ) of the Chief Priests and Scribes of the people; Scribes instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven; such as in probability should be best acquainted with the Mysteries of that Kingdom; Men of known Piety, Integrity, Ability; And with them they have now for a long time consulted. And what more likely course can be taken for the finding out of that way? Now far be it from us, for any of us to entertain any causeless Prejudice, against that way before we know it; much more by any inconsiderate preingagements, by putting ourselves into New ways aforehand, to render ourselves incapable of it, when God shall hold it forth unto us, though with never such clear evidence of truth. Nay rather, as for these New ways, how sweet, and pleasant, and plausible soever they may seem to be; yet it will be a great deal more wisdom to deal with them as Vintners do with their Wines, which they let stand and settle, before they pierce and use them.

Let not Affectation of Novelty, of New ways, inordinately transport any of us, least thereby unawares we be brought to reject and renounce old Truth, as some of late times have done.

Much less suffer we ourselves to be carried on with a spirit of opposition, to swim against the stream of Authority, so as to like any way the worse, because Commended and Commanded; or yet the better, because prohibited and oppugned. True indeed, it is possible the way of God may be everywhere spoken against, (as the Jews tell Paul concerning his Sect. ) But it is not therefore the way of God, because spoken against. Much less is it ever the better to be liked, because every where spoken against True indeed, were it so that it were spoken against only by wicked and ungodly men, or by Time-serving superstitious Formalists; this might be like a dark shadow to a beautiful Picture, that maketh it the more Lightsome; or a dark foil, to a fair Diamond, which maketh it sparkle the more. But when a way shall be oppugned by good men, holy men, learned and judicious men, and that not by a few private spirits, but by the general consent of the Churches, in this case certainly such opposition renders it at least very suspicious. Let not any of us then like a way the better for this. Much less because Lawfull and Christian Authority strikes in against it. In this case Christians should be very wary, and tender, least in opposing and resisting the Powers which are of God, they also resist God in them. I have done with the third Particular. Take but one more.

4. And that was, the Woman's Incogitancy, or unadvisedness in Parleying with the Serpent, entering dispute or conference with him about a received Truth, and that not only hearing of him, but hearkening unto him; nay, yielding, and consenting, and engaging herself by an Act of her own, and all this without the privity of her husband, whom God had set over her, and who might have been able to have Resolved and Informed her better. This (saith Pareus ) this unadvisedness or Rashness, (call it as we will) was the beginning and first occasion of her downfall. And surely so it hath been in many of her Daughters, who have been deceived and seduced by the very same means, viz. through their own Adventrous Rashness in hearkening to subtle Deceivers, and Dangerous Seducers, (these terms, when ever I use them, let it not be conceived that I have the least thought of reflecting upon any of our Reverend and Godly Brethren of the Congregational way, whose persons I respect and honor, but in reference to some others, who by their smooth and subtle insinuations, have drawn some of the weaker Sex into dangerous and destructive Errors,) and not only hearkening, but yielding, consenting, engaging themselves in their ways, and that without the consent or privity of their Husbands, or without advising with any other who might have been more able to inform them.

This latter clause I cannot but take notice of, and let you know that I do so. Not but that I might also take just occasion to deal with the former, viz. the unwarrantable rashness and presumption of some women in embracing, and engaging themselves in new ways without the privity of their husbands (and so of children without the consent of Parents ) to whom they are so far in duty bound, as to take their advice, (specially if they be able to give it) however to acquaint them with their intentions, and the reasons of them, desiring their consents: But letting that pass now, which probably I may have occasion to touch upon again hereafter.

The latter I cannot but take notice of, as being a matter which somewhat concerneth myself, and my fellow-laborer in the Ministry here; whom God in respect of our Ministerial Office, hath appointed to be as Counselors to his people in things appertaining to himself: So runs that old Statute: They should seek the Law at the Priests mouth. Such is our Office, and such use our people ought to make of it. But how few are there that do it? Herein let me appeal to the consciences of those that are gone aside into any of the Errors of the times, how sew are there of them that ever addressed themselves to either of us to be resolved in their doubts, and scruples of this kind. Some I will not deny but have done it, who through the blessing of God have been at least stayed, if not satisfied. But how few?

Reply, I know what will here presently be replied; Though we have not heard of them, yet some others have: such as they apprehended able enough to resolve them.

Ans. But who were those others? were they not such as they were persuaded would speak what they were desirous to hear? Such whose judgments they knew beforehand to be consonant, and agreeable to their own minds and wills: If so, then this is not the way to be resolved, but rather to be confirmed in a Resolution. You know it was Ahab's case, (let none abuse the Comparison, by stretching it beyond the Staple, extending it beyond the point to which it is intended. Sure I am, our Savior's parables of the Theef, and unjust Steward will bear it out) Ahab pretending to seek resolution concerning his expedition against Ramoth-Gilead, whether he should go up to it, or no, he consults with the Prophets about it. But what Prophets? His own Prophets, such as he presumed would speak what he would have. But as for that other Prophet of God whom Jehoshaphat minds him of, in as much as he suspected him to be of another mind, and so would be averse to his intended design, therefore he declines him, is loath to confer or consult with him. Now this I say, is not to seek, but rather to confirm Resolution. The way to be resolved in scruples and doubts of this nature, is to hear what both parties can lay, specially those of a differing judgment from ourselves. This is the most probable, and rational way to be rightly informed.

And is it so? The more is the wonder that it should be so much neglected, and declined as it is, and that not only in private, but (as the report is) also in public. Strange, are there any such? (I should hope there are not) who are so far wedded to their own wills, as to take up resolutions aforehand, in case their opinions be meddled with, or their ways touched upon, though never so tenderly, yet they will come no more at the public Ordinance, at least not to hear such a Minister? Now surely Christians, Is this Christian? Even Felix the Heathen was of a better mind, or at least durst not avouch such high, and presumptuous obstinacy: At the hearing of Paul's Sermon, he was troubled, and much troubled, yet he promiseth to hear him again another time. Shall any dare to resolve other ways? Let them take this home with them: This is but too clear an evidence, that they are but too willing to be deceived.

I have done with the first head of particulars, taken from the woman herself, who gave occasion to her own deceiving, by her Discontentednesse with her present condition; her inordinate desire of bettering it by what ever way should be propounded; her Curiosity in affecting of prohibited Novelties; and her unadvised rashness in parleying with the adversary about a received truth, and not consulting with her husband about it.

Passe we now to the second head, looking upon the Instrument which Satan made use of in deceiving the woman, the first woman, the best of women. And here again we shall meet with diverse particulars, all very fitly appliable to our present purpose: Refer we them to two heads. The Quality of the Person, and his Arguments.

1. For the Quality of the Person. In the general, an unsuspected Instrument. Such Instruments doth Satan at this day make use of, in perverting and seducing of simple and wellmeaning souls; unsuspected Instruments; such as are neither suspected by themselves, nor others, to do any such office.

1. Not by Themselves. Certainly the Serpent in deceiving the woman had no purpose, no intention to do what it did. Only Satan made use of it as his Instrument, speaking in it, and by it. And surely so is it with many of those who are made instrumental in seducing and drawing others into errors at this day. What herein they do, it is Praeter intentionem, they have no such thought, no such purpose. Only they are secretly acted, and carried on by Satan, who worketh in them and by them, being unsuspected by themselves. It was the case of that Old Prophet, 1 Kin. 13.15. (as is most probably conjectured) in deceiving, seducing of the Man of God, that cried out against the Altar at Bethel; In turning him out of his way, he had no ill design upon him, no evil intent towards him. What he therein did, he did only to express his affection to him, by giving him the best entertainment he could: Yet we see what was the issue. However, sure we are, it was Peters case, when he suggested that Counsel to his Lord and Master, that he should not go up to Jerusalem, but rather decline that service, those sufferings, which he had told his Disciples awaited for him there. Be it far from thee Lord (saith he) This shall not be unto thee. (Council as pernicious, as any that the Serpent gave to the Woman (had it been followed) the salvation of mankind depending upon the one, as the destruction thereof did upon the other:) Full little did Peter think what disservice herein he did; That he should have any hand in crossing the determinate Counsel of God, or in hindering that great good work, which his Lord and Master was then about, the Redemption of mankind. No, what herein he did, he did it out of a true cordial affection to his Lord and Master. Yet was he herein secretly instigated, and acted by Satan, abusing and perverting his good intentions, to sinister, dangerous, and destructive ends. So much is intimated by our Savior himself in that tart Reprehension of his, Get thee behind me Satan, &c. Certainly so fareth it with some, with many at this day; who are so active in drawing people aside into the errors of the Times. This they do, not out of any ill will they have either to Christ or them; but rather out of a zealous affection which they bear to both. Only they are herein seeretly acted by Satan, who maketh use of that their preposterous zeal to the furthering of his own designs, in disturbing the peace of the Church for the present, and (if it might be) in hindering that great good work in hand, the Reformation of it for the future. Thus Satan maketh use of Instruments not suspected by themselves.

2. Much less by others: Full little (without Question) did Eve think, that such deadly poison should be breathed out of the mouth of that smooth Creature, as should impoyson her, and all her Posterity. And as little do many well-meaning souls at this day suspect, that they should suck errors from those lips, which they apprehend to be like the Spouses lips, Cant. 4. (and in some respect they are so) Dropping as the Honycombe, having Honey and milk under their tongues; such tongues as afford them many sweet and soul-refreshing instructions, and consolations. And yet even through such lips doth Satan sometimes breath forth both dangerous and deadly poison.

A truth which may be verified in some of the Antinomian and Anabaptistical Teachers and Preachers of the times. In whose Sermons and writings there may be found some very useful, profitable, comfortable Truths; and those happily set out with sweet, and soul-Ravishing expressions. But withal, there is a mixture of poison with that honey: dangerous, and destructive errors, being interwoven with those Truths. Interwoven, and that as Thread is sometimes with silk, where the warp frets, and eats out the woof: Or like some of those leprous garments spoken of in Leviticus, where the Warpe might be clean, and yet the woof infected with the Plague of Leprosy. Such Instruments doth Satan make use of in venting, and propagating of the errors of the times (in this not unlike the Serpent at first) unsuspected Instruments.

I might descend here into some particulars, taking notice of some qualities in the Serpent at that time, which may very fitly be applied to some of those seducers which are abroad in the world: as viz. his Innocency, and subtlety. The Serpent was then an Innocent, and harmless Creature, as all the rest of the Creatures then were before the fall; though full of poison within, yet outwardly harmless: But Secondly, a subtle creature 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Serpent was more subtle then any beast of the field. And truly if we look at some deceivers (instance in that Serpentine brood of Romish Jesuits, and I shall take leave to join some English Anabaptists with them) shall we not find them such, and that both for Innocency and subtlety? For Innocency; in their lives demure, austere, harmless, blameless not to be censured, not to be taxed. But withal subtle; I, more subtle then any ordinary generation of men; hiding their poison; withal, slily insinuating and winding themselves into the bosoms of others by their smooth and plausible insinuations: Closely conveying themselves, and cunningly creeping in and out by their subtle evasions and distinctions, even as the Serpent could in and out of the Garden.

Such Deceivers (my Brethren and Sisters ) there are abroad in the world; even such as the Apostle speaketh of Eph. 4. Who by their sleight of hand (their Cogging and Cheating, so the word there properly signifieth ( 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) a Metaphor taken from playing at Dice, where Cheaters can Cog the Dice to make them serve their own turns) and cunning craftiness, lie in wait to deceive. I will not charge this place with any of this kind. Yet possibly there may be some such, who (as the Apostle describeth them, 2 Tim. 3.6.) Creep into houses, and lead captive silly women. And truly, it is to be feared some such there have been even in this place, who though themselves be gone, yet they have left some of their stings behind them.

Now the case standing thus, that Satan maketh use of such Instruments (such as the Serpent at first was) in the general, unsuspected Instruments; In particular, Innocent, and subtle Instruments; O what need have you to be cautelous and wary? Not believing every spirit: That is Saint John's advice, 1 John. 4. Every spirit, that is, everyone that pretends to, and boasts of the spirit: Nay, in this sense, believe not any spirit. What saith the Apostle, Rom. 3. Let God be true, and every man a liar. God only is Infallible. As for men, be they what they will, they are Liars, and that both Passively, and Actively, subject to be deceived themselves, and to deceive others. You see it in our common Mother, who hath transferred this her natural infirmity to all her Posterity. And therefore Try before we Trust. Try the spirits whether they be of God. Not resigning up our belief to the judgment of what ever man or men. Though never so learned, never so holy, never so wise, never so innocent, yet take heed of giving the divine honor of an absolute credence unto them, which is no less then a a kind of Anthropolatreia, a piece of Man-worship. But try their spirits; and try their Doctrines.

This I speak in the first place with reference to myself. What ever shall fall from my mouth, take it not up, unless you see evidence for it, either in the word, or in the nature of the thing. And I wish you would do the like by all others. As for hearing of others, (such I mean as are, (or at least have been) Ministers; for as for mere private persons, Teaching Brethren (as they are called) I dare give no allowance to the public exercise of their gift (as they call it) for which I know no warrant that they have either from God or man unless it be in case of necessity, which (blessed be God) is not our case) but for the hearing of others, though in some things of different judgments, yet (so it may be done without any affront to Authority, and without giving any countenance to any of the errors of the times, and particularly to that of Separation ) I dis-allow it not. Only therein, take heed of sucking in, and swallowing down all such doctrines as shall be delivered by them, and that without any chewing, taking them upon the credit of the speaker, least in so doing, together with some truths, you also swallow down some errors. So was your first mother deceived, viz. by giving ear to an unsuspected Instrument, and taking the word from his mouth without due Trial, she took in that which might have proved the ruin of her, and all her posterity. This for the Quality of the person.

Come we now to his Arguments. What were the Arguments which Satan putteth into the Serpents mouth for the deceiving of our first parent? What were those Reasonings, those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (as Paul calleth them, 2 Cor. 2.11.) those Devices, those Wiles or Methods (that is the Apostles word, Eph. 6.11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) which this grand Deceiver here maketh use of? Of these take we notice of four or five.

1. The first is a doubtful interrogation, wherein he questioneth a received and known Truth. Yea, hath God indeed said, ye shall not eat of every Tree of the Garden? Gen. 3.1. This Prohibition Eve had either heard from God's own mouth (as is most probable) or else she had received it from her husband, and that with such strong and clear evidence, as that she was fully convinced of it, as appeareth from the second, and third verses of that Chapter: Now Satan having to deal with her, the first thing that he attempts, is to kindle a jealousy in her breast concerning that word; to render it suspicious to her, as if either it were not true, or at least not equal. And is not this the way whereby Satan ordinarily prepareth the hearts of those whom he intendeth to deceive, for the receiving of his suggestions and delusions? First, he shakes and unsettles them, by bringing them to call in question, received and known truths; such truths as they have by clear evidence been formerly convinced of. A practice which this subtle Sophister never made more use of then in this age, wherein many Christians are turned mere Skeptics, Questionists, questioning everything, scarce building upon anything. How many truths of God (clear and evident truths) are by some in this age called into question, (and those some of them of very great and high concernment) which former ages ever looked upon as undoubted and unquestionable. Now what a subtle piece of Sophistry is this? Hereby Satan first renders the truths of God, and the ways of God suspicious unto men, draws a jealousy upon them, and so prepares their hearts for the drinking in of many dangerous, and some damnable errors. In the fear of God take we heed how we give entertainment to any such faithless doubtings and questionings.

Not but that Christians both may and ought to desire, and endeavor a further settlement, and establishment, in known and received truths. And to that end they may take notice, not only what can be said for them; but what can be said against them, that so they may not take things upon trust, but may see with their own eyes. But to call any of them in question without some good, and clear, at least probable evidence, this, as it is dangerous to ourselves, so is it injurious to the truth, and dishonorable unto that God whose Truth it is. Which of us but would account it so for ourselves, to have our names brought in question, much more to have our persons brought to the bar, merely upon the groundless information of some jealous head, without any evidence at all. Take we heed therefore how we so deal with the truths, or ways of God.

Specially how we bring them to the Barre of man's judgment, calling in question the equity of them, the equity of God's decrees, precepts, prohibitions, dispensations, providences. So did some of the Jews of old, as the Prophet Ezekiel chargeth it upon them, Ezek. 18. Ye say the way of the Lord is not equal. And even so do some at this day make bold to weigh the mysteries of Heaven, viz. the decrees, and providences of God, at the beam of their own carnal reason, questioning the equity of them, which because they cannot see, they will not believe, (the case of Arminians, and Socinians. ) A high and dangerous presumption, which who so giveth way unto, is in the direct way to be deceived. So was our first Parent deceived at the first, by hearkening unto Satan, questioning the truth or equity of a Divine prohibition. Hath God indeed said? &c.

2. In the second place; the next step that Satan maketh, is from questioning to opposing; from a doubtful interrogation, to a peremptory negation. Having questioned God's precept, now he denies his threatening, which he doth with a great deal of confidence. Nequaquam morieminis, Ye shall not surely die, or surely ye shall not die. And is not this the method wherein Satan still proceeds with such as he seduceth, and draweth into Errors? First he brings them to question received truths, then to oppose them; and that not in a submissive and humble, but in a confident and peremptory way. A property very observable in many of the Sectaries of the times. For a time they stand doubting, and wavering; and if partly resolved, yet they carry their differences in judgment with some fair respective moderation, but afterwards they grow so confident, so peremptory, so violent, and that not only in maintaining their own opinions, and ways, but in opposing, and affronting all others who are contrary minded, as if they had received some immediate revelation from Heaven. Now truly, such confidence, at least such violence, doth not become humble Christians: Specially in points controversial betwixt them and their brethren; and those neither of, nor near the foundation. True, were they fundamentals, principles of Religion, now confidence, and earnestness do well. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , It is St. Jude’s word in the fourth verse of his Epistle, That ye contend earnestly for the faith once given to the Saints. But being only matters of order, (such as most of the differences of the times are about) now Christians though possibly they should be in the truth, yet they may be ever earnest and confident.

3. In the third place, This grand deceiver, from confident opposition he falls to an unjust and foul crimination, changing this way, these proceedings of God, both with rigor, and envy. With rigor, as if God had dealt hardly with our first Parents in abridging them of their liberty, not allowing them to eat of that tree, as well as the rest. So much is insinuated in that interrogation, v. 1. Yea; hath God indeed said, ye shall not eat of every tree in the Garden? Interrogatio criminantis, or calumniantis. As if he had said, this a very hard thing that you should be so restrained, so abridged of your liberty. With envy; as if God had envied the happiness and perfection of man, specially his perfection in knowledge. So he chargeth it expressly, v. 5. for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God's.

And is not this the very direct course that Satan taketh in the deceiving of many simple well-meaning souls at this day? viz. to prejudice them against that way of God which is intended to be set up in this Kingdom, and that by casting the like foul criminations upon it, that he may thereby render it not only suspicious in their eyes, but Odious. To this end it is, that he hath of late stirred up, and set on work such a Generation of Serpents. So I may well call them, and that without any breach of Charity. For sure I am, (as David saith of his Doeg, and some other Whelps of that litter, his virulent and foulmouthed Adversaries,) They have sharpened their tongues like a Serpent; Adders poison is under their lips. Selah. So saith David of some in his time, setting a Note of Admiration upon their heads, (Selah.) And truly so may we upon some in our time. When we read the writings of those Shimei's and Rabshakehs, whom Satan hath of late stirred up to revile, and blaspheme the ways of God, the Ordinances of God, the Church of God, the Ministers of God, the People of God, well may we set a Selah upon their heads, and stand and wonder; wonder that ever any that profess the name of Christ, specially such as pretend to greater strictness then other of their brethren, should ever dare to belch out such prodigious blasphemies, as those libellous Pamphlets are stuffed withal.

But what are the criminations of these accusers of the brethren? What are the crimes which they so deeply charge upon that way which they apprehend to be now setting up in the Kingdom?

Why, even the very same with those which the Devil here putteth into the mouth of the Serpent (so as you may plainly see where they found them, and from whence they had them) viz. Rigour, and Envy. Amongst their many foul and virulent charges, which they discharge upon this way, you may observe these two to be the chief and principal.

1. Rigour; That any way, which hath the name of God called upon it, should be prohibited. That people should be restrained from the professing and holding forth of what Religion they please, at least in what way they please; Oh this is a rigorous abridgement of their Christian Liberty, savouring too strongly of the Egyptian Task-Master. A thing not sufferable, that Conscience should be tied and fettered, and not left at Liberty, not only to think, but in matter of Religion to speak, write, profess, practice, hold forth what it pleaseth. Here is the great Charge.

A Charge how like to that of the Old Serpents here? even so like, as if it had been spit out of his mouth. Yea, (saith the Serpent) Hath God indeed said, ye shall not eat of every Tree in the Garden? What a rigorous and injurious restraint is this, that they for whom all these Fruits were made, may not use them at their pleasure? Even so saith the Spawn of this Serpent now; Yea, hath Authority indeed said, Ye shall not proesse what Religion you please? Nor yet hold forth the true Religion in what way you please? What a rigorous restraint is this? that they who were borm Free-men, specially such as are set at liberty by Christ, may not enjoy the use of this their liberty? That they for whom all the Ordinances were instituted and ordained, may not enjoy them, and use them as they shall think fitting. This is a thing which they know not how sufficiently to declaim, and inveigh against. And thence are those loud outcries of Tyrannie and Persecution Tyrannie worse then Prelatical, and persecution as bad as ever Antichristian was. And as they charge this way with Rigour;

[ 2] So with Envy. That some Ordinances and Administrations should be peculiarly appropriated to some particular persons; Preaching, to the Ministers of the Gospel, such as are devoted and set a part to that work; Administration of Censures and Discipline to them, and some select persons joined with them, so as in the mean time the generality of the people shall be excluded; Private Christians how great so ever their abilities be, yet may they not exercise their gifts in a public way, to the public edification of the Church; much less may they intermeddle with the Government of the Church, What is this (say they) but Envy? even the height of envy. What was it that made that busy young man to bring his complaint to Moses against Eldad and Medad, that being private persons, persons out of Office, yet they prophesied? Was it not Envy? And what made the Disciples to inhibit that man in the Gospel, the Exercise of his gift in casting out of Devils, only because he did not join himself unto them? was it not, Envy? And what else is it (say they) that maketh the Ministers of the Church to appropriate the Office of preaching to themselves? Surely nothing but Envy to the people. They know well enough that in case there were a liberty left for everyone to exercise his gift as he pleased, the people would soon attain such perfection in knowledge, as that their Teachers would be despised and brought into contempt. And hereupon also is it, that they exclude them from intermeddling in public Administrations, in managing the business of the Church, only to maintain their own Prelatical dignity and pomp. Such are the suggestions which of late have fallen from the pens of some, and mouths of many.

But alas, are they not again the very same with that of the Serpent here, which he chargeth upon God himself? For God doth know (saith the Serpent) that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God's. And even so say they, Ministers know well enough that in the day there is such a liberty granted as is desired, the people's eyes would be opened, and they would be as God's, equal to themselves, both in knowledge and Authority. The Parallel you see runs so punctual and full, that me thinks the very comparing of them together should be a sufficient dissuasive to people, to keep them from giving any entertainment unto such foul suggestions, which are (as you see) spit out of the mouth of the Old Serpent. Yet take one or two of these sleights more. I will be brief in them.

4. In the fourth place; Satan casting this Crimination, this charge upon this way, these proceedings of God with man; withal he holdeth forth unto the Woman a New-light concerning it, telling her that which neither she nor her husband before ever heard of, giving her another reason and ground for that Prohibition, then ever she dreamed of. God doth know (saith he) that in the day ye eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened, &c. And is there not a great deal of such new light held forth in this Kingdom at this day? Strong Doctrines Preached, Printed, Vented; some of which having lain asleep, nay dead and rotten, for more then a thousand years together, are now awakened, and revived. Others of them never hatched, never disclosed until this present age. And these are held forth to the world as New-light, which being brought to the Test, upon due Examination and Trial, will be found to have no more light in them, then was in this suggestion, which the Serpent here holdeth forth to the woman. So as we may say of them (as that Greek Critick did of the Bow, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , The name of it signified life, but the work was death ) that are in name Light, but in truth Darkness.

5. In the last place; Holding forth new-light to the woman, withal he maketh promise to her of some great good that should accrue to her from following his Counsel; specially of a great increase of knowledge, and of achieving an excellent, and transcendent honor and dignity: Your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God's, knowing good and evil. And is it not even such air that the Heresiarchs, the heads and prime leaders of all schisms and factions in the world have in all ages used to feed their Sectaries, their Disciples with? In case they will but hearken to their counsel, and put themselves upon the ways with they hold forth unto them, they promise them some great good that shall accrue unto them. In particular, hereby they shall come to know that which they never yet did, nor others do, nor can do, being out of that way. Besides, they shall hereby be translated to the highest form of Christianity, attain to such honor and perfection, as without this they are not capable of. These things I do but touch, being very willing to dismiss this second head of particulars, taken from the quality of the instrument which Satan here maketh use of, and the Arguments which he putteth into his mouth.

Passe we now to the third, which I shall dispatch with all convenient brevity; being as willing to dismiss this Text, and this subject, as possibly some of you would have me. In the third place then look upon the Object; the Apple itself which is here presented to the Woman.

And therein we shall take notice only of three particulars. You have them all together in the beginning of the sixth verse of that third of Genesis; 1. She saw that it was good to eat. 2. That it was beautiful, pleasant to the eyes. 3. That it was desirable to make one wise. Each appliable to our present purpose. A word of each.

1. It was good to eat, pleasant, and delectable to the palate; and withal useful for nourishment. Such she apprehended it to be; and such (no question) in truth it was. Not but that there might be, and most probably were, some other Trees in the Garden equalizing it in both these respects; As for instance, The tree of life; which how ever it was so called (as Augustine determines it well) not effective, but significative, not in regard of any such operation, or virtue that it had, to give life, or preserve life to Eternity, but in regard that it was a Sacrament, a Sign, and Seal of life and immortality to man upon his obedience; Yet in all probability (as Mercer conceives of it) the fruit thereof was both most delectable, and nutritive, most pleasant to the palate, and nourishing to the body. But yet such properties there were also in the Tree of knowledge, and happily the Woman apprehended more then there was.

And these enticed the Woman the rather to taste of it. And truly such are the arguments that do much prevail with many of those who are drawn aside to the embracing of new ways, specially that of the Separation.

They apprehend a great deal of sweetness, a great deal of goodness in that way. Much sweetness in the Communion of Saints. Much goodness both in the Persons that go that way, and in the means which there may be had for Spiritual edification, and soul-nourishment. And we will not deny but it may be so. But withal, may there not be as much both sweetness, and goodness in another tree, as in this forbidden one? May not both these be found in some other way? as viz. in that one way which the Church is now holding forth in this Kingdom? As for that sweetness in the Communion of Saints (which is indeed a true sweetness, that cannot but relish well to a gracious palate;) What letteth but that it may be enjoyed as well in this way, as in any other? Let but any judicious Christian give me a reason for it, and I shall be silent. In the mean time, know we that if it be not so, it is the fault of the Persons, not of the way,

For the Persons, I shall not in any wise detract from their real goodness; (in this I shall desire to have, and use as much charity, as some of them want.) But (if we may take the boldness to move the question,) where did they get that goodness? Was it not in the Church of God, and under the Ministry in this Kingdom? I presume there are few, very few, that are now adopted into any of these new ways, incorporated into any of these new bodies, but they will do the Church of England this right, as to acknowledge it their Mother, and some of the Ministers of this Church their Fathers in Christ, by whom they were begotten unto God. And if so; seeing this womb bar them, why may not these breasts give them suck? (You will not allow it, that Mothers which are able should put forth their children to nurse; What would you think of those children that should put forth themselves?) why may they not expect sufficient nourishment; from those means from which at the first they had their spiritual subsistence?

Obj. But there is more full, and more liberal means, and maintenance in that way.

Ans. Should this be supposed, yet cannot this be conceived to be a sufficient warrant for any presently to forsake and renounce that Church, where God by his Providence, and Ordinance hath cast them: No more then it would be for sheep or other cattle to break their fence; because there is better feeding in the next pasture. But, as for the means which through the goodness of God may be in the Church amongst us enjoyed, let me say this of them, and I will speak it with confidence, that such is this pasturage, that if the sheep of Christ will but take their feed, here is enough not only to keep them life-ward, but to feed them fat. Such are • h • se means, as if Christians be not wanting to themselves in the use of them, here is sufficient not only to maintain the life of grace in them, but to make them rich in grace. But I hasten.

2. The second thing which enticed the Woman in the fruit which she saw, was the fair and beautiful outside of it, she saw that it was pleasant to the eyes. And surely is not this one thing that daily enticeth, and carrieth away many to the embracing of new-ways? even the fair and beautiful outside of them. I mean, those specious glosses, those goodly stiles, and titles which are put upon them. Never a one of them but is set out with some of them. As namely, that which is so common in the mouths of some amongst us, (though separated from us,) viz. the Church way. A word which I must profess (as it is impropriated to that one particular way) I cannot hear but as I do a harsh and jarring sound, which sets my teeth on edge; In as much as this one word so applied and used, it at once strikes thorough the sides of all the Churches of Christ that ever were in the Christian world, as if never any of them were in a Church way till this last age, and now only some few of them. And of like kind are those other of, God's way and Christ's way, and the Cause of God, and the Government of Christ, and the Godly party, and the close walking people (which two latter terms, what ever truth there may be in them, yet they do not so well become their own mouths.) Now these goodly stiles, and titles, and compellations, they do marvelously take many simple, and well meaning souls, (who (as I cannot therein blame them) would willingly be in the best way, with the best company, ) specially when they are on the other side set off with such foul and opprobrious terms as are cast upon the ways of other Churches, and the members thereof, which are different from, or opposite to that way of theirs, as if they were all Antichristian, having the mark of the beast upon them, opposers of Christ's kingly Government, and what not? Now with this outside are many taken, even as the Woman at first was with the outside of the Apple. But alas, what a weakness is it to be thus taken? He that should adventure to taste of what is in an Apothecaries box, because he espieth the name of some sovereign Cordial on the outside of it, might sometimes find that saying to be too true, Extra remedium, intus venenum, that there is medicine without, but poison within. A word for the last, and I have done with this use.

3. The third thing in the Apple which enticed the Woman, was a supposed property of making those wise that should eat of it, viz. by the augmentation of their knowledge. And surely such a supposed property it is that wines much upon some, enticing them to the affecting of new ways, because thereby they expect such an increase in knowledge, as in this way which we are in, they cannot expect to attain unto. But what knowledge that may be, for my own part I know not, neither can I conjecture, unless it be such a knowledge as the Woman attained to by eating of the Apple, a knowing of good and evil, and that not by a more excellent science, but by a miserable experience, from which kind of knowledge the good Lord deliver us, and his Churches.

You now see by what ways and means the first Woman, this good Woman, the best of Women, came to be deceived. Now let not all these, any of these fall to the ground. You have heard to what end it is that they are held forth unto us in sacred records; and that use let all of us make of them: looking upon them as exemplary to us, to the intent that none of us should be deceived as she also was deceived. And so I have done with the former Branch of the Text, so far forth as it concerneth the weaker Sex.

Passe we now to the latter Branch, which informs us that the Woman was not only deceived, but being deceived, she was in the transgression, that is, the cause and original of Adams transgression, by whose means he was seduced to the ruin of himself and all his posterity. [Use. 2] And was she so? wherein may this be useful to the Daughters of this Mother?

To this let the Apostle himself return the answer. I presume you will not take it amiss from his hands, the remembrance hereof (as he applieth it) should reach those of that Sex a double lesson; 1. Of Silence. 2. Of Subjection. Silence, not to take upon them to preach, or teach, or speak in the public. Subjection, not to usurp Authority over their Husbands, but to be subject to them. Both these lessons you have laid down by the Apostle himself in the two verses next save one before the Text. Let the Woman learn in silence with all subjection: But I suffer not a Woman to teach, nor to usurp Authority over the man. And the two verses following are (as I told you in the entrance upon the Text) reasons and arguments for both. So much that first particle imports, ( For. ) For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived but the Woman, &c. The Woman, Posterior in ordine, prior in culpâ (saith Primasius upon it) she was last in order, but first in Error. For this double reason must she learn this double lesson, viz. to learn in silence, and be in Subjection. I shall look upon each, as standing in reference to the Text.

1. In the first place, Women must be silent, viz. In the public Congregations: where they must hear, and learn in silence, not taking upon them the exercise of any office, or gift in public. So are we to understand the Apostles injunction, and inhibition.

Not as if women were hereby interdicted, and prohibited either to read the Scriptures, or to confer of them. So it seemeth the Doctors of Reims would fain have it, whose note upon the 12. verse of this Chapter runs thus, In times of Licentiousness, Liberty, and Heresy, women are much given to reading, disputing, chatting, and jangling of the holy Scriptures (that is their Language) &c. An impious gloss. A sense which never came into the Apostles thoughts, to forbid any, whether men, or women, the reading, or talking of the Scriptures; which so it be done with modesty, and sobriety, with a desire to benefit themselves or others, is not only lawful, but commendable. A thing which Jerome in his time, (as Doctor Fulk tells those his adversaries) highly commended in many virtuous and godly women. Amongst others, he exhorteth one Laeta a godly Matron, that she would season the tender tongue of her young daughter with godly Psalms. This women may do; Read the Scriptures, and confer of them. And more then this. They may, and ought to teach, and instruct their families, to Catechize children and servants, I, and to perform other. Family-duties with them, in case the husband be absent, or not able, or not willing to discharge them. As for their Husbands, they may give Counsel, and advice unto them: Who, in case the Counsel be good, ought to receive it from their hands; Abraham must hearken to the Counsel of his wife Sarah, concerning her servant Hagar. More then this. They may admonish them, putting them in mind of their duties, I, and of their faults too sometimes, so it be done not in an imperious way, but with due observance, and respective acknowledgement of duty and subjection. They may and ought to hold forth their light, communicate their knowledge to them, if ignorant, instructing them in the ways of God, that they may bring them home unto Christ; or if brought home, that they may further build them up. How else should the believing wife save her unbelieving husband, (as Paul giveth her hopes of it) but by her godly conversation, and wise Instruction? This they may do to their Husbands, and this they may do to others. And that not only to those of the same Sex (as Paul requires of Matrons, that they should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Teachers of good things: viz. To young Women. So it followeth. That they may teach the young women to be sober (or wise ) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 : which they were to do both by example, and instruction also, as occasion was offered) But to Men also, in a private way. Thus did Briscilla communicate her knowledge in the way of Christ unto Apollo • , who was then (though otherwise a learned man) a novice and new beginner in Christianity She and her Husband Aquila expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. But this they did in a private way. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , They took him unto them. And thus indeed Women may teach and instruct others, both Women, and men, communicating the knowledge which God hath given them, in a private way. Wherein God is pleased sometimes to own and bless their endeavors, making them effectual for the converting of some, and confirming and building up of others. Cornelius à Lapide writing upon the 12. verse of this Chapter, giveth diverse instances for it, wherewith I shall not trouble you. All this Women may do.

But to teach publicly, or to exercise any public Administration in the Church, this they may not do. This (as it seemeth) some in Saint Paul's time began to do. Some being endued with extraordinary gifts, as of Prophesy, &c. (as we read of Philip the Evangelists four daughters, all Prophetesses ) they took upon them to speak in the public Congregations: And herein (as Estius conjectures) they might possibly be imitated and followed by some others. A like practice whereunto hath been taken up by some of that Sex in after Ages.

Epiphanius amongst his Heresies, tells us of a certain Sect known by the name of Quintilliani (so called from one Quintilla a pretended Prophetess ) who in honor of their great Grandmother Eve, and of that act of hers in eating of the forbidden fruit (which they highly magnified, as being the most beneficial act to her posterity that ever was, in as much as it made way for the bringing a Savior into the world; directly contrary to this of the Apostle, who here censures it for a high and heinous Transgression ) they would have women admitted to the Ministry, to be Presbyterae, and Episcopae, she-Presbyters, and she-Bishops, allowing them not only to Preach, but also to Administer the Sacraments. The latter of these it hath been, and yet is permitted by the Church of Rome, viz. That Women may in case of a pretended necessity, administer a Church Sacrament, the Sacrament of Baptism.

And I shall not need to tell it you, how the former hath been of late time practiced by some of that Sex. Instance in that notorious Mistress Hutchinson of New-England, who under a colorable pretext of repeating of Sermons, held a weekly Exercise, whereby in a little time she had empoisoned a considerable part of that Plantation with most dangerous and detestable, desperate and damnable Errors and Heresies.

Now this it is that the Apostle here interdicts and prohibits: enforcing his Inhibition with this Argument in the Text, The woman at the first being deceived, she was in the transgression. Taking upon her to be a Teacher at the first, she thereby seduced her husband, and undid all her posterity. From thenceforth therefore, in regard of the ill success of that her first teaching (as Chrysostom, and some others after him enforce the Argument) all of that Sex are forever suspended from the exercise of any such office, or gift in public. A point wherein the Apostle is very precise, and punctual, (as it seemeth the necessity of those times required it) Writing to his Corinthians, he giveth an express order about it, 1 Cor. 14. Let your Women keep silence in the Churches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak, &c. And in the ver. following: It is a shame for women to speak in the Church. A shame, because not only against a positive Law, but against the order of nature.

Henceforth then no more Women Preachers.

Object. No, (it may be said) What say we then to that of the Psalmist, Psal. 68.11? where he maketh mention of Women Preachers, The Lord gave the word, great was the company of Preachers. In the Original, the word is feminine 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Annunciatricum, as Montanus renders it) she-Preachers, Women-Evangelists, publishers of glad tidings.

Ans. To this let Mr. Ainsworth return the Answer, who will tell us, that however the word there be Feminine, yet the sense is Masculine, and is to be understood of men, as both the Chaldee and Septuagint there render it; for which he giveth some parallel instances of like nature. But, take the word literally and strictly, then it is to be understood only of such Women as were wont to sing songs unto God after the obtaining of any great Victory, or public Deliverance, which was usual for women then to do: As we may see in Miriam, Exod. 15. and Deborah, Judge. 5. and the Women of Israel, who came out to meet King Saul and David after the slaughter of the Philistines, 1 Sam. 18. No warrant then for Women- 〈…〉

Object. Why, but was not Miriam and Deborah, and Huldah, and some others which we read of, Women Teachers.

A. True, they were so, but that was extraordinary, and therefore ought not to be drawn into president, unless it be in extraordinary Cases. In which cases (as Doctor Fulks tells his adversaries of Reims ) God hath sometimes made use of Women as public instruments of great service to the Church, even for the converting of great Nations.

Object. Why, but Paul himself seemeth to give allowance to such Women-Preachers, and that in an ordinary way, 1 Cor. 11. where he tells his Corinthians that every woman which prayeth or prophecieth with her head uncovered, dishonoreth her head. So that it seemeth he did not disallow the practice, though he condemned the manner.

Ans. To this it is variously answered. The Apostle (saith Calvin and P. Martyr ) there takes occasion only to censure the manner, yet not giving any allowance to the practice itself, which afterwards he expressly forbids. Others conceive that here he speaks of private praying and prophesying, not in the Church, but at home: Others that he speaks only of women being present at the public prayer, and prophecy performed by others. Others that he speaketh there of such as were inspired with an extraordinary spirit of Prayer and Prophecy. So the Ancients generally carry it. And that seemeth to be the most probable. Sure we are that in an ordinary course the Apostles prohibition is expresle, Women may not teach in public. And were there no other Reason for it, this alone might be sufficient to silence them. The woman by her taking upon her to teach at the first, became the Instrument of Seduction, and Author of Transgression to her husband, and consequently of ruin to him and all his posterity. Henceforth then no more Women-Preachers. A point wherein Master Calvin seemeth to be very zealous, and earnest, averring this, for women to take upon them the office of Teaching, to be no less then a mingling of Heaven and earth together, an inversion of the course and order of nature. But for myself I shall spare my heat in this cause, not knowing whom to spend it upon, in or belonging to this place. If any such there be, I shall say no more but, Partem aliquam ventireferatis ad aures.

I wish this truth might find some conveyance to their ears and hearts.

Passe we to the second of these Lessons, which is, that women should be in subjection, not usurping Authority, but submitting to it, and that whether Ecclesiastical or Civil: not taking themselves exempt from either. True indeed, in some cases they are exempt from some formal obligations, (as of late they were from the National Covenant, ) which Men are engaged in. Yet are they never the more exempt from Obedience, to which, though they be not formally, yet they are virtually bound. Even as it was in Circumcision; the Females were Circumcised in the Males. So may I say of Obligations of this nature; and particularly of this late Covenant. The Females Covenanted in the Males, Women in their Husbands, to whom I am sure they ought to be subject.

That is the subjection which the Apostle here principally aims at, (though not excluding other.) So he explains himself in the twelfth verse of the Chapter, I suffer not a Woman to teach, nor to usurp Authority over the Man. Not to usurp Authority in what kind soever. All such usurpation (saith Calvin, ) is against the Law of nature, in as much as the Woman (saith he,) Ad parendum nata est, was made to obey. Which is no more then what the Apostle himself saith in that forenamed place, 1 Cor. 14.34. where speaking of Women he tells us, that They are commanded to be under Obedience, as also saith the Law: They may not then usurp Authority. Not Ecclesiastical Authority in the Church.

Object. No? (say our Adversaries of Rome, ) Why then did you allow a woman to be the head of your Church? It is an obvious blot. Romish Commentators writing upon this of the Apostle, cannot miss it. Estius and Cornelius â Lapide both hit it. What, (saith the latter) may not a Woman teach in the Church? Much less may she Rule it. And if neither Teach nor Rule, How is it then that a Woman should be the Head of a Church? This they exclaim against as a most prodigious and unheard of monstrosity.

Ans. To this let our renowned Bishop Jewel return them an Answer, (as he hath done to their Mr. Harding, taking up the same Quarrell) who will tell them, that as for this Title so much exclaimed against, be it what it will. 1. We devised it not. The device was their own, their Forefathers, even the Romish Clergyes in their Convocation; who first bestowed this strange style upon that Famous Prince, King Henry the Eight, and that (as it may be probably conjectured) purposely to bring him into the talk and slander of the world. 2. Our Princes use it not. 3. They claim it not. However (as he chargeth it upon his Adversarie) their Queen Mary did both, both own it, and use it; yet Queen Elizabeth did neither. No more do her Successors. To be the Head of the Church, (or a Church) in propriety of speech, is a title peculiar only unto Christ, whose Body the Church is. And therefore (however, (as he saith) it may also in sober meaning and good sense be sometimes applied to some principal member, or members of a Church, as he brings in Chrysostom speaking of some Women at Phillippi, and calling them the Head of the Church there, yet) in a proper sense, it cannot be challenged by any Man, much less Woman.

Who whether she may be the Head of a Civil State, or no, some have made it a Question. Calvin, being (as I Conjecture) seasoned with the principles of the Salique Law in France, which forbiddeth a Woman to inherit the Crown in that Kingdom, seemeth to be somewhat earnest against it. But who so readeth but the stories of Israel's Deborah, and England's Elizabeth, may see by experience that a Kingdom may flourish, and be happy under such a Government. Neither is this to be looked upon as any inverting of the roder of Nature for a Princesse to wear the Crown to which she is born, and to Rule over her Subjects, more then for the Mistress of a Family to rule over her Children and Servants. This the Woman may do, in as much as God hath made them subject to her, and consequently can be no usurpation.

But to usurp Authority over the man, over her Husband, this the Apostle Paul and Peter will by no means allow. In this case 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , of necessity she must be subject. Ye Wives (saith St. Peter) be in subjection to your own Husbands, 1 Pet. 3.1. Wives submit yourselves to your own Husbands, (saith St. Paul ) Eph. 5.22. Repeated again, Col. 3.18.

[Reason.] And great Reason it should be so. This being the Law of the creation, that the Woman who was made after the man, and for the man, should be subject to him; Seconded with a penalty inflicted upon her, upon her defection in regard of that ill office which she did unto him at the first in seducing him. Being deceived (saith the Text) she was in the Transgression. Hereupon she is enjoined, (though still as free and ingenuous, yet) a stricter kind of subjection, and obedience then formerly. Henceforth, (saith the Lord to the Woman, Gen. 3.) Thy desire shall be subject to thy Husband, and he shall Rule over thee. Why, did he not so before? Yes, but now his Patent was enlarged, and her liberty somewhat abridged. And it was but Reason (saith M. Calvin ) that it should be so; that she who had given such pernicious Council to her Husband, should ever after be under his Government; that she who had been the Instrument to withdraw her Husband from his Allegiance to his God, should thereupon forfeit her own liberty, which accordingly she did, and that both for her self, and all her posterity.

A Point not unuseful to be considered, and sometimes seriously thought of by all of that Sex, specially such as are of such high and imperious spirits (if there be any such here, let them take it home with them) as if they were made only to Rule, not at all to obey. Their spirits will not stoop to any kind of subjection, specially to their Husbands, (whom it may be) they look upon as Michal did upon her Husband David when she saw him dancing before the Ark, despising them in their hearts; No, they are resolved they will have their wills. Let their Husbands say what they will, they will do what they list; not regarding their Counsels, much less acknowledging their Authority. It may be they stick not to usurp Authority over them. So did Jezebel over her husband Ahab; He ruleth the Kingdom, and she will rule him, not sticking to make bold with his name, I and with his signet too, signing what she pleaseth with it.

Such Spirits there have been, and surely yet are in some of that Sex. If their Husbands wear the Crown, yet they will sway the Scepter. If their Husbands be in places of Authority, they will Rule with them, if not over them. Now as for such, it will not be amiss for them often to reflect upon this fatal miscarriage of their first Mother, which God hath purposely left upon record to humble them, to bring down, and keep down their spirits, that they may not be lifted up within them above what is meet; however, not so, as to put them upon any such unnatural Ambition, as to usurp Authority over their husbands, to whom they ought and must be subject.

Quest. But wherein subject? What, in all things?

Ans. Not so. This subjection is not boundless and unlimited. That were to make the man a Tyrant, and the woman a stave, neither of which ought to be. Take the boundary therefore from the Apostle himself in that forenamed place, Col. 3. where requiring wives to submit to their Husbands, and giving a reason for it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Vt oportet, as it must be in regard of God's Institution; or, Vt convenit, as it is meet that it should be; or, Vt decet, as it is seemly and comely for to be, in regard of the order of nature; withal he bounds and limits that their submission. It must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , in the Lord, i.e. in the fear of the Lord, with an eye to his Ordinance, and in the Lord, i.e. in what shall be required from God, and for God, not against him. This is the common boundary, which bounds and limits Subjects obedience to their Prince, Children's to their Parents, servants to their Masters, and so wives to their Husbands. Shall any of them command anything against God; now the rule holds, Better obey God, then man.

Q. But what if it be against Conscience.

Ans. Conscience must be directed and regulated by the word, otherwise it is not conscience but will, (which too often is mistaken for conscience ) or at the best an erroneous conscience, which must rather be rectified then satisfied. In such cases where the evidence is not clear, the safest course is to submit to this Ordinance, which I am sure is clear, viz. that women should be in subjection to their own husbands, either in doing what they require, or at least in not doing what they forbid. I might here instance in some particular cases, such as the scruples of the times bring to hand. I shall only single out one, and that I will but touch upon: viz. The woman's forsaking of that Church whereof her husband is a member, and joining herself by Covenant to some other, and that without his consent, if not against his will.

In this case it must be acknowledged, that could it be made good by clear evidence, that that Church from which this departure is made, were no true Church, but Anti-Christian, now there might be some plea for this their Separation: But this being granted, that that Church is a true Church, such a Church as wherein salvation may be had in an ordinary way (though possibly not so perfect as some other may be conceived to be) now in this case for the wife to desert that Church, and to join herself to another, so as they who lie in the same bed, and in the eye both of God's Law and man's are both one, should yet be of two Churches, it is such a solecism, such an absurdity in Christianity, as I think the world never saw practiced, much less heard pleaded for, until this last Age. So it is, though it should be with the husbands consent. Much more if without it; much more if against it.

It is a thing which Protestants have ever condemned as a foul error in the Church of Rome, that persons who are not sui Juris, at their own dispose, but under the command of others (as children that are under the command of Parents, and servants that are under the command of Masters ) should engage themselves in any Religious vow without the consent of their Superiors, though it be under pretext of attaining a more perfect State. And if so, then let it be inquired with what warrant the wife, who is under subjection, can upon a like pretext desert that Church, whereof her Husband is a Member (being a true Church ) and engage herself by Covenant unto another, and that without his consent, if not against it. Surely, if this be to submit themselves to their own Husbands, I know not what it is to usurp Authority over them. But I shall leave this, and withal the weaker Sex, to whom I have spoken somewhat more fully and largely, in as much as the Text looketh directly and principally at them.

I am engaged by promise to speak somewhat also to the other Sex. Let me disengage myself with what brevity may be, in as much as their Lesson from hence cometh in only in a Collateral way, and not so directly as the former.

Was the woman deceived at the first, and being deceived was she in the Transgression? What use shall men make of this:

Nay, rather (in the first place) what use shall they not make of it? It is a truth that is subject to be abused, perverted. And therefore let me first put in a Caveat to prevent that abuse, which in brief is this.

Let not this be taken up in a contumelious way to the disparagement of the Sex. Let not any of the Sons of Adam take occasion from hence to disdain or undervalue the daughters of Eve, so as to disrespect their persons, or despise their counsels. Holy Job durst not despise the cause of his man-servant or maid-servant when they contended with him. Far be it from Husbands then to despise the counsels of their Wives, because of their Sex. The Story tells us in that two and twentieth chapter of the second Book of Kings, how Hilkiah the chief Priest, and Shaphan the Scribe, and divers other eminent personages, by the order of King Josiah, addressed themselves to a woman, viz. Huldah the Prophetess, to consult with her in a matter of Religion, touching the Book of the Law which was found in the Temple, and to inquire what course they should take for the expiating of those many and great Violations of that Law, the guilt whereof then lay upon the Land. And in the second of Samuel, cap. 20. we read how Joab that great Commander disdained not to hearken to the Counsel of a Woman at Abel, as did also the rest of the Citizens there. Good Counsel ought not to be rejected from what hand soever it cometh, much less because from the hand of a Woman. True, the Woman was deceived at the first, and by her counsel was a means to deceive her Husband. That first Counsel succeeded ill, & proved Destructive to him that hearkened to it. But what then? Must her Counsel therefore no more be hearkened to? Not so. Let not this first miscarriage be remembered in such a way, or yet in any way that may be to the prejudice or disparagement of the Sex.

No reason for it. In as much as Christ himself hath sufficiently repaired and restored that Sex in point of Honor. This he did in the days of his flesh, in showing many tokens of special grace and favor to some of that Sex. But more sully after his Resurrection, in appearing first unto them. Therein did he apply a Salve to this first Soar, and that a very proper one, salving, and taking of the scar and blemish of that first infirmity, as may appear in some particulars. 1. Did Satan appear and speak first to the Woman? So did Christ after his Resurrection first appear, and reveal himself to the Woman. 2. Was the Woman first deceived by Satan's Suggestions? So was the Woman here first undeceived, as touching the mysteries of Christ's Resurrection, and that by his own Instructions. 3. Was the Woman made the Instrument to deceive the man?

Lo here the woman made an Instrument to undeceive the man, to undeceive even the Apostles themselves, who (as it seemeth) were in a great measure mistaken about the Mystery of the Resurrection, until such time as they had received it from the Women, who had been eye and ear Witnesses of it. Such honor did Christ himself put upon this Sex; making those women (as Jerome saith elegantly) Apostolorum Apostolas, Apostelesses to the very Apostles themselves. Let not then this old sore, which is so fairly and thoroughly healed be ever rubbed upon again in any such a way to the contumelious disparagement of the Sex. This being promised by way of Caution; Let me now show you what use men may, and ought to make of this infirmity in that Sex.

Or rather let Saint Peter do it for me, who hath comprised the sum of all that I shall say in a few words, in the former part of one verse, 1 Pet. 3.7. Where speaking of Conjugall duties, he willeth husbands to dwell with their wives, according to knowledge, giving honor to them as being the weaker vessels. Mark it. Such is the Woman, in course of nature, the weaker Vessel, weaker then the man, and that both in body and mind. And being so, in regard of this her natural infirmity, she challengeth from the man a threefold respect: 1. That he must dwell with her. 2. Dwell with her according to knowledge; and 3. Give honor to her: A word of each.

1. Dwell with her. This respect do Husbands owe to their Wives, Cohabitation, so as not to estrange or absent themselves from them without just and necessary occasion. In all probability had Adam been present with his Wife, Satan would not have set upon her, or if he had, yet she had not been so deceived as she was.

The unnecessary absence of Husbands from their Wives oft times exposeth them to many dangerous temptations, which otherwise might either be prevented or frustrated. Which let it be taken notice of by those ill husbands (so I may call them in more respects then one) who care not how little they are within their own doors: There neighbors house (it may be) is better to them then their own. Nay possibly, they can spend whole days, it may be nights too, in the Tavern, in the Ale house, Gaming, and Drinking (if not worse,) whilst in the mean time they leave their wives pensive, and discontented at home. Little do such regard, or consider what temptations those weaker vessels are hereby exposed to. Which if they did, and withal bare any true affection to them, they would not give way to such unnecessary estrangements. Here is the first of these duties, Cohabitation. Husbands must therefore dwell with their Wives (so far forth as the calling will permit) because the weaker vessels. Being so weak so infirm, and so apt to be deceived, it is not good that they should be lest two much alone.

2. Dwell with them according to knowledge. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Scienter, prudenter. Knowingly, discreetly, wisely. The more weak the Woman is, the more wise the man had need to be, that so he may set his wisdom against her weakness. Exercising his wisdom specially in these four particulars.

1. In bearing with her weakness. This respect all Christians owe one unto another; We that are strong (saith the Apostle) ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. Much more Husbands to their Wives. So long as they are infirmities, bear them. I, though there should be somewhat more in them; yet be contented to bear much. It will be a point of wisdom so to do, and that in more regards then one.

2. Bearing their infirmities, help them. It is one office which the Spirit of Christ, performeth unto all that are Espoused to him; It helpeth their infirmities, Rom. 8. And this office should Husbands perform to their Wives. Do what in them lieth to help their infirmities. Help them, and that (as Physicians do the Infirmities of their Patients, ) first in a way of Prevention; then of Cure.

1. By way of Prevention, doing what they may to keep them from falling, from being Deceived. To that end leading them, going before them in a holy, and Religious Example: then staying them, by suggesting to them seasonable Counsels and Admonitions, and those so qualified, so mixed, and tempered with love and sweetness, as that they may not be rendered distasteful to them. In some cases also using gentler, or stronger Revulsions, or restraints, as necessity requireth.

2. By way of Cure. In case they be fallen, now seek the raising, and restoring of them; Which must be done in a Spirit of meekness. This Paul requires from all Christians towards their Brethren. If any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the Spirit of Meekness, Gal. 6. Even as it is with bones, which are broken, or dis jointed, (for from hence the Metaphor there is taken, as some conceive it) they require a soft and tender hand to set or put them in again. So should Christians deal one with another. Specially husbands with their wives. Being bone of their bone, in case they be out of jont, labor to set them right, but let it be with all possible tenderness. In case they be deceived, seek to undeceive them, but let it be with all lenity and gentleness. Thus the Apostle requires Ministers should deal with their deceived people; In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if peradventure God will give them Repentance. And so let Husbands deal with their deceived wives. Thus Bearing, thus Helping their Infirmities.

3. Bu • (in the third place) so bearing, and so helping them, as that yet they may not nourish them. It is Calvin's caveat upon that Text of Saint Peter; Let Husbands bear with their wives weaknesses, yet so as they do not feed their follies. Such indulgence is no ways allowable, as not in Parents towards their children, so nor in Husbands towards their Wives. In this respect Husbands must dwell with their wives according to wisdom, one property whereof is so to tolerate evils, as not to foment and cherish them.

4. In the last place; Taking heed of feeding their follies, withal take heed of being infected with them, deceived by them. So was the first Man; and so was the strongest man; and so was the wisest man: Adam, Sampson, Solomon, each deceived by the woman. And surely so have many been, and daily are in these seducing times, drawn aside into Errors by like Instruments, even those that lie in their bosoms. In this regard therefore let husbands be cautelous, dwelling with their wives as men of knowledge.

3. A last respect due unto the Woman in regard of her weakness is yet behind, of which but a word. And that is the giving honor unto her. Honor, not as from the inferior to the superior; but honor as to the weaker vessel. Which consisteth chiefly in three particulars. 1. In hiding their weak esse. 2. In defending them against injuries. 3. In providing what is meet for them. All these ways nature teacheth us to put honor upon the less honorable parts of the body, as the Apostle telleth us, 1 Cor. 12.23. And all these ways both Nature and Grace should teach Husbands to give honor to their Wives.

1. By hiding their weaknesses, which in truth in regard of that conjugal union betwixt them, are their own weaknesses: and therefore ought to be hid so far forth as may be without sin. Not divulged, and proclaimed abroad, as the manner of some is, who do thereby but discover and blaze their own shame.

2. Defending them against wrongs and injuries; specially being very tender of their reputations, and good names; As Joseph was of the Reputation of his espoused Mary.

3. Providing for them, allowing them liberal and honorable maintenance, not only for necessity but for conveniency, according to their own estate, degree, and quality. Remembering that they were made non in servitutem, sed in adjutorium, not to be slaves, or yet servants, but helps, yoakefellowes; and so ought to be regarded, respected, honored accordingly.

And thus I have, as briefly as I could, given you the heads of such duties as the Woman challengeth from the Man in regard of her original, and natural weakness. And withal at length dispatched what I projected to myself when I took this portion of Scripture in hand, which I here profess, not any propense inclination of my own to Subjects of this nature (which from my heart I wish I might never have occasion anymore to meddle with) but the present necessity of the times and place put me upon. Let me now dismiss it, and you with Prayer for a Blessing.