An Instrument From that little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands, to help to break in Pieces, that Great Image which Daniel mentions, Ch. 2. whose Feet was part Iron and part Clay.

OR, A few Queries written to satisfie the chief Preacher in the Inde­pendent Church in Bedford, who desired the Author to write unto him, what Proofs he had for a Woman's speaking in the Church. He being concerned that so many of his Hearers should leave him to go to hear Margaretti Everard declare what God had done for her Soul, the 17th day of June last at my dwelling in Bedford.

Published for the Information of all Professors in Religion, that are part strong and part weak (as the feet of the said Image) that is, part strong in a good Belief of what Christ Jesus in mer­cy suffered for all Mankind.

But weak in Faith, in not believing that Christ by his sufferings purchased a measure of his grace in every Soul, that brings Sal­vation to as many as are faithfull thereto, Tit. 2.11.

That they may no longer (like the harden'd Jews) expect another Grace or Saviour, (that is) a restraining Grace that shall force them out of their Sins.

Poor Hearts! who has taught you, that God will except of forc'd Love, when Men doth not esteem such Love each to other.

By WILLIAM MATHER, A true Lover of every Soul.

LONDON, Printed for Sarah Howkins, in George-Yard in Lombard­street, 1694.

FRIEND.

WHereas, Thou bid me write unto thee, my proofs, for a Woman's speaking in the Church; and because Mens speaking there, relates thereto, I shall add some­what of it also; therefore to satisfie thee (if I can,) I think best to do it by way of Query, (the fewer words) that I may give oc­casion to none to say I go about to teach thee, who art a Teach­er to so many People.

1. Did St. Paul write, That a Woman should not be permitted to speak in the Church? Wilt thou not suppose, he meant the should not speak, so as to ask Questions to raise Disputes? Thou wile ac­knowledge, she ought to come to Church, and not learn only of her Husband at home? If not, how must the Widow do to learn? If it had been as thou supposes, That a Woman was not to speak at all in the Church, Paul would not have said, That [...] -man, that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, [...] her head, 1 Cor. 11.5. And was not Phillip's sour Daughters Prophetesses, Acts 21.9. and wherein is the difference between Prophesying and Preaching?

2. Is it not recorded in the Book of Martyrs, that after William White, a Preacher, was burnt for the Truth, his Wife followed his Steps, fowing abroad the same Doctrine, confirmed many in Gods Truth, wherefore she suffered much trouble and punishment, whe­ther or no, did the Church then do well to let her teach?

3. Dost thou own the Church of England's Catechism, in which is written, That Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord are Signs of an inward and spiritual Grace? Now whether any in these days need to use the Signs that witness the Substance, (that is,) The In­ward and Spiritual Grace, to cleanse their Souls from Sin. An­swer, yea or nay? Seeing this grace, that came by Jesus Christ, brings Salvation to all that obey it, Tit. 2.11. 1 Cor. 12.7. Rom. 1.19.

4. Whether or no, may not a Woman as well as a Man declare in a Congregation, the Experiences she has had of the power and virtue of this inward and spiritual Grace in her Soul, and how that by the alone help thereof, she has forsaken the Devil and all his Works? If she did not speak this to people God would condemn [Page 2]her. Do not Women speak their Experiences in your Church and Sing Then not always si­lent.? Then Woman may speak in the Church; and whe­ther mans wisdom that preaches, be not the Woman, that should not be permitted to teach in the Church, yea or nay, 1 Cor. 2.4.13.

5. Whether or no, are not both Men and Women, Intrudors that do teach in a Religious Meeting other things than what they experimentally witness of the work of this inward and spiritual grace in their Souls? Bring Scriptures only as a proof, when di­vinely inspired, (by Gods grace) so to do; for Paul would preach, of what God had wrought in him, 2 Cor. 10.15. Rom. 2.21.

6. Dost thou believe, that this inward and spiritual grace is a witness against all Sin, in every Soul, and that People now are to have no other Teacher in this the day of Christ's spiritual ap­pearance, or second coming in Spirit to cleanse the Soul from Sin, And that Man is no more to be accounted of, no further than to encourage others to come and obey Christ's Grace in them, a Tea­cher that cannot be removed into a corner, Isa. 30.20. Joh. 6.45.

7. Dost thou believe that this spiritual day of Grace is dawned? And that there are thousands of Souls in this Nation, that do wit­ness God's promise fulfilled in their Souls, (that is,) of teaching his people himself, Joe l 2.28. by his inward and spiritual grace; that they need not the teachings of Man (as many of us witness, 1 John 2.27.) Peaised be the Lord for it. Yet, it's a great comfort to us, to hear a Man or Woman declare what they know of God, and also to read in the holy Scri­ptures, the Saints Warfare and Experiences; though none of these things will do a Soul good, except he turn in his Mind, so as to obey this inward and spiritual grace: For nature is dark as to the things of God, almost as a Beast, without applying to God's Grace for help; the alone Armor of a Christian to keep off the Darts of the Devil.

8. Didst thou ever know a Man, that sinned every day, and did believe he must do so as long as he lived, that ever turned one Soul to God, We must sin every day, saith this Prea­cher unto me, June 18.—94. (that is) to obey God's grace faithfully? If thou didst, Then one Sinner can convert another, and before a man is con­verted, he can strengthen his Brethren; Is not this impossible?

9. Did not Jesus come into the World as born of a Virgin to save all people from sinning here, Matth. 1.21. If they will obey his Talent of Grace in them? and I also ask whether a man is any further saved by Christ, than he is saved from Sin? For if he is not sanctified, or saved from committing of Sin, the fault is not [Page 3]in God's Grace, which is always ready to give power to resist all Temptations, except such as have sinned out their days.

10. Whether all that have a form of Godliness, and deny the power thereof, are not to be turned away from? And whether all those that believe, that the inward and spiritual grace in all men, will not or has not power to cleanse the Soul from Sin (if obeyed) do not deny the power of Godliness, and are yet in Babylon, Rev. 18.4.

11. Didst not thou affirm to me, that the Light of Man in us was darkness, when it is a Light from Christ in the Soul, whereby the Soul may see its way to please God, John 1.4.? It is called also Grace, Spirit, Word in the heart, The anointing, &c. 1 John 2.27. If thou hates this Light, thou hates Christ. lis true, that all hate the Light, that love their evil deeds, Joh. 3.19.20.21.

12. What Scripture-proof hast thou for reading a line in verse for the people to sing? And whether people can sing to the praise of God, whose Souls are not raised out of the Grave of Sin? See­ing the Apostle saith, If the dead rise not, preaching is vain? And whether God is not as really worshipped by praying by a Book, as singing by a Book.

13. What Scripture-proof hast thou for taking a verse in the Scripture, and studying a long discourse from it? And whether the peoples hearing such long Sermons or Speeches be God's Wor­ship? And whether God can be worshipped any where but in the Centre of the Soul? And whether Persecutors or Informers could ever disturb God's spiritual Worship? And whether the first that speaks in the Church, is not to hold his peace, if any thing is revealed to another that sits by, that he may speak also, 1 Cor. 14.13?

14. Didst not thou affirm to me, that there are Three persons in Trinity or God-head? I hope thou wilt answer that with thy Scrpture-proofs, as the other above in Love, as in Love I write this at thy desire.

Concluding with this caution, That thou take heed, that thou speaks no more evil of a people, that thou knowest not, (that is) The Christian Quaker; because I am sure thou caust not know them, except the said Inward and Spiritual Grace was thy only Teacher. Now, that it may be thy guide, that by it thou might be impowred to turn many to it, that thereby, they may receive strength to walk in the path of righteousness to please God, is the Prayer of him that loves all people.

June 22. —94.
W. M.

TO the Queries above, I do not hear that he intends me an answer in writing; the best answer I desire is, That he make choice of Christ's inward and spiritual Grace, for his only Teacher, then may he be enabled to prevail with many of his hearers to obey the same. This indeed would be a happy day which I have long hoped for.

The truth is, since he had the Queries above, he has in his Pulpit advised his Hearers, To cleanse their Souls from sin: Alas! what doth that avail, together with his telling them of the Torments of Hell, except their minds are turned into the Centre of their Souls, there to Worship God, in his inward and spiritual Grace, for no­thing else can cleanse their Souls from Sin, and make them be­come Worshippers of God in Spirit and in Truth; silently wait­ing (out of their own thoughts:) A strange thing to this Preacher, John 4. who has already derided waiting in silence upon God; for he can preach, pray and sing when he will, contrary to the Primitive Christians

One of this Preachers hearers (whom I sent the Queries to him by) told me, he did believe he was not yet satisfied, that a Woman should be permitted to speak in the Church, caused me to add the Queries that follows, (otherwise I think I had writ no more) yet hoping he may turn in his mind to Christ's Grace in himself, so may he turn many to a righteous and holy Conversation; then will he shine as a bright Star in the Firmament of Truth; he ha­ving such a fair opportunity to win Souls to God, (having such a great number of Hearers.) Oh! happy is that man that turns one Soul to God that is) to obey Christ's inward and spiritual Grace faithfully! Oh! that God in mercy would be pleased to shew him in what he trusts, but God's time is the best time for him and the Turks and Jews to see their blindness: God's will be done.

Lastly, God knows my heart, I do not write the following in Enmity to any Person or Persons whatever, but only in what I can incline my Readers to chuse God's Grace in themselves to be their Armor to keep off the Snares of the Devil and develish Men.

And that none that reads these Lines, may any longer reject the Chief corner Stone, the said Grace or Light in them, that beams [...] the Sun of righteousness in their Souls, whereby they may [Page 5]plainly see all the crooked by-paths of the World, the Flesh and the Devil, that leads to everlasting misery after Death; and also may see by that Light from Christ in them, how to walk safely in the strait and narrow, but delightfull Path, that leads to God's Kingdom to have a Life of endless Joy with God for ever, so be it, Amen.

The second part of Queries: which, I hope, will fully satisfie this In­dependent Preacher, That a woman may speak in the Church, when moved by God's Grace so to do.

15. Hast thou not read, that the ancient Jews was not for per­mitting Women and Children to ask Questions in the Church, and was not Paul of the same mind?

16. Is not Male and Female all one in Christ, and whether any but Deceivers will limit God, that he shall not send a message by a Woman.

17. Did not God send a Woman among your persecuting Bre­thren in New-England, with her face blackt, as a sign to them for their wicked lives, that the Black-Pox should come upon them, which accordingly came to pass? See Geo. Keith's Visible Church in New-England.

18. Dost thou believe that Paul ever forbid any Woman to speak or teach in the Church, that was moved thereto by the Spirit of Christ? And whether a woman was not a fellow labourer with Paul in the work of the Gospel?

19. Whether Paul ever forbid any other women to speak in the Church, except those talkative women in the Church of Corinth, who troubled the Church with their unprofitable questions?

20. Hast thou not a strong zeal against a womans preaching found Doctrine? I wish thy zeal was as strong against thy women Hearers, who are now so stiff-necked as to carry the Devils Towers on their heads, whilst thou art teaching them to leave pride: And the men that are so proud as to wear womens Hair that was bak't in Pyes to make it remain in Curles, and must be powder'd too. Is not this abomination? Look back to your ancestors called Puri­tans, whose short Locks, little Bands, and plain modest Apparel became a Cross to the vain World? But you as well as all o­ther religious Professions, have degenerated from their first Inno­cence; and how many of thy proud hearershast thou admonish­ed [Page 6]for their pride at their own houses, as is thy duty, if a true Preacher?

21. Was not that woman that Jesus met at Jacob's Well, Joh. 4. a Preacher, who declared to the men of the City, Come, see a man that hath told me all that ever I did, is not this the Christ? Can any man now preach better Doctrine? and was it not a woman that published Christ's Resurrection?

22. Did not Luther affirm, That every good Christian, (not on­ly Men, but even Women also) is a Preacher?

23. How darest thou preach against pride, when most of you seek as much as you can to promote pride; for do not you unco­ver your heads, bow and bend oftener to a fine long Tower or Top­knot, than to God? Doth not such worshipping Images make the proud hearts more puff't up with pride, making those Idols deck themselves the finer next time (if they can) that they may be the more worshipped and bowed unto? You calling men frequently Sir, Sir, at every turn, to flatter them though mean in the world,) and the women Mistresses to flatter, when you have read Joh. 5 44. How can you believe, that receive honour one of another? and against flattering Titles, Job 32.21, 22. 1 Thess. 2.5. And to call no man Master, that is not really your Master. But you can twist these Doctrines of Christ to serve self-interest, as you do that Doctrine of not swearing at all, Matth. 5.34. James 5.12. and others, be­ing out of the true Faith, that's without respect of persons, James 2.1, 2.

24. Was Franciscus Lambertus in the right or no, who writes, ‘But above all things be carefull thou follow not the manner of Hypocrites, who have written almost more by word, what they are to say, as if they were to repeat some Verses upon a Theatre, have learned all their Preachings, as they do that act Tragedies (or Plays) and afterwards when they are in the place of Prophesying, pray the Lord to direct their Tongues, but in the mean time shutting up the way of the holy Spirit, they deter­mine to say nothing but what they have written. O unhappy kind of Prophets, yea, and truly cursed, which depend not up­on God's Spirit, but upon their own Writings or Meditations? Why prayest thou to the Lord, thou false Prophet, to give thee his holy Spirit, by which thou mayest speak things profitable, and yet thou repellest the Spirit? Why preferrest thou thy Meditation or Study to the Spirit of God? otherwise, why com­mittest [Page 7]thou not thy self to the Spirit. Again, (saith he) The Sheep of Christ seeketh nothing but the Voice of Christ, which he knoweth by the Holy Spirit, wherewith he is fill'd, he re­gards not learning Tongues (or Languages To make a Minister, for that avails not.) or any outward thing, so as therefore to believe this or that to be the Voice of Christ his true Shepherd, he knoweth that there is need of no other thing but the Testimony of God's Spirit, &c. Tract. 5. Prophecy, Chap. 3.24.’ And doth not Dr. Everard, an Inde­pendent, write the only method that holy Men of old observed, was to speak as they were moved by the Holy Spirit?

25. Whether or no, are not such Teachers gross Hypocrites, that at the end of their Worship say to their Hearers, I commit you to God's Grace, when they intend no such thing; for if their Hear­ers chuse God's Grace in themselves for their chief Guide and only Teacher, and by the help thereof come to forsake the Devil and all his Works, the Pride and Vanity of this wicked World, throw­ing by those hellish Towers from the Womens Heads? These vain Teachers will be the first that will mock them, and it may be tell them, you are going to be a Quaker, and that they think is the odiousest name they can give them; little considering what these Teachers forced poor Men and Women (calling them God­fathers and Godmothers) to Promise and Vow for Infants, that they shall forsake the Devil, and the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World, which brings to a state of perfection, and yet these Teachers will deny that Perfection is attainable on this side the Grave, contrary to Scripture, Matth. 5.48. and 11.29, 30. Joh. 1.8. Gen. 6.9. 1 Joh. 5.3. and 1.10.8.5. and 2.4. and 36. Rev. 22.14. Eph. 4.11, 12, 13.

26. Is it not great Hypocrisy in thee, to bid thy Hearers when thou art in thy Pulpit, To cleanse their Souls from Sin; and out of thy Pulpit say to me, We must sin every day as long as we live? And also to tell them in thy Pulpit for Doctrine, The reason why so many die in sin eternally, is because they will; and at other times tell them, That a certain number of Souls are elected and the rest reprobated to Eternity before they have done Good or Evil, (is not this Mystery Babylon in one of her sinest dresses?) Alas! none are reprobated before they have acted much Evil; nor are Infants that know not Love, Rom. 4.15 and 5.13. as full of Sin, as a Toad is full of Poyson, as a Member of thy Church said in my hearing; The Election is in Christ the true Seed, and all that joyns [Page 8]to him are entring into the Election, and continuing faithfull comes to be chosen.

The reprobate Seed is the Devil, who rules in the Hearts of wicked People that obey not Christ's Grace in them so, by a con­tinual Resistance of the Reprooss of God's Grace comes to be in a reprobate State.

27. Has not many poor Souls been almost (or quite) distracted about, your Sin-pleading Notions, and the frothy Lives of too many of you, but most chiefly about a Notion you are said to hold, That God bids men believe, and be saved, and not gives power to do so?

And have you not said to such poor bewildered Souls, Your Distraction is in order to the work of God upon your Souls? fear not, if you die, you shall go to Heaven; for once in Grace ever in Grace, contrary to these Scriptures, Ezek. 18.26. Joh. 15.6. Rom. 11.20. 1 Cor. 9.27. 2 Pet. 1.10. Heb. 3.12, 13. and 4. 11. and 6. 4, 5, 6. and 12.15. 2 Tim. 4.3. and 4.10. and 2.17, 18. 1 Tim. 1.18, 19. and 4.1. 1 Thess. 3 5. 2 Pet. 2.14.13.18.22. And remember how by your judging young Whit [...]man, late of Carding­ton, you brought into distraction. See somewhat thereof in p. 218. of the 4th Edition of the Young-man's Companion.

28. Has not those of thy Church lost Christian Charity, that said (as I am informed) that if the Quakers should have one Meet­ing in your Meeting-house (I once desiring it one day when you might spare it,) They should never after think to go into it again? Fie, fie, pray no more for the Conversion of the Jews and Turks, what would you have them to convert to? For what can they expect from you, that has so little Love for your Fellow-Christians that truly worship the same God, as you say you do, owning Christ Jesus, a Patron of Meekness and Lowliness, and that his Follow­ers should be so.

But for brevity sake I shall now pass by several of your Actings; yet to a little mind you of your want of good example, in bringing Boys with you to the Meeting, and let them play at the Door in Sermon-time by making of Noises, throwing Hats at each other (with thy He can­not be a true Tea­cher, that has no au­thority to rule his ouin Fami­ly well. Be [...]rders) and into my Orchard adjoyming, and also throwing Stones into the middle of my Orchard to sp [...] my Trees, that I verily believe the Boys have thrown Cart loads of Stones from your Meeting-yard into my Orchard within these 5 years last past, thy Hearers laughing or smiling to see them, and yet [Page 9]you will order no man to keep good Orders in the time of your Worship, though the Magistrates have often told you of it; yea one of the Magistrates told me, that be said to some of you, It was a shame you kept [...] Discipline and that it was more like a Play-house, than a place of Religious Worship; yet though I have been often wronged by these things, I bear no Enmity to any of them.

Now considering that some of those People that have seen the first part of the Queries in writing, begin to consider that there's no true satisfection to the Soul in h [...]ing man's wisdom preach, Act. 2.4. 1 Cor. 1 17, 20, 21. and 2, 3, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 2.17. tho they have been learning of Man 30 or 40 years, and neglect the Teaching of Christ's inward [...] my heart to publicsh them in the fear of God and true Love to all; hoping they may be of some service to these who have not yet cho­sen Christ's inward and spiritual Grace for their Teacher.

To [...] I am very sensible, [...] are a few [...] Hearts amongst this People, whom my Soul dearly loves. I [...] after Righteousness, that God might [...] them therewith, and that Righteousness might fill the [...]. Hearts of all Men and Women. These, I say, truly loves all People, yea their very Enemies.

These, and all such as these, where-ever they are walking at present, (and of different Forms of Worship at this time) are of the true Seed of Sion, of whom glorious things are spoken of in the Holy Scripture, and which the Lord loves above all the Dwel­ings of Judah, above all the Out-works of formal ways of all Professions, it's they that honour the God of Heaven, and maketh his Name to be loved in the Earth.

These truly noble self-denying Souls will not go to any place to preach before God has sent them; and if sent, will be of Paul's mind, To work with their hands rather than to make the Gospel changeable. And in the mind of Prosper, an ancient Protestant, who saith, That he that takes any thing for Preaching, and is able to live of himself, loth it not without Sin. Oh that many more might be rais'd up, that delights in a holy Conversation to please God, that the Name of the Lord may be magnified in the Earth, is the Prayer of

William Mather.

For these worthy and renowned Souls will not (to get Money for preaching) shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men, by telling them, (as too many Teachers do now) That the small Ta­lent of Grace, that troubles you in your Conscience when you do evil, is not the Key to God's Kingdom.

A Testimony.

SELDEN, the greatest Scholar and Antiquary of his time, one who had taken a diligent Survey of what Knowledge was conside­rable amongst the Jews, Heathens and Christians; at last profes­seth this towards the end of his days, (in his Conference with Bi­shop Usher,) That notwithstanding he had been so laborious in his In­quiries, and curious in his Collections, and had possest himself of a Trea­sure of Books and Manuscripts in all ancient Subjects, yet he could rest his Soul on none save the Scriptures; and above all, that passage lay most remarkable upon his Spirit, Tit. 2.11, 12, 13, 14, 15. For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation, hath appeared to all men, Teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for the bles­sed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might reedem us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. See W. P. No Cross, no Crown, p. 388. and the Character of a true Christian, in p. 54. in my Young Man's Companion.

BEDFORD, Aug. 20. —94.
THE END.

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