Women laboring in Public.
By I. Fetterhoof
OUGHT women to take a part in public worship? to pray and exhort, encourage others to love and serve God? We believe it is not only their privilege, but their duty, so to do. 1. It must be admitted that under the Mosaic dispensation women were owned as prophetesses, and took part in the worship of God, and gave counsel as God directed them. Miriam, the prophetess, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her. And Miriam answered them, “Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously.” Ex. 15:20, 21. 2. The Lord made Deborah to have dominion over the mighty. Judges 5:1–13. She was called a prophetess, and judged Israel. Judges 4:4. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment (verse 5). She arose a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7. 3. Huldah was a prophetess in Israel. The king told his nobles and his priests to inquire of God for him. 2 Kings 22:13. And they went to Huldah the prophetess (verse 14), and she said unto them, “Thus saith the Lord.” Verse 15. The Lord influenced her to speak, and directed her what to speak. 4. Anna was a prophetess. She departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayer night and day. She gave thanks unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Luke 2:36–38. Thus we see that under the old dispensation God gave of his Spirit to women, and made prophetesses of them, and directed them how to speak, and God’s will was made known to men through them, and God was honored. And truly God doth respect women as much under the gospel as he did under the law. Therefore we see that in the days of the apostles there were women that were prophetesses. Philip’s four daughters were called prophetesses. Acts 21:9. They were teachers in the church. So says Dr. Clarke. It is also said by the Lord that in the last days (that is, under the gospel), he (God) would pour out his Spirit on his hand-maidens. Hence we see that God in giving his Holy Spirit, gave it equally to females as well as males, and said they should prophesy. What did those women do, of whom Paul said that they labored with him in the gospel? How could they have labored with him in the gospel, if they did not join in the same work that he was engaged in, that is, urging the people to leave their sins, and receive Christ?59 Of women employed in this work, were Phebe, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Euodias, Syntyche, and others. See Romans 16:1, 3, 9, 12, and Phil. 4:2, 3. These women were assistants to the apostles, and Persis, it seems, excelled some of the others. Of her it is said that she labored much in the Lord. Rom. 16:12. We learn from this that Christian women, as well as men, labored in the ministry of the word. In those times of simplicity, all persons, whether men or women, who had received the knowledge of the truth, believed it to be their duty to make known to others the word of salvation, and it is the duty of the preacher to teach, exhort, edify, and comfort. But it may be said that, if women are allowed to pray and prophesy in the churches, why did Paul forbid them (1 Cor. 14:34, 35, and 1 Tim. 2:11, 12) to speak in the church? Answer. Paul did not forbid them to pray or prophesy in the church, he only forbade them to speak, and usurp authority over the men. Praying or prophesying was not named. The church at Corinth spoke in unknown tongues. 1 Cor. 14:2. It was not profitable, verse 9, he did not want them to be children in understanding, verse 20, but he said, “You may all prophesy,” verse 31. Again, if Paul was not willing that women should pray or prophesy in the church, why did he give them directions how they should wear their hair and dress, when they prayed or prophesied. 1 Cor. 11:5. Would Paul contradict himself thus? No. Therefore he says, Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoreth her head. 1 Cor. 11:5. To prophesy under the gospel dispensation is to speak under the influence of the Holy Ghost, either in teaching, or foretelling future events. It will cause the wicked to fall. “And so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you.” Often have we seen the power of God manifested, under the pious labor and influence of holy women. Hard-hearted sinners were brought to cry out for mercy, through the blood of Jesus. They have their influence, and may do good. Oh! that all, male and female, that have experienced the power of the Holy Ghost in their souls, would stand up for the Redeemer’s cause, in the church, in the streets, in the social circle, yes, everywhere.—I. FETTERHOOF, in Earnest Christian.