A WOMAN forbidden to speak in the CHURCH, The grounds examined, the Mystery opened, the Truth cleared, and the ignorance both of Priests and People discovered.  
Written by a friend of the Truth, whose Name in the flesh is RICHARD FARNWORTH.  
And Jesus answering, said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scripture, neither the power of God,  Mark 12.24. 
For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have put ou Christ: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus,  Gal. 3.27, 28. 
Jesus answered and said, My Doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me; if any man will de his Will, he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself,  John 7.16, 17. 
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-Spread-Eagle, at the West End of Paul's. 1655.   

A Woman forbidden to speak in the CHURCH.  
The Grounds examined, the mystery opened, the Truth cleared, the Ignorance both of Priests and People discovered.  
But the Spirit of Truth may declare through the Temple, and dwell in it, which the World cannot receive,  1 Cor. 6.19. John 14.16, 17. 
THe Church is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul and Silvanus writ to the Thessalonians, 1 Thes. 1.1. and it is made all of living stones elect & pretions, 1 Pet. 2.5. and the Saints, their bodies are made fit Temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in, 2 Cor. 6.16. and they are made a fit Habitation for God through the Spirit, being builded upon the Foundations of the Prophets, and the Apostles of the Lord Jesus, in whom all the building fitly framed groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord, Ephes. 2.20, 21, 22. and in this Church are all taught of God, as it is written in the Prophets, Isa. 54 13, 14. & Jer. 31.33, 34 and likewise in Heb. 8.10, 11. and saith Jesus Christ in John 14. I will pray the Father, & he shall give you another Comforter, that he way abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seethe him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for be dwelleth with you, & shall be in you, v. 16, 17. now nothing is to speak in this Church which is spiritual, but that which is spiritual, even the Holy Ghost, which is invisible and incomprehensible; the Woman or wisdom of the Flesh is forbidden to speak in the Church, that is, of the things of God, for that which is flesh is flesh, and the natural man knows not the things of God, they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. 2.4. and so the carnal minded man he saith, that a Woman (or the female kind) ought not to speak in the Church: now the first birth either in man or woman, hath nothing to do to speak in the Church, (the carnal part) for it knows not the things of God, and every man by nature is a child of wrath, and he is forbidden to speak with his carnal wisdom, which he gathered out of Books and Studies, for that nature is adulterated from God, and nothing must speak in the Church in God, but the Holy Ghost, and that may speak in the Temple, either in male or female, nothing must speak in the Church but the Spirit of Truth, whom the world and carnal minded ones know not, God is a Spirit, and they that know him, know him to be so, and none know him but they that are spiritual, for saith Jesus Christ, Except ye be born again ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, John 3, and that which is flesh is flesh, and that knoweth not the things of God neither in male nor female, but is adulterated from God, but that which is Spirit is Spirit, and is born of God either in male or female, that knoweth him, and that is permitted to speak in the Temple, and none can call Jesus Lord but the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 12.3. and the manifestation of the Spirit is given to profit withal, Ver. 7. and the Spirit of the Lord was made manifest through the Female kind, as Women in former Ages, and it was profitable; for Deborah she had the manifestation of the Spirit of God ruling in her, by which she, or the Lord in her, did administer Justice to the Israelites, which were the Church, and People of God, and she was a Judge amongst them, and judged Israel, judges 4 4. and she Prophesied to Barak; that at the River Kishon the Lord would deliver Sisera the Captain of jabins' Army into his hand; See the noble acts that the Lord did by the Prophetess his Servant Deborah, read judges 4.5. Chapters, and the Lord hath said, he will pour out his Spirit upon all Flesh, and their Sons and Daughters shall Prophesy, joel 2 28. he doth not say, that Flesh shall prophesy neither in Sons nor Daughters, that is forbidden; Let all Flesh be silent both in Sons and Daughters, and let the Spirit speak, for that is permitted either in Son or Daughter: it is the Spirit that Prophecies, and foretells of the things of God, and the manifestation of the Spirit is given to profit withal in a Daughter as well as in a Son, that God may speak where he doth dwell in his Temple. Let all carnal Wisdom in Male as well as in Female keep silence, for that is not permitted to speak, it is adulterated from God, and the natural man knows not the things of God, and he that is joined to an Harlot is one body, 1 Cor. 6.16. and that must be judged and cast out by the Spirit of Truth, and judgement being brought forth into Victory, let the Truth declare itself, but let all Flesh be silent till the Spirit be poured out either in Son or Daughter, for all the Wisdom of the World it knoweth not God, who is a Spirit, and he chooseth the weak things of this world to confound the things which are mighty, 1 Cor. 1.27: 28: 29. and the Woman is counted the weaker Vessel, but the Lord filling that Vessel full of his Wisdom, and ruling it by his holy Spirit, he dwelling in his Temple, and declaring himself through it by his Son jesus Christ, it is for the praise of the glory of his Grace, that no Flesh might glory in his sight, for that must be trodden under foot, fleshly Wisdom, and carnal Reason both in Male and Female, that the Lord may be all in all in the Creature, making them fit Temples for his holy Spirit to dwell in, 1 Cor. 3.16. That he may speak in his Temple, in the Female as well as the Male.  
The Body it is but the Temple, it is the Manchild Christ jesus, where he is bornup into the understanding that is to declare the Father's will, and that is permitted to speak, the Spirit of Truth which the world cannot receive, joh. 14 16: 17, 26. but not carnal Wisdom, and fleshly imaginations, which is out of Covenant with God, and must be burnt up by the Spirit of Truth, before the Temple be fitted and prepared for the Master's use, for nothing must speak in the Church but the Spirit of the Living God, let all Flesh keep Silence, that is not permitted to speak in any, and Paul he was made a Minister, not by the will of Man, but by the will of God, Who revealed his Son in him, Gal. 1 8, and your Daughters shall prophesy, Acts 2.17, 18. And there was one man which had four Daughters which were Virgins, and they did Prophesy, Acts 21.8: 9 and he saith, all may Prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted, and the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets, 1 Cor. 14.30: 31. it is the Spirit that is to Prophesy, and 'tis the Spirit that is to speak in the Church, and where the Spirit is made manifest it is profitable to others, & none can call jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost, and where he saith, Let your Women keep silence in the Church etc. for he saith, it is a shame for Women to speak in the Church, but he doth not say, let the Spirit of God keep silence in the Temple, but that may declare where it is manifested, either in Male or Female, and then it is the Man Christ that speaks in them, for great is the Mystery of Godliness, Christ in you the hope of glory, Col. 1.27. and his sheep they hear his Voice: If any man hath an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith; for saith the Lord by the Holy Ghost, Let no men deceive you, for if any man among you, seem to be wise in this World, let him become a fool that he may be made wise, for the Wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written, he taketh the wise in their own craftiness, and the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the Wise that they are vain, 1 Cor. 3.18, 19, 20. man by his carnal wisdom is sottish in the things of God, that he would compare spiritual things with carnal things, because his wisdom and understanding is altogether carnal, to be carnally minded is death, Rom. 8.6. but the Holy Ghost teacheth to compare spiritual things with spiritual things, because they are spiritually discerned, and the natural man knows them not, for they are foolishness unto him, 1 Cor. 2.11: 12: 13: 14.  
Now the Scriptures were not spoke forth by the will of man, nor by the carnal mind, and fallen wisdom, if they had the carnal mind could have understood them, but as they was spoken forth by the Holy Ghost, which the carnal mind or fallen wisdom knows not; therefore the Scriptures are a Mystery to the first nature in man, and he reads, but doth not understand, for the life of them is hid from his carnal mind, and so he argues from them carnally, but he can deceive none now but blind men, and Fools like himself, for a wise man's Eyes are in his Head, his Light is in Christ, and he seethe that the Scriptures need not an Orthodox Key, for Holy men of God as they were moved they spoke them forth by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. 1.19: 20: 21. and where that is made manifest again it reads them plainly, but till then they read they know not what, as the worldly Wise men, and Sir Simons do now, that gets pearking up into a high place, such as the Pharisees used, who were Enemies to Jesus Christ then, as they are now, and they are called of men Masters as they were, and without money will they do nothing: but now the Key of David is found again, and it is turned about freely to unfold the Mystery that hath been hid, and revealeth the Mystery both to Sons and Daughters, according to the promise of the Lord, so that the Woman Jezabel, that hath so long born Rule in the Synagouge of Satan, where Simon Magus did rule, that sold the Letter for money, will not now be permitted to speak in the Church, but cast out, for the wisdom of the Flesh must not be suffered to usurp authority over the Manchild, the Spirit of Truth, for he will rule, and all DEVINERS will be MAD, Isa. 44.24, 25. such as ye proud Priests are, that sell the Letter without the Spirit, and speak Divinations of their own Brains, and not from the mouth of the Lord, and such must now be stopped, and not permitted to speak in the Church, nor of the things of God, by their carnal wisdom, which is foolishness with God, and their studied out Knowledge which is adulterated from God, and leads them a whoring after their own inventions, forsaking the Fountain of living mercies to delight in lying vanities, but now they must come under the Law, and be severely punished, and their mouths will be stopped by the Truth, for it is written, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn; and I will have mercy and not sacrifice: go to the School of Christ to learn what that meaneth, and then you will know what the Apostle saith in that place of Scripture; when you are come through the fire, to have your own works, and Wisdom, and studied out Arts burned, 1 Cor. 2.13: 14: 15: 16. that you may know the same mind ruling in the Temple that was in Christ, that nothing may be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind, each one esteeming other better than themselves, and being of one accord, and one mind, as they were that spoke forth the Scriptures, Phil. 8.1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: to the 12. Then will you know what is to be understood concerning the Woman's non-permission, but read on in that place of 1 Cor. 14. and see the following Verses, where he hath been speaking of the Woman, and he saith in the 36. Verse, What, saith he, came the Word of God out from you, or came it unto you only? for saith he, If any man think himself to be a Prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I writ unto you are the commands of the Lord; but if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant, 1 Cor. 14.36: 37: 38. but he doth exhort to prophesy, and saith, forbidden it not, but rather covet after it, and your Daughters they shall prophesy as well as Sons, and the Spirits manifestation is to profit with all; therefore forbidden not to speak with Tongues, the Tongue of the learned, such as are taught of God, by the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost, which the world cannot receive, and that is to speak in the Temple, and in the Church, for else Paul would not have commended Phebe to have been a Minister, or Servant to the Church, Rom. 16.1. if he had forbidden the Spirit of Truth for being declared through Women in the Church: but are ye not yet carnal, and it is carnality which is forbidden to intermingle with spirituality; for Paul writ to the Romans to receive Phebe, which was a Servant or Minister to the Church at Cenerea, and not only to receive her, but to receive her in the Lord, and to assist her in whatsoever business she had need of, Rom. 16.3. and he writ to them also to greet Priscilla, and Aquila; and see what he saith more in 3: 4: 5. Verses, and saith he, Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us, Rom, 16.6. and saith he, Salute Tryphena, 
Tpythena and Tryphosa delicious or delicate, two godly Women, beloved of the Lord who laboured with P … in the Go spell, and Persis a faithful woman, who laboured much in the Lord with Paul in the Gospel, Rom. 6.1.  and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord, and salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his Mother, and mine; and many are called but few chosen, as these, Rom. 16.13. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereas and his Sister, and Olympas, and all the Saints that are with them, Salute one another with an holy kiss, the Churches of Christ salute you, Rom. 16.15: 16.  
And Again saith Paul to the Brethren, Help those Women that laboured with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose Names are in the Book of life, Phil. 4.1: 2: 3. Here is not Women forbidden to speak in the Church where the Spirit of Christ was manifest to rule, but they are saluted with an holy kiss in the Lord, and Woman-labourers in the Gospel, and they are to be received in the Lord, and to be assisted, etc. But saith he, Mark them which cause divisions, and offences contrary to the Doctrine of Christ, which ye have learned, and avoid them, for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, as the Priests of the World do now in this generation, who by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple, Rom. 16 17, 18. Now such as these that serve themselves, and their bellies, and seeks for great Benefits, and teach for Tithes, Bribes, Augmentations, Gifts and Rewards, as the Priests do, contrary to the practice of the Saints, and speaks by their own wisdom, and not from the mouth of the Lord, they cause divisions and dissensions, and they are to be marked, and to be cast out, and not to speak in the Church, nor of spiritual things, by their carnal reason, therefore take counsel, and hold them not up, the Lord is against them.  
But to Aquila and Priscilla salute me, and to the Church that is in their House, 1 Cor. 16.19 and let her speak by the Spirit of the Lord the things of God made manifest unto her, for if she be not permitted to speak in the Church, and the Church be in her house, she must not speak, but go out of her house; but the Spirit of Truth is permitted to speak in any, where it is made manifest, the manifestation of the Spirit being given to profit withal, 1 Cor. 12 and every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, for of his own will begat he us with the word of Truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures, Jam. 1.17: 18, that we may be to the praise of the glory of his grace, who calleth us out of darkness into his marvellous light, and maketh us sit together with Christ Jesus in heavenly places, Eph. 2.4: 5: 6. To him alone be praise, honour and glory, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; therefore let God arise, and let his Enemies be scattered abroad, for he will make his People a willing People now in the day of his power, to worship him in Spirit, and to serve him both day, and eke each hour. Amen.  
Hallelujah to the Highest, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let all that love the Lord, bless the Lord, praise him, and magnify him for ever.  
Richard Farnworth.  
FINIS.