THE SAYINGS OF Women, Which were spoken upon sundry occrsions, in several places of the Scriptures. Briefly Collected and set together to show how the Lord poured out of his Spirit upon the whole House of Israel; not only on the Male; but also on the Female; and made them Stewards of the manifold Gifts of his Grace; and as those who knew they must give an account of their Stewardship to the Lord. So did all the Women that were wise in Heart, manage their particular Talents, to the Praise and Glory of God. Printed and Sold by Andrew soul at the Crooked-Billet in Holloway-Lane in Shoreditch, 1683. The SAYINGS of Women, &c. First, WE find the Sayings of faithful Sarah, concerning her Son Isaac, the Child of Promise,( to whom the Inheritance belonged) when she saw Ishmael mocking of him, she said to Abraham her Husband, Cast out this Bond-woman and her Son, for the Son of this Bond-woman shall not be Heir with my Son, even with Isaac. And God commended her Care, and justified her Speech, saying, unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight, because of the Lad, and because of the Bond-woman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, harken unto her Voice, for in Isaac shall thy Seed be called, Gen. 21.10.12. 2dly, We find Rebecca, the Wife of Isaac, speaking to the Lord, and the Lord answering her, Gen. 25.22, 23. when she was with Child of Jacob and Esau; the Children struggling together within her, she went to inquire of the Lord[ not of Doctors] saying, If it be so, why am I thus? And the Lord said unto her, Two Nations are in thy Womb, and two manner of People shall be separated from thy Bowels; and the one People shall be stronger than the other People, and the Elder shall serve the Younger. And after the Children were Born and come to Age, she spoken unto her Son Jacob, and instructed him how he should obtain the Blessing, which God had promised, Gen. 27.6. and so on. And afterwards she took care of her Son Jacob, concerning his Marriage, saying to Isaac her Husband, If Jacob take a Wife of the Daughters of Heath, such as these, which are of the Daughters of the Land, what good shall my Life do me? Vers the last. And Isaac approved of her Speech, and called Jacob and blessed him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a Wife of the Daughters of Canaan, Chap. 28.1. 3dly, We find Rachel and Leah speaking unto Jacob in these wholesome Words, saying, Now therefore whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do, Gen. 31.10. 4thly, We find miriae the Prophetess speaking to an Assembly of Women, Exod. 15.20.21. when Moses had made an end of his Song of Praises to the Lord, for the Salvation and Deliverance of his People; then miriae the Prophetess, Psal. 68.25. the Sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her Hand, and all the Women went out after her with Timbrels and with Dances; and miriae answered them, and said, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the Horse and his Rider hath he thrown into the Sea, &c. 5thly, We find Deborah, a valiant Mother and Judge in Israel,( and she was also a Prophetess) speaking to Barack a Captain, who had ten Thousand men at his Feet, yet she instructed him how he should go up against Sessera,( Captain of Jabins Army, the Children of Israels Enemy) and she said, I will surely go up with thee, notwithstanding the battle thou takest shall not be for thine Honour, for the Lord shall sell Sissera into the Hands of a Woman; red Judges 4. throughout. And then we have her Song, wherein she magnified the Name of the Lord, and said, Blessed be Jael above Women, the Wife of Heber; blessed shall she be in the Tent, &c. judge. 5.24. And she made a large Declaration of the Righteous Acts of the Lord, in the sore going and following Verses; for he it was that had avenged his People of their Enemies. 6thly, We find Jeptha's Daughter, saying to her Father, As thou hast opened thy Mouth unto the Lord, so do unto me according to what hath proceeded out of thy Mouth, forasmuch as the Lord hath taken Vengeance for thee on thine Enemies, even of the Children of Amon, judge. 11.26. 7thly, We find Manoah's Wife saying to her Husband, A man of God came unto me, and his Countenance was like the Countenance of an Angel of God, very terrible; but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his Name; but he said unto me, Behold thou shalt conceive and bear a Son; and now drink no Wine, nor strong Drink, neither eat any unclean thing, for the Child shall be a Nazarite to God from the Womb, to the day of his Death, judge. 13.7. And when Manoah said to his Wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God; his Wife being more steadfast in Faith, wisely answered and encouraged him, saying, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received Burnt-Offering and a Meat-offering at our Hands; neither would he have shewed us all these things. 8thly, We find Naomy speaking concerning her own Adversity, saying to the People of Bethlehem; Call me not Naomy, call me Marah, for the Almighty hath dealt bitterly with me; I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty, and hath afflicted me, Ruth. 1, 20, 21. 9thly, We find Ruth, the Moabitis, speaking comfortably to Naomy her Mother, in her sorrow, saying, entreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from following thee; for whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy People shall be my People;& thy God my God; where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be butted; The Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but Death part thee and me, Ruth 1.16, 17. And afterwards, both these Women found Favour from the Lord; and the Women of the City blessed the Lord on their behalf, Ruth 4.14. 10thly, We find Hannah praying in the Temple, and pouring out her Soul before the Lord; and the Lord heard her, and granted her Petition, 1 Sam. 1. from Vers. 10. to 18. And when her request was granted, she made a fervent and large Speech, in magnifying and exalting the Lord, Chap. 2. from Vers. 1. to 10. 11thly, We find when Saul and David had made a great slaughter upon the Philistines, the Women came out of all the Cities of Israel, Singing and Dancing, with Instruments of music; And the Women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his Thousands, and David his ten Thousands, 1 Sam. 18.6, 7. And as the Women were partakers of outward Salvation and Deliverance, as well as the Men, by David in the time of the Law; so are they partakers with their Brethren of inward Salvation and Deliverance from the Devil, by Christ, the Captain of our Salvation: And therefore they ought to Praise and make Melody in their Hearts to the Lord, now in the time of the Gospel. 12thly, We find Abigal, the Wife of Nabal, speaking to King David, saying, Let thine Hand-maid, I pray thee, speak in thine Audience, and hear the Words of thine Hand-maid. And so she went on, and preached a large Sermon to him, as we find written, 1 Sam. 25.24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. And David the King heard her patiently, and afterwards he said unto her, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me; and blessed be thy Advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed Blood, Vers. 32, 33. So we see this Wise Woman, by her Prudence and Innocence, saved her House from Destruction. 13thly, We find the Woman of Tekoah speaking to King David; yea, she communed with him, till she convinced him of the Matter she had to say unto him, see 2 Sam. 14.4. and so on. Though she spoken in a Parable, yet by her discretion she made Reconciliation between David and Absalom, and caused the King to call home again his Banished, which he had expelled from him. 14thly, We find a Wise Woman of the City of Abel, speaking to Joab the General, yea, she preached to him, and told him, She was one of them that were faithful in Israel, and thou seekest to destroy a City and Mother in Israel;( said she) Why wilt thou swallow up the Inheritance of the Lord? 2 Sam. 20. from Vers. 16. to 20. So she convinced him, and preserved the City: And her Wisdom, Courage and Faith is recorded to Posterity. 15thly, We find a poor widow speaking to the Prophet Elijah, saying, I have but a handful of Meal in a Barrel, and a little oil in a Cruse, and behold I am gathering two Sticks that I may go in and dress it for me and my Son, that we may eat it and die, 1 Kings 17.12. Yet in Faith she made the Prophet a Cake thereof first; and she found that her Meal and oil wasted not, as you red Vers. 16. for the Lord gave in a supply, who had commanded her to sustain the Prophet, Vers. 9. So she had the reward both of her Faith& Works. 16thly, We find the Shunamite-Woman speaking to her Husband concerning the Prophet Elisha, saying, Behold! now I perceive that this is a Holy Man of God, which passeth by us continually: Let us make a Chamber, I pray thee, on the Wall, and set for him there a Bed, and a Table, and a Stool, and a Candle-stick, and it shall be when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither, 2 Kings 4.9, 10. Thus she was sensible of the necessity of the Prophet in his Journey; and according to her care, the Prophet was careful it might be recompensed to her; see Vers. 13. For she was a great Woman, and had no Child, therefore the Prophet told her, She should have a Son, and she had so, according to his word: And when the Child dyed, she had Faith to believe( and also told her Husband) That if she went to the man of God, all should be well: Heb. 11.35. And it was so, for by Faith she received her Dead raised to Life again, as you may red, Vers. 23. and 36. 17thly, We find a captive Maid, who was brought out of the Land of Israel, and waited upon the Wife of Naaman the Assyrian,( who was a Leper) saying to her mistress, Would God, my Lord were with the Prophet that is in Samaria, for he would recover him of his leprosy. Thus she spoken from the sense she had of the Power of the Lord, which he would show through his Prophet; and it proved so, for Naaman went unto him, and was healed, 2 Kings 5.23. 18thly, We find Huldah the Prophetess, which dwelled in the college in Jer●salem, speaking to Hilkiah the Priest, and Shaphan the Scribe, and to the King's Chancellor, which he sent, and commanded to commune with her, and to them, and those that came with them, she made a large declaration in the Name of the Lord, as you may red, 2 Kings 22. from vers. 12. to the end. Now here, neither King nor Priest, despised a Woman's Speech. 19thly, We find Queen Esther speaking to King Ahasuerus, in behalf of the poor Jews her People, Mordica her Uncle having sent unto her, she bid the Messengers return him this answer, Gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me; neither eat nor drink three Days, Night nor Day; I and my Maidens will fast likewise: And( with Courage and Resolution she said) so will I go in unto the King, which is not according to the Law, and if I perish, I perish, Esth. 4.16. And by her discreet Behaviour, she obtained favour of the King,( God inclining his Heart) so that he held out the Golden sceptre to her, and said unto her, What wilt thou Queen Esther, and what is thy Request? it shall be given thee to the half of the Kingdom, Chap. 5.2, 3. So again, Chap. 7.2. Then Esther the Queen answered, and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O King! and if it please the King, let my Life be given me at my Petition, and my People at my Request; For we are sold, I and my People to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish: Bat if we had been sold for Bond-men and Bond-women, I had held my Tongue, although the Enemy cannot countervail the King's damage. Then King Ahasuerus answered, and said unto Esther the Queen, Who is he? and where is he that durst presume in his Heart to do so? And Esther said, The Adversary and Enemy is this wicked Haman, Vers. 3, 4, 5, 6. And Esther spake yet again before the King, and fell down at his Feet, and besought him with Tears, to put away the Mischief of Haman, and his Device that he had devised against the Jews. Then the King held out the golden sceptre toward Esther; so Esther arose, and stood before the King, and said, If it please the King, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the King, and if it be pleasing in his Eyes, let it be written to reverse the Letter devised hy Haman, which he wrote to destroy the Jews, which are all in the King's Provinces; For how can I endure to see the Evil that shall come upon my People? Or how can I endure to see the Destruction of my Kindred? Chap. 8.3, 4, 5, 6. And the King granted it. So by her Wisdom, Faith, and innocent Resolution, she saved her People, and became a Nursing-Mother in Israel. 20thly, We find Zeresh, the Wife of Haman, saying to her Husband( before the Queen had made complaint against Haman) If Mordica be of the Seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him, Esth. 6.13. 21thly, We find King Solomon's Mother saying to her Son, by way of Instruction; Give not thy Strength unto Women, nor thy Ways to that which destroyeth Kings. It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink Wine, nor for Princes, strong Drink; lest they forget the Law, and pervert the judgement of any of the Afflicted: Give strong Drink unto him that is ready to perish, and Wine to those that be of heavy Hearts: Let him drink and forget his Poverty, and remember his Misery no more: Open thy Mouth for the Dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to Destruction: Judge Righteously, and pled the Cause of the Poor and Needy, Prov. 31. from Vers. 3. to 9. Thus we find many renowned Women recorded in the Old Testament, who had received a Talent of Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding from the Lord; as good Stewards thereof they improved& employed the same to the Praise and Glory of God. So likewise in the New-Testament we find another Number of many Daughters, who as they were made Heirs of the Grace of Life, together with their Brethren; so upon sundry occasions they spoken and praised the Lord, who had bestowed Mercy on them. And here, First; We find the Woman of Canaan speaking unto Christ in behalf of her Daughter, crying out, and saying, Have Mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil, Mat. 15.22. And again, she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord help me, Vers. 25. But he answered her, It is not meet to take the Childrens Bread, and cast it unto Dogs. And she said, Truth Lord, yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs which fall from their Masters Table. Then Jesus answered, and said unto her, O Woman! great is thy Faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt: And her Daughter was made whole from that very Hour, Vers. 27, 28. 2dly, We find a Worthy and noble Act recorded of a Woman, who having an Aliblaster-Box of very precious Ointment; 'tis said, She poured it on Jesus his Head, as he sate at Meat, Mat. 26.7. For which the Disciples reproved her; but when Jesus understood it, he spoken in her Justification, saying unto them, Why trouble ye the Woman,& c? Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole World, there shall also this, that this Woman hath done, be told for a Memorial of her; as you may red from Vers. 8. to 13. more at large. And Mark makes mention of it again, Chap. 14.3. and John likewise, Chap. 11.1. Now though there is no mention of what she said at that time, yet what she did is recorded; and she is commended by Christ her Lord, as worthy of Commemoration unto all Generations. 3dly, We find Pilate's Wife speaking in behalf of Christ, when her Husband was sate down on the judgement-seat, she sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things this day in a Dream because of him, Mat. 27.19. 4thly, We find the Woman that was twelve Years diseased, and had spent all her Living upon Physitians, and still grew worse and worse; her Faith in Christ was so strong, that she believed, and also said, If I may touch but the Hem of his Garment, I shall be whole, Mark 5.25. and so on. And when Christ felt healing Virtue go out of him, he enquired, who it was that touched him? then the Woman came Trembling, and fell down before him, and told him all the truth what she had done: And Christ did not reprove her for speaking to him, but he said unto her, Daughter, thy Faith hath made thee whole, go in Peace. 5thly, We find the Virgin Mary, to whom the Angel of God was sent, telling of her, That by the Power of the Most-high, she should bring forth a Son, whose Name should be called Jesus, and he should be the Son of the highest, and he should Reign over the House of Jacob, and of his Kingdom there should be no End, Luke 1.26. and so on. Now, though this seemed to her impossible, that such a thing should be, yet in Faith she believed, and said, Behold the Hand-maid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word, Vers. 38. And then we have her Song of Praise, from Vers. 46. to 55. And Mary said, My Soul doth magnify the Lord, and my Spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour; for he hath regarded the low estate of his Handmaiden: For behold! from hence-forth all Nations shall call me Blessed; for he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and Holy is his Name, and his Mercy is unto them that fear him, from Generation to Generation; He hath shewed Strength with his Arm, and hath scattered the Proud in the Imagination of their Hearts; He hath put down the Mighty from their Seats, and exalted them of low degree; He hath filled the Hungry with good things, and the Rich hath he sent empty away; He hath holpen his Servant Israel, in remembrance of his Mercy, as he spoken to our Fathers, to Abraham, and his Seed for ever. 6thly, We find Elizabeth, the Wife of Zacharias the Priest, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, in the day wherein he looked on me, to take away my Reproach among men, Luke 1.25. This was when she was with-Child of John the Baptist, the fore-runner of Jesus Christ; and when Mary came into her House, she was filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoken out with a loud Voice, saying, Blessed art thou among Women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb: And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come unto me? For lo, as soon as the Voice of thy Salutation sounded in my Ears, the Babe leaped in my Womb for joy: And blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord, Vers. 42. and so on. 7thly, We find ancient Anna, a Prophetess, a widow, of about Four-score and four Years of Age, which departed not from the Temple, but served God with Fasting and Prayer, Night and Day; when the Child Jesus was brought thither, she coming in at that instant, gave Thanks unto the Lord, and spake of him to all that looked for Redemption in Israel, Luk. 2.36, 37, 38. 8thly, We find Christ and Mary communing together, Luke 10.39. And when Martha would have called her away from sitting at Jesus's Feet, where she heard his Word; Christ reproved her for her cumber, and commended Mary, saying, She hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her, Vers. 42. And this is Chronicled and left upon Record, that all People might chiefly prefer the better part, and esteem the Word of Truth as the one thing needful. 9thly, We find certain Women, which followed Christ even to his Crucifixion; see Mark 15.40. giving Testimony of his Resurrection: Luke 24.10. Its said, It was Mary Magdalen and Joanna, and Mary the Mother of James, and other Women that were with them, which told these things unto the Apostles; to wit, that Christ was risen. And Vers. 22, 23, 24. One of the Brethren, name Cleophas, confessed to Christ, that certain Women of their company made them astonished, which were early at the sepulchre, and when they found not his Body, they came, saying, That they had seen a Vision of Angels, which said, that he was alive; and certain of them which were with us, went to the sepulchre, and found it even as the Women had said. 10thly, We find Christ, the head of the Church, discoursing with the Woman of Samaria concerning living Water& Worship, John 4. from v. 7. to. 27. as you may red at large, she desired living Water( v. 15.) and by the Answer Christ gave her, she perceived him to be a Prophet,( v. 19.) Then said she to him, Our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain, and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to Worship( v. 20.) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither at this Mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father,( v. 21.) and then he certifieth her, both of the place and manner of Worship; But the hour cometh, and NOW IS,( saith Christ) when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him: God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit& in Truth( v. 23, 24.)( This secret Christ revealed to a Woman, and suffered her also to speak freely unto him.) The Woman saith unto him, I know that messiah cometh, which is called Christ, when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he,( v. 25, 26.) And upon this came his Disciples, and marveled that he talked with the Woman; but no man said, Why talkest thou with her? The Woman then left her Water-pot, and went her way into the City, and said to the men, Come see a man, which told me all things that ever I did, Is not this the Christ? v. 28, 29. and many of the Samaritans of that City believed in him, for the sayings of the Woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did, v. 39. 11thly, We find Mary Magdalen, coming early to the sepulchre on the first day of the Week,& finding the ston taken away from the sepulchre, she runneth to Simon Peter, and to the other Disciples whom Jesus loved, saying unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him, John 20.1, 2. And ver. 11. we find her standing without at the sepulchre weeping, and as she wept, she stooped down and looketh into the sepulchre, and seeth two Angels, which said unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? she said unto them, Because they have taken my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him, v. 13. And when she had thus said, she turned her self back, and saw Jesus standing, but knew not that it was Jesus; Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou; whom seekest thou? she supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast born him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary; she turned her self, and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master; Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my Disciples, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, unto my God and your God: Mary Magdalen came and told the Disciples this Message, That she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her; as you may red from Vers. 14. to 18. how Christ conferred with Mary, and she with him; unto whom he first shewed himself after his Resurrection. 12thly, We find a certain Woman, name Lydia, a seller of Purple, of the City of Thyatira, which worshipped God, whose Heart the Lord had opened, that she attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul; and she spake unto him, and them that were with him, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my House, and abide there. So she constrained them, Acts 16.14, 15. And these her Sayings, with the Sayings and Doings of many faithful Women more, were Chronicled by the Church for rare patterns of Love to Christ and his Disciples, to be Examples to their Childrens Children. 13thly, and lastly; As to what I shall now writ, we find a certain dansel possessed with a Spirit of Divination, which brought her Master much Gain by soothsaying; the same followed Paul, and other Apostles, and cried out, saying, These are the Servants of the Most-high God, which show unto us the Way of Salvation: And this did she many dayes, vers. 17, 18. of the 16th Chapter of the Acts: Insomuch that Paul was grieved for her, and had compassion on her, so that he turned, and said to the Spirit, I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her; and he came out the same hour. From whence we may take notice, that she obtained the Reward of her Faith, and of her Testimony to the Truth; for as she believed and owned the Apostles to be the Servants of the Lord, so she was dispossessed of the evil Spirit by Paul, who spoken in the Name and Power of God. Hereunto I might add divers other instances of believing Women, as that of Dorcas, who is called a Disciple of Christ Jesus, Acts 9.36. And likewise of Pricella, who together with her Husband Aquilla, took Paul home to their House, when he was first instructed in Christianity, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly, Acts 18.25, 26. And afterwards were Fellow-helpers with Paul in Christ Jesus; as himself saith, Rom. 16.3. And I might bring in Philip's four Daughters, which were Prophetesses, sent forth to encourage others. And also Febee, a woman in esteem in the Church of Christ, whom Paul commends and calls, Their Sister, and a Servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea, Rom. 16.1. And that Woman, to whom John the Evangelist sends his Epistle, ought not to be forgot, to wit, The Elect Lady and her Children, whom I love in the Truth, saith John, 2 Epist. v. 1. But I remember I spoken of Brevity in the beginning, therefore I do but mention these Worthies in the latter end, because I find nothing said by them; thus I leave them, designing only to writ out of Scripture the Sayings of the Women, and not to say much of them. So I shall draw to a Conclusion, laying down this assertion, viz. That as Male and Female are made one in Christ Jesus, so Women receive an Office in the Truth as well as Men, and they have a Stewardship,& must give an account of their Stewardship to their Lord, as well as the Men: Therefore they ought to be faithful to God, and valiant for his Truth upon the Earth, that so they may receive the reward of Righteousness, which is as they are faithful to their little, so shall they be made rulers over much: And as they patiently continue in well-doing, seeking Glory, Honour and Virtue, so shall they obtain a Crown of Immortality and Eternal Life, when they shall have passed through this Vale of Trouble and Tears; then shall that blessed sentence be finally pronounced on them, Well done good and faithful Servants, enter into the undisturbed Rest and Joy of your Lord. Elizabeth Bathurst. POSTSCRIPT. ALthough the Woman was first in the Transgression, which brought in Death; yet was she made by the Power of the Lord, to bring in him who is the Resurrection and the Life: For this was the Promise of the Father, That the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents Head, Gen. 3.15. And it is long since fulfilled: For in the fullness of time Christ came, being born of a Woman, to wit, the Virgin Mary, as 'tis written, Mat. 1.23. So that it may be said, As by Woman came in the Transgression and Degeneration; So by Woman also came in the Reconciliation and Restoration, to wit, Christ, who came of the Woman's Seed; He it is, who is the Healer of our Breaches, and Restorer of our Paths; And in him Male and Female are made all one, as saith the Apostle, Gal. 3.28. THE END.