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Acts.

A. And the fame man had four daughters, 21.9. virgins, which did prophefy.

I Cor.

35.

Q. But may all women speak, or are any commanded to keep filence in the church?

A. Let your women keep filence in the 14. 34 church; for it is not permitted unto them to fpeak, but they are commanded to be under obedience; as also faith the law, and if they will learn any thing, let them ask their hufbands at home; for it is a fhame for women to speak in the church.

1 Tim.

Let the women learn in filence with all 2.11,12. fubjection. But I fuffer not a woman to teach, or ufurp authority over the man, but to be in filence.

1 Cor.

31. 4, 5.

Q. The first of thefe feems only to relate to women that have husbands: what comes of them that have none? The fecond speaks nothing of the church, but only that he ought not to ufurp authority over the man: Hath this no limitation? Doth not the fame apoftle give directions, how women that speak should behave themfelves in the church?

A. Every man praying or prophefying, having his head covered, difhonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophefieth with her head uncovered, dif honoureth her head; for that is even all one as if fhe were fhaven.

CHAP. X.

CHA P. X.

Concerning Worship.

Queft.-WHAT is the worship that is acceptable to God?

23, 24,

A. But the hour cometh, and now is, John 4. when the true worshippers fhall worship the Father in fpirit and in truth; for the Father feeketh fuch to worship him. God is a fpirit, and they that worship him, muft worship him in fpirit and in truth. Q. Seeing prayer is a part of worship, when ought we to pray?

A. And he fpake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

Pray without ceafing.

Q. Hath God no refpect to the manner of calling upon him?

Luke-
18. 1.
I Thef.

5.17.

IO. 12.

A. For there is no difference between Rom. the Jew and the Greek; for the fame Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon him.

Q. Doth God hear the prayers of all that call upon him?

A. The Lord is nigh unto all them that Pfalm call upon him, to all that call upon him 145. 18.

in truth.

The Lord is far from the wicked; but Prov. he heareth the prayer of the righteous..

Now

15.29.

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John 9.31

1 John

I Cor.

Now we know that God heareth not finners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doth his will, him he heareth.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we afk any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

Q. After what manner doth the apostle then declare he will will pray?

A. What is it then? I will pray with 14. 15. the fpirit, and I will pray with the underftanding alfo: I will fing with the spirit, and I will fing with the understanding alfo.

Eph. 6. 18.

Rom. 8.

Q. Muft we then pray always in the fpirit? A. Praying always, with all prayer, and fupplication in the fpirit, and watching thereunto with all perfeverance, and fupplication for all faints.

Q. Since we are commanded to pray always in it, can we do it of ourselves, without the help thereof?

A. Likewife the Spirit alfo helpeth our 26, 27. infirmities; for we know not what we fhould pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itfelf maketh interceffion for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that fearcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh interceffion for the faints according to the will of God.

Q. I perceive, that without the leadings and help of the Spirit, prayers are altogether unprofitable:

1

1

unprofitable: may not a man truly utter those things that are fpiritual, without the Spirit's affiftance?

12.3.

A. Wherefore I give you to understand, 1 Cor. that no man speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jefus accurfed; and that no man can fay, that Jefus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghoft.

Q. This is ftrange; it feems the Spirit is much more neceffary than many called Chrif tians fuppofe it to be; fome of which can fcarce give a good accouut whether they have it, or want it: but if a man speak things true upon the matter, are they not true as from him, if fpoken without the spirit?

A. And though they fay, The Lord liv. Jer. 5.2. eth, furely they fwear falfly.

Q. It is apparent from all thefe fcriptures, that the true worship of God is in fpirit; and as it is not limited to a certain place, neither to any certain time, what shall we think of them that plead for the observation of certain days?

9,10.11.

A. But now, after that ye have known Gal.4. God, or rather, are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye defire again to be in bondage? Ye obferve days and months, and times and years. I am afraid of you, left I have beftowed upon you labour in

vain.

Let

Col. 2.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat 16, 17. or drink, or in refpect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the fabbath-day, which are a fhadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ.

Rom.

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Q. Seeing it is fo, may not fome Chriftians as lawfully esteem all days alike, as others may efteem fome days above another; what rule giveth the apostle in this cafe?

A. One man efteemeth one day above 34, 5, 6. another; another esteemeth every day alike let every man be fully perfuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord; for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

1 Cor.

16. 1, 2.

Q. But is it not convenient and necessary, that there be a day fet apart to meet and worship God in? Did not the apostles and primitive Chriftians ufe to meet upon the first day of the week, to make their collections, and to worship?

A. Now concerning the collection for the faints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even fo do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in ftore, as God hath profpered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.`

CHAP.

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