Part 8

It was a _Widow-Woman_ whom _GOD_ made choice of to sustain his Prophet _Elijah_ at _Zarephah_. And the History of the _Shunamite_ is a noble Instance of the Account that is made of Women in Holy Scripture. For whether it was not the Custom in _Shunem_ for the Husband to dictate, or whether her’s was conscious of her superior Vertue, or whatever was the Reason, we find it is she who governs, _dwelling_ with great Honour and Satisfaction _among her own People_. Which Happiness she understood so well, and was so far from a troublesome Ambition, that she desires no Recommendation to _the King or Captain of the Host_, when the Prophet offer’d it, being already greater than they could make her. The Text calls her a _Great Woman_, whilst her Husband is hardly taken Notice of, and this, no otherwise, than as performing the Office of a Bailiff. It is _her_ Piety and Hospitality that are Recorded, _She_ invites the Prophet to _her House_; who converses with, and is entertained by _her_. She gives her Husband no Account of _her_ Affairs any further, than to tell him _her_ Designs, that he may see them executed. And when he desires to know the Reason of her Conduct, all the Answer she affords is, _Well_, or, as the Margin has it from the _Hebrew_, _Peace_. Nor can this be thought assuming, since it is no more than what the Prophet encourages, for all his Addresses are to _her_, he takes no Notice of her Husband. His Benefits are conferr’d on _her_, ’tis _she_ and _her Household_ whom he warns of a Famine, and ’tis _she_ who Appeals to the King for the Restitution of _her House_ and _Land_. I would not infer from hence, that Women, generally speaking, ought to govern in their Families when they have a Husband; but I think this Instance and Example is a sufficient Proof, that if by Custom or Contract, or the Laws of the Country, or Birth-right, (as in the Case of Sovereign Princesses) they have the supreme Authority, it is no Usurpation, nor do they act contrary to Holy Scripture, nor consequently to the Law of Nature. For they are no where, that I know of, forbidden to claim their just Right: The Apostle, ’tis true, would not have them _usurp_ Authority, where Custom and the Law of the strongest had brought them into Subjection, as it has in these Parts of the World. Though in remoter Regions, if Travellers rightly inform us, the Succession to the Crown is intail’d on the Female Line.

_GOD_ Himself, who is _no Respecter of Persons, with whom there is neither Bond nor Free, Male nor Female, but_ they _are all one in Christ Jesus_, did not deny Women that Divine Gift the Spirit of Prophecy, neither under the _Jewish_ nor Christian Dispensation. We have nam’d two great Prophetesses already, _Miriam_ and _Deborah_; and besides other Instances, _Huldah_ the Prophetess was such an Oracle, that the good King _Josiah_, that great Pattern of Vertue, sends even the High Priest himself to consult her, and to receive Directions from her in the most arduous Affairs. _It shall come to pass_, saith the Lord, _that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh, and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesy_, which was accordingly fulfill’d by the Mission of the Holy _Ghost_ on the Day of _Pentecost_, as St. _Peter_ tells us. And, besides others, there is mention of four Daughters of _Philip_, Virgins, who did Prophesy. For, as in the _Old_, so in the _New Testament_, Women make a considerable Figure; the Holy Virgin receiving the greatest Honour that Human Nature is capable of, when the Son of _GOD_ vouchsafed to be her Son, and to derive his Humanity from her only. And if it is a greater Blessing _to hear the Word of_ _GOD_ _and keep it_, who are more considerable for their Assiduity in this, than the Female Disciples of our LORD? _Mary_ being Exemplary, and receiving a noble Encomium from Him, for her Choice of the better Part.

It would be thought tedious to enumerate all the excellent Women mentioned in the _New Testament_, whose humble Penitence and ardent Love, as _Magdalen_’s; their lively Faith and holy Importunity, as the _Syrophenician_’s; extraordinary Piety and Uprightness, as _Elizabeth_’s; Hospitality, Charity and Diligence, as _Martha_’s, _Tabitha_’s, _&c._ (see St. _Luke_ viii.); frequent and assiduous Devotions and Austerities, as _Anna_’s; Constancy and Courage, Perseverance and ardent Zeal, as that of the Holy Women who attended our LORD to His Cross, when His Disciples generally forsook, and the most Courageous had denied Him; are Recorded for our Example. Their Love was stronger than Death, it followed our Saviour into the Grave. And, as a Reward, both the Angel, and even the LORD Himself, appears first to them, and sends them to preach the great Article of the Resurrection to the very Apostles, who being, as yet, under the Power of the Prejudices of their Sex, esteem’d the Holy Womens _Words as idle Tales, and believed them not_.

Some Men will have it, that the Reason of our LORD’s appearing first to the Women, was, their being least able to keep a Secret; a witty and masculine Remark, and wonderfully Reverent! But not to dispute whether those Women were Blabs or no, there are many Instances in Holy Scripture, of Women who did not betray the Confidence repos’d in them. Thus _Rahab_, though formerly an ill Woman, being converted by the _Report_ of those Miracles, which, though the _Israelites saw_, yet they _believed not in_ _GOD_, _nor put their Trust in his Word_, She acknowledges the _GOD_ of Heaven, and, as a Reward of her faithful Service, in concealing _Joshua_’s Spies, is, with her Family, exempted from the Ruin of her Country, and also, has the Honour of being named in the _Messiah_’s Genealogy. _Michal_, to save _David_’s Life, exposes her self to the Fury of a Jealous and Tyrannical Prince. A Girl was trusted by _David_’s grave Counsellors to convey him Intelligence in his Son’s Rebellion; and when a Lad had found it out, and blab’d it to _Absalom_, the King’s Friends confiding in the Prudence and Fidelity of a Woman, were secur’d by her. When our LORD escaped from the _Jews_, he trusted Himself in the Hands of _Martha_ and _Mary_. So does St. _Peter_ with another _Mary_, when the Angel deliver’d him from _Herod_, the Damsel _Rhoda_ too, was acquainted with the Secret. More might be said, but one would think here is enough to shew, that whatever other great and wise Reasons Men may have for despising Women, and keeping them in Ignorance and Slavery, it can’t be from their having learnt to do so in Holy Scripture. The Bible is for, and not against us, and cannot without great Violence done to it, be urg’d to our Prejudice.

However, there are strong and prevalent Reasons which demonstrate the Superiority and Pre-eminence of the Men. For in the first Place, Boys have much Time and Pains, Care and Cost bestow’d on their Education, Girls have little or none. The former are early initiated in the Sciences, are made acquainted with antient and modern Discoveries, they study Books and Men, have all imaginable Encouragement; not only Fame, a dry Reward now a-days, but also Title, Authority, Power, and Riches themselves, which purchase all Things, are the Reward of their Improvement. The latter are restrain’d, frown’d upon, and beat, not _for_, but _from_ the Muses; Laughter and Ridicule, that never-failing Scare-Crow, is set up to drive them from the Tree of Knowledge. But if, in spite of all Difficulties Nature prevails, and they can’t be kept so ignorant as their Masters would have them, they are star’d upon as Monsters, censur’d, envied, and every way discouraged, or, at the best, they have the Fate the Proverb assigns them, _Vertue is prais’d and starv’d_. And therefore, since the coarsest Materials need the most Curing, as every Workman can inform you, and the worst Ground the most elaborate Culture, it undeniably follows, that Mens Understandings are superior to Womens, for, after many Years Study and Experience, they become wise and learned, and Women are not Born so!

Again, Men are possessed of all Places of Power, Trust and Profit, they make Laws and exercise the Magistracy, not only the sharpest Sword, but even all the Swords and Blunderbusses are theirs, which by the strongest Logick in the World, gives them the best Title to every Thing they please to claim as their Prerogative: Who shall contend with them? Immemorial Prescription is on their Side in these Parts of the World, antient Tradition and modern Usage! Our Fathers, have all along, both taught and practised Superiority over the weaker Sex, and consequently Women are by Nature inferior to Men, as was to be demonstrated. An Argument which must be acknowledged unanswerable; for, as well as I love my Sex, I will not pretend a Reply to _such_ Demonstration!

Only let me beg to be inform’d, to whom we poor Fatherless Maids, and Widows who have lost their Masters, owe Subjection? It can’t be to all Men in general, unless all Men were agreed to give the same Commands; Do we then fall as Strays, to the first who finds us? By the Maxims of some Men, and the Conduct of some Women one would think so. But whoever he be that thus happens to become our Master, if he allows us to be reasonable Creatures, and does not meerly Compliment us with that Title, since no Man denies our Readiness to use our Tongues, it would tend, I should think, to our Master’s Advantage, and therefore he may please to be advis’d to teach us to improve our Reason. But if Reason is only allow’d us by way of Raillery, and the secret Maxim is, that we have none, or little more than Brutes, ’tis the best way to confine us with Chain and Block to the Chimney-Corner, which, probably, might save the Estates of some Families and the Honour of others.

I Do not propose this to prevent a Rebellion, for Women are not so well united as to form an Insurrection. They are for the most part wise enough to love their Chains, and to discern how very becomingly they fit. They think as humbly of themselves as their Masters can wish, with respect to the other Sex, but in regard to their own, they have a Spice of Masculine Ambition; every one would Lead, and none would Follow. Both Sexes being too apt to Envy, and too backward in Emulating, and take more Delight in detracting from their Neighbour’s Vertue, than in improving their own. And therefore, as to those Women who find themselves born for Slavery, and are so sensible of their own Meanness, as to conclude it impossible to attain to any thing excellent, since they are, or ought to be best acquainted with their own Strength and Genius, She’s a Fool who would attempt their Deliverance or Improvement. No, let them enjoy the great Honour and Felicity of their tame, submissive and depending Temper! Let the Men applaud, and let them glory in this wonderful Humility! Let them receive the Flatteries and Grimaces of the other Sex, live unenvied by their own, and be as much belov’d as one such Woman can afford to love another! Let them enjoy the Glory of treading in the Footsteps of their Predecessors, and of having the Prudence to avoid that audacious Attempt of soaring beyond their Sphere! Let them Huswife or Play, Dress, and be pretty entertaining Company! Or, which is better, relieve the Poor to ease their own Compassions, read pious Books, say their Prayers, and go to Church, because they have been taught and us’d to do so, without being able to give a better Reason for their Faith and Practice! Let them not by any means aspire at being Women of Understanding, because no Man can endure a Woman of Superior Sense, or would treat a reasonable Woman civilly, but that he thinks he stands on higher Ground, and, that she is so wise as to make Exceptions in his Favour, and to take her Measures by his Directions; they may pretend to Sense, indeed, since meer Pretences only render one the more ridiculous! Let them, in short, be what is call’d _very_ Women, for this is most acceptable to all sorts of Men; or let them aim at the Title of _good devout_ Women, since some Men can bear with this; but let them not judge of the Sex by their own Scantling: For the great Author of Nature and Fountain of all Perfection, never design’d that the Mean and Imperfect, but that the most Compleat and Excellent of His Creatures in every Kind, should be the Standard to the rest.

To conclude; If that GREAT QUEEN who has subdued the Proud, and made the pretended Invincible more than once fly before her; who has Rescued an Empire, Reduced a Kingdom, Conquer’d Provinces in as little Time almost as one can Travel them, and seems to have chain’d Victory to her Standard; who disposes of Crowns, gives Laws and Liberty to _Europe_, and is the chief Instrument in the Hand of the Almighty, to pull down and to set up the great Men of the Earth; who conquers every where for others, and no where for her self but in the Hearts of the Conquer’d, who are of the Number of those who reap the Benefit of her Triumphs; whilst she only reaps for her self the Lawrels of disinterested Glory, and the Royal Pleasure of doing Heroically; if this Glory of her own Sex, and Envy of the other, will not think we need, or does not hold us worthy of, the Protection of her ever victorious Arms, and Men have not the Gratitude, for her sake at least, to do Justice to her Sex, who has been such a universal Benefactress to theirs: Adieu to the Liberties, not of this or that Nation or Region only, but of the Moiety of Mankind! To all the great Things that Women might perform, inspir’d by her Example, encouraged by her Smiles, and supported by her Power! To their Discovery of new Worlds for the Exercise of her Goodness, new Sciences to publish her Fame, and reducing Nature it self to a Subjection to her Empire! To their destroying those worst of Tyrants Impiety and Immorality, which dare to stalk about even in her own Dominions, and to devour Souls almost within View of her Throne, leaving a Stench behind them scarce to be corrected even by the Incense of her Devotions! To the Women’s tracing a new Path to Honour, in which none shall walk but such as scorn to Cringe in order to Rise, and who are Proof both against giving and receiving Flattery! In a Word, to those Halcyon, or, if you will, _Millennium_ Days, in which the Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together, and a Tyrannous Domination, which Nature never meant, shall no longer render useless, if not hurtful, the Industry and Understandings of half Mankind!

__FINIS.__

_BOOKS lately Printed for, and Sold by_ WILLIAM PARKER _at the_ King’s Head _in St._ Paul’_s_ Church-Yard.

_FOLIO._

A Compleat History of _England_, to the Death of King _William_ III. with large Notes. Collected by the late Bishop _Kennet_. With the Effigies of all the Kings, from the Originals: Engraven by the best Masters. 3 Vols.

_Puffendorf_’s Law of Nature and Nations; in eight Books. Done into _English_ by _Basil Kennet_, D. D. To which are added, all the large Notes by Mr. _Barbeyrac_. The Fourth Edition, carefully corrected.

_Guillim_’s Display of Heraldry: The Sixth Edition, improv’d; with large Additions of many hundred Coats of Arms, under their respective Bearings; with good Authorities from the _Ashmolean_ Library, Sir _George Mackenzie_, _&c._

The Natural History of _Northamptonshire_; with some Account of the Antiquities. To which is annex’d, A Transcript of _Doomsday-Book_, so far as it relates to that County. By _John Moreton_, M. A. Rector of _Oxendon_ in the same County, and F. R. S.

The _Cambridge_ Concordance to the Holy Scriptures: Together with the Books of _Apocrypha_; and the various Readings both of Texts and Margin, in a more exact Method than has hitherto been extant. The fifth Edition, very accurately corrected.

The Works of the famous _Nicholas Machiavel_, Citizen and Secretary of _Florence_; newly and faithfully Translated into _English_. The Third Edition, carefully corrected.

The Works of the most exemplary Christian Mr. _William Allen_, consisting of thirteen distinct Tracts on several Subjects. With a Sermon preached at his Funeral by Bishop _Kidder_: To which is prefix’d, a Preface concerning the Author and his Writings; by _John Williams_, late Bishop of _Chichester_.

_QUARTO._

Common-Place Book to the Bible.

_Littleton_’s Dictionary.

Religion of Nature delineated.

_Tournefort_’s compleat Herbal, 39 Numbers, to be continued. Price 1 _s._ each.

The History and Antiquities, Ecclesiastical and Civil, of the Isle of _Thanet_ in _Kent_. By _J. Lewis_, M. A.

The History and Antiquities of the Abby and Church of _Feversham_ in _Kent_; of the adjoining Priory of _Davington_ and _Maison-Dieu_ of _Ospringe_, and Parish of _Bocton Subtus le Bleyne_, _&c._ By _J. Lewis_, M. A.

_OCTAVO_ and _TWELVES_.

An Answer to the Dissenters Pleas for Separation: Or, an Abridgment of the _London_ Cases. Wherein the Substance of those Books is digested into one short and plain Discourse. The 6th Edition. By _Thomas Bennet_, D. D. late Vicar of St. _Giles_’s _Cripplegate_.

Bishop _Bull_’s Sermons, with his Life. By Mr. _Nelson_, in 4 Vols.

The Book of Psalms made fit for the Closet; with Collects and Prayers out of the Liturgy of the Church of _England_, _&c._ particularly adapted, with Titles to each Psalm.

Dr. _Comber_’s short Discourses upon the whole Common-Prayer, designed to inform the Judgment, and excite the Devotion of such as daily use the same. The Fourth Edition.

Civil Policy, a Treatise concerning the Nature of Government. Wherein the Reasons of the great Diversity to be observed in the Customs, Manners, and Usages of Nations, are Historically explained, and Remarks made upon the Changes of our _English_ Constitutions, and the different Measures of our several Kings. By a Doctor of Physick.

Bishop _Cumberland_’s _Sanchoniatho’s Phœnician_ History.

—— _Origines Gentium Antiquisitione_: Or, Attempts for Discovering the Times of the first Planting of Nations. In several Tracts.

_N. B._ These two Pieces of Bishop _Cumberland_’s, contain a Confutation of the new Notion of Chronology advanced by Sir _Isaac Newton_.

_Drelincourt_’s Christian’s Defence against the Fears of Death; with seasonable Directions how to prepare our selves to Die well. The 12th Edition.

A Defence of Diocesan Episcopacy, in Answer to a Book of Dr. _David Clarkson_, lately published, intituled _Primitive Episcopacy_. By _H. Maurice_, D. D. The Second Edition.

Sir _John Floyer_’s Treatise of the Asthma. 3d Edit.

The Frauds of the _Romish_ Monks and Priests, set forth in eight Letters. The 5th Edition. With Observations on a Journey to _Naples_: Wherein the Frauds of the _Romish_ Monks and Priests are further discovered. Lately written by a Gentleman in his Journey to _Italy_, and published for the Benefit of the Publick. 2 Vols.

The Gentleman instructed in the Conduct of a virtuous and happy Life. In Three Parts. Written for the Instruction of a young Nobleman. To which is added: A Word to the Ladies. By way of Supplement to the First Part.

The Gardeners and Florists Dictionary: Or, A compleat System of Horticulture. In 2 Vols. By _Philip Miller_, Gardener of the Botanick Garden at _Chelsea_.

The genuine Use and Necessity of the two Sacraments: Namely, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; with our Obligations frequently to receive the latter.

The History of _England_, faithfully extracted from authentick Records, approved Manuscripts, and the most celebrated Histories of this Kingdom, in all Languages, whether Ecclesiastical or Civil, with the Effiges of the Kings and Queens. 5th Edition. 2 Vols.

_Olyff_’s Practical Exposition on the Church Catechism. 2 Vols.

Lawfulness of Infant Baptism improv’d from Scripture: With the Right that the Infants of Christian Parents have to be Baptized. Wherein also Mr. _Gale_s Reflections on Dr. _Wall_’s History of Infant Baptism are examined and refuted, so far as they came in the Way of this Discourse; and all the Objections and Arguments of other Antipædobaptists, that are of any Weight, are taken off. By the Rev. Mr. _Owen_, Vicar of _Iford_ in _Sussex_.

Bishop _Potter_’s Discourse of Church Government; wherein the Rights of the Church, and the Supremacy of Christian Princes are vindicated and adjusted. Third Edition.

Pious Communicant: Containing whatever is necessary to persuade and prepare us for that and all other Duties of Devotion, and prevent all Scruples concerning them, _&c._

Father _Quesnel_’s Moral Reflections upon every Verse of the New Testament, in order to make the Reading of it more profitable, and the Meditation more easy. In four Vols.

_N. B._ Those Gentlemen that have the First and Second Volumes, are desired speedily to send for the Third and Fourth, otherwise they will find it difficult to compleat them, there not being so many Printed of the two last as of the former Volumes.

Reflections upon Learning; wherein is shewn the Insufficiency thereof, in its several Particulars, in order to evince the Usefulness and Necessity of Revelation. The sixth Edition. By a Gentleman.

The Scripture Doctrine of Christ’s Divinity: or, The adorable Nature, voluntary Subjection, and necessary Supremacy of the Son of God, consider’d: In six Sermons; preach’d on several Occasions. By _Sam. Johnson_, M. A. Vicar of _Great Torrington_, Rector of _Little Torrington_.

Where may be had _Gratis_, a _Catalogue_ of _Books_ (being Part of the Stock of two Booksellers who have lately left off Trade) which are to be sold very cheap unbound till _Michaelmas_ next, the Prices printed in the Catalogue afterward, at the former Prices.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. P. 89, changed “defin’d” to “destin’d”. 2. All spelling errors were left uncorrected. 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.

End of Project Gutenberg's Some Reflections Upon Marriage., by Mary Astell