_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_.