women keep silence, in the churches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak: and if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church." I know that these texts have been explained away; but so have the proof texts which teach the divinity of Christ, the depravity of man, the reality of the atonement, and the necessity of regeneration. Any thing can be explained away by those who are determined to obey their own will instead of the Bible. With respect to I. Cor. xi. 3-16, which may be thought to imply that women did pray in Christian assemblies, I answer:

1. It is not so plain that they did, as it is in the fore cited passages that they are forbidden; and the plain is to control the obscure, and not the obscure the plain.

2. If they did pray, it must be supposed therefore that it was under the special guidance of the Spirit; a preternatural impulse, which amounted to inspiration; for none but the Lawgiver himself can make exceptions to his own laws; and this considered, the example, if allowed, no more proves that women undirected by such influence, should speak, than the example of Balaam proves that all unrenewed men should set up for prophets of the Lord. If women did pray, it was a case exempted from the general prohibition, by divine and not by human direction.

3. And if the reasoning were even less conclusive, it would suffice to render the lawfulness of female prayers doubtful, and of course to exclude them under the rule, that if we are doubtful whether a thing is lawful, it is sinful in that state of uncertainty to do it; as he that doubted the lawfulness of eating meats, was condemned if in that state of mind he presumed to eat. But if no command had been given on this subject, I am of opinion that nature itself, as the Apostle says, is decisive on the subject. There is generally, and should be always, in the female character, a softness and delicacy of feeling which shrinks from the notoriety of a public performance. It is the guard of female virtue, and invaluable in its soothing, civilizing influence on man; and a greater evil, next to the loss of conscience and chastity, could not befal the female sex or the community at large, than to disrobe the female mind of those ornaments of sensibility, and clothe it with the rough texture of masculine fibre. But no well educated female can put herself up, or be put up, to the point of public prayer, without the loss of some portion at least, of that female delicacy, which is above all price; and whoever has had opportunity to observe the effect of female exhortation and prayer in public, will be compelled to remark the exchange

of softness and delicacy for masculine courage so desirable in man, so unlovely in woman; and if we need further testimony, the general character of actresses is a standing memorial of the influence of female elocution for public assemblies.

[To be concluded in next Number.]

For the Calvinistic Magazine.

DIALOGUES ON CHURCH GOVERNMENT, BETWEEN A CITIZEN AND A METHODIST CIRCUIT-RIDERDIALOGUE L

Preacher. My friend, I am glad to see you. I have long desired an opportunity of having a conversation with you, if agreeable.

Citizen. I have no objection. I am ready at any time to afford you the opportunity you desired.-May I ask what is the cause of your anxiety?

Preacher. I have been long acquainted with your character, and have often wondered, that being a man of regular habits, a lover of evangelical religion-and a friend to the church and religious people, you should not attach yourself to our society, as a member.

Citizen. I thank you for your good opinion. I hope, I am a friend to the church of Christ, and to all good people. But I have reasons that justify me to myself, for not becoming a member of the Meth odist Episcopal church.

Preacher. The Methodist church is the principal one, in your section of country. It is a church that increases rapidly, while others are dwindling. It contains many pious members, is full of zeal, is strict in exercising her excellent discipline, and will certain. ly become the prevailing church in the land.

Citizen. I admit all you have said in commendation of your church, and believe thousands will praise God through eternity, that the Methodists were made the instruments of their saving conversion. Preacher. Then, why not join us?

the

Citizen. If you wish to know my reasons, you must first converse with me freely, and candidly on several topics, that you may better judge of the validity of my reasons, when you hear them. Preacher. To this I have no objections.

Citizen. Have you ever turned your attention to the several kinds of civil government, that prevail in the world?

Preacher. I must acknowledge, I have not. I have but a very limited English education. Until a very few years ago, I cared very little about books, or any thing else, except folly and sin. I became

powerfully impressed at a camp-meeting at

.In the month of

-in the year—I embraced religion; and soon had a call to preach. I was soon taken on the circuit, and have not had time to read any thing except the Bible-our discipline, and a few other books immediately connected with my calling.

Citizen. Well, sir, permit me to tell you, that there are several kinds of civil government, called democracy, aristocracy, monarchy, and despotism.

Preacher. You must explain these words, I do not understand them.

Citizen. Democracy is where the supreme power is in the whole people; it is more commonly called Republican. Aristocracy is where the supreme power is in a particular rank or class of men.

Monarchy is the supreme power of a single person, who placed at the head of many subordinate dignities, has an authority defined by laws.

Despotism is the supreme power of a single person, assumed and maintained by force on the ruin of every other pretension to rank. A despot, disclaims all law except his own will.

These are all the simple forms of government. Some forms of government are mixed, that is, compounded of two or more of the simple forms.

Preacher. What kind of government do you call ours, in the United States?

Citizen. It is a representative democracy, or republic.

Preacher. This is more than I ever heard or knew before about governments. And since we are upon the subject; you may tell me the advantages of each kind.

Citizen. A republican government secures to the people equal rights and privileges, civil and religious; and is free from burdensome taxes, and unnecessary wars; while it may not have so much decision and energy, in great national concerns, as some other governments. The people are liable to be divided in opinion, which gives rise, to disputations and even factions.

Monarchies and despotismns may have unity of design, energy and decision of action in national concerns. But the people's rights and liberties, are sacrificed, and they are generally oppressed with wars, taxes and religious establishments.

Aristocracies have the advantage of the counsels of men of high rank, great talents, experience and literature. But are liable to be disturbed, and even rent by the ambition and mutual jealousies of the nobles.

Since you have made me give you this short account of the prin ciples of the different forms of civil government, and of their advantages and disadvantages, you will now be kind enough to tell me which you prefer.

Preacher. I have no hesitation in saying I prefer a Republican to every other form of government. Equal rights and privileges are the greatest of all blessings secured by civil government.

Citizen. I am glad to find that we think alike on this subject. I believe God made men equal, and no man has a right to rule over another without his consent, except for crimes. But since we have agreed so well on this point, I am encouraged to ask, whether the church must not exist under some form of government?

Preacher. Certainly. Our discipline is a proof of that.

Citizen. Without enquiring at present whether there be any better proof, you will not be offended if I ask, whether a christian esteems most his religious rights or his natural rights.

Preacher. I do not understand you.

Citizen. I will explain myself. A citizen of a republic, has a right to vote for all candidates for places of honor, power, profit and trust. He has a right to be a candidate himself for those places. . He has a natural right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and a republican governments secures these rights to him. But as a Christian, and member of the church, he has certain rights secured to him by the constitution and laws which God has given to the church.→→ Which of these will he esteem most?

Preacher. If he be an intelligent man he will esteem both very highly.

Gilizen. Let us now enquire what some of his ecclesiastical rights are.

Preacher. I will hear you with pleasur.

Citizen. I think one of these rights is, a right to vote for the man who is to bear rule over me in the Lord. I think this is an unalienable right, and one secured by the charter or constitution which God has given to his church.

Preacher. Have you any scripture for this?

Citizen. In the sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles we read as follows:

“Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto the and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables; wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom ye may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continuolių la

prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles: and, when they had prayed, they laid their hands. on them."

In this instance, the apostles although inspired, and clothed by Christ with peculiar powers, did not presume to appoint church officers. The people elected them, and the apostles only ordained them.

Preacher. What other rights belong to church members?

Citizen. Another important right is, that the members of the church, as distinguished from the ministers, have a right, either each one for himself, or by delegates chosen by them, to vote in all ecclesiastical courts, synods, associations, or conferences where canons, decrees, or any regulations are made, respecting the doctrines, rules, worship, discipline, property, officers and government of the church. Preacher. What scripture have you for this?

Citizen. It is to be found in the 15th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, 2. 4. 6. and 22. verses.

"They (the brethren) determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question....And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders....And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter....Then pleased it the apostles and clders, with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas....” On this passage I remark: 1st. Before Paul and Barnabas went as members to this ecclesiastical court, the brethren determined to send them, that they might represent them in this synod; but they took care to send certain others of their own body with them. 2nd. The Apostles and Elders with the brethren determined the question. Sd. This passage, then, clearly determines the right of the private members of the church, for this is the meaning of the term brethren, as distinguished from apostles and elders or ministers, to vote either by themselves, or by representatives chosen by them, in all ecclesias tical courts, synods, assemblies, associations or conferences. Nor can this right be withheld without violating an unalienable right secured by the laws of Christ, and sanctioned by the the example of the apostles and primitive church.

Preacher. You seem to have made out, better than I expected, from scripture authority, the right of the people to be represented,