25. —Women, As Spoken Of In The New Testament.
Much no doubt of a most beautiful character is said about woman and her work in the Old Testament, but we think that the extent to which the subject has run, shows the wisdom of limiting the search in this instance to the New.
In glancing over the subject, we have noticed one or two points that we will just name, avoiding all general classification of the subject, from which we are entirely precluded by the limited space at our disposal.
We observe many regulations concerning the conduct of married woman and widows, little or nothing being directly addressed to unmarried women.
We have also observed that the praise, gifts, love, service, prayer, faith and suffering of women are largely spoken of. To these seven subjects we may devote a few lines.
1. We get the praises of Mary (the mother of our Lord), of Anna (an aged widow), and of a nameless woman. In addition we find the worship of Mary of Bethany, and other women, which is praise of the highest character. This sufficiently establishes women’s claim to be priests, and to offer up the spiritual sacrifices of praise to God.
2. We next observe woman giving, in the person of a poor widow, watched by our Lord, and immortalized by His words, as she cast in all her living into God’s treasury.
This establishes the claim of women to the priesthood, in doing good and communicating, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. We clearly see therefore that Christian women are priests.
3. We get eight or nine instances of women’s love. We get it in Mary’s attitude, in her gifts, in the watchfulness of women only round the sepulcher, in love to the brethren.
While therefore the New Testament speaks of the natural love of Christian women, and of their love to the brethren, it unmistakably shows that their first and chief love is Christ.
4. We now pass on to the much debated question of their service. Of this over 20 examples are given. Taking some then as they come, we see that women served the Lord, Carried the news of Christ’s resurrection, Brought men to Christ, Prophesied, Served and worked with their hands for the poor, Entertained Christians, Expounded truth, Served the Church, Labored much,—and in the gospel, Ministered to Christ, Showed kindness to strangers, Cared humbly for the saints, Relieved the afflicted, Diligently followed all good works.
We observe, moreover, that the sphere of their service is only limited in two directions.
They are to keep silence in public meetings of the Church. They are not to teach, nor usurp authority over the man.
5. We have several examples of women praying.
They prayed together,
They opened their houses for prayer meetings, They resorted to places of public prayer, They were not to pray publicly with uncovered heads, as men.
6. Of women’s/a/at we have many instances, amongst Chief women, Honorable women, Gentile outcasts, Gross sinners, Jewish women of all classes.
We also find women suffering persecution for Christ’s sake.
Grouping these seven traits of Christian women together, we may say they are called to praise Christ—to give to Christ—to love Christ—to serve Christ—to pray—to have faith in Christ—and to suffer for Christ.
We conclude these few remarks with the following beautiful words on the service of women: The activity of public service, that which may be called ‘work,’ belongs naturally to men (all that appertains to what is termed ministry), although women share a very precious activity in private. But there is another side of Christian life, which is particularly theirs; and that is a personal and loving devotedness to Christ. It was a woman who anointed the Lord, while the disciples murmured; women who were at the cross, when all except John had forsaken Him; women who came to the sepulcher, and who were sent to announce the truth to the apostles, who had gone after all to their own home; women who ministered to their Lord’s need. And, indeed, we may go further. Devotedness in service is perhaps the part of man; but the instinct of affection, that which enters more intimately into Christ’s position, and is thus more immediately in connection with His feelings, in closer communion with the sufferings of His heart-this is the part of woman, assuredly a happy part.
The activity of service for Christ puts a man a little out of this position, at least if the Christian is not watchful. Everything has, however, its place. I speak of that which is characteristic; for there are women who have served much, and men who have felt much. Note also here, what I believe I have remarked, that this clinging of heart to Jesus is the position where the communications of true knowledge are received. The first full gospel is announced to the poor woman who was a sinner, who washed His feet; the embalming for His death to Mary; our highest position to Mary Magdalene; the communion Peter desired, to John, who was in His bosom.”