‘Woman is to win every thing by peace and love; by making _herself_ so much respected, &c. that to yield to _her_ opinions, and to gratify _her_ wishes, will be the free-will offering of the heart.’ This principle may do as the rule of action to the fashionable belle, whose idol is _herself_; whose every attitude and smile are designed to win the admiration of others to _herself_; and who enjoys, with exquisite delight, the double-refined incense of flattery which is offered to _her_ vanity, by yielding to _her_ opinions, and gratifying _her_ wishes, because they are _hers_. But to the humble Christian, who feels that it is _truth_ which she seeks to recommend to others, _truth_ which she wants them to esteem and love, and not herself, this subtle principle must be rejected with holy indignation. Suppose she could win thousands to her opinions, and govern them by her wishes, how much nearer would they be to Jesus Christ, if she presents no higher motive, and points to no higher leader? ‘But this is all to be accomplished in the domestic circle.’ Indeed! ‘Who made thee a ruler and a judge over all?’ I read in the Bible, that Miriam, and Deborah, and Huldah, were called to fill _public stations_ in Church and State. I find Anna, the prophetess, speaking in the temple ‘unto all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.’ During his ministry on earth, I see women following him from town to town, in the most public manner; I hear the woman of Samaria, on her return to the city, telling the _men_ to come and see a man who had told her all things that ever she did. I see them even standing on Mount Calvary, around his cross, in the most exposed situation; but He never _rebuked_ them; He never told them it was unbecoming _their sphere in life_ to mingle in the crowds which followed his footsteps. Then, again, I see the cloven tongues of fire resting on each of the heads of the one hundred and twenty disciples, some of whom were _women_; yea, I hear _them preaching_ on the day of Pentecost to the multitudes who witnessed the outpouring of the spirit on that glorious occasion; for, unless _women_ as well as men received the Holy Ghost, and _prophesied_, what did Peter mean by telling them, ‘This is _that_ which was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, said _God_, I will pour out my spirit upon _all_ flesh: and your sons and your _daughters shall prophesy_. … And on my servants and on my _handmaidens_, I will pour out in those days of my spirit; and _they shall prophesy_.’ This is the plain matter of fact, as Clark and Scott, Stratton and Locke, all allow. Mine is no ‘private interpretation,’ no mere sectarian view.