Chapter 8: Whether Women May Sing as Well as Men

The second scruple about singers is, whether women may sing as well as men. For in this point there be some that deal with us, as Pharaoh dealt with the Israelites, who though he was at first utterly unwilling that any of them should go to sacrifice to the Lord in the wilderness, yet being at length convinced that they must go, then he was content the men should go, but not the women (Exodus 10:11). So here, some that were altogether against singing of Psalms at all with lively voice, yet being convinced, that it is a moral worship of God warranted in Scripture, then if there must be a singing, one alone must sing, not all, (or if all) the men only, and not the women.

And their reason is: 1. Because it is not permitted to a woman to speak in the church (1 Corinthians 14:34), how then shall they sing? 2. Much less it is permitted to them to prophesy in the church (1 Timothy 2:11, 12), and singing of Psalms is a kind of prophesying.

One answer may at once remove both these scruples and withal clear the truth. It is apparent by the scope and context of both those Scriptures, that a woman is not permitted to speak in the church, in two cases. 1. By way of teaching, whether in expounding, or applying Scripture. For this the Apostle accounts an act of authority, which is unlawful for a woman to usurp over the man (2 Timothy 2:13). And besides, the woman is more subject to error than the man (ver. 14), and therefore might soon prove a seducer, if she became a teacher.

2. It is not permitted to a woman to speak in the church, by way of propounding questions, though under pretence of desire to learn for her own satisfaction; but rather it is required she should ask her husband at home (1 Corinthians 14:35).

For under pretence of questioning, for learning sake, she might so propound her question, as to teach her teachers; or if not so, yet to open a door to some of her own weak and erroneous apprehensions, or at least soon exceed the bounds of womanly modesty.

Nevertheless in two other cases, it is clear a woman is allowed to speak in the church. 1. In way of subjection, when she is to give account of her offence. Thus Peter questioned Sapphira before the church touching the price of land sold by her and her husband, which her husband had concealed by his lie: and she accordingly spoke in the church to give answer to his question (Acts 5:8). 2. In way of singing forth the praises of the Lord, together with the rest of the congregation. For it is evident the Apostle lays no greater restraint upon the women for silence in the church, than the Law had put upon them before. For so himself speaks in the place alleged (1 Corinthians 14:34): it is not permitted to the women to speak, but to be under subjection, as also says the Law. The Apostle then requires the same subjection in the woman, which the Law had put upon them: no more. Now it is certain, the Law, yes the Lawgiver Moses did permit Miriam and the women that went out after her to sing forth the praises of the Lord, as well as the men, and to answer the men in their song of thanksgiving; "Sing you to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider has he thrown into the sea" (Exodus 15:20, 21). Which may be a ground sufficient to justify the lawful practice of women in singing together with men the praises of the Lord. And accordingly the ancient practice of women in the primitive churches to sing the public praises of the Lord; we read recorded in the Ecclesiastical History, Socrates 2. Book, Chapter 18. of the Greek copy, and Chapter 16. of the Latin, Theodoret third Book, Chapter 17.