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to make use of? The Lord, he is God. He has all power in heaven and in earth; and he will raise up, qualify, and fend forth, whom he pleafeth, as his delegated fervants. Let us therefore bow in humility, and fay, from the bottom of our hearts, Not our will, but thine be done.

It is, indeed, deeply to be regretted, that in this enlightened age, prejudices fhould exist in the minds of any with respect to the preaching of women, who, by the fanctifying operation of the Holy Spirit, have the neceffity laid upon them to preach the gospel. d They, like their brethren, have no private or felfish ends in view. They covet "no man's filver, or gold, or apparel." As they have freely received" the divine gift and qualifications for fervice, fo they "freely give," or communicate of the fame; and, when called by their great Master, labour difintereftedly, according to ability administered, for the good of all; and frequently too, • Acts xx. 33. f Mat. x. 8.

1 Cor. ix. 16.

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through no fmall difficulties and difcouragements both from within and from without; fomething like the apostle, when he faid "Without were fightings," or oppofition; and "within were fears." But notwithstanding the pure and difinterested motives of thefe devoted fervants-love to God and goodwill to men,-the best springs of human action, there is ground to believe, that their Christian labours, in the work of the ministry, may not, in fome inftances, have been fo beneficial as could be defired. From a prevailing idea, or mifapprehenfion, in fome, of the unfitness of women for fpeaking in public on fubjects, in which the highest interests of mankind are concerned, there is reafon to fear, that their services have been undervalued, and, in fome measure, fruftrated. I am well aware that Truth will, at times, under all difadvantages, find its way into the human mind, whatever obftacles it may meet. with in its paffage, and through whatever medium it may be conveyed: but furely,

• 2 Cor. vii. 5.
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it must be defirable to remove, as much as poffible, every obftruction which impedes its progrefs, and renders the mind, in any manner, unfit to receive its ani mating influence.

To contribute a little towards this falutary purpose, is the defign of the enfuing treatise. May that defign be answered! and may this fmall compofition tend to diffufe, though but in a narrow extent, the knowledge of that bleffed principle of grace and truth," which, "came by Jefus Chrift," and which is indeed the life of men! And that thofe who are made fenfible of its humbling and quickening influences on their minds, either immediately by the good Spirit of God, or inftrumentally by his fervants, whether male or female, may be willing to obey its manifeftations, and thus, become not only the called, but the chofen of the Lord, is the fervent breathing of my fpirit to the "Father of mercies, and the God of ▸ John i. 17.

all comfort," who willeth that all fhould come to the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jefus, and be faved!

2 Cor. i. iii.

WM. RAWES, jun.

Marnhull, 25th of the 3d Month, 1801.

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