There was the Master giving one, two, and five talents, and the moral obligation of each person receiving them and their several rewards. I had one talent, which was hidden away.
By the Prophet Joel we learn that one special feature of the gospel dispensation shall be, "Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon my servants and handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit." It seems by the Prophet Joel, that the last days were to be particularly conspicuous for this kind of prophesying. We cannot reserve God's decree, for it is said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Word of God shall endure forever." (See sermon on Women's Ministry at end.)
Now, to those who are sensitive upon this point I propose the inquiry: First, Is there not as much to sustain the position that women are called to preach as there is that men are called? If you admit that there is such a call to the ministry, then whence the authority for making the work exclusively for the male sex? What would have been the work of those women who labored with Paul? (Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, iy. 3.) Second, How could they obey God and not prophesy? (Acts ii. 18.) Philip had four daughters who did prophesy. (Acts xxi. 9.) Was that by divine authority, about thirty-five years after the setting up of the gospel kingdom dispensation? And is it less becoming for women to labor in Christ's kingdom or vineyard now, than it was then?
If you determine that there is no acceptable preaching only through a called ministry, who will arrogate to himself the power to determine the calling, seeing that none are invested with miraculous power?
But should you deny that there is any divine authority by which the word is preached, why not offer the most encouragement to those who may labor the most successfully? There will be a time when all good workers will meet a just recompense; for it is said: "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
The first meeting that I undertook to hold was in a little town
