Page:Woman and the Bible.pdf/37

 OPINIONS OF THE CHURCH FATHERS

And Other Lights of the Christian System Regarding Women.

According to St. Bernard, "Woman is the organ of the Devil."

St. Anthony, "Woman is the fountain of the arm of the Devil; her voice is the hissing of the serpent."

St. Bonaventure, "Woman is a scorpion, ever ready to sting. She is the lance of the demon."

St. Cyprian, "Woman is the instrument which the Devil uses to gain possession of our souls."

St. Jerome, "Woman is the gate of the Devil, the road of iniquity, the sting of the scorpion."

St. Gregory the Great, "Woman has the poison of an asp, the malice of a dragon."

St. John Damascene, "Woman is a daughter of Falsehood, a sentinel of Hell, the enemy of Peace; through her Adam lost Paradise."

St. John Chrysistom, "Through woman the Devil triumphed, though her Paradise has been lost; of all wild beasts, the most dangerous is woman."

Talmud, "When thy daughter has reached maturity set one of thy slaves free and betroth her to him."

Jewish Prayer, "Blessed art thou, O Lord, who has't not made me a heathen, a slave or a woman."

Luther, "No gown or garment worse becomes a woman, than that she will be wise."

John Wesley, "Giving up witchcraft is giving up the Bible."