But if any man seem to be contentious
That is, if anyone will not be satisfied with reasons given, for
men's praying and prophesying with their heads uncovered, and
women's praying and prophesying with their heads covered; but
will go on to raise objections, and continue carping and
cavilling, showing that they contend not for truth, but victory,
can they but obtain it any way; for my part, as if the apostle
should say, I shall not think it worth my while to continue the
dispute any longer; enough has been said to satisfy any wise and
good man, anyone that is serious, thoughtful, and modest; and
shall only add,
we have no such custom, nor the churches of
God;
meaning, either that men should appear covered, and women
uncovered in public service, and which should have some weight
with all those that have any regard to churches and their
examples; or that men should be indulged in a captious and
contentious spirit; a man that is always contending for
contention sake, and is continually cavilling and carping at
everything that is said and done in churches, and is always
quarrelling with one person or another, or on account of one
thing or another, and is constantly giving uneasiness, is not fit
to be a church member; nor ought he to be suffered to continue in
the communion of the church, to the disturbance of the peace of
it. This puts me in mind of a passage in the Talmud F14.
``The Rabbans teach, that after the departure of R. Meir, R. Judah said to his disciples, do not let the disciples of R. Meir enter here, (Nh Nynrtnqv ynpm) , "because they are contentious".''