Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v12

Chap. 42. Expofnionupon the ;Book of .1 o B. Verf. it. 975 I grant fome Scriptures fpeak negatively in appearance, as to the ufe and wearing of jewels and ornaments ( t Tim. z. 9.) In like manner alfo let women adorn themfelves in mode/i aparcl, in fhamefaflnefs and fobriety, not with braidered Bair or gold, or pearl, or cot ly array. This Scripture teems to crots the point dire&ly, and fo doth that other (t Pet. 3.3.) whole adorning ((peaking of women) let it not be that outward adorning of plating the hair, and of wearing ofgold, andof putting on of aparel ; but let it be the hid- den man of the heart. How then can good women_wear thefe ornaments ? I anfwer,Thefe Scriptures do not abfolutely forbid the wearing of ornaments, but only as to thole exceptions before given, to wear them in pride,, or to let our affe&ions upon them, or to atfe& them, or to wear themwaftfully, beyond- our purfe and place ; fuchwearing of ornaments is indeed unlawful.Again, it is not fînfut to haveor ufe ornaments, but to make them our orna- ments; that is finful ;- our adorning mull be the hidden man of the heart, that muff be grace : That this is the Apollles mind is clear, becaufe he faith their adorning molt not be the putting on of apparrel, as well as not the plating of the hair, and wearing of gold. Therefore the negation is not abfolute, but comparative ; let not them count thefe their ornaments, but grace or the hidden man of the heart. As the Lord faith, Iwill have mercy and not fäcriface, that is, mercy rather than facrifce ; fo, I_will have die hidden man of the heart, not cofIly jewels and apparel,your c r aa- ment ; that is,, I elect) the one much rather than the, other, and fo oughí you to efteem both your felves and others accord. ingly. Take this caución further. Times of afflì&ion and ftiffering, are veryunfeafonable towear ear-rings ofgold and ornaments.When there is any great appearance of the difpleafure of God againf1 a people, then how unlutable arc all our pleafant things I The Lord hid to the people of Ifrael, Put off' your ornaments, that Imay i w what to do with you (Exo.d. 32.) Whenwe live in fuch a teme, in humbling days, or are called to humbling duties, we thould be verywatchful about thefe things, andrather appear in raggs than robes, with dull upon our heads, rather than withorna- ments uponour backs, Thus-

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