Lt2 V. II. Qneßions,andCafes of Conscience Chap i 3 Fifthly, it mull be fitted according to the ancient and laudable cuflotnof the Countrey wherein we dwell. Queft. But if wefee a fafhionufed inother ¿ountreys that we like, maywe not take it up ? Anfw. No, for God bath threatned tovifit all fuck, Zeph. i . 9. 'Paul taxes it as a great diforder in the Corinthians, that men wore long haire, and women went uncovered, 1 Cor. 11. 13, 14. Sixthly, our garments mull be fuch asmay expreffe the vertues of our mindes, efpecially of modefty, fhamefaftneffe and frugality, I Tim. a. 9, Io. Mat. 5.16. Quell. What fpiritual ufe arewe to make ofour apparel ? Anfr. Firfl; we muff take occafion thereby to be humbled for our naked- nefle, in regard of grace; andof Gods favour by reafon of on final fin : They that are proud of their Apparel, are proud of their fhame.Its as ifa thieffhould be proud of his bolts or halter. Garments are the cover of our fhame, and the fignes of our fins. Secondly, by putting onour garments we are to be minded to put on Chrift, Rom. 13. 14. which is donewhen by prayer we come toGod, and entreat him to make the a&ive andpalfive obedience of Chrift a covering for us, and that Chtift may be made to us,wifdom, rihteoufnefle, &c. and that we maybe made conformable to him both in life and death in all moral duties, and that we may have the fameminde, affe&ion and converfation that he had. Thirdly, by putting off our clothes, we are to put off the old man, i, e. the maffe and bodyof finful corruption ; and thats done when we hate fin, and firm- ly refolve againft ir. Fourthly, whenwe cloathand gird our felves, we are taught to gird up the loines of our mindes, tohave our lamps burning, to prepare our felves to meet Chíift, whether at death or the laft judgement. Quell. Why muft we take heed of pride in Apparel? Anfw. Pita, becaufe hereby we wane that that thoul3 bebetter employed, as for the good of the Church, Common-wealth, o. r families, andefpecially for the relief of the poor. Secondly, hereby precious time is abufed, when we fj-end fo muck time in adoming our bodies, that we want ieifure to adorne and beautifie our foules. Thirdly, hereby our attire it felf is abufed, being madea figne of the vanity of our mindes, and the wantonnelfe of our hearts, which fhould thew the Reli- gion of our hearts. Fourthly, it confounds order in the focietiesof men : It coming hereby to paffe, that there is little or no difference between inferiours and fuperi- ours. Fifthly, great judgements are threatnedagainft pride inapparel, Ifa. z. II, 1 z. and 3. 16, &c. Zeph.3.1I. Mr. Perkins,Vol.z.p.135. Quell. What further Reafons may be rendred again. exceffe iiz Ap- parel? Anfw. Firft,Godpath forbidden garifhneffe and exceffe inApparel, and there- foreexcept we will thew onr felves not to regard his word, we mull take heed of it, r Pet. 3. 3, 4. 1 Tim. z. 9, to. Secondly, confider the coming inof Apparel, and we .hall fee that we have . little caufe tobe proudof it : Forwe had none in the flare of innocency, nor needednone ; we were naked, andnotafhamed: at which time Apparel would have been to mans body as a cloud to the Sun. not to deck but todarken it : but whenbyfin we hadwounded our felves, Godwas faine tocovet it with a plaifter. Our
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