O f the vanitie ofcofifyandbraceapparel!. 397 themon to imitate their brauerie; for fuch is the prideof ¡PPeell,Tesd mans heart, that he is impatient to bee any way inferiour to again their thole whomhe efleemethbut his equals; and therfore when ,ttrbretbgerelf,, enra bygi- knee Teeth his neighbour in cooly clothing, fearing left hee fhould be preferred before him, he inwardlydifdaineth,en- uieth, and vieth with him who !hall excell in brauerie;. whereofit commeth,to paffe, that this vanity of gay appa- rell,hauing infe&ed any corner,doth in fhort timelikea running canker,fpread it felfeouer awholecountry.Againe, theyare fcandalous to thole who arewithout,as theyhinder anddifcourage themby theirpride and exceffe from the im- bracingand profelliing oftheir religion, when as in this they can perceiuenediffcrence between aprofeffour ofreligion, and a profeffed vaine perfon the children of God, andthe children ofthediuell ; tholewho profeffemortification, and theywhoareworldly and prophane. Whereascontrariwifè, ifthey wereaccording to their profeffion, humble, model+, graue and lober, in their habit and outward cariage, theyTit.a.3. mightmoue them toa likingof their religion for their ver-. cues fake, whoprofeffe it, and intime draw them on to the profeffion and pra&ifeofit. Finally, ifin fincerity ofheart weeprofeffe and pra&ife chriffianity, and yet bee ouertaken with thisvanity, as-we doe thereby wrongour feluesby im- pairingour good name; foby feeming that we are not, wee giue occafion to wicked worldlings of falling into finne, whilefi for this infirmitie theyare ready to blafpheme Gods truth-,which we profcffe, and cenfure and condemne vs for hypocritsandwicked perfons,whoare as proud,wantouand' lafciuiousas anyother. Which fufpitionsweeought to (hun by auoiding there outward apparances of euill; for if my heartbe cleane andvpright in it (elle, why (hould Igive oc- cafion to haue it fpotted and blemifhed in anothers conceit andeflimarion ? Why (hould wantons and lafciuious per- Tertul.de Ions haueanyhope offinding that in neewhich I abhorre? cultu fceminá. Why Bothnot my habit proclaime the affe&ion ofmy hart, Lb. left impudencie fhould be incouraged to taint it, by infuíng thepoyfon oflull and wantonnes bymy cares? Why (hould Lnotprofeffing charity feeke rather toedifie then deffroymy neighbour;
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