Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

3E4 Of the vanitieofcotly awl drasteapparell. God,in doing that which he forbiddeth before his face,and euen in that very time when by his wordhe doth condemne it: as if they fhould plainely fay, I will not forfake the fafhi- on of the world, though it be neuer fo much or oft forbid- den. Which as it is a great offence among our (clues, fo doth it fcandalize pagans, infidels and woridlings much more, and as a Rumbling blocke in the way hinders them from the profeflion of our religion, when as they heare our do&rine, and fee our praólife; obf rue that the Scriptures which wee profeffe co beleeue,and propound as the rule, according to which we frame our liues,condemne and forbid this vanity, and wee euen when wee heare them read, vfe that exceffiue brauerie,which the heathens themfelues would neuer tole- rate. 4.Stli.g. Secondly, if we would calm mind the firR original! ofap- The original! ofparell,wefhould haue little caufe to affect braucrie, or to apparel Jheuld wax proud of gay clothing ; for had our firfl parents conti- preferuevs nued in the Rate ofinnocencie, they fhould haue remained from taking pride ia it. glorious in themfelues, and not haue needed any apparell; but hauing tranfgreffed Gods commandement they faw their nakedneffe, and being afhamed of their deformities, they fought to hide thetnfelues,and to couer their fhame by the helpe of garments. In which refpeél what is our apparell but a daily monitour,to call our fins and fhame to memorie? What is it but a Lazers cloth,caf otter our filthy (ores of fin, that we may not become lothfome through our deformities to our felues and others? and confequently what doe they which vaunt themfelues in this vanity, but like the thiefe, who being adiudged to weare an hallar in perpetuall re- membrance of his foule crimes, doth make him one of lu ke, or gold twia,andfceing it to make a glittering Phew, doth wax proud ofthat which fhould rather humble him,asbeing acontinuallteftimonieofhis firne and fhame? fo they wax proud ofthat which is the enfigne of their Crone and miferie, and conuert the habits which were giuen vs to hideour fins, into finne it felfe. Againe, if we confider the vfe of apparell in the &a inflitution, which was not oncly(as I haue faid)to ceuer our nakedneffe and hide our filchincíhe; but alfo to preferue