Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

394 Of the vanitieofcofflaadbraaeapparel. nie; andtherefore at their need are vnwilling (vnleffe they be forced by oppreflion) to do them any feruice, or to (}and betweene them and any danger; fo that whereas heereto- fore gentlemen fo imployed their wealth, that it ferued notablie for their defence in time ofperill ; now (pending it vpon iewels,apparell,plateand furniture, in time of peace it expofeth them to enuie, and the danger of theeues, and in time of warre to the common fpoyle. §.Sets, t7. And thus haue I (hewed the vnproltableneffeofcoldly of the emits and gay apparell : which if it bee not fufficient to weane our which acorn- hearts from it,let vs further confider that it is not onely emp- panieexcepïoe t of profit but of euill both in ref eE} of finne and brauerie:fane y p p againft Gad. punahment for it is euery way finfiill as being fin in it felfe, the caufe and alfo the effeEl of finne. Concerning the fir(}, they who exceed in this excefliue brauery offend Ell againfl the maief'y ofGod himfelfe, not onely by tranfgreflìng his commandement,whereby he hath forbidden it, and by neg- leeting his worfhip and feruice,becaufe their whole time al- mofi is taken vp either in caring for, prouiding, or putting on their ornaments; and thereby either want time on Gods fabbaths to come to his publicke feruice, or elfe rufh into his prefence without all due preparation; but alto through the groffe abufe of his creatures and good bleÍlings beflo- wedvpon them. For they were not made (rewards ofthefe richtalents, thatthey fhould bellow them in exceffe and va- nitie : but that with the furpluffage of their wealth they fhould relieue their poore brethren,and performethe works of charitie and mercy,which either refpeé} the good of the Church or common-wealth. And therefore fearefull will their account bee at the day of iudgement; when as it will not excufe their neglecting thePoore members of Chrft, to fay they could (pare nothing from thefe vies, becaufe all was too little to maintain their brauerie and excefliue toll in apparell ; nor yet that their riches and reuenues was great, and therefore they might well adorne themfelues in gorge- ous attire ; feeing their wealth was not giuen them, that they (houldwall it in fuperfluities, but that they fhouldbe- tcow it in relieuing the poores neceffties,in which refpe& tisis