3S2 CIi1tISTIAbE MORALITY, V1Z. ESLRM. XXttr., apostle Paul bids Timothy the young evangelist teach the same doctrine and practice. In like manner, I will also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with slaamefacedness and sobriety : as becoming women profes- sing godliness Not that all christians must utterly aban- clon those richer and more costly methods of ornament, gold or pearls, which the apostle there makes mentionof; for every one of us should wear such raiment as suits our character and our age, our company and business in the world : But let not these be our chief ornaments, still: remembering that we areChristians ; and let our apparel, as well as our conversation, spew that we despise trifles, and thus maintain the dignity of our high and holy call- mg. Here, saith a learned commentator, "it is worthy to be noted by the women that this .precept ought not to be slighted by them, as of little moment, seeing it isso care-, fully inculcated by the two chief apostles of the Jew, and gentile, St. Peter and St. Paul; and the contrary is represented as a practice opposite to godliness." Tor while you are dressing, should you forget that, you are sinners, and. therefore should put on shame- facedness; for all our ornaments and clothing are .but a memorial of our first sin and shame. And when we take a pride in our garments, it Iooks as if we had forgotten the original of them, the loss of our innocency. Nor is this sort. of advice to be confined to the female world : For, as, the same author expresses it, " If it be o unbecoming achristian woman to be thus concerned in, adorning and tricking up her body, it must be much more unbecoming a christian man, and that which makes,him truly to deserve the name of a fop." It is a token of a light and vain mind to be too fond of gaudy habits, a "mind not much affected with sin or with salvation. Surely christians are born for greater things, and their aim should point at higher excellencies than these are. Let their chief ornaments be the graces of the Spirit, and the virtues of the heart and Life. A well adorned body, and a neglected mind, very ill. becomes a professor of the ,gospel Christians should look like strangers and pilgrims here, Dr. Whitby.
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