320 CHRISTIAN MORALITY. 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 neg- lected mind, very ill becomes a professor of the gospel. Christians should look like strangers and pilgrims here, and not think themselves undressed, unless they are conformed to all the niceties and fashions of the world. Sometimes, it may be, we are too much afraid we shall not look like the children of this world; whereas the apostle advises us rather to look like strangers. We are travelling homeward through a foreign country, having the ornaments of holiness on us, which is the raiment of heaven. I confess we are not required to affect sin- gularity, nor to seek a foolish and useless distinction from the customs of our country, where they are proper, innocent, and becoming ; for the kingdom of God does not consistin any affect- ed peculiarities of dress or behaviour ; but let us remember too, that it is below theglory of our character, and the dignityof our calling, to have our thoughts uneasy, if every pin and point that belongs to our apparel be notplaced in the mostfashionable man- ner ; to fret and rage, if every fold ofour garmentbe not adjust- ed in perfect conformity to the mode. Then we may be said to fall short of that venerable decency in our apparel which christianity should teach us, when we are among the first in any new devised and gaudy fashions ; when we are some of the foremostin the gaieties of the age : When we run to the extremes of every new mode, and affect to vie with the vainest of our sex : When the business of dressing is made one of the most frequent, important, and solemn enquiries and concerns of life ; andwhen it employs some of our most serious thoughts, andour warmest passions : When we indulge agreater expence in finery than our circumstanceswill allow, or our sta. tions require : When we waste more time in adorning ourselves, than the duties we owe to God or man, will reasonably permit; and especially if we intrench upon the hours which should be devoted to sacred purposes. I should add also, that then we certainly break in upon christian sobriety, when we indulge such sort of clothing as in its own nature becomes a temptation to im- modesty, and brings fuel to the impure fire of the eyes, or of the heart. I would not be thought to treat too largely upon this subject or handle it too severely; but let us remember, that our biggest
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