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doth, let it be all done to the glory of God, who hath created all things to be temperately used, with praife and gratitude; to whom be all honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

DIS

DISCOURSE XXIV.

Against Excefs of Apparel.

I TIMOTHY ii.

9.

In like manner alfo, I will that women adorn themselves in modeft apparel, with fhamefacednefs and fobriety

'N a former difcourfe against excefs, the subject was confined to the neceffity and benefit of governing our animal appetites, which are too apt to lead those aftray who are not under the influence of God's grace. It was proved in a variety of examples, both from holy fcripture, and the natural confequence of things, that excefs of every kind was hurtful to men's own happiness, to the welfare of their friends, and the community in general; and above all, that it was hateful in the fight of God, who is the provider of all these good creatures for our fupport and refreshment, and not for the purposes of vice, and the difhonor of his holy name, fo as finally to provoke his fevere punishment of all who defy his precepts, and trample upon his bounty.

The article of extravagance, against which the prefent difcourfe is levelled, is of fo ruinous a tenVOL. I. dency

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dency in many points of view, that it deferves a feparate examination. The words of the text declare fufficiently that it relates exprefsly to our drefs. Both the folly and the crime of indulging excefs in this refpect, afford a fubject of very feafonable inftruction in thefe times. No one will venture to deny, but that this failing is carried to a greater degree of expence, and univerfal impropriety, than the memory of man can inftance. We will not concern ourselves at prefent with the feveral circumftances that may contribute to this prevailing mifchief, or enlarge on its many bad effects; it is enough, in a religious fenfe, to be affured that this, and every other effential error of our conduct, proceeds from a difregard to the ge nuine spirit of the gofpel. We will confider the actual fact, as it must be difpleafing to Almighty God, whofe holy word admonishes against indulging every kind of vanity. In no fhape is this evil quality of the mind more encouraged, than by extravagance in dress. It has been judged of fuch deftructive confequence in a political light, fo far as it corrupts the manners of the people at large, that laws have been framed at different times to fupprefs the growth of this alarming luxury.

It being the principal defign of what is now delivered, to recommend propriety and decency in this particular, I fhall proceed to fhew you plainly from the word of God, both what is therein esteemed a moderate and allowable use of dress, as likewife what abufes are therein forbidden. The expediency of reformation will be further manifeft by ftating the complaints and inconveniencies that daily present themselves upon the fubject, no lefs than by attending to the punishment of many, who, from the expence and unbecoming ftyle of their apparel, involve themfelves in trouble, which, by moderation, might have been prevented.

The first thing to be confidered in order to di

rect your judgment on this fubject, is the end, and ufe, for which our heavenly Father hath provided clothing for his creatures. It is indifputable, that God vouchfafes thefe bleffings not only for the purpofe of mere neceffity, but alfo for the fake of a decent appearance, that his fervants may be habited with due propriety, according to the form and excellence of their creation. As to the reafon of this, it is manifeft from the clothing of the very trees, herbs, and various productions of the earth: They not only fupply us with abundant comforts, according to their different qualities, but they contribute to our happiness and delight, by the great variety of their beautiful and fuitable appearance, as likewife by their refreshing fragrancy. Thus both the wonderful power and condefcending Nove of God is manifefted towards his creatures, not only by providing for their many wants, but alfo by chearing their fenfes with an innocent and delightful enjoyment. This goodness of the Lord is fully expreffed by the Pfalmift, civ. 14, &c. wherein he declares the effects of his gracious providence, not only in that He caufeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herbs for the fervice of man, that be may bring forth food out of the earth, but also wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and bread which Strengtheneth it. In this act of praife we may plainly discover that a proper use of God's good creatures is perfectly innocent, and that a juft cenfure is implied against those who are either fo fenfelefs and ungrateful as to flight and abuse them, or who would confine men to the ufe of what is barely necessary to support life, and require needlefs acts of mortification, by abftaining from the moderate enjoyment of thofe bounties, with which the God of nature hath bleffed mankind.

St. Paul's reafoning, in the iid chapter of his Epiftle to the Coloffians, is directed against this latter error, and the attending to vain traditions: he

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exhorts his difciples not to liften to fuch as fhall fay, Touch not, tafte not, handle not, from a fuperftítious and ill-founded perfuafion, that they fhould deny themselves the rational comforts of life. But at the fame time that we are indulged in a reafonable liberty, we must be very cautious, left under cover of this christian privilege, we prefume to do what pleases our own prefent appetites, or vain defires, which would endanger our being brought again under the bondage of fin.

Now there is nothing more calculated to do this than an improper paffion for expenfive drefs; than the wifh of diftinguishing ourselves from others of the fame rank in life, by the coftlinefs of our clothing. This is apt to feed the feeds of vanity within us, to incline us to think lefs of other people than they deserve, and to make a falfe judgment of those who are perhaps more worthy than ourselves, in many effential refpects. It is a common but a just remark, that if all ranks of people could be prevailed upon to drefs becoming their employments and circumftances in life, that wanton, loose,

*This reigning paffion is productive of many and great inconveniencies. If, It tends to level that diftinction in society which is ordained by God's providence for the good end of order, and the various trials of his creatures in their refpective ftations. 2dly, It promotes a ruinous extravagance in all. In thofe who can better afford this indulgence, it lowers the due refpect to fuperiors, whom, if we can approach in appearance, we are too apt to fancy we equal in confequence. 3dly, Its hurtful influence extends to all defcriptions, in that all would wish to fee themselves as gay as their neighbours: but it is the cause of ftill greater evil, by adding to the pride, difcontent, and infolence of the very loweft claffes of the people, and which naturally muft end in idlenefs and ruin to themfelves and families; yet this is not all: a rage for finery paves the way to the most dangerous vices; it feeds the deadly paffion of envy in the mind, and rather than not indulge their vain defires, and fee themfelves exceeded by their companions, many are tempted to follow the most destructive courses to fupply the object of their wishes; in fhort, it is the very nature of fingularity and gaiety of drefs to attract an admiration towards the perfon fo adorned, and which in truth is the leading motive to indulge it..

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