Common Places, Part 2 · Chapter 11 · Section 9
Of Garments and Apparell.
57 We ſée that the Lord did firſt giuegive vntounto men, decent and thriftie garments; In Gen. 3, verſe. 21.ſuch as hauehave reſpect vntounto a vſe, and not vntounto a delicateneſſe, and prodigalitie. And ſéeing that in all men, iuſtice, comelineſſe, and modeſtie ought to be obſerued; we be taught héere to vſe the ſame in our garments, the end whereof is profit and honeſtie. This muſt be obſerued, that therein we paſſe not our bounds, either as touching the ſtuffe, or as touching the maner and faſhion. That theſe limits are appointed for garments, it appeareth, in that Adam firſt made himſelfe bréeches, for he was aſhamed of his nakedneſſe. Therefore, an honeſtie [muſt be regarded.] God for this cauſe apparelled man; for that he would caſt him out of the diſtemperature of the weather; therefore vtilitie is to be reſpected. The Iewes had their frindges, and the prieſts their proper kind of garments. Further, herein it is conuenient, that there be a diligent conſideration had, of the cuſtome, age, and ſex, that there be no raſh alteration from the maner of the countrie. And what cuſtome muſt be obſerued, the ſundrie garments, which were appointed vntounto prieſts, doo declare: and in that the prophets were clothed after another maner, than the common people. The ſex alſo muſt be conſidered: Deut. 22, 5.for a woman muſt not weare the apparell of a man, nor the man of a woman. Touching age, the youth muſt go after one ſort, and the elder people after another. The vſe of the countrie muſt be regarded: for the Iewes ware frindges on their garments.
Matt. 23, 5.How greatlie men doo ſinne by wearing of wanton apparell, we may geſſe by the apoſtles Peter and Paule, 1. Pet. 3, 3. 1. Tim. 2, 9.who forbad women to weare pretious garments, and ſuperfluous decking of their haire, that ſhould be trimmed or braided with gold or pearle, who neuertheleſſe hauehave a colourable excuſe; namelie, to pleaſe their huſbands. Wherefore, how much more muſt theſe things be reprooued in men? Wherefore the vſe of garments was giuen vsus.If then the vſe of garments was deuiſed to withſtand the prouocation vntounto wantonneſſe, whereof a ſhamefaſtneſſe was giuen vsus by God; they are greatlie to be blamed, which prouoke the ſame euill by the curious faſhion, fineneſſe, and niceneſſe, or vanitie of apparell. Alſo, let all ſuperſtitiouſneſſe be auoided, neither let there be anie vertue or holineſſe attributed vntounto garments. And let here the goodneſſe of GOD be conſidered, who to helpe man (that by his owne default was made ſubiect vntounto the vntemperateneſſe of the aire, to cold and to raine) hath clothed him with garments.
¶ Of the apparell of ministers, looke the epistles to certeine Engliſh men, at the end of this booke.
1. Cor. 7, 34.58 And where it is written; that She, which is married, dooth care to pleaſe hir husband: ſome refer the meaning thereof vntounto decking and apparelling of themſelues; The apparelling of women.the which, no doubt, being kept within the bounds, that it be not (as the apoſtles ſaid) in curled haire, in golden iewels, or pretious garments, is not againſt the word of God. By it ſelfe it is neither good nor euill.And the thing in his owne nature is neither good nor euill: for we may both vſe the ſame well and ill. It is verie oftentimes good, and to be vſed, not for it ſelfe ſake, but by the fault of the other married parties. A warning to huſbandsThoſe huſbands be ſomwhat inconſtant, which will neither louelove their wife, if ſhe be not trimlie decked, nor yet will be content with hir alone. Heſt 5, 1.Heſter garniſhed hir ſelfe, and is not reprooued in the ſcriptures: ſhe did not thoſe things, through hir owne vanitie, or vaine deſire of pleaſing; but by reaſon of the vnperfectneſſe of hir huſband. A ſimilitude.So likewiſe a mother, when hir child will not leaue crieng; oftentimes ſingeth, and otherwhile danſeth; not bicauſe theſe things as they be in themſelues doo like hir, but that ſhe ſéeth they muſt be vſed by reaſon of the childs fault.
But we muſt beware of the ſinnes, which may happen by ſuch kind of trimming; that in coſts and charges a meane be not excéeded: leaſt peraduenture, by ill examples we might be led with vaine affection, to cleaue therevnto, and prouoke the luſts of the beholders. And therefore Heſter ſaid, Heſt. 14, 16.that ſuch kind of apparelling was vntounto hir as it had béene a defiled cloth. Euen by theſe words; namelie, To pleaſe hir husband: huſbands are noted to be verie effeminate, bicauſe they dote too much on their wiues, and for that cauſe doo manie times ſinne. Wherefore, by Auguſtine they be called no huſbands, Auguſtine.but ardent louers. Howbeit, we muſt not thinke, that it ſhould be imputed as a fault vntounto huſbands; if they giuegive ſome place vntounto their wiues in honeſt things, ſéeing they be commanded in the epiſtle to the Epheſians; Ephe. 5, 25.Yee husbands louelove your wiues, as Chriſt loued his church, who gaue himſelfe for the ſame. In like maner it is the wiues part, that ſhe indeuour to doo thoſe things which hir huſband commandeth. After which ſort, if ſhe couet to pleaſe him, ſhe ought not to be rebuked, but to be praiſed. All that I hauehave ſpoken, may be noted in the words of the apoſtle; to wit, that in matrimonie, the huſband and wife muſt be carefull to pleaſe one another. But againe, I giuegive warning, that theſe things, by themſelues, and of their owne nature, are not agréeable vntounto matrimonie, when they ſhall be abuſed; but then are they ioined thervnto raſhlie, or as they terme it by accidents.