The True Christians T est, Part 1 · Meditation 81
MEDITAT. LXXXI. Of the Faſhions of the World.
THere are ſome things in the World that are not properly call'd Buſineſs, which yet to prefer before God, denominates a man worldly; and theſe are the Faſhions of the World.
I cannot properly call it Pride, Covetouſneſs, or Voluptuouſneſs, to conform to theſe, and yet it is carnal.
There are indeed civil and innocent Faſhions of the World, to which to conform, is no Fault; nay, conſidering Man as a Member of Society, ſeems expedient.
Matters of Apparel, ſo far as ones Quality, Eſtate, Health, and other conſiderable circumſtances will allow: Matters of Salutation, of civil Courteſie and Reſpect, ſeem to be of this ſort. Nay, to be ſingular in theſe, eſpecially to place Religion in them, and to make Conſcience of Nonconformity to them, ſeems to be an Argument of Superſtition and Weakneſs, and of a mind not underſtanding its juſt Liberty, or valuing it ſelf by falſe meaſures.
But to follow any evil or ſuſpected Mode or Guiſe, becauſe it is a Cuſtom, and Faſhionable, is a faſhioning ones ſelf according to the World, or being conformed to this preſent evil World.
To luſt after every new Faſhion, though never ſo coſtly, inconvenient, exotick, and to be catching it up greedily, is an argument of a light mind, and unconſtant: yea, and it is a very troubleſom thing, not to be able to keep in a Faſhion, till one be well warm in it.
For a free Nation to dote upon the Faſhions of other Nations, ſeems to be ungenerous, and a kind of ſubjecting themſelves, and to be a cauſe of confuſion; and it is obſerved to be prejudicial to the Trade and Wealth of a Nation.
I think I have read of Laws ſomewhere made againſt bringing in of ſtrange Faſhions: At leaſt the Precept of the wiſe Preacher will fairly reach them, Pro. 24. 21. Meddle not with them that are given to change.
All following of Faſhions that is in conjunction with Pride, Prodigality, Wantonneſs, and is either the Parent or Child of fleſhly Luſt, is a ſymptom of a worldly mind, and denominates a Lover of the World: And to prefer the Faſhions of the World before Sobriety, Modeſty, Charity, Humility, or Truth, is to prefer the World before God.
I reſtrain not Faſhion to Apparel, but extend it toall matters of Opinion or Converſation.
If they be Works of Darkneſs, we are flatly forbidden to have any fellowſhip with them, though they be committed at Noon-day, though they have a general Approbation, or Publick Sanction. If it be an evil, though a multitude have made it a Faſhion, we are not to follow it.
Alas! How great a number of People are led wholly by Example: that examine nothing, judge nothing, make no choice of any thing; but live meerly by this Maxim, To do as the most do; yea, and that even in things relating to Religion it ſelf.
The greateſt part follow what is moſt Faſhionable, even in the Worſhip of God. It may happen indeed that what is moſt Faſhionable, may be good: But whether it be ſo or no, it matters not to them; for they proceed not by the Goodneſs of the thing, but by the Faſhionableneſs of it: ſo that though it be good, it is no vertue in them that follow it; for if any other way quite different ſhould be in Faſhion, they would follow that too.
If we could ſuppoſe a thing purely indifferent, it were no Fault to follow it according as it is uſual or faſhionable: Nay, it would rather ſeem an argument of a proud and quarrelſome mind, not to do it. But I cannot conceive how any thing in actu exercito, can be called indifferent: For when Humane Acts are circumſtantiated, they become prudent or imprudent, comely or uncomely, fit or unfit for their ends, that is, good or evil, all of them.
What is the Worſhip of the whole Vulgus of the Papiſts, but an Apiſh imitation of a received Mode and Faſhion? And it were to be wiſh'd, that Proteſtants, who have a better Worſhip, had generally any better ground for it than they.
Lord, I know that Man is a ſociable Creature, apt to imitate what is exemplified to him, loth to be ſingular; and alſo that his Soul is now ſo ſunk into his Senſes, that he is more prone to follow the ſight of his Eyes, than the light of Reaſon, which thou hast ſet up to guide him. Alas! I ſee ſuch a Faſhion is not ſafe to imitate, yet I find it hard to reſist: If I be carried down the ſtream, I may be drown'd in Perdition; if I ſtrive against it, I must take much pains, and be counted a Fool for my pains too: Oh that by thy grace, thou would'ſt ſo refine, exalt, enable and ennoble my reaſon, that it may exerciſe a juſt dominion over Fleſh and Senſe, and powerfully to direct me to the purſuit of whatever is juſt and holy, and good in thy eyes, though … be not faſhionable in the eyes of men!