Works, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. Rules of wiſdome concerning our Apparel.
HAving thus finiſhed the Rules of Wiſdome, concerning Meat, Rules for Apparel.and Drink, and Recreations, wee come to ſuch Rules as concern Apparel; and they are four:
1 The matter of our Apparel muſt not bee ſtately and coſtly, 1 For the matter.which muſt bee meaſured partly by the ability our ſelves have, partly the condition of life wee are in, and partly by the example of ſuch as are ſober, grave, and wiſe in our rank. Yea, even in the matter of our Apparel, our ſobriety and modeſty muſt appear; yea, our humility: Prima v…ſtis data eſt propter uſum, non propter luxum.When God made Adam garments, hee made them of skins, homely and baſe, that hee might read therein his mortality, and that by his ſin, hee was become like the beaſts whoſe skins covered him.
2 For the manner of our Apparel, it muſt not be ſtrange, gariſh, 2 The faſhion.affecting new faſhions, which argues levity and new-fangledneſs, but ſuch as becometh holineſs, Tit. 2.3. and according to the ſober cuſtome of our Country and rank, Zeph. 1.8. I will viſit Kings Children, and thoſe that wear ſtrange Apparel; that is, ſuch as in the form of faſhion is wanton, curious, odde, ſavouring of pride, lightneſs, and ſingularity. A fearful threat, under which our whole Land lyeth, which is a receptacle of all the faſhions of all Countries, beſides our own daily inventions of new faſhions of monſtrous Apparel, that were men and womens bodies as monſtrous as their Apparel; they would bee caſt out of the company and account of men: And howſoever their bodies bee, ſurely their mindes bee monſtrous, and filled with vanity: And how juſt were it with God▪ ſeeing ſuch perſons will not faſhion their cloaths to their bodies, to faſhion them to their cloaths? The Apoſtle wiſheth us not to faſhion our ſelves according to the world; which Precept is ſo far out of date and uſe, that almoſt the faſhions of all the world, and the vanity of all Countries, England the worlds Ape.may ſeem to bee arrived and landed in this Land of ours, that a man may read in Capital Letters upon mens Garments, the lightneſs, and lewdneſs that is within.
3 For the meaſure of it; Beware of exceſs in Apparel, 3 For meaſurewhich is a great ſin, and carrieth with it,
1 Expence of Wealth, which might bee better reſerved to the uſe of the Church or Commonwealth, or covering the poor and naked Saints. 1 Exceſs in Apparel, a great ſin. Reaſons.All exceſs is commonly maintained with covetouſneſs, injuſtice, or unmercifulneſs.
2 A note of a vain minde that glories in his Wardrobe, as if a Theef ſhould boaſt of his bolts, or glory in his brand, or mark of Felony; for Apparel is the cover of our ſhame.
3 Waſte of time, and idleneſs, in the too accurate and curious culture of the body, which ſhould bee ſpent either in adorning the ſoul, or following our ordinary Calling.
4 Oftentimes debts and unjuſt detaining of mens dues from them. Wee have known great Rents ſoon turned into great Ruffes, and Lands into Laces. Wee have heard of ſome brave Dames, in ſuch variety of faſhions and colours, as if they had ſtood with a Pedlars ſhop about them; and of ſome brave Gallants, that have carried ſome whole Mannors upon their backs. But Mr. Latimer, in his time, a man of much obſervation, noted one commodity in his Leather coat, which hee wore at the Court, when the Gallants mocked him, hee told them, His was paid for, and ſo were not many of their Velvets and Sattins.
4 Conſider the ends and uſe of Apparel, and that is, 1 Spiritual; 2 Civil. Spiritual, 4 The kindes of Apparel. 1 Spiritual.many wayes:
1 When by putting cloaths on, wee ſee our miſery, and in the nakedneſs of our bodies, the nakedneſs of our ſouls.
2 When wee labour to put on Chriſt Jeſus as a garment to cover us from the ſtorms and tempeſts which our ſins have raiſed againſt us. I counſel thee to buy of mee white Garments of Innocency, Rev. 3.3. When by girding our Apparel to us, wee labour to girt up our loynes, and look for our Lord Jeſus.
4 When by putting off our old Garments, wee daily put off ſome relick of the old man.
5 When in adorning the body, wee ſtudy to adorn the minde with humility, holineſs, modeſty, meekneſs, &c. Not make any ſuperſtitious uſe, or put Religion in Garments.
2 Civil, threefold. 1 Health.Civil, and that is threefold; 1 For Health; 2 For Honeſty; 3 For Ornament.
1 For Health and neceſſity, to defend us from the injury of weather, and to keep us warm: To this end God cloathed Adam; and it is a curſe to put on cloaths, and not to bee warm, Hag. 1.6.
2 For Honeſty in two Branches: 1 Decency. 2 Diſtinction.
2 Honeſty; in Decency.Firſt, Decency; For nakedneſs in the ſtate of Innocency was a glorious Ornament, but preſently after the Fall, ſhame and deformity came in; and therefore preſently Adam ſewed leaves together, and God made Coats to hide and cover that nakedneſs. Now Decency requires ſeemly and cleanly Apparel, nor ſordid, baſe, and ſlovenly; and condemneth that affected nakedneſs of men and women, eſpecially who wear their cloaths, ſo as they diſcover the nakedneſs of many parts of their body; whereas ſin hath caſt ſhame on every part, and calls for a cover over all but for neceſſity.
Diſtinction.Secondly, Diſtinction of Perſons, Sexes, Ages, and Callings. The man may not wear the womans Apparel, nor the woman the mans, Deut. 22.5. Againſt which Law of Nature, and common honeſty, how manly do women attire themſelves, and how effeminately do men imitate women, as though both were willing to change Sexes? How undecent is it to ſee an old man in a youthful habit, to ſee a Miniſter in his Ruffians hair, Pickadillies, and faſhion like ſome Souldier? To ſee a Peaſant cloathed like a Prince? As all ſorts of men almoſt are confuſed in Apparel. Joſeph when hee was ſet over all the Land of Egypt, was diſtinguiſhed from inferiour Princes by his fine Linnen, and golden Chain. In times paſt, ſoft Garments were in Kings houſes, but now that is no diſtinction of Courtiers.