A Golden Chain

The first, that all things must be done to Gods glory, 1. Cor. 10.31. Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. And that this may be performed, things indifferent must be used as signs & tables, in which we may show forth the graces & virtues that God hath wrought in the heart. For example: we must so make our apparel both for matter and fashion, and so wear it, that it may in some sort set forth to the beholder our modesty, sobriety, frugality, humility, &c. that hereby he may be occasioned to say, behold a grave, sober, modest person: and so of the rest. And the common sin of this time is, that meat, drink, apparel, buildings, are used as banners displayed to set forth to the world, mans riot, excess, and pride of heart.

The first, that all things must be done to Gods glorie, 1. Cor. 10.31. Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoeuer ye doe, doe all to the glorie of God. And that this may be performed, things indifferent must be vsed as signes & tables, in which we may shew forth the graces & vertues that God hath wrought in the heart. For example: we must so make our apparel both for matter and fashion, and so weare it, that it may in some sort set forth to the beholder our modestie, sobrietie, frugalitie, humilitie, &c. that hereby he may be occasioned to say, behold a graue, sober, modest person: and so of the rest. And the common sinne of this time is, that meate, drinke, apparell, buildings, are vsed as banners displaied to set forth to the world, mans riot, excesse, and pride of heart.

The second. We must suffer our selves lawfully to be limited and restrained in the overmuch or overcommon use of things indifferent. I say the overcommō use, because it is not Gods will utterly and absolutely to bar us of the use of such things. Now the restrainers of our use, are two; the first is the law of charity. For as charity gives place to piety; so Christian liberty in the use of outward ⟨p. 871⟩