Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Here follows another threatening against the ambition, dissolution, and pride of women. And in this the Prophet hath not followed any precise order, but reproves now one vice, then another, as the matter required: and then having finished his sermon, he comprehends a brief sum of it in few words, as he did in the first Chapter. He speaks then against sumptuous apparel, and superfluous ornaments, which were evident signs of vain ostentation. For where there is this excess in apparel and ornaments, there is always ambition joined with it: and so by consequence, many other vices for the most part, do go hand in hand with it. For, from whence comes the superfluity both of men and women, but from pride? First then he justly taxeth this vice as the wellspring of all the abuse, and shows it by the sign thereof, to wit, by their going; because the women walked with stretched out necks. Now as it is an evident sign of modesty to bow the head (as also profane authors do witness) so to lift it up too much, is a sign of arrogance. And for a woman's head lifted up, what can it show else but pride? The Prophet therefore did wisely, in beginning at the fountain it self: for if he had begun at the outward signs; as at the garments, walking and such like things, they would have had their replies at hand, to wit, that their harts were upright and innocent enough for all that: and that there was no such great necessity to cry so bitterly against them, and to summon them before the judgement seat of God for putting on a little brave or light apparel. To the end therefore that he may meet with their vain objections, he first discovers the inward disease, which shows it self every way in all the outward attire.