A treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at KidderminsterA treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kederminster

1. This vanity of apparel, is the certain effect of the vanity of your mind: you openly proclaim your selves to be persons of a foolish, childish temper, and poor understanding: Among the most ungodly people, they that have but common wisdom, do look upon this vanity of inordinate apparel as quite below them. And therefore it's commonly taken to be the special sin of women, and children, and light-headed, silly empty men. Those that have no inward worth to commend them to the world, are silly souls indeed, if they think any wise folks will take a silken coat instead of it? It is wisdom, and holiness and righteousness that are the ornaments of man; and that's his beauty which beautifieth his soul. And do you think that among wise men fine clothes will go instead of wisdom, or virtue, or holiness? You may put as fine clothes upon a fool as upon a wise man: and will that think you make him pass for wise? When a gallant came into the Shop of Apelles that famous painter, to have his picture drawn, as long as he stood silent, the Apprentices carried themselves reverently to him because he shone in gold and silver lace: but when he began to talk, they perceived that he was a fool, and they left their reverence, and all fell a laughing at him. When people see you in an extraordinary garb, you draw their observation towards you, and one asketh, Who is yonder that is so fine? and another asks, Who is yonder? and when they perceive that you are more witless and worthless than other folks, they will but laugh at you and despise you. Excess in apparel, is the very sign of folly, that is ⟨p. 176⟩hanged out to tell the world what you are, as a Sign at an Inn-door acquaints the passenger that there he may have entertainment. You draw folks to suspect that all is not well with you where there needs all this ado. It's sure a sorry house that needeth many props: and a diseased body that needeth so much medicining: And a deformed face that needeth painting: And what is gaudy attire to the body▪ but such as painting is to the face? If I see artificial teeth in your heads, I must think that you want the Natural ones that were better. If I perceive your breath to be still sweetened by art, I shall suspect that it would stink without it. And if I see people inordinately careful of their apparel, I must needs suspect that there is some special cause for it:

1. This vanity of apparel, is the certain effect of the vanity of your mind: you openly proclaim your selves to be persons of a foolish, childish temper, and poor understanding: Among the most ungodly people, they that have but common wisdom, do look upon this vanity of inordinate apparel as quite below them. And therefore it's commonly taken to be the special sin of women, and children, and light-headed, silly empty men. Those that have no inward worth to commend them to the world, are silly souls indeed, if they think any wise folks will take a silken coat instead of it? It is wisdom, and holiness and righteousness that are the ornaments of man; and that's his beauty which beautifieth his soul. And do you think that among wise men fine clothes will go instead of wisdom, or vertue, or holiness? You may put as fine clothes upon a fool as upon a wise man: and will that think you make him pass for wise? When a gallant came into the Shop of Apelles that famous painter, to have his picture drawn, as long as he stood silent, the Apprentices carried themselves reverently to him because he shone in gold and silver lace: but when he began to talk, they perceived that he was a fool, and they left their reverence, and all fell a laughing at him. When people see you in an extraordinary garb, you draw their observation towards you, and one asketh, Who is yonder that is so fine? and another asks, Who is yonder? and when they perceive that you are more witless and worthless than other folks, they will but laugh at you and despise you. Excess in apparel, is the very sign of folly, that is