A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

(1.) To moderate the Affection to vain and immodest Apparel, there the Disease begins; Col. 3.5. Mortify therefore your Members which are upon the Earth, Fornication, Uncleanness, inordinate Affection. There may be even in those that are poor, a Desire and an Envy at the Bravery of others, (which is grievous to the Spirit of God) when we want it our selves. Pride in Apparel is not only the Sin in the wearing, but in the Desire of it; when we can no sooner see a vain Fashion, but we are taken with it, (as Ahaz was taken with the Altar at Damascus) and we must have another of the like Fashion. It is the Duty of Christians, to consider one another, to provoke to Love and to good Works, Heb. 10.24. who should be most sober, most modest in their Apparel: but we often provoke one another to Excess and Pomp, and strive who shall excel; therefore this Desire, when we are taken with vain Fashions, is sinful. And if our Hand will not reach to it, then we envy and speak against others, not out of Zeal, but Emulation, because we cannot attain to the like our selves: as Diogenes trod on Plato's rich Garment with a greater Pride, Calco Platonis fastum. Envy shows we value these things. Now to moderate this secret Envy, take a Consideration or two.

(1.) To moderate the Affection to vain and immodest Apparel, there the Disease begins; Col. 3.5. Mortify therefore your Members which are upon the Earth, Fornication, Uncleanness, inordinate Affection. There may be even in those that are poor, a Desire and an Envy at the Bravery of others, (which is grievous to the Spirit of God) when we want it our selves. Pride in Apparel is not only the Sin in the wearing, but in the Desire of it; when we can no sooner see a vain Fashion, but we are taken with it, (as Ahaz was taken with the Altar at Damascus) and we must have another of the like Fashion. It is the Duty of Christians, to consider one another, to provoke to Love and to good Works, Heb. 10.24. who should be most sober, most modest in their Apparel: but we often provoke one another to Excess and Pomp, and strive who shall excel; therefore this Desire, when we are taken with vain Fashions, is sinful. And if our Hand will not reach to it, then we envy and speak against others, not out of Zeal, but Emulation, because we cannot attain to the like our selves: as Diogenes trod on Plato's rich Garment with a greater Pride, Calco Platonis fastum. Envy shews we value these things. Now to moderate this secret Envy, take a Consideration or two.