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

But how shall we do to find out the Sin, Cases being so different, and the Custom of Ages and Nations so various? I answer in the general, Such a Modesty as is without Exception doth best become the Saints and Christians indeed, who are chiefly to regard the inward Ornament, to adorn themselves in the Sight of God rather than in the Sight of Men; 1 Pet. 3.4. Whose adorning let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible, even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit, which is in the Sight of God of great Price. And again they are to stand at a Distance from a Snare, and to avoid all Appearance of Evil; 1 Thess. 5.22. Abstain from all Appearance of Evil. And again, they are to give no Offence, neither to Jew nor Gentile, nor to the Church of God, 1 Cor. 10.32. Neither to their Fellow-Members within, nor to Observers without. Therefore if we had to do with a gracious Heart, the Case would be soon decided; they do not love to walk upon the Brink, nor to come near a Sin. An inoffensive modest Habit is free from all Exceptions; and if Men and Women were wise, they would soon see that it would neither lessen their Esteem with God or Men, but increase it rather. But more particularly, Persons guilty are clamorous, and say, why do we abridg them of their Liberty, and take upon us to condemn their Garb? I confess it is a Sin to condemn what God hath not condemned. There are two sorts of Superstition: Positive, when we count that holy that God never made holy. And Negative, when we condemn that for sinful, which God never made sinful. Therefore what Rules can be given to trace and find out the Sin? The Abuse will be best discovered by considering the Use. What are the Ends of Apparel? They are diverse, either for Necessity to defend the Body against the Injuries of the Weather; therefore they that discover their Nakedness, sin against that; or else for Honesty or Modesty, to cover that Deformity of the Body, which was the Fruit of Sin; or else for Profit, such Apparel as suits with our Callings and Course of Life; or for Frugality, according to the Proportion of our Estate, that we may not waste the good Gifts of God, that should be kept either for Family-Uses, or for other good Uses; or for Distinction of Persons, of Age, ⟨p. 77⟩Sex, and Rank;