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

(2.) To be proud of Clothes, is to be proud of our own Shame. Before Sin came in, Man did not need a Garment. Look as the Sun is adorned with Light, it needs no Trimming and Ornament; so Man in Innocency was adorned with Grace, and needed no other Robe; but when he sinned, he needed Garments. So then he that is proud of his Clothes, is but proud of the Rags with which his Wounds are bound up. Clothes are a Memorial that we were once disobedient to God. Shall a Thief be proud of his Shackles; or a Malefactor of his Brand or Mark in his Forehead? This is a time of Mourning, not of Triumph; therefore God at first clothed Adam with Skins, an Habit that becomes Mourning. We shall not need these things in Heaven: Clothes are only there in Use where Sin is.

(3.) Consider, that Habit makes not the Man. A Horse is not chosen by his Trappings, but by his Strength and Swiftness; the Trappings are things external ⟨p. 79⟩that conduce nothing to his Goodness: so Man is not to be valued by his Habit, it is but the Excrement of Silk-worms; not by the Ornaments of the Body, but the Endowments of the Mind: Imperatoria Majestas (saith Seneca) virtute constat, non corporis cultu. And therefore if you would excel others indeed, you should excel them in Grace and Virtue. Alas, many are but Dung finely dressed; the hidden Man of the Heart, that's the Man. Grace is the best Dressing, and that which is never out of fashion; by this Men are valued. The more wise and excellent Men are indeed, the less curious in their Apparel. Cato that had been Consul at Rome, never wore Apparel that exceeded an hundred Pence. Let great ones be known by their Modesty of Apparel.

(3.) Consider, that Habit makes not the Man. A Horse is not chosen by his Trappings, but by his Strength and Swiftness; the Trappings are things external ⟨p. 79⟩that conduce nothing to his Goodness: so Man is not to be valued by his Habit, it is but the Excrement of Silk-worms; not by the Ornaments of the Body, but the Endowments of the Mind: Imperatoria Majestas (saith Seneca) virtute constat, non corporis cultu. And therefore if you would excel others indeed, you should excel them in Grace and Vertue. Alas, many are but Dung finely dressed; the hidden Man of the Heart, that's the Man. Grace is the best Dressing, and that which is never out of fashion; by this Men are valued. The more wise and excellent Men are indeed, the less curious in their Apparel. Cato that had been Consul at Rome, never wore Apparel that exceeded an hundred Pence. Let great ones be known by their Modesty of Apparel.