An Homily against excess of apparel.An Homilee against excesse of apparell.

An Homily against excess of apparel.

An Homilee against excesse of apparell.

Where ye have heretofore ben excited & stirred to use temperance of meats & drinks, and to avoid the excess thereof, many ways hurtful to the state of the common wealth, & also odious before almighty God, being the author and giver of such creatures, to comfort and stablish our frail nature, with thanks unto him, & not by abusing of them to provoke his liberality to severe punishing of that disorder. In like manner it is conueniē • that ye be admonished of another foul and chargeable excess: I mean, of Apparel, at these days so outrageous, that neither almighty god by his word can stay our proud curiosity in the same, neither yet godly and necessary laws made of our Princes, and oft repeated with the penalties, can bridle this detestable abuse, whereby both god is openly contemned, and the princes laws manifestly disobeyed, to the great peril of the Realm. Wherefore, that sobriety also in this excess may be espied among us, I shall declare unto you, both the moderate use of apparel, approved by God in his holy word, and also the abuses thereof, which he forbiddeth and disalloweth, as it may appear by the inconveniences which daily increase by the just ⟨p. 214⟩judgement of God, where that measure is not kept, which he himself hath appointed. If we consider the end & purpose whereunto almighty God hath ordained his creatures, we shall easily perceive, that he alloweth us apparel, not only for necessities sake, but also for an honest comeliness. Even as in herbs trees, and sundry fruits, we have not only, divers necessary uses, but also the pleasant sight and sweet smell, to delight us withal, wherein we may behold the singular love of God towards mankind, in that he hath provided both to relieve our necessities, & also to refresh our senses with an honest & moderate recreation. Therefore David in the Ciiii. Psalm, confessing Gods careful providence, ¹showeth that God not only provideth things necessary for men, as herbs and other meats, but also such things as may rejoice and comfort, as wine to make glad the heart, oils and ointments to make the face to shine. So that they are altogether past the limits of humanity, which yielding only to necessity, forbid the lawful fruition of Gods benefits.