We are required to do _everything_ to the glory of God. Your first
inquiry, then, in relation to dress, must be, "_How can I glorify God in
my apparel?_" I know of no other way than by making it answer just the
end for which it was originally designed. In the third chapter of
Genesis, we learn that the object of dress, when first instituted, was
to provide a decent covering for our bodies. It was the shame brought
upon man by transgression which made this covering necessary. And, it is
undoubtedly in consequence of sin, that the elements have been turned
against him, so as to make clothing a necessary defence against the
hostile influence of heat and cold. The immediate discovery of their
nakedness, by our first parents, after their disobedience, is probably
intended to show the nakedness and shame which sin has brought upon
our souls; and the consequent exposure to the hostile elements
aptly represents the exposure of the naked soul to the wrath of
God. The invention of fig-leaf aprons may perhaps represent the
self-righteousness of the carnal heart. Impenitent sinners are always
seeking out some invention of their own, by which they expect to be
saved from the consequences of sin. But all their self-righteousness
will be no better defence against the storms of God's wrath, than
fig-leaf aprons against the withering influence of a vertical sun, or
the perpetual frosts of the arctic regions. The coats of skin, which the
Lord made for our first parents, were perhaps designed to represent the
righteousness of Christ, with which he would clothe his people. This
opinion appears the more probable, from the common use of this figure,
when the righteousness of Christ is spoken of, as imputed to Christians:
"He hath _clothed_ me with the _garments of salvation_, he hath
_covered_ me with the _robe_ of righteousness." "And to her [the church]
was granted, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white;
for the linen is the righteousness of the saints." "For in this we
groan, earnestly desiring to be _clothed upon_ with our house which is
from heaven; if so be that being _clothed_, we shall not be found
_naked_. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:
not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon." "And being found
in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God
by faith." The real design of clothing, then, may be summed up in the
following particulars: 1. A modest covering for our bodies. 2. A defence
against the hostile elements. 3. An acknowledgment of our spiritual
nakedness and exposure to the wrath of God; and our need to be clothed
with the righteousness of Christ. Whenever we pervert it from these
ends, to the gratification of our pride or vanity, we not only do not
glorify God therein, but we commit actual sin.
A few things are necessary to be observed, in relation to your
apparel:--1. _All that you have is the Lord's._ You have nothing but
what he has given you; and this you have solemnly promised to employ in
his service. You have no right, therefore, needlessly to squander it
upon your person. The apostle Paul, in the text quoted at the
commencement of this letter, directs women to adorn themselves with
modest apparel; and forbids the wearing of costly ornaments and jewelry.
The apostle Peter also repeats the same exhortation. The love of finery
displayed by many of the females of our congregations, some of whom are
professors of religion, is directly at variance with these passages of
Scripture. But, if the Bible had been entirely silent on the subject, I
cannot see how Christians could reconcile so much needless expense upon
their persons with the spirit of benevolence which the gospel breathes,
when so many millions of precious souls are perishing without any
knowledge of the only way of salvation, or while so many around them are
suffering from penury and want. This is certainly contrary to the spirit
of Christ. He who, for our sakes, became poor; who led a life of
self-denial, toil, and suffering, that he might relieve distress, and
make known the way of salvation,--could never have needlessly expended
upon his person what would have sent the gospel to the destitute, or
supplied the wants of poverty. Extravagance in dress is, therefore,
obviously inconsistent with the Christian character. But, no precise
rule can be laid down in relation to this matter. It must be left to the
sober judgment of Christians, and a sanctified conscience will readily
discern the bounds of propriety. By asking yourselves two or three
questions, whenever you think of purchasing a new article of dress, you
may very easily decide upon the path of duty. "Do I need this? Is it
necessary for my comfort, or for my decent appearance in society? Can I
glorify God in wearing it?"
2. _Your time is the Lord's._ You have no right to waste it in useless
attention to dress. One of the greatest evils of the present extravagant
modes of dress is, that so much precious time is consumed at the toilet.
I have already shown the value and importance of time, and the
obligations of Christians to spend it in the most profitable manner. I
need not here advance any new arguments to show that, if you spend any
more time than is necessary in the adjustment of your apparel, you sin
against God.
3. _It is the duty to pay some regard to personal appearance._ A
Christian lady, by making herself a _slattern_, brings reproach upon the
cause of Christ, instead of glorifying God. The apostle enjoins upon
women to adorn themselves with _modest_ apparel. Modesty signifies
_purity of sentiment and manners._ When this idea is applied to dress,
it immediately suggests to the mind a neatness, taste, and simplicity of
dress, alike opposed both to extravagance and finery, and to negligence
and vulgar coarseness. The exercise of a refined taste, in the
adaptation and adjustment of apparel, may also be justified by the
analogy of nature. Look abroad over the landscape, and see with what
exquisite taste God has clothed the flowers of the field. There is a
symmetry of proportion, a skilfulness of arrangement, and a fitness and
adaptation of colors, which strike the eye with unmingled pleasure. And
if God has shown a scrupulous regard to the pleasure of the eye, we may
do the same. This opinion is also confirmed by the practical influence
of the gospel. This is particularly observable among the poor in our own
land. Just in proportion as the religion of Jesus prevails among this
class of people, you will see a scrupulous attention to personal
appearance. By this, I do not mean the _pride of appearance_; but a
decency, modesty, and propriety, opposed to negligence, coarseness, and
vulgarity. But this is more strikingly manifest among those people who
have been but recently raised, by the influence of the gospel, from the
lowest depths of heathenism. Of this, you will be convinced by examining
the history of the missions among the North American Indians, and the
South Sea Islands. The same principles will also apply to equipage and
household arrangements. Such regard to comfort and decency of
appearance as will strike the eye with pleasure, and shed around an air
of cheerfulness, doubtless contributes to moral improvement, and is not
only authorized, but required, by the spirit of the gospel.
But this is a dangerous point. There is such a tendency in the human
mind to mistake gayety and extravagance for neatness and propriety; and
so much temptation to the indulgence of pride and vanity, that you have
need of constant watchfulness, that in no respect your heart may lead
you astray in this matter. You ought to make it a subject of daily
prayer.
4. _Have a regard to health._ The duty of using all proper means for the
preservation of health, I have already considered. Among these means,
attention to dress is not the least important. Great care should always
be taken that it be suited to the season, and a defence against the
inclemency of the weather. This is a Christian duty; and any pride of
appearance, or carelessness of habit, which leads you to neglect it, is
_sin_. But, above all things, avoid the compression of any part of the
body, for the purpose of improving the appearance. This is a most
pernicious practice. It is astonishing that intelligent ladies can so
blindly follow the mandates of fashion, as to indulge a habit so
destructive of comfort and life. There is no part of the system, not
even the extremity of a limb, which can suffer violent compression,
without interrupting the regular circulation of the blood. But, when
this pressure is about the chest, the effect is most destructive. The
lungs, subject as they are to alternate distension and compression, from
receiving and discharging both the blood and the breath, require the
most perfect freedom. But when the chest is so compressed as to prevent
the free play of the lungs, the whole system of respiration and
circulation is deranged. The consequences are, shortness of breath,
faintness, impeded circulation, producing listlessness and languor; and
inclination of the blood to the head, producing headache and
distressing dizziness. And, if this course is long persisted in,
destruction of health is the inevitable conscience; and often the poor
deluded victim of a barbarous fashion pays the forfeit of her life. I
have heard of many cases of death from this cause; three of which
occurred _in one family_, within the circle of my acquaintance. I need
use no argument, then, to convince a Christian lady, that it is her duty
to avoid this species of conformity to the world. I can regard it in no
other light than a palpable violation of the sixth commandment.
5. _Do not make too much of the matter of dress._ It is our duty to
avoid every species of conformity to the world which requires the
sacrifice of religious principle. But, in things indifferent, we are
allowed to conform to the customs of society. I do not think there is
much danger of observing excessive plainness of apparel; but there is
danger of making so much account of it as to cultivate a self-righteous
spirit. It is remarkable that in almost every system of false religion,
precise forms of dress are prescribed; especially for those who are
devoted to what is termed a _religious life_; whereas, in the Bible, it
is left to be regulated by the general principles and spirit of
Christianity, with an occasional caution against extravagance; and it
does not appear that Christ and the apostles and the early Christians
adopted any peculiarity of dress. From the description given of the
wardrobe of our Saviour, it is probable that he wore the common dress of
a religious teacher. There is such a thing as a pride of singularity;
and this is often manifested in the preparation and adjustment of the
wardrobe. Satan is ever on the alert, to observe the bent of the mind,
and carry it to extremes. Be not ignorant of his devices. Watch and
pray, that you enter not into temptation.
Your affectionate Brother.