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النشر الإلكتروني

AN HOMILY AGAINST EXCESS OF
APPAREL.

WHERE ye have heretofore been excited and stirred to use temperance of meats and drinks, and to avoid the excess thereof, many ways hurtful to the state of the commonwealth and so odious before Almighty God, being the author and giver of such creatures, to comfort and stablish our frail nature with thanks unto him, and not by abusing of them to provoke his liberality to severe punishing of that disorder: in like manner it is convenient, that ye be admonished of another foul and chargeable excess; I mean of apparel, at these days so gorgeous, 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 prince's 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 judgment of God, where that measure is not kept, which he himself hath appointed.

If we consider the end and 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, and also to refresh our senses with an honest and moderate recreation. Therefore David in the hundred and fourth Psalm [vv. 14, 15], confessing God's careful providence, sheweth 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, who, yielding only to necessity, forbid the lawful fruition of God's benefits. With whose traditions we may not be led, if we give ear to St. Paul, who, writing to the Colossians, willeth them not to hearken unto such men as shall say, Touch not, taste not, handle not, superstitiously bereaving them of the fruition of God's creatures (Colos. ii. 21). And no less truly ought we to beware, lest, under pretence of Christian liberty, we take licence to do what we list, advancing ourselves in sumptuous apparel, and despising other, preparing ourselves in fine bravery, to wanton, lewd, and unchaste behaviour. To the avoiding whereof, it behoveth us to be Four Lessons. mindful of four lessons, taught in holy Scrip

First.

Second.

ture, whereby we shall learn to temper ourselves, and to restrain our immoderate affections, to that measure which God hath appointed. The first is, that we make not provision for the flesh, to accomplish the lusts thereof (Rom. xiii. 14), with costly apparel, as that harlot did, of whom Solomon speaketh, Proverbs vii. [vv. 16, 17], which perfumed her bed, and decked it with costly ornaments of Egypt, to the fulfilling of her lewd lust but rather ought we by moderate temperance to cut off all occasions, whereby the flesh might get the victory. The second is written by St. Paul, in the seventh chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians [v. 31], where he teacheth us to use this world as though we used it not. Whereby he cutteth away not only all ambition, pride, and vain pomp in apparel; but also all inordinate care and affection, which withdraweth us from the contemplation of heavenly things, and consideration of our duty towards God. They that are much occupied in caring for things pertaining to the body, are most commonly negligent and careless in matters concerning the soul. Therefore our Saviour Christ willeth us not to take thought what we shall eat, or what we shall drink, or wherewith we shall be clothed; but rather to seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof (Matt. vi. 31, 33). Whereby we may learn to beware, lest we use those things to our hindrance, which God hath ordained for our comfort and furtherance towards his kingdom. The Third. third is, that we take in good part our estate

Fourth.

and condition, and content ourselves with that which God sendeth, whether it be much or little. He that is ashamed of base and simple attire, will be proud of gorgeous apparel, if he may get it. We must learn therefore of the apostle St. Paul both to use plenty, and also to suffer penury (Phil iv. 12), remembering that we must yield accounts of those things which we have received, unto Him who abhorreth all excess, pride, ostentation, and vanity, who also utterly condemneth and disalloweth whatsoever draweth us from our duty toward God, or diminisheth our charity towards our neighbours and brethren, whom we ought to love as ourselves. The fourth and last rule is, that every man behold and consider his own vocation, in as much as God hath appointed every man his degree and office, within the limits whereof it behoveth him to keep himself. Therefore all may not look to wear like apparel, but every one according to his degree, as God hath placed him. Which, if it were observed, many one doubtless should be compelled to wear a russet coat, which now ruffleth in silks and velvets, spending more by the year in sumptuous apparel, than their fathers received for the whole revenue of their lands. But alas, now-a-days, how many may we behold occupied wholly in pampering the flesh, taking no care at all, but only how to deck themselves, setting their affection altogether on worldly bravery, abusing God's goodness, when he sendeth plenty, to satisfy their wanton lusts, having no regard to the degree wherein God hath placed them. The Israelites were contented with such apparel as God gave them, although it were base and simple. And God so blessed them, that their shoes and clothes lasted them forty years; yea, and those clothes, which their fathers had worn, their children were contented to use afterward (Deut. xxix. 5). But we are never contented, and therefore we prosper not; so that most commonly he that ruffleth in his sables, in his fine furred gown, corked slippers, trim buskins, and warm mittens, is more ready to chill for cold, than the poor labouring man, which can abide in the field all the day long, when the north wind blows, with a few beggarly clouts about him. We are loth to wear such as our fathers have left us, we think not that sufficient or good enough for us. We must have one gown for the day,

another for the night; one long, another short; one for winter, another for summer; one through furred, another but faced; one for the working-day, another for the holy-day; one of this colour, another of that colour; one of cloth, another of silk or damask. We must have change of apparel, one afore dinner, and another after; one of the Spanish fashion, another Turkey: and to be brief, never content with sufficient. Our Saviour Christ bade his disciples they should not have two coats (Matt. x. 10): but the most men, far unlike to his scholars, have their presses so full of apparel, that many know not how many sorts they have. Which thing caused St. James to pronounce this terrible curse against such wealthy worldlings, Go to ye rich men, weep and howl on your wretchedness that shall come upon you, your riches are corrupt, and your garments are moth-eaten, ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and in wantonness; ye have nourished your hearts, as in the day of slaughter (James v. 1,2,5). Mark, I beseech you, St. James calleth them miserable, notwithstanding their riches and plenty of apparel, forasmuch as they pamper their bodies to their own destruction. What was the rich glutton the better for his fine fare and costly apparel? Did not he nourish himself to be tormented in hell fire? (Luke xvi. 19—25). Let us learn therefore to content ourselves, having food and raiment, as St. Paul teacheth, lest desiring to be enriched with abundance, we fall into temptations, snares, and many noisome lusts, which drown men in perdition and destruction (1 Tim. vi. 9).

Certainly, such as delight in gorgeous apparel are commonly puffed up with pride, and filled with divers vanities. So were the daughters of Sion and people of Jerusalem, whom Isaiah the prophet threateneth, because they walked with stretched-out necks and wandering eyes, mincing as they went, and nicely treading with their feet, that Almighty God would make their heads bald, and discover their secret shame. In that day, saith he, shall the Lord take away the ornament of the slippers, and the cauls, and the round attires, and the sweet balls, and the bracelets, and the attires of the head, and the slops, and the head-bands, and the tablets, and the earrings, the rings, and the mufflers, the costly apparel, and the veils, and wimples, and the crisping-pins, and the glasses, and the

fine linen, and the hoods, and the lawns (Isa. iii. 16—23). So that Almighty God would not suffer his benefits to be vainly and wantonly abused, no not of that people whom he most tenderly loved, and had chosen to himself before all other. No less truly is the vanity that is used amongst us in these days. For the proud and haughty stomachs of the daughters of England are so maintained with divers disguised sorts of costly apparel, that, as Tertullian an ancient father saith, "there is left no difference in apparel between an honest matron and a common strumpet." Yea, many men are become so effeminate, that they care not what they spend in disguising themselves, ever desiring new toys, and inventing new fashions. Therefore a certain man, that would picture every countryman in his accustomed apparel, when he had painted other nations, he pictured the Englishman all naked, and gave him cloth under his arm, and bade him make it himself as he thought best, for he changed his fashion so often, that he knew not how to make it. Thus with our fantastical devices we make ourselves laughing-stocks to other nations, while one spendeth his patrimony upon pounces and cuts, another bestoweth more on a dancing shirt, than might suffice to buy him honest and comely apparel for his whole body. Some hang their revenues about their necks, ruffling in their ruffs, and many a one jeopardeth his best joint, to maintain himself in sumptuous raiment. And every man, nothing considering his estate and condition, seeketh to excel other in costly attire. Whereby it cometh to pass, that in abundance dearth. and plenty of all things, we yet complain of want and penury; while one man spendeth that which might serve a multitude, and no man distributeth of the abundance which he hath received, and all men excessively waste that which should serve to supply the necessities of other. There hath been very good provision made against such abuses, by divers good and wholesome laws; which if they were practised as they ought to be of all true subjects, they might in some part serve to diminish this raging and riotous excess in apparel. But alas, there appeareth amongst us little fear and obedience, either of God or man. Therefore must we needs look for God's fearful vengeance from heaven, to overthrow our presumption and pride, as he overthrew Herod, who in his

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