Imatges de pàgina
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Now concerning wearing and putting on of apparel.

Isaiah testifieth against vanity in apparel, and the changeable suits among the Jews. Isa. iii.

And what became of Tyrus, with all his broidered works, and chests of rich apparel, did not the Lord bring them down in their pride? Ezek. xxvii. 24.

And did not Zephaniah say, 'the Lord would punish all such as were clothed with strange apparel? Zeph. i. 8.

But first they were clothed inwardly in transgression, before they clothed outwardly with the strange apparel.

And what became of Dives, with all his sumptuousness and bravery, who despised poor Lazarus? And also Herod: and are not people's eyes gazing more after fine apparel than after the image of God? Luke xvi. 19. and Acts xii. 21.

And you may see that the first apparel that Adam made after transgression was of fig leaves, and then God made them coats of skins: but now people are so far degenerated from that, and have gotten so far into the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life, that they know not what to put on.

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And their life is below the lilies, and the fowls of the air, as Christ saith, The fowls of the air do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns: and the lilies they toil not, neither do they spin; but the heavenly Father feeds and clothes them."

And Christ also saith, (speaking to people,) 'that ye are much better than the fowls of the air, or the lilies: and therefore take ye no thought what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewith ye shall be clothed; for after these things the Gentiles do seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things; but first seek ye the kingdom of heaven, and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added unto you, as in Matt. vi.

Here you may see how Christ is restoring people up into the image of God, out of the thoughts and cares of the heathen; for God took care for man and woman before he made them.

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And the apostle exhorted Timothy, how the women should adorn themselves with modest apparel, and with shamefacedness and sobriety, and not with broidered or plaiting the hair, or gold, pearls, or costly array, but with that which becomes women professing godliness, with good works. 1 Tim. ii. Mark this every one.

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And James reproves and exhorts such, whose eye and esteem was to the gold ring, and goodly apparel, more than the poor in vile raiment,' and tells them, they were not 'to hold the faith of our Lord

Jesus Christ, with respect to persons;' much more not with gay clothing or apparel. James ii. 1.

And Peter, in 1 Pet. iii. exhorts the saints how to adorn themselves: 'Whose adorning, let it not be the outward adorning, of plaiting the hair, or wearing of gold, and putting on of apparel. But 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.'

For after this manner, in old times, the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves.' And this ought to be the adorning now in the new covenant. And though you may say, the Jews and Hebrews adorned themselves with jewels, and they did adorn the temple, &c.

But in the new covenant these things were forbidden. And they were to adorn the temple of the heart, and not to defile that, and to know the hidden man of the heart, which is not corruptible. And therefore look into all your hearts, and see if you can find any thing there, which is not corruptible, and to put off the old man with his deeds; with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; which are not of the Father, but of the world.'

And this old man delights in the glory of the world, which must be put off. And all Christians in the new covenant must put on the new man, that is renewed in knowledge, after the image of God that created him, which walks and serves God in the new and living way; who is born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible seed, by the word of God; and feeds upon the incorruptible milk, and wine, and water, and bread, and the incorruptible flesh and blood of Christ, and wears the fine linen, the righteousness of Christ, the incorruptible clothing. And this is the birth born of the spirit, that enters into the incorruptible kingdom of God, as in John iii. 5. and in 1 Pet. i. 23.

And the apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesians, in chapter iv. 22. to put off their former conversation, the old man, which is corruptible, according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your minds;' that is out of the fall of Adam. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. So here man comes to know his first creation, and his degeneration; so always to see the new man put on, which is in righteousness, and holiness; and the old man put off, with all his vain deckings, trimmings, and clothings, which is not acceptable both in the sight of God and his people.

And so all in the new covenant are to be conformable to the image of God. Rom. viii. 2. For all have been conformed long enough to the image of satan.

And the apostle saith, 'We all behold with open face, as in a glass,

the glory of the Lord; and are changed into the same image from glory to glory; even as by the same spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. iii. 10. So every one are to mind this happy and blessed change.

And the apostle saith, 'Put on the Lord Jesus, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof.' Rom. xiii. 14. And as every one hath received the Lord Jesus, so walk in him, and then you will put off the old Adam, and his deeds in transgression; and not walk in him, but walk in Christ that never sinned, nor was guilt found in his mouth. 'And if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things passeth away, and all things become new.' 2 Cor. v. 17.

Therefore the apostle exhorts the Colossians, chapter ii. 8. that they were not to follow the rudiments of the world, for they were not after Christ. And so people are not to follow the world's rudiments, but Christ.

And you may see how the children of Israel, that came out of Egypt, and the mixed multitude, lusted after the flesh pots of Egypt. And the Lord smote them with a grievous plague. Numb. xi. And David saith, 'They tempted God in their hearts, by asking meat for their lust.' Psalm lxxviii. 18.

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And again David saith, They lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls.' Psalm cvi. 14, 15.

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And therefore in the new covenant the apostle saith, these things were for our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things; as they also lusted. 1 Cor. x. 11. And Solomon exhorts to keep from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thy heart, neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread. And the adulterous will hunt for thy precious life.' Prov. vi. 26.

And Christ not only forbids adultery, but lust also. Matt. v. And again Christ saith, 'The cares of the world, and the love of other things choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful to them.' Mark iv. 19.

And you may see what became of such, as the apostle speaks of in Rom. i. 21. who, when they knew God, glorified him not, as God; neither were thankful.' How at last God gave them up,' when they forsook him, through the lust of their hearts. And there you may see what evils they run into. And also you may see in Jude xvi. 18. how he declares against murderers, and complainers, and mockers, who walked after their ungodly lusts.

And in 1 Pet. ii. 11. the apostle Peter saith, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.'

And James saith, war and fightings came from the lusts, that warred in their members. And such asked, but received not, because they asked amiss, that they might consume it upon their lusts. Therefore, saith he, Know ye not that the friendship of this world is enmity to God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend to the world, is an enemy to God.' James iv. 1.

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And Paul saith, that the grace of God, which brings salvation, hath appeared unto all men. Teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. That we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.' Which is the duty of every true christian, that to deny, and so to live.' Tit. ii. 11.

And therefore the apostle exhorts Timothy, to fly youthful lusts, and to follow righteousness, faith, and charity, and peace with all them that call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart. And such teachers who had the form of godliness, but deny the power, which the saints were to turn away from; those were they that led silly people captive, laden with sin and divers lusts. 2 Tim. ii. 22. and iii. 5. And such as could not abide sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; they turn away their ears from the truth and grace that comes by Jesus Christ, (which should teach them and bring their salvation,) and from the spirit of God, which they should walk in, as the apostle saith, 'If ye walk in the spirit, (mark, in the spirit,) ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.' Gal. v. 16. And the apostle further saith, "That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour, and not in the lusts of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God.' 1 Thess. iv. 4.

'If a man purge himself from these things, he shall be a vessel unto honour, and sanctified, and meet for his master's use, and prepared for every good work.' 2 Tim. ii. 21. But they that will be rich, fall into temptations and snares, and into many foolish hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. But the man of God is to fly these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.' 1 Tim. vi. 11. And they that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the afflictions and lusts.' Gal. v. 24.

And haughtiness and high mindedness were forbidden both by God and his people. And David saith, The afflicted people the Lord will save. And his eyes are upon the haughty, to bring them down.' 2 Sam. xxii.

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And David said, 'Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; and my soul is like a weaned child.' Psalm cxxxi. 2. Then he was fit for the kingdom of God. And again David saith, God will save his afflicted people, but will bring down high looks.' Psalm xviii. 27.

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And Solomon saith, Before destruction, the heart of man is haughty, and before honour, is humility.' Prov. xviii. 21.

And Isaiah declared against the haughtiness of the daughters of Zion. Isaiah iii. And how the haughty people of the earth do languish, because they had transgressed God's laws, and changed his ordi

nances.

And doth not the Lord say by Isaiah, chap. xvi. 6. 'that Moab should howl for his pride and haughtiness? And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. And I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease. And I will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.' And this is a good day; for the day of the Lord of hosts, shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low.' Isaiah ii. 3. and x. 24.

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And Ezekiel saith, that the children of Israel were haughty, and like Sodom, and committed abominations before the Lord, and he took them away.' Ezek. xvi. 46. And Zephaniah saith, Thou shalt be no more haughty.' Zeph. iii. 11. Neither shall ye go haughtily.' Mic. xxiii. 1. And therefore all are to learn humility, that they may exalt the Lord their maker.

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And the apostle exhorted the Romans, not to be high minded, but fear; for they stood by faith.' Rom. xi. 20. And the apostle exhorted Timothy, to charge those that were rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.' 1 Tim. vi. 17. And the apostle again tells Timothy, that the heady high minded are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.' And daily experience shows; as you may see at large the fruits of such. 2 Tim. iii. 4. And therefore all those things the faithful are to shun, and to be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love, and in honour preferring one another.' Rom. xii. 10. And the apostle exhorts the Corinthians, to be perfectly joined together, in the same mind, and in the same judgment; that they might all speak the same thing. So that there may be no division among them. 1 Cor. i.

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And again, in 2 Cor. xiii. 11. the apostle saith, Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace shall be with you. For by one spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, bond or free. And have been all made to drink into one spirit, and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.' 1 Cor. xii. 13. and xiv. 32, 33. And the apostle writes to the Philippians, VOL. VIII.

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