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that a christian can ever be at liberty, whilst under the influence of heavenly good, to seek, or even desire, much wealth, though this disposition, in direct opposition to the life and doctrine of Christ, has gone far towards the destruction of spiritual religion, I believe in almost every religious society in the world. Alas, if there is any such thing as the abomination of desolation, it is mournfully seen standing in ours, in almost every part of the country where it ought not. (Vide "Letters from Job Scott, written whilst in Europe," &c. let. 10, p. 35. 42.)

It was a shrewd remark of the celebrated Benjamin Franklin, that "there are numbers that, perhaps, fear less the being in hell, than out of the fashion!" And indeed, I think I may query now, as the author of the "Essay on the Fashions," on the "beaux and belles" of the last century; on the effeminacy of the men,-" whether any thing noble, or brave can be expected from such creatures, who, if theya re not women, are at least hermaphrodites in the very soul; who, if the least breath of air stirs, (or wet drops,) dare not appear in the streets," but

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step into a coach or chair," like snails, into their shells!" "Can any man imagine, that a head so intent upon outward ornaments has any good furniture within ?"* I do not accuse your society of such extreme love of fashion, but I discern among you such "effeminacy" that does not " promise their native country either refined and active tradesmen, or hardy and intrepid soldiers" of Jesus Christ.

* Vide a popular periodical work entitled, "the Gentleman's Magazine," p. 354, 355. vol. i.

It may not be quite so difficult as some may imagine, to collect from the holy scriptures, the exact qualities and shapes of dress, houses, and furniture of the patriarchs, prophets, and primitive apostles. It might suffice to say, sometimes they dwelt in tents as well as king's palaces: but this we are assured, that the Saviour of the world had not where to lay his head!—and whom we are to take for example, and follow him. However, we find the ancient children of Israel wore garments of linen, garments of wool, and garments of silk; but they were not allowed to wear "garments of linen and woollen mixt." (Lev. xix. 89.) Upon which it is said, "the intention of this prohibition was to guard the Israelites from the idolatry of the Egyptian Sabeans, (Vide Expositors of the grand folio bible, &c.)

We find Christ's garment (or robe) was without seam: John's was of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle. And the attire of the primitive fathers was"this was the sense of Gregory Nizianzene, that ancient christian writer, who wore commonly a poor coat, like to afrock; so did Justin Martyr, Jerome, and Austin, as their best robes." (vide no cross, no crown," p. 315, part 2)

Io ften think (and it is with a little confusion of face I write it) that that nicety of adjusting so many cuts and seams in our apparel, might be dispensed with though I cannot altogether approve of the domestic economy" (of certain articles) "among the Tartars." I mean that of a young man having the skin of a horse just dead, thrown over him, and with the dexterity of a woman, who performs the

office of a tailor, with her scissars forms the garment to his back, the semicircle for the sleeve, &c. the pieces (or cuts) being stitched together, "in less than two hours he had a good brown-bay coat, which only wanted to be tanned by continual wearing!" (Memoirs of the Baron De Trot; vide Goldsmith's Geography, p. 356.) This, perhaps, may be too extreme simplicity; but it ought to be remembered, it is truly Adamic. (Gen. iii. 21.)

I know well enough this doctrine will not suit the anti-christian, or, rather, semi-christian of this "enlightened age;" particularly those who not only "think of the simplicity, as well as the uniformity of the dress of the Quakers is carried too far;" but are not afraid nor ashamed to affirm that they are "not a friend to the singularity of the Quakers in "this respect; nor even to an attire which is very Quakerish;" and also "that there is in it (the Quakers' dress) a degree of stiffness and precision which is disagreeable to the eye, and ought, on that account, to be avoided !"*

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I observe, this modern Greek, (as this correspondent to the Christian Observer subscribes himself, in the Greek language,) is truly grecian; and however highly his pretensions to "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost;" or however zealously he may advocate the apostle's injunctions of that "adorning" which should 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

* Vide Christian Observer, vol. v. p. 472.

sight of God of great price,” (1 Pet. iii. 3.) and such like humble and charitable graces of the gospel; it is evident to me that he gives the apostle "the retort courteous," vulgarly called "the lie direct." Yes, "out of his own mouth will I condemn him." I will not say, "thou wicked (or unfaithful) servant." He grounds his objection to the moderate and modest attire of the Quakers being "disagreeable to the eye!" What is the opposite or fair inference, but that his "eye" lusteth after the vain and frivolous things of the world? Let us see the evidences of the holy scriptures in this matter: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John, ii. 15, 16.)

No wonder to find this Greek scholar assuming "God has clothed all nature with beauty, and has made the eye of man susceptible of pleasure from the contemplation of that beauty." (ibid) But this is as untenable on the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the former. It is easy to observe that the natural form and features are often worsted by fashions, (passing by the abominable custom of painting, patching, and barbering, or hair-dressing) modern fashions of apparel seem to be the effects of a conspiracy of whatever is gay, flippery, prepos

«The Greeks seek after wisdom," saith the apostle, "but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. 1 Cor. i. 23.

terous, or deformed in nature, against all that is beautifully modest, moderate and well made. The beauty of nature is, as it were, bantered and hooked by deformity of art, either by deep-crown hats, and bonnets with no brims, or broad-brim hats and no crowns: as it were, coats without skirts, or skirts without coats-garments which expose and cramp every limb, if not cover every deformity. If these unseemly modes of attire are not "disagreeable to the eye," they ought "on that account to be avoided" by every devout christian. It may not be amiss to add here (to the shame of my countrywomen be it said) that "no females are less studious of enhancing their attractions by artificial means, or counterfeiting by paltry arts, the charms which nature has withheld than the Portuguese" (called ladies). "The form of their dress does not undergo a change once in an age; milliners and fancy dress makers areprofessions as unknown at Lisbon as they were in ancient Lacedemon." (vide Goldsmith's Geography, p. 249.)

The japanese, who are immense in population, are characteristic for their uniformity and moderate attire as "national." (ibid. p. 369) And to the shame of the "enlightened" English nation be it said, that "the primitive dress of the ancient Chinese," (like their worship)" continued invariably the same, through a long succession of ages, down to the present time.” "That the Chinese are a distinct people, who have preserved the characteristic mark of their first origin." (ibid.) Such is their antiquity, their moderation, abstemiousness, and fidelity, one towards another, and their fear and obedi

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