In like manner, the expensive finery of dress is not a crime, because there is any thing good or evil in cloaths, but because the expensive ornaments of cloathing shews a foolish and unreasonable state of heart, that is fallen from right notions of human nature, and turns the necessities of life into so many instances of pride and folly.
17. This therefore is the way that you are to judge of the crime of vain apparel: it is an offence against the proper use of cloaths, as covetousness is an offence against the proper use of money: it is an indulgence of proud and unreasonable tempers, an offence against the humility and sobriety of the Christian spirit: it is an offence against all those doctrines that require you to do all to the glory of God, and an offence against all those texts of scripture, that command you to love your neighbour as yourself, to feed the hungry, to cloath the naked, and do all works of charity that you are able. So that you must not deceive yourself with saying, where can be the harm of cloaths? For the covetous man might as well say, where can be the harm of gold or silver? But you must consider, that it is a great deal of harm to want that wise and reasonable state of heart, which is according to the spirit of religion, and which no one can have in the manner that he ought to have it, who indulges himself either in the vanity of dress, or the desire of riches.
18. Some persons perhaps, who admire the life of Miranda, may say, how can it be proposed as a common example? How can we that are married, or we who are under the direction of our parents, imitate such a life?
It is answered, just as you may imitate the life of our blessed Saviour and his apostles. The circumstances of our Saviour’s life, and the state and condition of his apostles, were more different from yours than that of Miranda is; and yet their life is the common example that is proposed to all Christians.
It is their spirit therefore, their piety, their love of God, that you are to imitate, and not the particular form of their life.
Act under God as they did, direct your common actions to that end which they did, practise such love of God, such charity to your neighbour, such humility and self-denial, as they did; and then, though you are only teaching your own children, and St. Paul is converting nations, yet you are following his steps, and acting after his example.
19. Don’t think therefore, that you can’t or need not be like Miranda, because you are not in her state of life: for as the same spirit and temper would have made Miranda a saint, tho’ she had been forced to labour for a maintenance; so if you will aspire after her spirit, every condition of life will furnish you with sufficient means of employing it.
Miranda is what she is, because she does every thing in the name, and with regard to her duty to God; and when you do the same, you will be exactly like her, though you are never so different in your outward state.
You are married, you say; therefore you have not your time and fortune in your power as she has.
It is true; therefore you cannot spend so much time, nor so much money in the manner that she does.