Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from An Homily Against Excess of Apparel
By the ?esh'might get the victory. The second is written by St. Paul, in the seventh chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians, 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 inordi nate care and affection, which withdraweth us from the contemplation of heavenly things, and conside ration of our duty towards God. 1 Cor. Vii. They that are much occupied in caring for things pertain ing 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 where with we shall be clothed; but rather to seek the king dom of God, and the righteousness thereof. Matt. Vi. 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 king dom. The third is, that we take in good part our estate and condition, and content ourselves with that which God sendeth, whether it be much or little. He that is ashamed of base and simple at tire, 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 pe nury, 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 what soever draweth us from our duty towards God, or diminisheth our charity towards our neighbours and brethren, whom we ought to love as ourselves. Phil. Iv. 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 ob served, many one doubtless should be compelled to A 2.
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