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| Christian Women, Further, Have Not the Same Causes for Appearing in Public, and Hence for Dressing in Fine Array as Gentiles. On the Contrary, Their Appearance Should Always Distinguish Them from Such. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter XI.—Christian Women, Further, Have Not the Same
Causes for Appearing in Public, and Hence for Dressing in Fine Array as
Gentiles. On the Contrary, Their Appearance Should Always
Distinguish Them from Such.
Moreover, what causes have you for appearing in
public in excessive grandeur, removed as you are from the occasions
which call for such exhibitions? For you neither make the circuit
of the temples, nor demand (to be present at) public shows, nor have
any acquaintance with the holy days of the Gentiles. Now it is
for the sake of all these public gatherings, and of much seeing and
being seen, that all pomps (of dress) are exhibited before the public
eye; either for the purpose of transacting the trade of voluptuousness,
or else of inflating “glory.” You, however,
have no cause of appearing in public, except such as is serious.
Either some brother who is sick is visited, or else the sacrifice is
offered, or else the word of God is dispensed. Whichever of these
you like to name is a business of sobriety247 and
sanctity, requiring no extraordinary attire, with (studious)
arrangement and (wanton) negligence.248
248 Et composito et
soluto. | And if the
requirements of Gentile friendships and of kindly offices call you, why
not go forth clad in your own armour; (and) all the more, in that (you
have to go) to such as are strangers to the faith? so that between the
handmaids of God and of the devil there may be a difference; so that
you may be an example to them, and they may be edified in you; so that
(as the apostle says) “God may be magnified in your
body.”249 But magnified
He is in the body through modesty: of course, too, through
attire suitable to modesty. Well, but it is urged by some,
“Let not the Name be blasphemed in us,250
250 Comp. de Idol.,
c. xiv. | if we
make any derogatory change from our old style and dress.”
Let us, then, not abolish our old vices! let us maintain the same
character, if we must maintain the same appearance (as before); and
then truly the nations will not blaspheme! A grand blasphemy is
that by which it is said, “Ever since she became a Christian, she
walks in poorer garb!” Will you fear to appear poorer, from
the time that you have been made more wealthy; and
fouler,251 from the time when
you have been made more clean? Is it according to the
decree252 of Gentiles, or according to the decree of
God, that it becomes Christians to walk?E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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