The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-29
The Sinfulness of Pride in
Dress.

" ~ Jcb wv PddoCf tlIibR uDOTlhl, ere
You advance another step in the pathway
OF life, aud devoe a few moments to re.
hecIion aud meditation and let your re.
flectlon be such as becomes your sorrow
iul condition 7 Sad indeed is the condi.
tion Of those who have become the de.
votees OF fashion, and are willing TO fore.
90 the exalted, heaven.born pleasures
which God has kindly given to be the
privilege OF all he children of men.
| would that all might heed insiruc-
tion's warning voice, and lay aside the
gaudy trappings Of vanity and pride.
This | cannot expect; but | do earnestly
ask, for few moments, the thoughtful
consideration Of those who profess 10 be
the followers OF the meek and lowly Jesus,
whose adornng should not be that out.
ward adorning Of plating the hair and
OF wearing of gold,or Of putting on of ap-
parel, but the hidden man of the heart. ip
that which is not corruptible, even the
ornament OF meek and quiet spirit, which
in the sight of God is of great price"
ln writing upon the subject OF dress
wonld not be understood to advocate a
careless Indifference with regard to it !;
far from it. for believe it to be the duty
Of all 10 be neatly and even prettily at.
tired, so far as is consistent with their
circumstances. However simple the ma.
terial OF which garment is composed, it
should be made with proper regard to
taste, beauty and convenience, dispensing
with so much needless expenditure as we
now have, for that which is utterly use
less With many, very many, the desire
to mingle IN fashionable society leads them
to make great sacrifices for the accom-
plishment OF this purpose. Even health,
that most precious boon by God to NOR
tails given, is not unirequently sacrificed
in the desire to follow the unreasonable
dictates Of Fashion
Now ask, is there not here great in.
consistency in the lives of those who have
taken upon themselves the VOWS of The
church, and "professej good profession
before many witnesses" by this profession
acknowledging to the world that they are
"strangers and pilgrims on the earth ~
II they are indeed such, believing that
1.-THE life is more than meat, and the body
than ralmeni." why do they take so much
thought for both, when Christ in language
both beautiful and expressive, bids us
'conslder the lilies OF the field how they
grow ; they toll not, neither do they spin,
aud yet" lie says, Solomon. in all his
glory, was not arrayed like one Of these.
Wherefore, if God so cloihe the grass oil
the field, which to-day is, and TO. morrow
is cast luto the oven, shall he not much
more cloihe you, o ye OF little faith ~
lie seems TO expect nothing better o.
the uuregeneraie heart than to follow Of
ter the pride aud vanity Of its own emo
tional nature. But those who have pu
of the old man with his Deeds" being
renewed in the spirit OF their minds" liz
bids. Seek first the kingdom Of God ant
his righteousness" and promises that al
things needlul shall then be given Whel
all when will Fashion cease TO exert he
unhalloyed influence upon the lives o
the professed representatives of Ilim VIII,
was meek and lowly in heart? Whel
shall we learn to live soberly, righteousl,
aud godly in this present world den,
ourselves and take up our cross and follow
after Christ, through evil as well as goc,
report. even though it may strip us Of ou
costly robes and jewels rare, take fron
us the last vestige Of self.love and pride
keeping us low in the valley of humilia
} ton. Never. until this is done, can W
enter on the halowed precincts of heaven
! ly joy, aud bask in the sunlight of on eve
present Saviour, with whom we may safe
ly rest, assured that He who sits at tn
helm will guide our frail bark across th
; shoals and quicksands Of time, and 6nAll
anchor it within the port Of peace.
Great responsibilities rest upon US, nc
, only to q cd, but to our fellow traveller
to. eternity. The influence we exert upo
the lives Of those around us will sensibl
affect our happiness here aud hereafte
And shall any, through this unseen an
silent influence which goes forth from u
permeating the lives Of those with who
we associate, be led 10 look upon thi
grovelling earth as their abiding place, e
. accepting its few transitory joys as the
portion, rather than leading them, by OF
: example, to just estimation Of the utt,
!. worthlessness Of all the pride and vanil
IS Of earth 2
a While SO much time and talent a.
}. given to the fulflment Of the DEGREES
Fashion, precious, immortal souls with
d the circle Of our influence are psssil
!. from the stage Of life, yearning, perhaI
'r for some kindred spirit, lighted by hea
l. emily love, to point out the way Of life a