p. 16 | Outward Adorning by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 29, 1910

Outward Adorning

By T. E. Bowen

WHOEVER undertakes to correct the evil of pride in dress, as exhibited in the wearing of gold and trinkets, and vain and foolish ornaments, will find a difficult task. Yet every one who faithfully preaches the gospel must strike against these things, as all have in the past, from the apostles down to the present time. Wesley did a noble work in this direction, and accomplished much good in his day; but mark those who profess, at the present day, the faith that he held, and you will discover that his labor is largely lost upon this generation.

Still the voices of God’s faithful servants are raised against this crying sin,

and must be, though the vain and foolish heart still clings to this folly, a thing only fitting to heathenish barbarity, unbecoming to enlightened worldlings, much less to professors of the cross-bearing religion of the lowly Nazarene. The evil will continue, even with those who profess faith in the last message of mercy to man, till God, by his avenging vials, shall “take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments.” “And it shall come to pass, that instead of perfume there shall be putrefaction; and instead of a girdle, a rope; and instead of a curled hair, baldness; and instead of a mantle, a girding of sackcloth; and a fire-scar instead of beauty.”

“As long as this evil is in the heart, it will manifest itself. We may warn, but it is useless to tear off the excessive foliage. When the bearer of it dies to sin, it will drop off, like leaves after a frost in autumn. O, that all might repent of this folly before it is too late to find pardon!”—R. F. Cottrell, in Review of March 3, 1874.

Brother Cottrell, who wrote the foregoing lines, has been sleeping in the tomb for many years; and still the evil against which he directed his voice and pen has gone on. Many adorn themselves as becometh those who have a “meek and quiet spirit,” yet if this aged servant of God were to awake and visit our churches to-day, what do you suppose would be his testimony, especially regarding this question?

The end is nearer than when we first believed, and the testimony of one of the pioneer laborers is cited above, that our minds may be refreshed as to the kind of testimony borne against these things in our earlier history. The wearing of jewelry and fashionable garments is as truly a denial of our faith to-day, and as sinful, as ever in the past.

If the heart be truly adorned, evidence of it will appear in outward modest attire; on the other hand, if the heart be devoid of “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,” this also can not be hidden, but will be made manifest by needless display in some portion of the outward attire.

Peter’s word to the sisters, old and young, in all our churches, is still applicable: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it 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 sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3: 3, 4.

T. E. BOWEN.