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VAIN DRESS

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 20, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 20.

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"VAIN DRESS."

ON the above subject the Free Methodist has these faithful words to speak:—
Worldliness gets into the church by comparatively slow degrees. If it came stalking in all at once it would doubtless be resisted; but it begins by putting on just a little. Just enough to take the cross off, one thinks will do no harm; but it proves just enough to put the curse of God on. Beware of the little substitutions that the enemy would persuade us are so innocent. It is "the little foxes that spoil the vines." There is a place where we may speak the plainest truths and no one think of saying, "Physician, heal thyself." This is the only safe ground to stand upon.
It is painful to one who desires the bride of the Lord to be "without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing," to realize that the encroachments of the world are fettering her, in prayer and testimony, and bringing upon her spiritual paralysis, which is the sure precursor of death. But such will inevitably be the case with such as trifle with their convictions in regard to outward adorning. Mr. Wesley's words will never be out of date: "This is no time to give encouragement to superfluity of apparel." It is necessary to guard against it as against stealing, or swearing, or lying, or drunkenness. The "lust of the eye and the pride of life" are as much opposed to the spirit of our holy religion as covetousness or licentiousness. It is sure to bring spiritual blight and mildew wherever indulged. It will never do to assume even an indifferent attitude toward it, tho most of the churches either ignore it by silence or openly approve it; or, the subject has become distasteful through unwise presentation. A popular evil like this needs all the more holy men and women to stand as a perpetual rebuke against its aggressions. While this danger threatens most in large, towns and wealthy communities, yet it appears more or less in all sections of the land.