Christian Dress and Worldly Fashion
By E. D. Scott
Bro. Smith: I expected to see an answer before this to Bro. Byington's question from some of our sisters who are in the practice of writing for the paper. I have felt of late more than usual for the purity of the church. I have feared that there was not that deadness to the customs and fashions of the world that there should be. I do think the articles Bro. B. has mentioned are altogether unbecoming women professing godliness; therefore not to be recommended to the church. I do protest against them. Dear sisters, let us see to it that we stand not in the way of our brethren who are proclaiming the whole truth to a dying world. I have thought perhaps the reason Bro. B. proposed that question, was that his soul had been stirred within him, and his mouth stopped while attempting to preach against the sin of pride, when among those who profess to believe his teachings. As one brother has said in speaking of our examples, "Who shall cast a stone at this soul-destroying sin while the least traces of it can be seen about him? And even if he is confident that the stone he is about to cast will not hurt himself, when he looks around and sees beloved brethren and sisters in danger, how can he throw it? Or to come at the point without a figure, how can he preach plainness of dress &c., when among those who profess to believe his teaching, he can scarcely find one who is a living illustration of his subject." O let us by our examples, help our brethren to preach. I fear there is too much of the pride of life among the remnant of God's people. John says, "If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." Paul to the Romans says, "Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." He also to the Corinthians says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." O how much scripture testimony there is exhorting us to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. While looking over the Scriptures for certain passages, my soul has been fired anew with zeal. Do let us be zealous and repent, and put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Solemn indeed are the times in which we live. The judgments of God are hanging fearfully over a guilty world. The unmingled wrath of God is soon to be poured out; and the decree is soon to go forth, "He that is filthy let him be filthy still, and he that is holy let be holy still." "Knowing the time, now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light." Dear sisters, the times require a decision. Let us not drink into the spirit of the world, but let us be modest in our apparel, and our adorning be of the hidden man of the heart, and our ornament, a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. The little church here is trying to arise. I think we have made some advancement. We have of late been made to rejoice in seeing that the Lord is searching out his people and bringing some to the knowledge of the truth. Two have recently embraced the Sabbath. Others are searching to see whether these things are so. Yours hoping to be sanctified through obeying the truth.
E. D. Scott.
Parma, Mich., Aug. 30th, 1858.