DECEPTION by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 27, 1859

DECEPTION.

By James White

I HAVE noticed with deep regret the course of some professors of the present truth, chiefly young women, who have two methods of dressing, to wit: one very plain way when they attend Sabbath meetings, or meetings of Sabbath-keepers; and another quite different way when they attend Sunday meetings, or meetings of fashionable bodies, and sometimes county fairs. They then put on more gay or gaudy apparel, with artificials in their bonnets, hoops, &c.; and you can see but very little difference between them and the world at large on such occasions. These persons take to themselves all the credit of plain dressing, and avoid all the cross and self-denial; for it is no cross to dress plainly among those who dress so, and among others they do not dress plainly.

Can there be any other object and end but deception in such a course as this? And is it not evident that somebody is deceived by it? As God cannot be deceived there are only three parties that can be, viz: the church the world, and the wearer. All these may be deceived; one certainly is. Which of the three is most deceived? Will those addicted to the custom consider the question?

J. H. W.