MODEST APPAREL by Albert Stone

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 1, 1862

MODEST APPAREL.

By Albert Stone

"In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." 1 Tim. ii, 9, 10.

On the above passage two things are enjoined upon women professing godliness. These are modesty and economy in attire. Convenience may speak indeed, but let modesty that sits so gracefully on the female character, speak first. Whatever else claims to speak here, let these speak first, because the apostle has put them first. Especially let no claims be permitted to interfere with the first of these. Christianity and the reverse of modesty can not possibly join hands.

Matthew Henry in commenting on the above passage says, "They must be modest in their apparel, not affecting gaudiness, gaiety, or costliness." "Good works are the best ornaments; these are, in the sight of God, of great price. Those that profess godliness should in their dress, as well as other things, act as becomes their profession."

Whitby on the same passage says, "The apostle enjoined in the most decided manner, that the women should adorn themselves with modest apparel, suited to their station in life, and learning that bashfulness and sobriety of manner which would be expected from them, not copying the vain fashions of those women, whose attire was intended to render their persons attractive to beholders, and was an indication of the levity of their own minds."

Any material departure from the commonly approved method of female attire, whether it be an approximation toward the attire of the other sex, or a deviation in any other respect that would cause one to appear singular and attract attention and remark, is also to be avoided as opposed to the spirit and genius of Christianity.

I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. John xvii, 15, 16. ALBERT STONE.