The Young Lady's Guide to the
Harmonious
Development of Christian Character
by Harvey Newcomb, 1843
DRESS
I am far from considering attention to dress as a matter
of so great importance as many attach to it; and it is remarkable that so
little is said about it in the Bible, while false systems of religion, as
well as enthusiastic or fanatical sects, generally prescribe the form of
dress, or vehemently proscribe certain fashions. This is false zeal.
Nevertheless, the subject is one of sufficient consequence to be carefully
considered, and regulated upon Christian principle.
In the third chapter of Genesis, we learn that the object
of dress at first was, to provide a decent covering for the body. It was the
shame brought upon man by transgression which made this covering necessary.
And it is in consequence of sin that the elements have been turned against
him, so as to make clothing a necessary defense against the hostile
influence of heat and cold. The immediate discovery of their nakedness, by
our first parents, after their disobedience, is probably intended to show
the nakedness and shame which sin has brought upon our souls; and the
consequent exposure to the hostile elements aptly represents the exposure of
the naked soul to the wrath of God. The invention of fig-leaf aprons may,
perhaps, represent the self-righteousness of the natural heart; which leads
unrenewed men to seek, by some invention of their own, to save themselves
from the consequences of sin. But all their self-righteousness will be no
better defense against the storms of God's wrath than fig-leaf aprons
against the withering influence of a vertical sun, or the perpetual frosts
of the arctic regions. The coats of skin which the Lord made for our first
parents, seem well adapted to represent the righteousness of Christ, with
which he would clothe his people. This opinion appears the more probable
from the common use of this figure, when the righteousness of Christ is
spoken of as imputed to Christians: "He has clothed me with the
garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of
righteousness." "And to her [the church] was granted that she should be
arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the linen is the righteousness
of the saints."
The design of clothing, then, is—
1. to furnish a modest covering for the body;
2. to provide a defense against the hostile elements;
3. perhaps to remind us of our spiritual nakedness and exposure to the wrath
of God, and our need to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
From these ends we ought not to pervert it to the
gratification of pride and vanity. But, if you will observe the following
things in regard to your apparel, you will probably not go far astray—
1. All that we have is the Lord's.
We have nothing but what he has given us; and this we have solemnly promised
to employ in his service. We have no right, therefore, needlessly to
squander it upon extravagant clothing. The apostle Paul directs women to
adorn themselves with modest apparel, and discountenances the wearing of
costly ornaments and jewelry. Peter also says that, instead of these, their
adorning should be the "hidden person of the heart." The love of finery, or
a fondness for mirthful apparel, is contrary to the spirit of these
passages; nor is it easy to see how Christians can reconcile so much
needless expense as is often lavished upon their dress, with the spirit of
benevolence which the gospel breathes, when so many millions of precious
souls are perishing without any knowledge of the only way of salvation, or
while so many around them are suffering from poverty and need.
This is certainly contrary to the spirit of Christ. He
who for our sakes became poor, who led a life of self-denial, toil, and
suffering, that he might relieve distress and make known the way of
salvation, could never have needlessly expended upon his clothing, what
would have sent the gospel to the destitute, or supplied the needs of
poverty. Extravagance in dress is, therefore, obviously inconsistent with
the Christian character! But no precise rule can be laid down in
relation to this matter. It must be left to the sober judgment of
Christians; and a sanctified conscience will readily discern the bounds of
propriety. By asking yourself two or three questions, whenever you think of
purchasing a new article of dress, you may very easily decide upon the path
of duty—"Do I need this? Is it necessary for my comfort, or for my decent
appearance in society? Can I glorify God in wearing it?"
2. Your time is the Lord's.
You have no right to waste it in useless attention to
dress. One of the greatest evils of extravagant modes of dress is, that so
much precious time is consumed at the mirror. I have already shown the value
and importance of time, and the obligations of Christians to spend it in the
most profitable manner. I need not here advance any new arguments to show
that it is wrong to consume your time needlessly in the adjustment of your
apparel.
3. It is duty to pay some regard to personal
appearance. A Christian lady, by
dressing slovenly, brings reproach upon the cause of Christ, instead of
glorifying God. The apostle enjoins upon women to adorn themselves with
modest apparel. Modesty signifies purity of sentiment and manners.
When this idea is applied to dress, it immediately suggests to the mind a
neatness, taste, and simplicity, alike opposed both to extravagance and
finery, and to negligence and vulgar coarseness.
The exercise of a refined taste, in the adaptation and
adjustment of apparel, may also be justified by the analogy of nature. Look
abroad over the landscape, and see with what exquisite taste God has clothed
the flowers of the field. There is a symmetry of proportion, a skilfulness
of arrangement, and a fitness and adaptation of colors, which strike the eye
with unmingled pleasure. And if God has shown a scrupulous regard to the
pleasure of the eye, we may do the same.
This opinion is also confirmed by the practical influence
of the gospel. This is particularly observable among the poor in our own
land. Just in proportion as the religion of Jesus prevails among this class
of people, you will see a scrupulous attention to personal appearance. By
this, I do not mean the pride of appearance—but a decency, modesty,
and propriety—as opposed to negligence, coarseness, and vulgarity. But this
is more strikingly manifest among those people who have been but recently
raised, by the influence of the gospel, from the lowest depths of
heathenism. Of this you will be convinced by examining the history of the
missions among the North American Indians, and in the South Sea Islands. The
same principles will also apply to household arrangements. Such regard to
comfort and decency of appearance as will strike the eye with pleasure, and
shed around an air of cheerfulness; doubtless contributes to moral
improvement, and is not only authorized, but required, by the spirit of the
gospel.
But this is a dangerous point. There is so much
temptation to the indulgence of pride and vanity, and such a disposition to
make dress the means of attracting the attention and seeking the admiration
of others, that you have need of constant watchfulness. Pray that you may
not be led into temptation in this matter; and especially at those times
when you are most in danger.
4. Have a regard to health.
Among the means of preserving health, attention to
dress is not the least important. Great care should always be taken that it
be suited to the season, and a defense against the inclemency of the
weather. This is a Christian duty; and any pride of appearance, or
carelessness of habit, which leads you to neglect it, is sin. But, above all
things, avoid the use of girdles for the purpose of improving the
appearance. It is astonishing that intelligent ladies can so blindly follow
the mandates of fashion as to indulge a habit so destructive of comfort and
life. There is no part of the system—not even the extremity of a limb—which
can suffer violent compression without interrupting the regular circulation
of the blood. But, when this pressure is about the chest, the effect is most
destructive. The lungs, subject as they are to alternate distention and
compression, from receiving and discharging both the blood and the breath,
require the most perfect freedom. But, when the chest is compressed by tight
clothing, the vitals are removed from their natural position, the free play
of the lungs is prevented, and the whole system of respiration and
circulation is deranged. The consequences are, shortness of breath and
faintness; impeded circulation, producing listlessness and languor; and
inclination of the blood to the head, producing headache and distressing
dizziness. And, if this course is long persisted in, destruction of health
is the inevitable consequence; and often the 'poor deluded victim of a
barbarous fashion' pays the forfeit of her life. I have heard of many cases
of death from this cause, three of which occurred in one family,
within the circle of my acquaintance. I need use no argument, then, to
convince a Christian lady that it is her duty to avoid this species of
conformity to the world, which can be regarded in no other light than as a
palpable violation of the sixth commandment. Yet, such is the delusive
influence of habit, that there is great difficulty, oftentimes, in
convincing young ladies that they err in this matter, when the fact appears
obvious to all their friends.
5. Do not make too much of the matter of dress.
It is our duty to avoid every species of conformity to the world which
requires the sacrifice of Christian principle. But, in things indifferent,
we are allowed to conform to the customs of society. I do not think there is
much danger of excessive plainness of apparel, but there is danger of making
so much account of it as to cultivate a self-righteous spirit. As I have
already remarked, in almost every system of false religion, precise forms of
dress are prescribed, especially for those who are devoted to what is termed
a religious life; whereas, in the Bible, it is left to be regulated
by the general principles and spirit of Christianity, with an occasional
caution against extravagance and immodesty; and it does not appear that
Christ and the apostles, or the early Christians, adopted any peculiarity of
dress. From the description given of the garments distributed among the
soldiers, it would appear that our Lord wore the common dress of a religious
teacher. There is such a thing as a 'pride of singularity'; and this is
often manifested in the preparation and adjustment of the wardrobe. Satan is
ever on the alert to observe the bent of the mind, and carry it to extremes.
Be not ignorant of his devices; but watch and pray—that you may be secure
against all his wiles.
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