Chapter 6
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means they have usually expended needlessly in aiding some poor
brother or sister, whom God loves, to obtain neat and modest apparel.
Some receive the idea that in order to carry out that separation from
the world which the word of God requires, they must be neglectful
of their apparel. There is a class of sisters who think that they are
carrying out the principle of non-conformity to the world by wearing
an ordinary sunbonnet, and the same dress worn by them through
the week, upon the Sabbath, to appear in the assembly of the saints
to engage in the worship of God. And some men who profess to be
Christians view the matter of dress in the same light. They assemble
with God’s people upon the Sabbath, with their clothing dusty, and
soiled, and even with gaping rents in them, and placed upon their
persons in a slovenly manner. This class, if they had an engagement to
meet a friend honored by the world, and they wished to be especially
favored by him, would exert themselves to appear in his presence
with the best apparel that could be obtained; for this friend would feel
insulted were they to come into his presence with hair uncombed, and
garments uncleanly, and in disorder. Yet these persons think that it is
no matter in what dress they appear, or what is the condition of their
persons, when they meet upon the Sabbath to worship the great God.
They assemble in his house, which is as the audience-chamber of the
Most High, where heavenly angels are in attendance, with but little
respect, or reverence, as their persons and clothing indicate. Their
whole appearance typifies the character of such men and women.
The favorite theme of this class is pride of dress. Decency, taste,
and order, they regard as pride. And according to the dress of these
mistaken souls will be their conversation, their acts, and their deal.
They are careless, and often low in their conversation at their homes,
among their brethren, and before the world. The dress, and its ar-
rangement upon the person, is generally found to be the index of the
man or the woman. Those who are careless and untidy in dress are
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seldom elevated in their conversation, and possess but little refinement
of feelings. They sometimes consider oddity and coarseness, humility.
The followers of Christ are represented by him as the salt of the
earth, and the light of the world. Without the saving influence of
Christians, the world would perish in its own corruption. Look upon
the class of professed Christians described, who are careless of their
dress and persons, and loose in their business transactions, as their