Great Distress Coming, and God’s People Not Prepared For It
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shown that hoops were a shame, and that we should not give the least
countenance to a fashion carried to such ridiculous lengths. I am
often surprised to hear that “Sister White says it is not wrong to wear
small hoops.” No one has ever heard me say this. After being shown
what I have in regard to hoops, nothing would induce me to give the
least encouragement to any to wear them. Heavy quilts and hoops are
alike unnecessary. He that framed us never designed that we should be
deformed with hoops, or anything to look like them. It is the inventions
and fashions of the world that have
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led God’s people, and they are unwilling to move out independent of
the fashions and customs of the world. While I study God’s word, I
am alarmed for the Israel of God in these last days. They are exhorted
to flee from idolatry. I fear that God’s people are asleep, and so
conformed to the world that we can hardly know them, or discern
between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. The
distance is widening between Christ and his people, and lessening
between them and the world. The marks of distinction between Christ’s
professed people and the world, have almost disappeared. They follow
after the abominations of the nations around them, as did ancient Israel.
From what has been shown me, hoops are an abomination. They are
indecent, and God’s people err if they follow, in the least degree, or
give countenance to, this fashion.
Sabbath-keepers who profess to be God’s chosen, peculiar, people,
should discard hoops, and their practice and example should be a living
rebuke to those who wear them. Some may plead convenience. I have
traveled much, and have seen a great deal of inconvenience attending
the wearing of hoops; and those who plead the necessity on account
of health, wear them in winter, which is a greater injury than quilted
skirts. While traveling in the cars and stages I have often been led to
exclaim, O modesty, where is thy blush? I have seen large companies
crowding into the cars, and in order to make any headway, the hoops
had to be raised and placed into a shape which was indecent. And the
exposure of the form was ten-fold more with those who wore hoops,
than with those who did not; and were it not for fashion, those who
immodestly expose themselves would be hissed at, but modesty and
decency must be sacrificed to the god of fashion. May the Lord deliver
his people from this grievous sin. God will not pity those who will
be slaves to fashion. But supposing there is some little convenience