Wesley Corpus

If then you did an indifferent thing only on this principlc, not to give me any uneasiness, but to oblige, to comfort me in my labour, would you do much amiss? IIow much more may you be excused in doing what I advise, when truth, reason, and Scripture advise the same? when the thing in question is not an indifferent thing, but clearly determined by God himself? 2. Some years ago, when I first landed at Savannah, in Georgia, a gentlewoman told me, “I assure you, Sir, you will see as well-dressed a congregation on Sunday, as most you have seen in London.” I did so; and, soon after, took occasion to expound those scriptures which relate to dress, and to press them freely upon my audience, in a plain and close application. All the time that I afterward ministered at Savannah, I saw neither gold in the church, nor costly apparel; but the congregation in general was almost constantly clothed in plain, clean linen or woollen. 3. And why should not my advice, grounded on Scripture and reason, weigh with you as much as with them? I will tell you why: (1) You are surrounded with saints of the world, persons fashionably, reputably religious. And these are constant opposers of all who would go farther in religion than themselves. These are continually warning you against running into extremes, and striving to beguile you from the simplicity of the Gospel. (2.) You have near you still more dangerous enemies than these, -Antinomians, whether German or English; who, when any Christian practice is enforced, come in with the cuckoo's note, “The law, the law !” and, while they themselves glory in their shame, make you ashamed of what should be your glory. (3.) You have suffered by false Teachers of our own, who undermined the doctrine you had received; negatively, in public, by not insisting upon it, by not exhorting you to dress as persons professing godliness; (and not to speak for a Christian duty is, in effect, to speak against it;) and positively, in private, either by jesting upon your exactness in observing the Scripture rule, or by insinuations, which, if you did not mind them then, yet would afterward weaken your soul. 4.