Wesley Corpus

Thoughts upon Dress Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 11 (Zondervan) Author: John Wesley --- Loud complaint has been made concerning a passage taken out of a little tract, entitled, “The Refined Courtier,” which is inserted in the last April Magazine, page 197.* The passage objected to runs thus: “Let every one, when he appears in public, be decently clothed, according to his age, and the custom of the place where he lives.” There is no * The Arminian Magazine for 1708.-EDIT. fault in this. It is exactly right. Accordingly, when I appear in public, I am decently appareled, according to my age and the custom of England; sometimes in a short coat, sometimes in a might-gown, sometimes in a gown and cassock. “He that does otherwise, seems to affect singu larity.” And though a Christian frequently may, yea, must, be singular, yet he never affects singularity; he only takes up his cross so far as conscience requires. Thus far, then, there is nothing which is not capable of a fair construction. “Nor is it sufficient that our garment be made of good cloth,” (the author speaks all along of people of rank; particularly those that attend the Court) “but we should constrain ourselves to follow the garb where we reside,” suppose at St. James’s. “Seeing custom is the law and standard of decency, in all things of this nature.” It certainly is; and I advise all the King's Lords of the Bedchamber, the Queen’s Maids of Honour, to follow it. All this, there fore, may bear a sound construction; nor does it contradict anything which I have said or written.