Wesley Corpus

“Let not your adorning,” says St. Peter, “be that outward adorning; but let it be the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.” The latter clause is not added barely to fill up the sentence, but with strong and weighty reason. For there is a direct contrariety (as little as we may suspect it) between that outward, and this inward, adorning; and that, both with regard to their source, and with regard to their tendency. As to their source, all that adorning springs from nature; a meek and quiet spirit, from grace; the former, from conforming to our own will, and the will of man; the latter, from conformity to the will of God. And as to their tendency, nothing more directly tends to destroy meekness and quietness of spirit than all that outward adorning, whereby we seek to commend ourselves to men, and not to God. For this cherishes all those passions and tempers which overthrow the quiet of every soul wherein they dwell. 3. Let “them adorn themselves,” saith St. Paul, “not with curling of hair, or with gold, pearls, or costly apparel; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” The latter clause is here likewise added for plain and weighty reasons. For, (1.) That kind of adorning cannot spring from godliness; from either the love or fear of God; from a desire of conforming to his will, or from the mind which was in Christ Jesus. (2.) It noway tends to increase godliness; it is not conducive to any holy temper. But, (3.) It manifestly tends to destroy several of the tempers most essential to godliness. It has no friendly influence on humility; whether we aim at pleasing others or ourselves hereby. Either in one case or the other, it will rather increase pride or vanity than lowliness of heart. It does not at all minister to the seriousness which becomes a sinner born to die. It is utterly inconsistent with simplicity; no 470 ADVICE TO METHODIsTS, one uses it merely to please God. Whoever acts with a single eye, does all things to be seen and approved of God; and can no more dress, than he can pray, or give alms, “to bc. seen of men.” 4.