but the harder rather; for through nature's corruption, they would by that yield more to evil than to good; but the efficacy of grace appears much in establishing their hearts in the love of God, and making them once poffeffed with that, to be inflexible, and invincible by the temptations of the world, and the ftrength and flights of Satan.

That which is here faid of their converfation, holds of the husband in the like cafe, and of friends and kindred, and, generally, of all Chriftians, in reference to them with whom they converfe; that their spotlefs holy carriage as Chriftians, and in their particular ftations, as Chriftian husbands, or wives, or friends, is a very likely and hopeful means of converting others who believe not. Men who are prejudiced obferve actions a great deal more than words. In those first times especially, the blameless carriage of Chriftians did much to the increafing of their num

ber.

Strive ye wives, and others, to adorn and commend the religion you profefs to others, especially those nearest you, who are averfe. Give no juft cause of scandal and prejudice against religion. Beware not only of grofs failings and ways of fin, but of fuch imprudences as may expofe you and your profeffion Study both a holy and wife carriage, and pray much for it, James i. 5. If any of you lack wifdom, let him afk of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.

But if wives, and other private Chriftians, be thus obliged, how much more the minifters of the word? Oh! that we could remember our deep engagement to holiness of life: He faid right, either teach none, or let your life teach ton, Naz. Cobelleth, anima concionatrix, [the preaching foul], muft the preacher be, Eccl. i. 1. the word of life springing from inward affection, and then vita concionatrix [the preaching life] will be added. The Sunday's fermon lafts but an hour or

two

two, but holinefs of life is a continued fermon all the

week long.

gain; it is a high Oh! the precious Will we believe for he paid it, that

They alfo without the word may be won.] The converfion of a foul is an ineftimable trading and defign to go about it. foul, but undervalued by moft! Him that knew well the price of it, the whole visible world is not worth one foul, the gaining it all cannot countervail that lofs? Matth. xvi. 26. Thus wives, and hufbands, and parents, and friends, if themselves converted, would confider seriously, and apply themselves to pray much that their unconverted relations, in nature dead, may be enlivened, and they may receive them from death; and esteem of nothing, reft in no natural content, nor gain without that; at least using inceffant diligence in feeking it, and their utmost skill and pains in it. But above all, this is the peculiar task of minifters, as the Apostle often repeats it of himself, 1 Cor. ix.; all gains on earth are base in comparison with this; a foul converted is gained to itself, gained to the paftor, or friend, or wife, or husband that fought it, and gained to Jefus Chrift; added to His treafury, who thought not his own precious blood too dear to lay out for this gain.

Ver. 2. While they behold your chafte converfation coupled with fear.

AS

S all graces are connected in their own nature, fo it is altogether neceffary that they be found fo for the end here propounded, the converfion of those that are strangers to religion, and poffeft with falfe notions of it, and prejudices against it. It is not the regularity of fome particular actions, nor the obfervance of fome duties, that will ferve; but it is an VOL. I. 3 H

eyen

* Me malè amando, me perdidi; et te folum quærendo et purè. amando, me et te pariter inveni. Tho à Kemp.

even uniform frame of life that the Apoftle here teaches Christian wives, particularly in reference to this end, the gaining or converfion of unbelieving hufbands: And this we have both in that word, their converfation, which fignifies the whole course and track of their lives; and in the particular fpecifying of the several duties proper to that relation and state of life: 1. Subjection; 2. Chastity; 3. Fear; 4. Modefty in outward ornaments; 5. The inward ornaments of meeknefs and quietness of spirit.

The combination of these things makes up fuch a wife, and the exercise of them throughout her life, makes up fuch a converfation, as adorns and commends the religion they profess, and is a fit, and may be a fuccessful, mean of converting the husband, who as yet profeffes it not.

Chafte converfation.] It is the proper character of a Chriftian to study purity in all things, as the word ay, in its extent, fignifies. Let the world turn that to a reproach, call them as you will, this is fure, that none have lefs fancy and prefumption of purity, than they that have moft defire of it. But the particular pureness here intended, is, as it is rendered, that of chastity, as the word is often taken; it being a grace that peculiarly deferves that name, as the fins contrary to it are ufually and deservedly called uncleannefs. It is the pure whitenefs of the foul to be chafte; to abhor and difdain the fwinish puddle of luft, than which there is nothing that doth more debafe the excellent foul; nothing that more evidently draws it down below itself, and makes it truly brutish. The three kinds of chastity, in virginity, marriage, and widowhood, are all of them acceptable to God, and fuitable to the profeffion of a Chriftian; therefore, in general only, whatsoever be our condition of life, let us in that way conform to it, follow the Apoftle's rule, possef fing thofe our earthen vesels, our bodies, in boliness and honour; by which there is expreffed this fame

chastity.

chaftity. And this we fhall do, if we rightly remember our calling, as Chriftians, in what fort of life foever; as there he tells us, that God hath not called us to uncleanness, but unto bolinefs, 1 Theff. iv. 7.

With fear.] Either a reverent refpect to their husbands, or the fear of God; whence flows beft both that and all other obfervance, whether of conjugal, or any other Chriftian duties. Be not prefumptuous (as fome) because you are chafte, but contemper your conversation that way with a religious fear of God, that you dare not take liberty to offend him in any other thing; and according to his inftitution, let it be joined with a reverent fear of your husbands, fhunning to offend them. poffibly this fear doth particularly relate to this other duty, with which it is joined, chafte converfation with fear; fearing the leaft ftain of chastity, or the very least appearance of any thing not fuiting with it. It is a delicate timorous grace, afraid of the leaft air or fhadow of any thing that hath but a resemblance of wronging it, in carriage, or speech, or apparel, as follows in the 3d and 4th verfes.

But

Ver. 3. Whofe adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel:

4. But let it be the bidden man of the beart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the fight of God, of great price.

T

HAT nothing may be wanting to the qualifying of a Christian wife, fhe is taught how to dress herself: Supposing a general defire, but especially in that fex, of ornament and comelinefs; the fex, that began firft our engagement to the neceffity of clothing, having ftill a peculiar propenfion to be curious in that, and to improve the neceffity to an advantage.

The

The direction here given corrects the mifplacing of this diligence, and addreffes it right, i. e. Let it not be of the outward man, in plaiting, &c.

Our perverfe crooked hearts turn all we use into diforder. Those two neceffities of our life, food and raiment, how few know the right measure and bounds of them? Unless poverty be our carver, and cut us fhort, who, almoft, is there that is not bent to fomething exceffive! Far more are beholding to the lowlinefs of their eftate, than to the lowliness of their mind, for fobriety in thefe things; and yet fome will not be fo bounded neither, but will profufely lavish out upon trifles, to the fenfible prejudice of their estate.

It is not my purpose, nor do I think it very needful, to debate many particulars of apparel and ornament of the body, their lawfulness or unlawfulness: Only,

ft, It is out of doubt, that, though clothing was first drawn on by neceffity, yet all regard of comelinefs and ornament in apparel is not unlawful; nor doth the Apostle's expreffion here, rightly confidered, faften that upon the adorning he here fpeaks of. He doth no more univerfally condemn the use of gold for ornament, than he doth any other comely raiment, which here he means by that general word of putting on of apparel, for his [not] is comparative ; not this adorning, but the ornament of a meek spirit, that rather, and as much more comely and precious; as that known expreffion, Hof. vi. 6. I will have mercy, and not fucrifice.

2dly, According to the different place and quality of perfons, there may be difference in this: Thus, the robes of judges and princes are not only for perfonal ornament, but because there is in them, especially to vulgar eyes, that feldom look deeper than the outside of things, there is, I fay, in that apparel, a representation of authority or majefty, that befits their place: And befides this, other perfons

that