The history of all religions in the world, from the creation down to this present time in two parts : the first containing their theory, and the other relating to their practices ... : to which is added, a table of heresies : as also a geographical map, shewing in what countrey each religion is practised ... / by William Turner ...

Christian.

It is not enough for a Christian to be chaste and modest; he must appear to be so. Tertul. de Cult. Foem. l. 2. c. 13.

Two ends of Clothing, Honesty and Necessity.

Another end, — Distinction of Sexes, and De∣grees. Clem. Alex.

Such Women, as cannot otherwise gain upon their (unbelieving) Husbands, may, if their Hus∣bands require, go a little more Trim and Neat. Idem.

Tertullian changed his Coat for a Cloak, not when he firs turned Christian, but when made Presbyter of Carthage; called therefore by him Sacerdotis habitus. Pallium being the proper Habit of Philosophers among the Greeks, and of the stricter sort among the Christians, whether Clergy or Laity, especially Clergy. Dr. Cave.

The Garment that we should wear, ought to be mean and frugal, not curiously wrought with di∣vers Colours, the Emblem of Craft and Deceit; but white, to signifie our Simplicity and Truth. Clem. Alex.

Cyprian observed a due Decorum in his Garb, keeping a just distance between Slovenliness and Superfluity.

Chrysostom commends Olympias, (a Woman of great Birth, and Estate, and Piety) for the incre∣dible modesty and meanness of her Attire, not much better than that of the poorest Beggar; ha∣ving nothing in her Garb or Gate, that was feign∣ed or gawdy, elaborate or artificial.

Against Painting and Beautifying the Body.

Let them who have a mind to't, glory in the Flesh, we are under the profession of Humility:

all Glory is vain and swelling, especially from the Flesh. A Christian may glory in the Flesh, but when 'tis torn in pieces, for the sake of Christ, that the Spirit may be crowned; not that it may prove a Snare to attract the Eyes and Sights of Young-Men's ungovernable Passions after it, &c. Cypri∣an.

Obj. 'Tis acceptable to our Husbands.

Answ. 1. Every wise and good Man cannot but like his Wife better without them: Every Hus∣band is a rigid Exactor of his Wife's Chastity. If he be a Christian, he will not require any such feigned Beauty; if a Gentile, let her do what she can, he will suspect her to be naught. Tertull.

2. The loose delicate Arts come too near the Practice of lewd wanton Prostitutes; Birds and Beasts are content with their own natural Beauty and Colours; Woman only, as if inferiour to them, thinks her self so deformed, as that there is need to repair the defect by external, bought and borrowed Beauty; Children-like, they admire e∣very thing that is strange and gawdy; they shew themselves to be Women that have put off shame and modesty, and whosoever calls them so, shall do them no wrong, as carrying the very signs and representations of it in their Faces. Clem. Alex.

3. These additional Arts are a bold and sacri∣legious Attempt, and an high contempt of God; that is to reform what God hath formed. —That such a one hath cause to fear, least when the Day of Resurrection comes, He that made them, should not know them, &c. And then he brings in the Densor of the World, thus speaking: This is none of my Workmanship, nor this my Imdge and Likeness. Cyprian.

Theodoret tells of his own Mother, That when young, having a Distemper in one of her Eye s, which had baffled the Physicians, she went to one

Peter, near Antioch, famous for Miracles, of a very Severe and Ascetic Life; she, to render her self the more considerable in his Eye, put on her rich∣est Robes, Pendants, Chains of Pearl, &c. The uncomplemental Man severely check'd her, with a comparison drawn from an unskilful Bungler, going about to correct a Picture made by an ex∣cellent Artist; and not without much importunity would grant her Errand. In fine, she went away with a double Cure, of Body and Mind. Hist. Relig. c. 9. in vit. Petri.

Clemens Alex. compares such Women to the Egyptian Temples; without, Splendor and magni∣ficent Groves, rows of Pillars, Walls set off, with Stones of several Countries, Carved, &c. The Temples garnished with Gold, Silver, Amber, &c. within, behind the Curtain, a Cat, a Croco∣dile; So Women trimming themselves with Gold, Curling their Hair, Painting their Faces, blacking their Eyes, colouring their Locks, &c. within, a lustful Ape, a crafty Serpent. &c.

Nazianzen saith, his Sister Gorgonia used no Gold to make her Fine, no yellow Hair, ordered into Locks and Curles,—No loose transparent Garments, no Lustre of Stones and Jewels, no Arts of Painting, &c.

Clothe your selves with the Silks of Honesty, the fine Vertues of Piety, the Purple of Modesty, and being thus beautified and adorned, God himself will be your Lover. Tertull.