e if they were displeasing to them, as we read in Num. xxx., so
that all might go on peacefully and quietly at home. This is one
point. Now the Apostle directs further how a woman should conduct
herself toward other people.

V. 3, 4. _Whose adorning, let it not be outward, in braiding of the
hair, and wearing of gold, and putting on of apparel, but of the
hidden man of the heart, in that which is incorruptible, a meek and
quiet spirit, which in God's sight is precious._ This treasure, which
is internal, should be possessed not only by the wife, but by the
husband. But here possibly some one might ask whether that which St.
Peter here says of ornament is commanded or not. We read of Esther,
that she wore a golden crown and precious ornaments, decking herself
as a queen. So also of Judith. But near by it is recorded, that she
despised the ornament and wore it from necessity. So that we say this
much, that a woman should be so disposed as not to care for this
adorning; yet, inasmuch as people convinced on the subject of
ornament, cease not from the use of it, such is their habit and
nature,--a christian wife should despise it. But if the husband
requires it, or there is a reasonable cause for her adorning herself,
it may well be done. But in such a way should she be adorned, as St.
Peter here says, as to be inwardly attired in a meek and quiet
spirit. You are vainly enough adorned when you are adorned for your
husband; Christ will not suffer it that you should be adorned to
please others, and that you should be called a vain harlot. Therefore
you are to see to it, that you wear about in your heart the hidden
treasure and precious adorning, in that which is incorruptible, as
St. Peter says, and lead a pure, merciful, temperate life.[1]

[Footnote 1: "Here the Apostle pulls off from christian women their
vain outside ornaments; but is not this a wrong to spoil all their
dressing and fineness? No; he doth this only to send them to a better
wardrobe: there is much profit in the change."--_Leighton on I.
Peter._]

It is good evidence that there is not much of the spirit there, where
so much is expended on ornaments, but this will be trodden under foot
where faith and the spirit are present, and these will say, like
Queen Esther, "Lord, thou knowest that I regard with aversion the
crown which I wear on my head, and that I am compelled thus to adorn
myself. If this was not required to be done of me out of love to my
king, I